Project Summary

1. Project Identification

Name	Columbia Falls Dam
Region	North East
State	MA
Location	Pleasant River at Columbia Falls
Date of this update	March 10, 1999

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)

3. Project Description (100 words or less. Please include qualitative information, e.g. acres of habitat restored, miles of steam reopened to migration, and legislative authorization, e.g. WRDA, ISTEA, CWA/NEP, CZMA, etc.)

The Columbia Falls Dam is located on the Pleasant River at Columbia Falls. It is partially breached and the remaining structure is diverting freshwater away from the potential smelt spawning habitat immediately downstream. The spawning area has been rendered unsuitable due to a lack of freshwater inflow. Partial or complete removal of the spillway will restore freshwater flows to the area, thus increasing the amount of suitable smelt spawning habitat in the lower Pleasant River. This river supports a winter commercial bag net and recreational/commercial hook and line fishery for rainbow smelt. These fisheries could be significantly enhanced by an increase in spawning habitat. Implementation is anticipated under the various NRCS (WHIP or EQUIP) programs.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list)

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Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

• Federal

  Lead:
  Others:

• Non-Federal

  State government
  Local Government
  Private industry
  Public interest groups
  Educational Facility
  Other partnerships

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

• Cash

  Federal
  Non Federal	State government
  	Local government
  	Private industry
  	Public interest groups
  Total

• In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)

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• Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

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7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

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8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

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9. Project Status

Initiation date
Completion date
Current stage

10. Contacts

• Project Manager

  Bob Wengrzynek
  State Biologist
  Maine Natural Resources Conservation Service
  e-mail: bwengrzynek@me.nrcs.usda.gov

• Participating Agency/Organization Contacts: (e.g. volunteer groups, conservation groups, state agencies, and other federal agency contacts)

11. Any additional information/comments

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This page was last updated on Saturday, 24-Jun-2000 11:48:47 EDT
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