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

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 draft Fiscal Year 2023 Interior appropriations bill.  The bill, which was officially released by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.

“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.  As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

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

Maine Hatchery Revitalization

Recipient: Sportsmen’s Alliance of Maine

Project Location: Statewide

Amount Requested: $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 Requested: $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 Requested: $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.