Maine Alewife Recovery: A Proven Model, Not a Halted One
Maine's alewife recovery on the Sebasticook River is a concrete, jurisdiction-tested success in climate adaptation through dam removal. The Klamath River dam removal was completed in October 2024, not halted by the current administration; the genuinely stalled project is the Lower Snake River dam removal in Washington, blocked by lack of congressional authorization. Maine's model shows rapid ecosystem restoration is possible and offers a proof of concept for federally funded dam removal programs, though 2025 NEPA rollbacks and EPA enforcement cuts threaten future projects.
The story of Maine's alewife recovery is a documented success in climate adaptation through dam removal and fish passage restoration. The Klamath River dam removal was completed in October 2024 before the current administration took office, and by mid-2025 the ecosystem was booming, not halted by federal policy. The genuinely stalled project is the Lower Snake River dam removal in Washington, blocked by lack of congressional authorization and agency inaction despite extensive studies. The alternative policy approach would expand federally funded dam removal programs, using Maine's data as a proof of concept, and pair removals with habitat restoration and renewable energy investments to replace lost hydroelectric capacity. However, the current administration's 2025 NEPA rollbacks and EPA enforcement cuts threaten to slow future projects by weakening environmental review and reducing federal funding. Despite these headwinds, Maine's model remains a jurisdiction-tested proof of concept for rapid decarbonization and ecosystem restoration.
The humanitarian alternative
Congress and the administration should reverse the 2025 rollbacks and instead fully fund the National Dam Safety Program with a dedicated $500 million annual grant for dam removal and fish passage projects, modeled on Maine's decade-long state-federal partnership. This legislation would require any dam removal to include a community benefits agreement—prioritizing tribal co-management, local hiring, and replacement of lost power from existing hydro with solar and wind that does not harm river ecosystems. The result is a win-win: restored fish runs and cleaner energy, with measurable economic returns from recreation and fisheries already documented in Maine.
Falsifiable predictions
What this entry claims will happen, and what data would prove it wrong. The Reckoner revisits these against current reality.
- If the administration does not reverse NEPA rollbacks, at least one major dam removal project (e.g. on the Snake River, or a new project in California) will be permanently cancelled or indefinitely delayed within 12 months.
- Alewife run counts in Maine will continue to rise or stabilize above 5 million annually for the next three years, provided no new federal policy blocks state-led removals.
Original source — excerpted
news Dam Removals Helped Bring About a Stunning Comeback for Maine’s Alewives"Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily. This story was originally published by Ins..."