TIMES RECORD • February 24, 2025
Promising signs in local streambeds signal hope for an Atlantic salmon rebound. With continued restoration efforts, that is. A recent survey of redds (nests) conducted by the Department of Marine Resources and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust revealed a higher-than-expected count in the Sheepscot River, which starts between Georgetown and Southport, winding its way 66 miles north to Montville. For the past two decades, counting redds has largely revealed grim news. By 2000, the population had dropped so significantly that the species was declared federally endangered. Since then, runs have only gradually improved. Melissa Cote, Midcoast Conservancy Sheepscot River Watershed manager, said, “The Sheepscot salmon population is potentially the most resilient in Maine when it comes to climate change.”