V. Guest Speakers: Guest speakers discussed current research areas.

• Mark Minton – NOAA

The draft federal recovery plan has been peer reviewed and comments are currently being addressed. A threats assessment workshop was held in December. A public information meeting will be held in Ellsworth on May 11th. The Recovery Team is being appointed. Membership is based on expertise, not affiliation. The Recovery Coordination Team will consist of Pat Keliher (ASC), Mark Minton (NOAA), and Willa Nelson (USFWS).

• John Kocik – NOAA

NOAA is involved in Atlantic salmon restoration from Maine to Greenland:

• Smolt assessment – what is being produced, quality, natural vs hatchery
• Smolt migration monitoring: Where are the losses? Telemetry studies on the Dennys and Narraguagus.
• Post-smolt ecology studying the physiological adjustments to salt water transition
• Wild fish health questions – are pathogens present in the wild?
• Assessment of what fish stocks are being captured in Greenland.
• Dennys River Liming Study
• Pilot study of Cormorant predation on the Narraguagus.
• Ernie Atkinson – ASC

The Atlantic Salmon Commission is involved in a variety of programs and studies:

• Standardizing operational protocols for field work
• Comparing stream side incubation to stocking
• Determining the movement of fry post stocking: move at night, 80% settle in first 3 days. Results lead to modifications of stocking methods allowing fish to distribute themselves.
• Fry stocking density – What is the optimal socking density?
• Review of captive adult stocking program
• Smolt behavior and physiology (ATPase)
• Understanding and restoring habitat: spawning gravel permeability, embeddedness, pH water chemistry, large woody debris
• Limiting factor analysis – many factors affect abundance. Theoretically only one acts as a limiting factor at a time.
• Chris Martin – MFS

The Maine Forest Service has several outreach programs underway including:

• BMP monitoring and training
• 50+ workshops presenting the new, outcome based BMP manual
• arch culvert implementation workshops in headwater streams.
• Scott Craig – USFWS

Current projects underway at the Craig Brook National Hatchery include:

• Captive brood stock management plan
• River specific brood stock program
• Development of a genetics database
• Assessment of watershed scale habitat features on the survival of juvenile Atlantic salmon using genetics to determine where captured smolts were stocked.
• Jed Wright – USFWS

The Gulf of Maine Program is currently involved in several projects including:

• assessment of the role of large woody debris in salmon habitat complexity;
• GIS projects partnered with SHARE including NPS and water chemistry assessment,
• online access to Atlantic salmon habitat maps,
• and a thermal inventory of the Sheepscot River identifying cold water input.
• Steven Sloan – Bangor Hydro

A new electrical transmission line is proposed through the downeast region connecting New England to the Maritime Canada grid. The proposed route is collocated with the Studmill Road. The project is in the permitting phase.

VI. USFWS Conservation Award

Peter Steenstra presented the “Celebrating Habitat – Celebrating Partners” National Conservation Award from the USFWS to the Project SHARE membership. Contributing SHARE members and partners gathered in a group picture as part of the recognition for this award.

There being no other business, the meeting adjourned.

The next meeting is June 9, 2005 at the Hillgrove Community Center.

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