Several years ago, I was looking for a way to diversify our company's products and services. And for some reason, I was drawn to the production of a documentary on the Salmon management for the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. I'm not sure what lured me to this, but I found it very educational once I started my research. With this years opening of a limited season for Atlantic Salmon fishing, I feel it is an appropriate time to revisit some of my findings.

In planning my documentary, the first obstacle I encountered was finding biologist that would speak to me on camera. I was finally referred to Mary King, a dynamic biologist that was formerly a biology teacher. Her love for teaching and exploring the environment was a perfect fit for my interviewing process. She showed us sampling stations, sonar facilities, and scale records that provided information on years at sea. The information was fascinating.

In this posting, I will explain some of the concerns with bank and stream traffic.
With Alaska's short growing season stream weed growth is premium real estate for fingerlings and smolt. The Kenia River has strict development regulations to counter the amount of foot traffic the river sees.

As access to the river becomes more important to waterfront land owners, the pressure on the river becomes greater. People want to fish and add docks for boats and stream access. When docks are built the, weed growth under the dock suffers. Management authorities implemented regulations requiring docks made of a grid type aluminum material that allows the light to pass through. This promotes weed growth under the docks and preserves bank structure.

Weed growth provides the hiding spots that the smolt need. It also protects the river from uncontrolled erosion. Erosion and calving are natural to a river's healthy progression. As a river ages it seeks new paths. Calving of banks is a natural process of bank erosion. As river flows fluctuate and currents undermine well rooted river banks, banks eventual calf similar to a glacier calving.

Strongly rooted banks calf in a manner different from glaciers. As the river erodes with current and flow, soft material beneath the rooted bank erodes first. The overhanging bank provides excellent spawning and and smolt habitat. The darkness provides protection to smolt from predators and the gravely bottom that becomes present in some streams provides excellent spawning habitat.

Now, remember, this information is relevant to the Kenai river in Alaska. But I can't help to imagining the possibility that the same habitat is important to Maine's Atlantic Salmon rivers. This is were stream access becomes important.

When King Salmon spawn, they make use of the stream's gravel to protect their eggs. In fact, they are so genetically programed to preserve the eggs, guides use it as a major form of fishing.

On my first trip to Alaska, I travelled with several friends who were more concerned with seeing Denali than catching fish. Fortunately, this was not my motivation. I called the airline and extended my stay by three days while my friends left. I headed for the Kenai Peninsula where the fish were running.

When I arrived at the lodge, I was exhausted, but my guide insisted on an evening trip to the Kenai. He launched the drift boat, placing me in the front seat. We fished two rods, each baited with a ball of cured salmon eggs. He back rowed from the rear of the boat watching the rods. "GRAB THE ROD, GRAB THE ROD" he shouted pointing to my right. I grabbed it waiting for a King Salmon to strike. "Too late! You have to set the hook." he exclaimed. "I felt no fish!" I stated, while wondering what I was looking for.

I looked at him inquisitively, as he explained that the Kings grab the ball of eggs in an attempt to tuck them back into the stream's rocky bed. They do not strike and run. They pick up the ball and gingerly attempt to place it in a safe crevice on the river's bottom.

The King Salmon has been genetically programmed by natures persistence "of the survival of the fittest" to preserve eggs by placing them safely on the gravely bottom. I can only imagine how stream fishing in Maine effects eggs patiently waiting on the bottom to mature. Only good research can answer this question.

Many times biologist are forced to rely on old studies of fisheries as the species and environment evolve. Just as nature demands the survival of the fittest, we as fisherman we should demand high degrees of research. At times this can only happen with our support.

With limited budgets and federal funds, the only way I see some of this research taking place in Maine is through volunteerism. People committed to marine, aquatic and habitat preservation. And, I know it is possible!

In my formative years, I lived along the coast in an area of Biddeford known as Hills Beach. I always dreamed of digging clams on the flats and bringing them home for a clam feed. That opportunity was not available to me. For many years the flats were closed due to pollution and they remained closed for years due to the states reliance an past research.

As the area developed and plumbing laws changed, many of the septic systems were upgraded. Overboard discharge systems were located and eliminated while inadequately designed systems were updated. But the research on the flats abutting these properties lagged behind until one volunteer decided to make a concerted effort.

This volunteer approached the state and the city finding out what was needed to reopen the flats. Due to his persistence, Biddeford clamming emerged as a reality. The flats have been reopened on a limited basis and I have harvested clams with my friends and family to the degree that my mother refused the last several pecks offered her. Note: my mother loves Maine steamers!

Wouldn't it be great if volunteers began approaching state biologist with innovative programs of research. Wouldn't it be great if the number of Maine based volunteer research members overflowed and research programs were devised by biologist working with volunteers as a team. I see this as a viable possibility and am asking people to step forward and make a difference.

I truly feel this will happen by us promoting ideas and opinions to various organizations. Join me in my activism to provide strong research that will promote healthy stream regulations and protect valuable habitat real estate.

If you have ideas, or can mention current volunteer research that is taking place, post ideas and remarks at the bottom of this page. With the current progress of dam removal, time is crucial in obtaining specific research to serve fisheries biologist in their need to understand one of this state's valuable assets.

Have fun fishing and don't forget to pick up your Maine Atlantic Salmon fishing license. This limited season is open from September 15th to October 15th, 2006.

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