Damariscotta Mills Fish Restoration Ladder ME
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Description: The Damariscotta Mills Fish Restoration Ladder, also known as the Damariscotta Mills Fishway, is a structure located in Damariscotta Mills, a village in the town of Newcastle, Maine. The fish ladder is situated on the Damariscotta River and is designed to aid the migration of anadromous fish, particularly alewives, as they travel upstream to spawn. Anadromous fish are species that hatch in freshwater, migrate to the ocean to grow and mature, and return to freshwater to reproduce. The Damariscotta River historically served as an important spawning habitat for alewives, but dams constructed in the 18th and 19th centuries disrupted their natural migration patterns. To restore access to spawning grounds, the Damariscotta Mills Fish Restoration Ladder was built. The ladder is a series of interconnected pools with gradually increasing water levels that allow the fish to swim upstream. Alewives are able to navigate the ladder and reach the freshwater areas where they spawn. The fish ladder is typically open during the alewife migration season, which typically occurs in the spring, usually from late April to early June. Visitors have the opportunity to witness the impressive spectacle of thousands of alewives making their way up the ladder, overcoming obstacles to reach their spawning grounds. The Damariscotta Mills Fish Restoration Ladder serves not only as an important conservation tool but also as an educational and recreational attraction. It raises awareness about the importance of maintaining healthy fish populations and the ecological significance of preserving natural migration patterns.