C.M.R. 13, 188, ch. 60, ATLANTIC SALMON MANAGEMENT IN THE KENNEBEC RIVER, app 188-60-I

Current through 2024-25, June 19, 2024

Appendix 188-60-I - KENNEBEC RIVER BROWN TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Mainstem Kennebec River, Edwards dam in Augusta to CMP dam in Skowhegan.

GOAL:

To establish an open water sport fishery for brown trout.

OBJECTIVES:

I. Catch rate of 0.20 brown trout per angler day.

II. Mean size of 1.5 pounds per fish creeled.

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES:

I. Updated habitat inventory

II. Annual stockings of 7,000 spring yearling brown trout to commence in 1985.

A. Each planting is to be marked.

B. Three areas in the river will be stocked:

1. between Edwards dam, Augusta and Milstar dam, Waterville,

2. between the Scott Paper dam in Winslow and the Shawmut dam in Fairfield, and

3. between Shawmut dam in Fairfield and the CMP dam in Skowhegan.

III. Regulation of the fishery

A. Season length

1. open to fishing from April 1 to October 31.

2. closed to ice fishing.

B. Bag limit

1. daily bag limit to be the general law limit in the period April 1 through September 15.

2. daily bag limit in the period September 16 through October 31 to be 1 (one) fish in the aggregate of the salmon, trout, and togue species.

C. Length limits: 12 inch minimum legal length on all salmonids.

D. Terminal tackle restrictions: general law.

IV. A public relations program will be carried out to inform the public of the goals, objectives, and strategies of the management program. The public will be kept up-to-date regarding progress toward achieving the program's goals and objectives and will be apprised of changes in management strategies.

EVALUATION:

I. Evaluation will emphasize voluntary angler records via booklets, postcards, and census boxes. This data will be supplemented by spot creel surveys.

II. Data collected will be utilized to estimate catch rate (number of brown trout creeled per angler day), mean length and weight of brown trout creeled, age class and size class distribution of brown trout creeled, the ratio of legal-lei gth browns to sublegal-length browns in the catch, and the percentage of naturally reproduced browns in the catch.

III. Data collected will be analyzed annually and the results made available in a brief progress report.

IV. Analysis of the success of the project will take place in 1990 and a final report will be generated by 1991.

Sebasticook River, Winslow to Pittsfield.

A brown trout management plan will be developed in 1985 for this tributary of the Kennebec River. Goals, objectives, and management strategies will be similar to those incorporated into the management plan for the mainstem of the river. Implementation of the Sebasticook River Brown Trout Management Plan will be contingent upon improvement of water quality to the level now found in the Kennebec, availability of sufficient quantities of brown trout to fill the needs of the plan, and availability of sufficient manpower for implementation.

Estuary, from the "Chops" in Woolwich to Edwards dam in Augusta.

A management plan for an estuarine brown trout fishery will be developed in 1985. Goals, objectives, and management strategies will be modified to reflect the biological and administrative pecularities of the estuary. Implementation of this plan is contingent upon the satisfactory resolution of management and regulatory conflicts with the Department of Marine Resources, availability of sufficient quantities of brown trout to fill the needs of the plan, and availability of sufficient manpower for implementation.

Submitted by:

J. Dennis McNeish

Dated: April 1, 1985

C.M.R. 13, 188, ch. 60, ATLANTIC SALMON MANAGEMENT IN THE KENNEBEC RIVER, app 188-60-I