A proposed settlement for the upper Barker Mill Dam project would aid fish migration and recreation along the Little Androscoggin River, officials said this week.

The proposal, which requires fish-passage upgrades and other measures, is under federal review, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The upgrades are designed to help migratory fish navigate riverways by reconnecting upstream and downstream habitat for spawning and rearing. Improved passages on Maine’s rivers in the past have helped species such as Atlantic salmon and American eel while supporting the overall river health and ecosystem.

State and federal agencies reached a proposed settlement in 2021 with KEI Power Management on fish-passage improvements at the upper Barker Mill Dam hydropower project on the Little Androscoggin River.

FERC is accepting comments on potential environmental effects of the project, which is under a National Environmental Policy Act review. The process helps inform license decisions and determines whether the settlement agreement’s requirements can become binding. Comments on environmental concerns are due by Dec. 1 and can be submitted by visiting ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx and providing the docket number P-3562-026.

“This is a good opportunity for the city and the public to weigh in on what should be required,” said Eric Cousens, executive director of Auburn’s public services. 

Cousens said the city is supportive of fish passage and flow improvements, which state and federal agencies have done well to provide. That’s why, he said, Auburn is focusing on projects like riverwalk and portage trails improving people’s access to the rivers. 

“The city has placed a high priority on access to the Androscoggin and Little Androscoggin Rivers for the recreational needs of our residents,” Cousens said. “So we are asking FERC to require the licensee to contribute to the city project.” 

Not only will the agreement improve the Little Androscoggin River, but it will add to accomplishments in recent years that have improved the Androscoggin River as a whole, Cousens said.

Recent dam work on the Sabattus River, which is connected to the Androscoggin River, means that area is poised to become the first tributary with open access from the ocean to water bodies suitable for river herring.

Additionally, Auburn is preparing to remove the Littlefield Dam, also situated on the Little Androscoggin River. 

This is all an improvement for fish migration and recreation, Cousens said.

The upper dam project generates nearly 4,700 megawatt-hours annually. The dam and its facilities include a concrete and stone masonry spillway, a single 950-kilowatt turbine and a small transmission line connecting the project to the local grid.

Requirements in the settlement include upstream and downstream fish passage at the dam for target species like American eel, river herring, American shad, sea lamprey and Atlantic salmon.

“The settlement establishes clear and measurable fish passage commitments,” said Sean Ledwin of Maine Department of Marine Resources. “They represent a meaningful improvement and set the stage for fishways that can perform well if designed and operated as intended and DMR will work to ensure this happens.”

Though the type of passage structure was not specified, KEI will be required to develop a final design with federal and state agencies before submitting to FERC for approval. Ledwin said the state expects a “modern, engineered upstream passage structure that meets current standards and provides the conditions, such as adequate attraction flow, needed to support effective passage for the target species.”

It also requires coordinated seasonal and minimum flow releases with the lower Barker Mill Dam to improve habitat and support migration. This essentially coordinates the timing of new passage measures so both are implemented within the same general time window ensuring the river functions more consistently.  

KEI will work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Maine Department of Marine Resources and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to create the Androscoggin Basin Stewardship Fund. The fund, which benefits spawning and rearing habitat throughout the watershed, will be established through an off-license agreement administered by the Maine Department of Marine Resources, which supports habitat work across the basin.

The fund will be a useful tool supporting habitat and connectivity projects complementing dam-related improvements, Ledwin said.

“But the scale of its impact will depend on how projects are selected and implemented over time,” he said.

Hydro projects along the Little Androscoggin River would be brought onto similar timelines, according to the settlement. The lower Barker project’s license would be extended from 40 to 50 years as KEI is requesting a 47-year term for the upper Barker project.

The settlement also includes plans to certify the upper dam project through the Low Impact Hydropower Institute. This commits KEI to obtain and maintain Low Impact Hydropower Institute certification through an off-license agreement, with recertification expected to track fish-passage improvements and the longer license term.

If FERC approves the settlement, KEI would be required to implement fish passage improvements and coordinate flows with the lower Barker Mill Dam project.

“People should know this kind of agreement comes from careful technical work and collaboration and compromise around different interests,” Ledwin said. “It lays out a path for progress, and success will depend on strong design, operation, and follow-through in the years ahead.”

Cousens hopes people will submit comments before Dec. 1 to impress upon FERC that support for the city’s project is crucial for the community.

“It is an opportunity for the city, but also other members of the public, nonprofits to chime in if they have opinions about what should be required for fish passage or recreation,” Cousens said.