The Centuries-Old Fish Ladder That Feeds Maine’s Lobster Industry
Each spring, more than one million alewives navigate to the fresh water of Damariscotta Lake—with a little help BY ANNIE SHERMAN APRIL 26, 2022 Click here to read story
Glenn Kessler
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Run with the Alewives!
What better way to celebrate the running alewives than with a 5K run? On the morning of Saturday May 28th 2022 at 9:00AM please join us for a healthy community run that includes cash prizes, professional timing and a gorgeous course along the Great Salt Bay!
Alewives update.
May 25. The alewives are still running! We should have plenty of alewives to see on Memorial Day Weekend. With this many in, the tide doesn’t matter!
Will the Fish Ladder open this spring?
We’ve had a number of inquiries about if and when the Fish Ladder will open. That decision hasn’t been formally made yet. It’s likely that the Fish Ladder will be open, but please check back on this site about May 1. We’ll post an answer by then.
Don’t Forget to Vote!
In March, the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation will give more than $140,000 to 44 local nonprofit organizations in Maine and New Hampshire. Vote for the Fish Ladder. to cast your vote to support the fish ladder restoration, click bangor.com/cmm. Select “Other” and enter Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration
More than one million alewives climbing the Damariscotta Mills fish ladder
WMTW New 8 report about the Fish Ladder
The alewives’ journey
This 5-minute video was taken at the Fish Ladder on May 29. Watch closely and you’ll see the alewives make their way from the lower pool to the higher.
The Little Fish that Could
During the past two decades, a cast of thousands has collaborated to bring millions of alewives back to Maine’s streams and rivers. Read the complete article by Philip Conkling in the April issue of Maine. magazine.
Alewife Festival Postponed
To conform with guidelines concerning large gatherings and social distancing, we have decided to cancel the Alewife Festival and the Run with the Alewives road race originally scheduled for May 23.