More Than $4.1 Million For Fish Habitat Restoration, Stocking Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured a total of $4,167,000 to expand fish habitats and support stocking activities in the Fiscal Year 2023 Interior appropriations bill.

The omnibus funding package passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29.  It will now be passed by the House before heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Our state has always been a good steward of our lakes, ponds, and rivers and operates some of the most productive hatcheries in the country to keep these habitats well stocked.  In order to maintain this success, however, it is vital that we continue to invest in Maine’s hatchery program,” said Senator Collins.  “This funding will help restore critical habitat to protect native fish populations, which will benefit current and future generations of anglers.”

Details on the three Maine projects Senator Collins secured are below:

Maine Hatchery Revitalization

Recipient: Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine

Project Location: Statewide

Amount: $700,000

Project Purpose: To support needed research and planning related to expanded hatchery production of salmonid fish in Maine.

Orange River Watershed Restoration

Recipient: Town of Whiting

Project Location: Whiting, ME

Amount: $2,900,000

Project Purpose: To restore a fish passage in a key step to help restore critical habitat for the endangered Atlantic Salmon throughout the Orange River Watershed.

Danforth Fishway Restoration

Recipient: Atlantic Salmon Federation

Project Location: Danforth, ME

Amount: $567,000

Project Purpose: To help restore native fish passage to 137 miles of stream as well as nearly 9,000 acres of lake habitat for alewives.

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