Kennebec Initiative Hosts Planning Meetings

             An exciting initiative focused on the Kennebec River, started by SAM and the Department of Conservation, now has the support of many state and regional groups.

            Josh Platt, Kennebec River Initiative project director, hosted three public meetings in January to gather ideas for the project.  Here are some excerpts from Platt’s report.

             The Kennebec River Initiative recognizes the need for coordinated action to secure for the future the important scenic, ecological, fisheries, wildlife, recreational, cultural, and economic assets of the Kennebec River corridor.  The first phase of the KRI will conclude with an Action Plan that will identify areas best suited for protection, access, or development, and the partnerships needed for ongoing protection and enhancement of the river corridor’s assets and resources.

            During the month of January, the KRI held three River Reach Committee meetings along the Kennebec corridor.  The three reaches are:  Tidal (Phippsburg through Augusta), Central (Sidney/Vassalboro through Skowhegan), and Northern (Norridgewock to outlet at Moosehead Lake).  The information gathered at these stakeholder meetings will be critical when we write the Action Plan later in the year.

            While many of the discussion topics were common among the three reaches, other themes emerged that were specific to particular reaches.  We found that areas of land along or near the river could be grouped into four categories for recommended actions:

Protect:  maintain or increase protection of the existing area;

Remediate:  this could include cleaning up pollution at a site, repairing damage such as erosion from storm water runoff, and/or restoring habitat;

Access:  a broadly defined value that includes motorized and non-motorized access.  The issue of marketing for specific uses is closely tied to access;

Develop:  some areas lend themselves to waterfront development that would attract visitors.  Stakeholders who want to see the river promoted for tourism pointed out the need for more lodging, restaurants and other attractions.  The idea is to make the best use of the built up areas.

            All of the reach meetings were attended by some extremely knowledgeable and passionate participants who share an energy around protecting and enhancing the Kennebec corridor.  As the meetings were concluding, groups were continuing to busily add information to the maps – a sure sign that we are on the right track.

            The project has drawn a wide variety of interests in each of the three reaches.  Stakeholders include landowners, town reps, business owners, professional guides, land trusts, state agency reps, and cultural specialists. 

            All along the Kennebec, stakeholders stressed the value of a healthy and semi-wild river to local communities and the economy.

            There was general agreement that the river was not being used as much as it could be; however, there were differences – both between reaches and among stakeholders in each reach – as to the carrying capacity of the river in terms of scenic/aesthetic enjoyment and profitability of the businesses that depend on the river.  Consequently, the question of how to market the river for sustainable use will be an issue.

             The KRI management team, a five member board that includes SAM’s executive director, meets in early March at SAM’s new conference center to follow up on all of the information gathered at the reach meetings and move the project forward.