Past Event Recaps
Sabattus River Workshop
Hosted November 13th 2025: The Androscoggin River Watershed Council and Androscoggin Valley Soil & Water Conservation District hosted an evening Zoom Workshop to explore what's happening on the Sabattus and Little Androscoggin Rivers. After being cut off for more than 100 years, alewives and other sea-run (anadromous) fish will be able to swim from the ocean to Sabattus Pond once again because of recent dam removals and other restoration efforts on the Sabattus River. Efforts to address erosion and other problems in the Sabattus Pond watershed are also in process. Dr. Theo Willis from the Maine Department of Marine Resources discussed the past, present, and future of the Sabattus River project and why it's important to Sabattus Pond, the Androscoggin River, and the entire Maine landscape. Fish passage in the Little Androscoggin River was also discussed, highlighting potential benefits for the entire Lower Androscoggin River Watershed.
The Maine Department of Marine Resources, NOAA and others have been working to improve fish passage to tributary streams below Lewiston Falls. Several unused and deteriorating dams have been removed, old industrial waste has been cleaned up, and further work is progressing to provide passage of sea run fish, especially alewives, into Sabattus Pond. In addition, the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District is working with the Sabattus Pond Association to address erosion and nutrient runoff issues in the pond’s watershed.
On the Little Androscoggin River, the City of Auburn, with assistance from NOAA, is removing a large, breached hydropower dam. Improved fish passage is planned for the two downstream Barker Mill dams. The goal is to eventually have sea run fish passage into the lakes and streams tributary to the Little Androscoggin River.
2025 Annual Watershed Conference
Held on May 13 2025 at the Auburn Senior Community Center, the conference highlighted some concerns with the impacts of climate change on our transportation infrastructure and out natural resources.
Dana Osgood, NewsCenter Maine Meteorologist discussed the difference between weather and climate, and pointed out, just because we may have a cold day or even a cold month the overall trend has been increasing temperatures around the nation. Molly KellyBoyd provided an overview of the updated Maine’s plan, Maine Won’t Wait, to address the impacts of climate change with emphasis on natural resources. Catherine Mardosa from AVCOG provided information on the statewide resiliency effort to assist towns adapt to increased rainfall and flooding, and Allyson Hill from Oxford County Emergency Management Agency discussed extensive flooding in Oxford County and the programs that were available to address infrastructure needs until recent changes at the federal level.
Sarah Haggerty from Maine Audubon demonstrated a hands-on Stream Table that showed how excessive stream flows can lead to erosion and damage to infrastructure and presented how stream crossings designed according to the Stream Smart principles have been resilient.
Other highlights included a presentation on the economic and ecological importance of brook trout and a presentation by Mark Tyrell, who guides on the Androscoggin River in both Maine and New Hampshire, on the excellent trout and bass fisheries on the river and its tributaries. Theo Willis from DMR discussed the amazing progress on dam removal and fish passage that has been made on the Sabattus River.