Rapid River Invasive Species Management
Rapid River Coalition, Orvis Corporation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,
Rangeley lakes Heritage Trust and Trout Unlimited
Augusta, ME
The Rapid River is a high-quality, cold-water fishery most
noted for the quality of native brook trout located in the
Rangeley Lakes region of northwestern Maine.
Smallmouth bass were illegally introduced to the
watershed in the 1980’s and have invaded the Rapid River
where they compete with, and prey upon the native brook
trout. Flow in the river is controlled by releases from
Middle Dam, a FERC-licensed storage dam.
Kleinschmidt conducted an IFIM study in collaboration
with TU, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries, FPL
Energy Maine, and the Rapid River Coalition, to target
flow pulses that can be released from Middle Dam that
could impair bass fry survival without threatening brook
trout production. The study determined that periodic flow
pulses exceeding 1,000 cfs during June (fry) and
throughout the growing season (YOY) should approximate
these conditions. Kleinschmidt also performed a water
budget analysis to assess the operational feasibility of
releasing these flows for the necessary frequency and
duration needed to affect bass. Next, Kleinschmidt
designed and is currently conducting a monitoring study to
empirically determine the number and duration of flow
pulses required to impact recruitment of smallmouth bass.
For further information contact Brandon Kulik, Kleinschmidt, Pittsfield, Maine (207) 487-3328.