Friends Of Merrymeeting Bay

Author: Wendy Clark

  • PSA Video from West Bath Elementary School 3rd Grade

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]On May 22, 2019 two FOMB volunteers, Dick Brown and Ed Friedman gave presentations on the importance of water (and Merrymeeting Bay) to the 3rd grade classes of Lori Sawyer and Ida Beal at West Bath Elementary School. A tentative goal of the two classes was to create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) based on what they learned. What follows is a note from one of the teachers and their resultant video (time 3:40):

    To FOMB (Dick & Ed),

    We have finished our PSA! Thanks so much for the wonderful photos and maps you sent us. They were perfect! We added some other images as well, and we think the PSA came out very nicely considering they are only 3rd graders! They wrote the script from the great resources you shared with them.

    We think you’ll enjoy it! Please do not feel that we expect you to use this on your site. If you like it and wish to do so, great! But if you don’t, that’s entirely up to you. It’s been a great experience for them one way or the other. But if you should use it somehow, please let us know. The class would be excited to know that!

    We will share your contact info with next year’s 3rd grade teacher, Kelsey Marco. She would be doing this module at this same time of year next year. With more planning, participation in Bay Day would likely be a great addition!

    It’s been a real pleasure to work with you both! Thanks again for all the resources you shared and the great job you both did on your presentations. It was perfect for our module studies.  The students are ready and eager to present to the public tomorrow at our Celebration!

    Have a wonderful summer!

    ~Lori

    [/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlfvakTKkGo” css=””][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Brunswick Androscoggin Dam Killing Fish

    Brunswick Androscoggin Dam Killing Fish

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Download the PDF

    Summary:

    On October 15–16, 2016, Friends of Merrymeeting Bay (FOMB) discovered a massive fish kill at the Brunswick/Topsham Dam on the Androscoggin River, operated by Brookfield Energy. Observers found hundreds of thousands of young-of-the-year alewives and other fish dead near the dam’s outlet and Green Bridge. FOMB volunteers counted around 500–800 dead fish at the boat ramp alone.

    FOMB reported the incident to Brookfield via its emergency line. When the site was revisited Tuesday, dam maintenance was underway—turbines were shut off and a diver was present, while Taintor gates were opened on the Topsham side to allow fish passage.

    Under normal conditions, migratory fish must navigate through a narrow 18-inch pipe with a grated intake and a flow of just 40 cubic feet per second, adjacent to turbine intakes that deliver thousands of cfs—5,075 cfs for Unit 1, and 2,672 cfs through Units 2 and 3. Fish drawn toward these high-flow turbines often suffer fatal injuries due to decapitation, concussive forces, and pressure-related damage such as ruptured swim bladders, all of which were observed in this event.

    FOMB emphasized that similar mortality events occurred at Brookfield’s Union River dam in Ellsworth. Despite years of legal action under the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act to improve fish passage, interim species protection plans implemented during litigation proved inadequate. FOMB criticized these plans and stated Brookfield and involved agencies must be held accountable.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][dt_gallery_masonry bwb_columns=”desktop:3|h_tablet:3|v_tablet:3|phone:2″ image_border_radius=”0px” project_icon_border_width=”0px” include=”353,354,351,352,349,350,347,348,346,345″][/vc_column][/vc_row]