Rivers of the Northeast Management, Development & Environmental Impacts Maggie Callaway & Greg Hencir

Presentation Overview?  Geography of the Northeast  What Effects the Environment of These Rivers?  Northeastern Dams and Their Uses  Case Studies  Kennebec River Watershed  Connecticut River Watershed

What Threatens These River Environments? Agricultural & Residential Runoff Agricultural & Residential Runoff Industrial & Urban Centers Industrial & Urban Centers Multipurpose Dams: Multipurpose Dams: Hydropower Hydropower Flood protection Flood protection Navigation Navigation Reservoirs/Impoundment Reservoirs/Impoundment

Case Study: The Kennebec Watershed

The Edwards Dam Removal: Why it was removed? Why it was removed? Cost Cost Benefits Benefits (e.g. Anadromous fish) (e.g. Anadromous fish) Why is this event important? Why is this event important?

Case Study: The Connecticut River Watershed

A Tradition of Abuse  Discovery & Settlement  Development & Industrialization  Emerging Problems  Industry and Power Facilities  Agricultural and Residential Runoff  Decaying Structures (e.g. mines)  Recreational Boating  (Marinas & Yacht Basins)  Dams & Canals Disappearing Fish & Wildlife Disappearing Fish & Wildlife (e.g. Atlantic Salmon, Osprey) (e.g. Atlantic Salmon, Osprey)

Dams Dams (High Head and Run of River) Dams (High Head and Run of River) Construction: 1850s-Today Construction: 1850s-Today Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

“The Most Beautifully Landscaped Cesspool I’ve Ever Seen” Clean Up Clean Up Connecticut River Coordinating Committee Connecticut River Coordinating Committee Clean Water Acts (1972, 1977) Clean Water Acts (1972, 1977) Private Organizations Private Organizations (e.g. Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society) (e.g. Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society) Improvements Improvements Classification from D to B Classification from D to B An American Heritage River An American Heritage River Continued Problems Continued Problems Increasing Recreational Activity Increasing Recreational Activity Non-point source pollution continues to be a problem Non-point source pollution continues to be a problem

In Conclusion… Northeastern river environments were greatly abused prior to the mid-twentieth century Northeastern river environments were greatly abused prior to the mid-twentieth century Environmental awareness and action has restored many rivers since that time Environmental awareness and action has restored many rivers since that time Although river systems have greatly improved, the problems are not fully resolved and additional effort is needed to be done Although river systems have greatly improved, the problems are not fully resolved and additional effort is needed to be done