Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Maine
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The PIN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to conduct two major bridge improvements on the Birch Stream Road. These bridges will be replaced with larger, structures to improve fish passage and capacity to handle high flow events in the face of climate change This work is anticipated to increase the resiliency of this important road network for Tribal members and Tribal forestry operations. This road runs through a large area of impounded beaver habitat thought to be important for the ecosystem. Many species of diadromous and resident fish currently inhabit and are indigenous to Birch Stream including brook trout and Endangered Atlantic salmon. This project aims to contribute to evaluations of how the improvements of these bridges will affect the habitat in this wetland complex.