WEBVTT 00:01.100 --> 00:04.333 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% (tribe chanting in foreign language) 00:13.833 --> 00:16.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - So, yeah, Atlantic salmon have been a huge part 00:16.433 --> 00:18.000 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% of the Penobscot culture. 00:18.000 --> 00:23.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% They've fed our ancestors since the beginning of time, 00:24.333 --> 00:26.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and culturally, one of the most important species 00:26.566 --> 00:27.733 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% to the tribe. 00:27.733 --> 00:29.766 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - You know, it's hundreds of generations 00:29.766 --> 00:33.266 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% of that connection to the fish and to the river, 00:33.266 --> 00:35.666 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% and I felt that presence. 00:37.133 --> 00:39.666 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - Atlantic salmon made up around a third of our diet, 00:39.666 --> 00:42.733 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% traditionally, very important to the tribe. 00:42.733 --> 00:45.566 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% That's kind of why we have a fishing village here, 00:45.566 --> 00:48.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and that's why we're located where we are at Indian Island. 00:48.266 --> 00:50.500 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - Here at Indian Island, just below Indian Island, 00:50.500 --> 00:52.800 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% is where the Milford Dam is now. 00:52.800 --> 00:55.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Historically, that was a big set of falls there, 00:55.600 --> 00:58.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Ledge falls, a perfect place to harvest salmon 00:58.266 --> 01:01.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% during the spring runs. 01:01.000 --> 01:05.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - Building of the dams 200 years ago or so, 01:05.166 --> 01:06.833 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% when those dams went up 01:06.833 --> 01:10.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and all these animals had to change, 01:10.233 --> 01:12.166 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% they couldn't get up the river, the farm, 01:12.166 --> 01:13.466 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% the water warmed up, 01:13.466 --> 01:14.966 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% there was pollution in the river, 01:14.966 --> 01:16.833 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% there was Bach in the river. 01:16.833 --> 01:20.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% They had to change their lifestyle in order to survive, 01:21.233 --> 01:23.166 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% and we did, too. 01:23.166 --> 01:27.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% I was on the river as a teenager in the '50s. 01:27.200 --> 01:28.866 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% There was no salmon in the river. 01:28.866 --> 01:33.233 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% I never saw a salmon until I was fully grown. 01:33.233 --> 01:36.800 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% I saw the river at its very worst, 01:38.133 --> 01:42.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% but I also can remember the changes that came about. 01:44.200 --> 01:48.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - So I started working with salmon in 1994 01:48.466 --> 01:50.666 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% When I first started working here, 01:50.666 --> 01:53.333 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% water resources for Penobscot Nation, 01:53.333 --> 01:55.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% you know, instantly fell in love with the work, 01:55.466 --> 01:57.500 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% instantly became my favorite fish. 01:57.500 --> 02:00.733 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% So here we are 29 years later, 02:00.733 --> 02:03.966 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% So it's been really a highlight of my career 02:03.966 --> 02:08.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to be able to work with restoration Salmon. 02:08.133 --> 02:10.133 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% - Well, salmon is probably 02:10.133 --> 02:12.966 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% the most challenging fish to recover. 02:12.966 --> 02:15.400 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% Our juvenile salmon require the cleanest, 02:15.400 --> 02:17.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% coldest water you could imagine, 02:17.233 --> 02:19.733 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5% So they had to get to the furthest reaches of the headwaters 02:19.733 --> 02:21.200 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% where they would live for two years. 02:21.200 --> 02:22.566 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% The adults would eventually make their way 02:22.566 --> 02:24.200 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% back out to the ocean 02:24.200 --> 02:28.300 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And so salmon needing this massive wide range of habitats 02:28.300 --> 02:31.900 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and way upstream, they were the first ones to be impacted 02:31.900 --> 02:33.233 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% by the building of dams 02:33.233 --> 02:35.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and the deforestation of the woods 02:35.866 --> 02:37.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% here in the Penobscot drainage. 02:37.433 --> 02:40.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% The east branches had every bit of log and rock 02:40.200 --> 02:41.400 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% and everything dredged out of it, 02:41.400 --> 02:43.866 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% so we could flush logs down to bangore 02:43.866 --> 02:45.800 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% The ecosystem is trying to heal itself. 02:48.633 --> 02:51.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - Our rivers have so few salmon coming back to them 02:51.800 --> 02:54.866 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% that there's a lot of habitat, a lot of river miles, 02:54.866 --> 02:57.900 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% that have either no salmon or very few salmon, 02:57.900 --> 03:00.533 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% And for the last several decades, 03:00.533 --> 03:02.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% we've used hatcheries to raise salmon 03:02.433 --> 03:07.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to either an egg or a fry or a par or a smolt 03:07.300 --> 03:10.300 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% and put them in the rivers to grow the rest of, 03:10.300 --> 03:11.633 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% you know, spend the rest of the time in the rivers 03:11.633 --> 03:13.166 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% and go to the ocean 03:13.166 --> 03:17.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and hopefully survive the really high mortality rates at sea 03:18.500 --> 03:20.000 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% and come back to the rivers to spawn. 03:20.000 --> 03:22.166 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% So the Salmon for Maine's Rivers project 03:22.166 --> 03:25.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% is an effort to get more salmon 03:25.533 --> 03:26.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% spawning directly in the rivers. 03:26.966 --> 03:28.466 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% The biggest salmon that spend 03:28.466 --> 03:31.000 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% most of their life in the river do better in the ocean, 03:31.000 --> 03:34.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% so the more salmon we can have growing up in our rivers, 03:34.333 --> 03:36.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% the more salmon we can have coming back home, 03:36.866 --> 03:39.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% even if marine survival stays really low. 03:41.800 --> 03:46.800 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% (people chatter) (water splashing) 03:55.500 --> 03:59.166 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% - [Fisher 1] 605? - [Fisher 2] Yeah. 03:59.166 --> 04:01.100 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% - [Fisher 1] 218-3? 04:01.100 --> 04:03.933 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% (water splashing) 04:24.166 --> 04:29.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% (trailer engine revving) (birds chirping) 04:30.666 --> 04:32.533 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - [Fisher 3] You ready down there? 04:32.533 --> 04:33.600 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% - [Fisher 1] You guys ready? 04:33.600 --> 04:34.666 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% - [Fisher 2] Guys ready? 04:34.666 --> 04:36.033 align:left position:37.5% line:89% size:52.5% All right. 04:36.033 --> 04:38.866 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% (water splashing) 04:52.033 --> 04:54.700 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% (fishers cheering) 04:54.700 --> 04:56.666 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% - I think having the Atlantic salmon 04:56.666 --> 05:00.533 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% come back to our waters in greater numbers, hopefully, 05:00.533 --> 05:01.900 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% like through this project, 05:01.900 --> 05:04.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that would be a really amazing experience, 05:04.266 --> 05:06.400 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% hopefully for us to experience 05:06.400 --> 05:09.000 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% or even future generations 05:09.000 --> 05:10.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And just to see where these salmon go, 05:10.733 --> 05:12.333 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% like there's trackers in them 05:12.333 --> 05:14.400 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% So to see where they're going to breed 05:14.400 --> 05:16.600 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and when they're going to sea 05:16.600 --> 05:19.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and just kind of learning more about their lifestyle 05:19.266 --> 05:22.500 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% and especially as climate change is happening 05:22.500 --> 05:25.600 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and hopefully they come back to 05:26.633 --> 05:28.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% some of the Penobscot headwaters 05:28.566 --> 05:31.433 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and hopefully we'll still see them, 05:31.433 --> 05:33.333 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% see them back at Matagamon stream. 05:36.266 --> 05:38.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - Not only is this kind of providing a method 05:38.566 --> 05:41.933 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% for some of us and our coworkers here 05:41.933 --> 05:44.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to be able to kind of interact with salmon 05:44.266 --> 05:48.433 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and get in the water with them 05:48.433 --> 05:49.766 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% and be in their presence, 05:49.766 --> 05:53.833 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% but also to just work towards the greater goal 05:53.833 --> 05:55.133 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% of salmon restoration 05:55.133 --> 05:58.233 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% is something that's really important to us 05:58.233 --> 06:01.200 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and something that holds a lot of meaning to all of us here. 06:02.666 --> 06:05.200 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (birds chirping) 06:05.200 --> 06:09.666 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% (tribe chanting in foreign language) 06:13.166 --> 06:16.533 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - Seeing the big fish swim away into the river 06:17.866 --> 06:19.833 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% to see everyone so excited. 06:19.833 --> 06:21.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% There were so many people there 06:21.566 --> 06:23.366 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% And the thing that I remember are the smiles, 06:23.366 --> 06:26.900 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% everyone was smiling It was just a really special day 06:26.900 --> 06:28.166 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% I don't think I've ever experienced 06:28.166 --> 06:30.500 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% anything quite like that in restoration. 06:31.566 --> 06:33.666 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% - Putting adult egg bearing salmon, 06:33.666 --> 06:37.033 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% releasing them into our streams is, 06:37.033 --> 06:40.166 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to me that was really something 06:40.166 --> 06:45.166 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% I was up in Matagamon gathering back last fall 06:46.633 --> 06:49.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and I came outta the woods and a pickup truck pulled out 06:50.666 --> 06:53.966 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and it was our water quality specialist 06:53.966 --> 06:56.300 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% and another guy works in the woods 06:56.300 --> 06:59.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and I said, "What are you guys doing here?" 06:59.133 --> 07:00.966 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% He said, "They're gonna release salmon. 07:00.966 --> 07:04.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% Man was caught stream adult salmon" I said, "Really?" 07:04.866 --> 07:08.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% He said, "Yeah," I said, "I gotta see this." 07:09.633 --> 07:12.133 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% So I went up and a whole bunch of people were there. 07:12.133 --> 07:17.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% They had a drum so I joined them singing and drumming 07:17.066 --> 07:19.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and then they started putting the fish in the stream 07:19.566 --> 07:24.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and to me that was a very spiritual occasion for me, 07:25.733 --> 07:27.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% standing on the bridge, 07:27.066 --> 07:29.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% watching those salmon laying in that pool 07:31.066 --> 07:34.366 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% I was thinking about my ancestors again, 07:35.766 --> 07:39.900 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% that they went through so much 07:39.900 --> 07:43.300 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% when they had that food source taken away 07:43.300 --> 07:46.033 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% because of the dams and the salmon. 07:46.033 --> 07:49.066 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% They couldn't make it up to their spawning grounds 07:49.066 --> 07:52.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And they had to change their lifestyle as well. 07:52.433 --> 07:55.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And here was these adult salmon being placed 07:55.066 --> 07:57.633 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% in one of our streams, 07:59.933 --> 08:02.933 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% which hopefully they will spawn 08:02.933 --> 08:06.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and their offspring will go out completing the circle. 08:08.500 --> 08:12.933 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% (tribe chanting in foreign language) 08:16.133 --> 08:18.133 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% - And it's just been really moving 08:18.133 --> 08:20.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to be able to see some of the younger staff 08:20.600 --> 08:22.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% actually get to handle the fish 08:22.766 --> 08:27.166 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and be reconnected with that, 08:27.166 --> 08:30.266 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% with that ancestors that we haven't been connected to at all 08:30.266 --> 08:33.633 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% in some cases for many years. 08:34.866 --> 08:37.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - My part in the release into Matagamon salmons 08:37.466 --> 08:40.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% was I was actually in the water getting the net 08:40.766 --> 08:43.700 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and putting the fish actually into the stream 08:43.700 --> 08:46.033 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% I had another person there helping me, but, 08:46.033 --> 08:47.600 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% 'cause they were just, 08:47.600 --> 08:50.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% they were so big I couldn't get them out myself really. 08:50.333 --> 08:52.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% And it was really special to be able to be a part of that 08:52.700 --> 08:55.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and to see them kind of take their first swim 08:55.466 --> 08:57.633 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% into the stream, into their natural habitat. 09:00.300 --> 09:02.866 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - Just to be able to, you know, feel their power 09:02.866 --> 09:05.333 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% Like as we were carrying them down 09:05.333 --> 09:08.200 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% in the nets to the stream, 09:08.200 --> 09:09.166 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% you could tell they were ready 09:09.166 --> 09:11.200 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% to be in their natural habitat 09:11.200 --> 09:13.266 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% after being in the tanks for so long 09:13.266 --> 09:16.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% And kind of to see them in their future habitat hopefully, 09:16.200 --> 09:19.166 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% hopefully they come back up to Matagamon stream and. 09:19.166 --> 09:20.666 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - You know, what I'd really like to see 09:20.666 --> 09:22.566 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% with Atlantic Salmon 09:22.566 --> 09:24.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% is that we would be able to bring the populations 09:24.866 --> 09:28.033 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% back to a point where tribal members 09:28.033 --> 09:30.533 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% would be able to exercise their treaty rights 09:30.533 --> 09:32.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to be able to consume Atlantic salmon again 09:32.833 --> 09:36.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and go out seasonally and harvest salmon. 09:37.166 --> 09:41.533 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% (tribe chanting in foreign language) 09:41.533 --> 09:43.000 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% East branch of the Penobscot 09:44.200 --> 09:46.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% has some of the best habitat in the state, 09:46.866 --> 09:48.566 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% if not all of New England 09:49.533 --> 09:50.766 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% Beautiful riffle pools 09:50.766 --> 09:55.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% all the way down through some nice sets of falls 09:55.233 --> 09:56.600 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% down through there. 09:56.600 --> 09:59.233 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% A lot of cold water in the East branch. 09:59.233 --> 10:01.266 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - And salmon really need cold water, 10:01.266 --> 10:03.100 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% especially as our river's warm 10:03.100 --> 10:06.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% they need to seek out pockets of just the right temperature 10:06.600 --> 10:08.100 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% to be able to thrive. 10:08.100 --> 10:10.766 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (water flowing) 10:15.766 --> 10:18.533 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - The study area would be from the Matagamon Lake dam 10:18.533 --> 10:22.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% down to a confluence of the Wassataquoik stream. 10:22.200 --> 10:26.533 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% We're gonna look at Matagamon dam assess fish passage there, 10:26.533 --> 10:29.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% come up with an alternatives analysis on the dam 10:29.433 --> 10:31.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and figure out what we can do to make that, 10:31.900 --> 10:34.200 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% to make fish passage better there. 10:34.200 --> 10:37.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Look at any areas where habitat can be improved. 10:37.566 --> 10:39.033 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - So they're looking at the flows there 10:39.033 --> 10:43.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to find optimal flows at Matagamon Dam, 10:43.500 --> 10:47.233 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% seeing if we need to adjust that to optimize it for salmon. 10:47.233 --> 10:49.866 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (water flowing) 10:55.233 --> 10:58.166 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% You know, we've collected a lot of data in the East Branch 10:58.166 --> 11:02.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% for as long as I've been working here for 29 years now. 11:02.266 --> 11:03.766 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% For the most part, 11:03.766 --> 11:06.433 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% we have fortunately really clean water up there, 11:06.433 --> 11:09.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% the biggest pollutant we have up there now 11:09.166 --> 11:11.066 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% would be mercury in the fish, 11:11.066 --> 11:13.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% but by burning coal it creates methyl mercury 11:13.433 --> 11:18.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% goes up into the atmosphere and rain, snow event, 11:19.433 --> 11:23.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that mercury is flushed down into our waterways, 11:23.433 --> 11:25.766 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% works its way up through the food chain. 11:25.766 --> 11:27.600 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% We have consumption restrictions 11:27.600 --> 11:29.633 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% based on the mercury levels, 11:29.633 --> 11:32.333 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% short of that water quality looks really good 11:32.333 --> 11:35.400 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% in Matagamon and the East branch. 11:35.400 --> 11:37.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - The east branch has really great habitat. 11:37.666 --> 11:42.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It's one of the highest quality areas of rivers here, 11:44.100 --> 11:46.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% but it's still broken, there were still log drives, 11:46.100 --> 11:48.666 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% the sediments are impacted, 11:48.666 --> 11:50.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% the channels aren't quite right 11:50.966 --> 11:55.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and that if we're working hard in some of these areas, 11:55.100 --> 11:57.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% we can enrich the river 11:57.100 --> 12:01.800 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and kind of heal the river so that it can support the salmon 12:01.800 --> 12:03.633 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and all the other Sierra fish. 12:03.633 --> 12:06.300 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (water flowing) 12:16.566 --> 12:19.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - They raised the money and took out the dams 12:19.833 --> 12:22.566 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% and now we have a section of Penobscot 12:22.566 --> 12:27.566 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% that's free flowing like my ancestors saw it 12:29.666 --> 12:34.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and the fish and the insects and the animals 12:34.500 --> 12:38.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% all now can enjoy the river like their ancestors did. 12:40.833 --> 12:43.533 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% - The removal of the downstream dams 12:43.533 --> 12:44.833 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% brought back species 12:44.833 --> 12:47.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that we haven't seen in hundreds of years. 12:47.166 --> 12:49.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - As of yesterday, we broke the threshold 12:49.833 --> 12:51.500 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% of 3 million river herring, 12:51.500 --> 12:53.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% which is a record for the Penobscot River 12:54.666 --> 12:56.033 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% It's a drop in the bucket 12:56.033 --> 12:58.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to what the Penobscot could support, 12:59.300 --> 13:02.366 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% but it's amazing, amazing story 13:02.366 --> 13:05.433 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and I hope people are paying attention. 13:05.433 --> 13:07.233 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% Now we still have a lot of work to do, 13:07.233 --> 13:10.700 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% so salmon is the most challenging one to recover 13:10.700 --> 13:12.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% because there are still so many impediments 13:12.400 --> 13:14.400 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% to upstream passage, 13:14.400 --> 13:17.033 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% so much danger in downstream passage 13:17.033 --> 13:19.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% because we're not keeping these animals out of the turbines, 13:19.600 --> 13:20.900 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% the majority of the river 13:20.900 --> 13:23.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% is still clogged with these facilities, 13:23.033 --> 13:26.400 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% but the Penobscot restoration project, it said, 13:26.400 --> 13:31.400 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% "Hey look, look what can be done through compromise." 13:32.700 --> 13:33.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Big great things can happen through compromise 13:33.966 --> 13:35.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% if you're willing to put in the time and effort 13:35.966 --> 13:37.533 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and to sit across the table with people 13:37.533 --> 13:40.733 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% that you would consider your adversaries almost any day. 13:40.733 --> 13:45.733 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% This is an internationally renowned famous event 13:46.566 --> 13:48.100 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% and we did it right here, 13:48.100 --> 13:50.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% we did it on the home waters of the Penobscot Indian nation 13:50.433 --> 13:52.700 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and we should be very proud of it, 13:52.700 --> 13:54.266 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% but it's a stepping stone, 13:54.266 --> 13:59.233 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% we need six more, seven more, but anyway. 14:01.366 --> 14:05.133 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - [Sam] And the two orange, the vest that I had. 14:08.766 --> 14:10.800 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% - [Danielle] Are you ready? 14:10.800 --> 14:11.633 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% - I am. 14:14.966 --> 14:17.800 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - We can go out and look for the redds 14:17.800 --> 14:21.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and it tells us not only that at least two fish were there, 14:21.100 --> 14:22.666 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% but it tells us that they did spawn, 14:22.666 --> 14:24.300 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% that they did reproduce 14:24.300 --> 14:27.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% So it gives us a kind of an, it's not a complete count 14:27.466 --> 14:30.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% because we can't cover all of the ground 14:31.833 --> 14:34.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and viewing conditions can be pretty hard 14:34.133 --> 14:37.466 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% so you can even miss a red that that's right there 14:37.466 --> 14:39.033 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% but it does give us an index 14:39.033 --> 14:43.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% of how many fish are spawning in the river in a given year 14:45.300 --> 14:46.933 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Some of the smaller waters like Matagamon stream 14:46.933 --> 14:49.966 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% or or Sam air's, we can do it by foot, 14:49.966 --> 14:53.300 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% we hike through the woods and look for the redds 14:53.300 --> 14:54.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - [Sam] Alright, I have a feeling our first salmon redds 14:54.966 --> 14:56.700 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% are right around the corner. 14:56.700 --> 14:59.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - The female salmon does all the work digging the redd, 14:59.666 --> 15:02.566 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% she'll dig with her tail 15:02.566 --> 15:04.000 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% and it kind of creates this pressure 15:04.000 --> 15:06.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that kicks the sediment all up and it creates a pit 15:06.400 --> 15:08.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And once she's got the pit the way she likes it, 15:08.366 --> 15:10.866 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% she deposits her eggs, the male will be right next to her 15:10.866 --> 15:14.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and release the sperm at the same time those eggs settle in 15:14.033 --> 15:16.500 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and then she uses her tail to cover it over, 15:16.500 --> 15:18.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and the way that she does it, 15:18.533 --> 15:20.533 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% it also, it helps with the water flow, 15:20.533 --> 15:23.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% kind of the water comes up through that pot 15:23.000 --> 15:25.333 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% and kind of moves through the gravel, the redd, 15:25.333 --> 15:27.333 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% so the eggs get the right amount of oxygen, 15:27.333 --> 15:30.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% they get the flow they need through the winter 15:30.066 --> 15:31.433 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% - [Danielle] There it is. 15:31.433 --> 15:33.033 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% - There's the redd right there 15:33.033 --> 15:35.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and there's this big pile of sand down here. 15:35.266 --> 15:37.433 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% I'd say it's definitely a full redd. 15:38.833 --> 15:41.166 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [Danielle] Yeah, I think so. That's exciting. 15:41.166 --> 15:44.000 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% So this A, this is upstream of a release site, 15:44.000 --> 15:45.866 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% B it's a good size redd. 15:45.866 --> 15:47.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - [Sam] It's massive. Yeah, it's a beauty. 15:47.666 --> 15:49.066 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% - It's a good size redd, 15:49.066 --> 15:51.833 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% which I've had conversations with people 15:51.833 --> 15:54.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% about how big they see the sea car fish redds 15:54.200 --> 15:55.666 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% are likely to be, 15:57.766 --> 15:59.866 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and I'm glad to see it's a good size redd. 16:02.133 --> 16:03.466 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% We put these fish in the river 16:03.466 --> 16:05.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and even though they grew up in captivity, 16:05.566 --> 16:08.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% they were spawned, their parents were spawned in a hatchery. 16:08.933 --> 16:10.466 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% They grew up their entire lives in a hatchery. 16:10.466 --> 16:12.733 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% We put them in the river and they knew what to do, 16:12.733 --> 16:15.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% they knew how to find each other and spawn 16:15.266 --> 16:16.966 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and I mean, we could probably think about 16:16.966 --> 16:21.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% there being some complex genetics of innate behaviors 16:23.266 --> 16:25.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that are really highly conserved genetically 16:25.766 --> 16:29.166 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and passed down, or it's just, 16:29.166 --> 16:34.133 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% it's some very deep way of knowing on the part of the fish. 16:34.133 --> 16:37.133 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (water flowing) 16:37.133 --> 16:39.666 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% - When you sit in your house, 16:39.666 --> 16:41.733 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% in whatever town in Maine you live in, 16:41.733 --> 16:44.433 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% there is a stream very close to you 16:44.433 --> 16:46.266 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% Maybe you don't know the name of that stream, 16:46.266 --> 16:47.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% but that stream connects to another stream, 16:47.666 --> 16:48.600 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% which connects to another stream, 16:48.600 --> 16:50.266 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% which connects to the river 16:50.266 --> 16:51.600 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% and eventually gets to the ocean. 16:51.600 --> 16:53.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% You, no matter where you sit in your homestead 16:53.066 --> 16:54.300 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% here in the state of Maine, 16:54.300 --> 16:55.900 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% you are connected to the Atlantic Ocean, 16:55.900 --> 16:57.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% you are connected to the upstream habitat, 16:57.766 --> 16:59.066 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and just because you don't care 16:59.066 --> 17:00.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% about that little stream that's in your backyard 17:00.900 --> 17:02.166 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% doesn't mean that that little stream 17:02.166 --> 17:03.866 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% isn't incredibly important 17:03.866 --> 17:06.133 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% to the resilience of that ecosystem. 17:06.133 --> 17:08.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% But if you can cure one little piece of one little tributary 17:08.833 --> 17:10.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and one little capillary that's in your backyard 17:10.833 --> 17:14.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and take ownership and love it and feel pride in it 17:14.033 --> 17:16.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and tell your neighbors and your children about it, 17:16.566 --> 17:19.400 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% you have done something to set this river up for success. 17:19.400 --> 17:22.333 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (water flowing) 17:22.333 --> 17:24.866 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% - Personally, I'm glad to see studies, 17:24.866 --> 17:27.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% intensive studies done on the east branch, 17:27.400 --> 17:29.300 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% looking at the flows, 17:29.300 --> 17:31.366 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% kind of putting everything under the microscope 17:31.366 --> 17:33.466 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and hopefully coming up with a solution 17:33.466 --> 17:35.133 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% that everybody can be happy with 17:35.133 --> 17:38.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and that will help the salmon in the long run, 17:40.166 --> 17:43.500 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% in the future, continuing to work with salmon, 17:43.500 --> 17:45.733 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% continuing to get tribal youth involved, 17:45.733 --> 17:47.166 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% very important for the tribe. 17:48.500 --> 17:51.300 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - Being like a young person from our community, 17:51.300 --> 17:56.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% it's an honor to learn alongside some of the elders 17:57.500 --> 17:59.400 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% in our community and hear about their stories 17:59.400 --> 18:02.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and the knowledge that they know about the salmon 18:02.700 --> 18:07.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and the history of salmon to Penobscots and Wabanaki people. 18:08.800 --> 18:11.300 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% And honestly, for this to be our job 18:11.300 --> 18:15.400 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% to release salmon is quite special 18:16.733 --> 18:18.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It's kind of like we're bringing our ancestors back 18:18.433 --> 18:19.800 align:left position:37.5% line:89% size:52.5% in a way. 18:19.800 --> 18:22.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - Thinking about the ancestors, what they saw, 18:22.566 --> 18:26.033 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% the changes to their lifestyle 18:26.033 --> 18:29.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and what we were doing to bring a portion of that back 18:29.966 --> 18:34.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and then looking to the future that our grandchildren, 18:36.400 --> 18:38.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% what they would benefit from what we were doing today. 18:39.400 --> 18:40.733 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% - I hope that our future generations 18:40.733 --> 18:42.466 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% are able to experience salmon 18:42.466 --> 18:44.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% in a way that I think I haven't, 18:44.233 --> 18:46.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% like I've never seen wild salmon in our rivers 18:46.466 --> 18:48.633 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% And so I hope that our future generations 18:48.633 --> 18:49.933 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% are able to see that 18:49.933 --> 18:53.366 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and to live like how our ancestors used to. 18:53.366 --> 18:56.366 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Yeah, and I hope our ecosystems just keep getting healthier. 18:57.900 --> 19:01.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - My hope is that we can bring the salmon home, 19:01.133 --> 19:05.966 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% that the ecosystem will be functioning, 19:05.966 --> 19:07.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% that we'll see not just salmon, 19:07.966 --> 19:11.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% but all of the other sea run fish coming home, 19:11.666 --> 19:14.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% bringing nutrients with them from the ocean 19:14.266 --> 19:18.300 align:left position:27.5% line:77% size:62.5% to enrich the river and reconnect the river and the ocean. 19:18.300 --> 19:20.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - When we think about the Penobscot River, 19:20.500 --> 19:22.366 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% when you think ecosystem health, 19:22.366 --> 19:23.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% you have to think Gulf of Maine 19:23.966 --> 19:25.633 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and the forest and it's all connected, 19:25.633 --> 19:28.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% because a healthy forest means a healthy stream, 19:28.800 --> 19:30.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% means a healthy salmon, 19:30.366 --> 19:33.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% if they can get there and get back, you know. 19:33.000 --> 19:35.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - The connection between the Penobscots and the river 19:35.633 --> 19:38.533 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% and what it meant about our culture, 19:38.533 --> 19:40.633 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% not about just the salmon, 19:40.633 --> 19:44.433 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% all these other animals, insects, 19:44.433 --> 19:48.466 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% and everything that lived in on around the river 19:48.466 --> 19:49.466 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% would benefit. 19:51.300 --> 19:55.000 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% I hope our children and grandchildren 19:55.000 --> 20:00.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% can thank us as their ancestors for looking forward for them 20:02.600 --> 20:04.766 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% and restoring that resource 20:04.766 --> 20:06.966 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% that had been taken away from our ancestors, 20:08.200 --> 20:09.866 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% if we accomplish nothing else 20:09.866 --> 20:12.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% I think that's one of their very important things is 20:12.833 --> 20:17.333 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% as native people restoring a damaged resource 20:18.600 --> 20:21.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and it's only through caring for mother Earth 20:21.966 --> 20:25.633 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% that we can accomplish that. 20:25.633 --> 20:27.466 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (water flowing) 20:27.466 --> 20:31.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - So historically salmon was a major part of our diet 20:31.800 --> 20:36.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and our culture and so to lose that part over time has been, 20:38.166 --> 20:40.266 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% we're just losing like a piece of us, I guess in a way 20:40.266 --> 20:42.600 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and so I think it's really important 20:42.600 --> 20:44.866 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% to try to restore that population again 20:44.866 --> 20:48.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% so that we can fully be who we are meant to be. 20:53.933 --> 20:58.300 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% (tribe chanting in foreign language)