Lockwood Hydroelectric Project
FPL Energy
Kennebec River, ME
The Lockwood Project is the downstream-most hydroelectric facility on the
Kennebec River, Maine. Restoration programs for anadromous Atlantic salmon,
American shad and river herring species affected by the Project required
detailed analysis of population, movement and habitat use data for these
species during the FERC relicensing process. Fishery agencies also required
detailed biological information on the existing fish community residing
in the project impoundment, tailwater, bypass reach and contiguous river
segments. Because of the size, location and configuration of the Project,
aquatic habitat use issues were both acute and complex.
Kleinschmidt designed and executed a comprehensive fish sampling program encompassing boat electrofishing, trap nets gill nets, back pack electrofishing and underwater mobile video surveys of all portions of the study area. Population analyses included age, growth, origin, and relative condition of key coldwater and warmwater game species. Species abundance was correlated with prevailing microhabitat, water quality, flow and other seasonal environmental conditions. Seasonal presence and abundance of important anadromous species was also documented. Lastly, Kleinschmidt evaluated the ability of fish to enter and leave various areas of the river under different flow and habitat conditions.
The resulting data provided the most detail and quantification of the fish community in this portion of the Kennebec ever collected, and included both significant first detections of a number of fish species not previously known to inhabit this section of Kennebec, and documented the habitat use of the area by relatively rare species such as adult Atlantic salmon. Studies were conducted collaboratively with Maine state fishery agencies, including Maine Department of Marine Resources, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and Atlantic Salmon Commission.
For more information contact Brandon Kulik.