Maine Coast Heritage Trust Invites Community Members to Join Local Events Across Five Rivers for World Fish Migration Day
Topsham, Maine — [May 18, 2026] — Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) will join partners and communities across the state on May 23 for a series of locally led events to celebrate migratory fish, river restoration, and the partnerships driving this conservation work forward. World Fish Migration Day activities will take place from York County to eastern Washington County on the Mousam, Bagaduce, Sheepscot, Orange and Narraguagus Rivers — all part of MCHT’s multi‑year Rivers Initiative.
Held every two years in more than 60 countries, World Fish Migration Day highlights the importance of free‑flowing rivers and the species that depend on them. In Maine, the return of alewives, shad, salmon, eels and other migratory fish has become a powerful symbol of long‑term collaboration among individuals, towns, tribes, agencies and nonprofits. Unfortunately, many rivers remain fragmented by aging dams, undersized road crossings, and the growing impacts of climate change — challenges that make continued restoration efforts increasingly important.
“River restoration in Maine has always been a community effort,” said Ciona Ulbrich, associate director of community relations at MCHT. “World Fish Migration Day is a chance for people to witness that recovery firsthand: to see fish returning, partners collaborating, and communities reconnecting with these rivers.”
Five Rivers, One Statewide Effort
Through the Rivers Initiative, MCHT has identified five coastal Maine rivers with great potential for restoration and long‑term ecological impact. To celebrate World Fish Migration Day, MCHT and community partners will host events at each of these rivers (see schedule below). Each river offers unique opportunities to improve habitat, reconnect waterways and strengthen local partnerships:
- Mousam River – A heavily impacted yet ecologically vibrant watershed in Southern Maine, the Mousam provides native brook trout habitat, contains cold-water aquifers, and hosts important salt marsh sparrow habitat in the lower watershed. Current needs include improving fish passage at multiple barriers and addressing habitat fragmentation caused by old dams and undersized road crossings.
- Sheepscot River – One of Maine’s most significant rivers for Atlantic salmon, brook trout and other cold‑water species. Ongoing work focuses on restoring access to upstream spawning habitat, replacing failing culverts, and conserving riparian buffers and sources of cold water.
- Bagaduce River – Among Maine’s most productive estuaries — and now the first watershed that is fully restored for fish passage after the installation of five nature‑like fishways. Continued monitoring and habitat protection are needed to support long‑term resilience in the face of climate change.
- Narraguagus River – A cool, forested watershed connecting the inland forest to the sea and supporting salmon, shad and a wide range of wildlife. Work is underway to improve fish passage, restore habitat, and protect surrounding forestland, including recent conservation of more than 13,500 acres in the watershed.
- Orange River – One of the largest freshwater sources flowing into Cobscook Bay, it is surrounded by one of coastal Maine’s largest unfragmented forest blocks. Restoration needs include removing barriers to fish passage, protecting additional watershed lands and improving habitat connectivity to support climate resilience.
World Fish Migration Day Event Schedule
Note that four of the five events take place May 23; one event takes place May 29.
Mousam River — Kennebunk
Date and Time: May 23, 1:00–4:00 p.m. Rain date: May 24 | Location: Rogers Pond Preserve, 49 Water Street, Kennebunk
A family‑friendly celebration of fish, rivers, and World Fish Migration Day. Activities may include fly‑tying and casting demos and alewife viewing below Main Street. MCHT partners include Maine Rivers, Kennebunk Land Trust, Trout Unlimited, Kennebunk Conservation Commission, Southern Maine Planeteers and others. Media contact: Chris Schorn, cschorn@mcht.org
Sheepscot River — Whitefield
Date and Time: May 29, 4:00 p.m. | Location: Palermo Preserve; Sheepscot General Store
A walk-and-learn event held in partnership with Midcoast Conservancy, the Department of Marine Resources and MCHT at Midcoast Conservancy’s Palermo Preserve in Palermo. Attendance is limited and RSVP is required through the Midcoast Conservancy website. Following the walk-and-learn, the three groups will have an informational table at the Sheepscot General Store’s summer music series.
Narraguagus River — Cherryfield
Date and Time: May 23, 1:00–3:00 p.m. | Location: Lawn below the dam, downtown Cherryfield
A community event focused on summer 2026 construction plans for a nature-like fishway that will replace an aging dam that has impaired fish passage for more than 65 years. Project partners, which include MCHT, Downeast Salmon Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Town of Cherryfield, will share a history of the dam, the project, and plans and renderings. Media contact: Jacob van de Sande, jvandesande@mcht.org
Orange River — Whiting
Date and Time: May 23, 9:00–11:00 a.m. | Location: MCHT Office Parking Lot, 160 U.S. Route 1
A community gathering to share summer 2026 construction plans for the Orange River Millpond Dam fishway construction. Project partners will share details for 2026 construction and plans for the future.
Media contact: Cathy Lookabaugh, clookabaugh@mcht.org
Bagaduce River — Alewife Day (Brooksville / Penobscot / Sedgwick)
Date and Time: May 23, 11:00 AM–2:00 p.m. | Location: Town-owned boat ramp at Pierce Pond on Mill Creek Road, Penobscot
Hosted by the Three Town Alewife Committee, with MCHT as co‑lead. Activities include partner tables (Downeast Salmon Federation, Blue Hill Heritage Trust, Maine Maritime Academy, SeaGrant and University of Maine), fish printing (gyotaku), aquatic invertebrate ID, an ice cream truck, smoked alewife, and student work from the Bagaduce Stewards Alewife curriculum.
Media contact: Mike Thalhauser, mthalhauser@mcht.org
About World Fish Migration Day
World Fish Migration Day is a global awareness campaign celebrated every two years to highlight the connections that migratory fishes have with human and non-human species, lands and waters. This day is marked by celebrations, events and action campaigns organized by people around the world. In 2026, thousands of organizations from around the world coordinate events around the common theme of connecting fish, rivers and people.
About Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) advances the conservation of lands and waters in Maine to ensure ecological wellbeing and foster thriving communities. Since 1970, we have worked to guide the conservation movement and support a network of more than 80 land trusts. Together with partners, we’ve protected over 200,000 acres and 341 coastal islands, supporting the needs of people, plants, animals, and ecosystems across the coast. We’re dedicated to ensuring that our natural areas can mitigate the effects of climate change and support all people and life for generations to come. Learn more about our work and get involved at mcht.org.
Media Contacts:
Betta Stothart for Maine Coast Heritage Trust
bstothart@gmail.com / 207-400-0015
Linda Lidov, Director of Communications, Maine Coast Heritage Trust
llidov@mcht.org / 207-607-4574