I. Introductions/Anti-Trust
Chairman Donovan called the meeting to order at 9:35 A.M. and welcomed the 53 people in attendance to the thirty-fourth meeting of Project S.H.A.R.E. After a round of introductions, he asked Vice Chairman Bob Chandler to read the Anti-Trust meeting guidelines. This was another record attendance for a Project S.H.A.R.E. business meeting.

II. Past Minutes
Executive Secretary, Matt Scott asked the membership if there were any errors or omissions to the October 7, 1999, minutes that were mailed to the membership. Hearing none, the minutes were approved, as written.

III. Treasurer's Report
Gary Donovan gave a summary of the Treasurer's Report prepared by Ed Hennessey covering a period from October 1, 1999 to November 19, 1999. The beginning balance for the period was $42,331.18, with debits of $20,472.91 and credits of $26,010.70, leaving an ending balance of $47,868.97. The Treasurer's Report was accepted and approved, as submitted.

IV. Funding Initiatives
Matt Scott stated that the 319 Grant for the Dennys River has been approved by the Department of Environmental Protection, and passed on to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for final funding.

V. Atlantic Salmon Conservation Plan Update/ASC
Fred Kircheis, Acting Executive Director of the Atlantic Salmon Commission, gave an update of his activities in his new position. His first regulatory initiative, banning all Atlantic salmon fishing in Maine, will be presented to the Atlantic Salmon Commission on December 16 to ban all Atlantic salmon fishing in Maine. Henry Nichols highlighted a letter from Commissioner Perry praising the Watershed Councils for their work.

VI. Steering Committee Report
Gary Donovan presented highlights of the Steering Committee meeting held in Bangor on November16, and addressed the following action items:

• The Third Machias Lake dam issue to be reassessed by the Research and Management Committees, and their recommendation be submitted to the Steering Committee in January 2000 for a final decision.
  
• The Committee voted to support the closing of angling in the five Downeast rivers.
  
• It was agreed that members of Project S.H.A.R.E. would be encouraged to review and comment on Reinald's Plan for the East Machias and Machias Rivers.

VII. Executive Secretary's Report
Matt Scott reported that he was fully recovered from his recent operation and was back to aggressively pursuing Project S.H.A.R.E. issues. He has attended to various meetings plus doing light travel, and keeping up with the paper flow.

VIII. Standing Committee Reports

Education Committee: Matt Scott reported on behalf of Mike Hill who has been planning an educational workshop this coming winter in Washington County. Matt has also met with Mike and Andy Goode to transfer information about Project S.H.A.R.E. activities and become more familiar with ASF projects.

Management Committee: Norm Dube was officially appointed Chair, and will work with Bud Brown to combine Committee activities.

Research Committee: Bud Brown announced there would be a joint meeting of the Management and Research Committees in December at the Airline Snack Bar following the regular meeting of Project S.H.A.R.E. At this meeting, they will revisit the Third Machias Lake Dam issue and report back to the Steering Committee in January.

IX. Project Updates
Watershed Councils Representative: Reinald Nielsen has been newly elected by the Downeast Watershed Coalition to represent them at the Project S.H.A.R.E. meetings. Reinald is now a member of the Project S.H.A.R.E. Steering Committee as per the Project S.H.A.R.E. By-Laws. He gave us a brief report on the activities of Watershed Councils. Matt will work with him on developing an EPA 319 non-point source Grant proposal for the Machias and East Machias Rivers.

Watershed Councils Coordinator: Dwayne Shaw reported on his finalizing the State Planning Office contract report for Project S.H.A.R.E. He also handed out the Wild Salmon Resource Center (WSRC) 1999 highlights. Erin Burke was introduced as the new addition at the WSRC from the AmeriCorp Program. Torrey Sheafe is doing the oral history project for the Downeast Salmon Federation, and he gave a brief update on the EPA 319 non-point source project underway on the Narraguagus and Pleasant River Watersheds. Members inquired about potential uses of the hatchery portion of the WSRC.

Black Brook Project: Ron Brokaw, from IF&W, gave an excellent review of his 1994-1999 studies on the impact of in-stream beaver activities on brook trout. Data indicates that juvenile trout exhibit good response with beaver dam removal. Ron feels that beaver activity Downeast has a significant negative impact to brook trout streams. A good report with lots of questions and discussion.

X. Congressional Delegation: No report.

XI. Maine Legislators: Rep. Eddie Dugay is anxious to keep working State support for watershed councils. He will be sponsoring legislation to provide financial support through the Maine Atlantic Salmon Conservation Plan (ASCP) for the Councils.

XII. Downeast RC&D Report: George Bunker announced that Cathy Gunderman has been selected as the new director of Downeast RC&D.

XIII. Program
Paul Nickerson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Mary Colligan, National Marine Fisheries Service, reviewed the basis for the proposed listing of the Atlantic salmon as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and discussed implications of this action to the Downeast region. Paul Nickerson led the presentation with a history of Atlantic salmon population trends and the role of the ESA in supporting the recovery of this species. Mary provided a good summary of the status review and the belief that the ASCP is a good foundation for a recovery plan. They also praised the efforts of establishing watershed councils and the continued need for local voluntary/cooperative initiatives to help make salmon recovery a reality. Highlights of their presentation and from discussion with the membership include the following:

• The Gulf of Distinct Population Segment (DPS) spans from the Kennebec River to the St. Croix River.
  
• The survival of large parr to smolt in the rivers is poor.
  
• The wild population of Atlantic salmon has continued to decline since the 1995 ESA review of this species.
  
• The five factors that have influenced the decision to list are threats to habitat, continued fishing, presence and potential exposure to disease, predation and inadequate regulations to protect the species.
  
• The Services believe that the genetic make-up of Cove Brook salmon is unique in all of North America.
  
• In the opinion of the Services, enough genetic legacy has survived since European settlement to warrant DPS designation.
  
• The National Academy of Science is invited to peer review the genetics data.
  
• The Services will appoint recovery teams to prepare a recovery plan, if listed.
  
• The level of scrutiny in the Federal permit process will increase for a listed species.
  
• "Take" is defined as harassment and harm. Harassment interrupts the salmon breeding cycle, while harm results in the death of a fish.
  
• The burden is on the Services to prove "Take".
  
• The use of pesticides is allowed according to label. If a problem is identified, then the Services will work with EPA to change the label.
  
• The Services will investigate all mortalities of an ESA listed species.
  
• The Services must identify Critical Habitat for salmon to facilitate the Section 7 consultation process.
  
• The Services are currently resisting lawsuits that would require an emergency ESA listing of Atlantic salmon.

Paul encouraged everyone to participate in the hearing process by either attending one of the hearings, or by submitting comments during the comment period.

XIV. Other Business None reported.

Meeting adjourned at 12:15 P.M. The next meeting is February 3, 2000 at the Airline Snack Bar.

back to archives