Dam removals spur return of alewives to Maine rivers

Removal of dams on the Sebasticook River has allowed alewife populations to recover in Maine, with the fish now returning in large numbers for their annual migration.

First covered Jul 6, 2026 · 2:00 AM PT · 1 article

Coverage

11h Inside Climate News Dam Removal Efforts Lead to a Stunning Comeback for Maine’s Alewives — For a few weeks each summer, the Sebasticook River in Benton, Maine, is paved with flashing silver scales, so thick it seems you could almost walk across.

Primary sources

asmfc.org Riverherringassessmentoverview Aug2024 (asmfc.org)

More coverage from around the web

therevelator.org How Removing One Maine Dam 20 Years Ago Changed Everything • The Revelator

nrcm.org Restoring Maine's Kennebec River above Waterville

nature.org Restoring Balance to the Kennebec River

mainerivers.org China Lake Alewife Restoration Initiative - Maine Rivers

npr.org 'One Of The Best Nature Shows': A River Transformed After Dams Come Down : NPR

Appeared in: 2026-07-06 (#14)

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