November 10, 2005

Contact: John Ross, TU Virginia Council Chair, (540) 592-7020

U.S. House of Representatives Approves Funds for Restoration of Penobscot River
Chairman Wolf (R-Virginia) plays critical role in assuring funds

Washington – The United States House of Representatives has approved $500,000 for the restoration of the Penobscot River.

These funds were approved as part of the final FY2006 appropriations bill for Science, State, Justice, and Commerce.  Once approved by the Senate, the bill will be sent to the President for his signature.  The Penobscot measure will support the restoration of Atlantic salmon populations and other sea-run species in the Penobscot River, the largest river in Maine.  This represents the last, best chance to restore Atlantic salmon to a watershed in the United States. 

 “This appropriation will provide a tremendous boost to Atlantic salmon recovery efforts in the Northeast,” said John Ross, Chairman of Trout Unlimited’s Virginia Council.  “We thank Congressman Wolf for his ongoing interest and involvement in this project.  As chairman of the relevant subcommittee, his support was instrumental to assuring passage of this important measure.”

The Penobscot River Restoration Project is an innovative, collaborative project designed to restore fisheries and reconfigure hydroelectric generation.  The ultimate goal of the project is the decommissioning of three Penobscot River dams.  The federal funds approved by the House will support the acquisition of these dams and restore access to fifty percent of historic Atlantic salmon spawning habitat in the Penobscot watershed with one dam crossing or less.  

To successfully complete this project, Trout Unlimited is working actively with a number of partners, including PPL of Maine, the Penobscot Indian Nation, the State of Maine, the Department of the Interior, and a coalition of conservation organizations.