Resolve, To Require the Department of Marine Resources To Report on Results of Anadromous Fish Restoration on the Kennebec River System

Sec. 1. Department of Marine Resources shall develop, perform and report results of cost and benefit analysis. Resolved: That the Department of Marine Resources shall develop and perform a comprehensive cost and benefit analysis of the restoration of anadromous fish to the Kennebec River system through June 2006. This analysis must include, but is not limited to, the following:

1. The estimated cost of achieving fish passage at the obstructions located on the waterways that provide access to these specific lakes and ponds, as well as the estimated ongoing cost to maintain and operate fish passage;

2. The total cost of preventing the introduction of exotic species into these water systems once fish passage is achieved;

3. The forecasted economic benefit to be derived from the reintroduction of alewives, American shad and Atlantic salmon into these specific waterways and the measuring system that will be used to document the actual benefit produced;

4. The estimated private and public resources needed to achieve the restoration as well as the funding sources that will be required; and

5. The forecast of the resources under the Kennebec Hydro Developers Group Agreement that will be available to meet future restoration needs.

The Department of Marine Resources shall report the results of its analysis to the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources by January 15, 2008. Funding for this analysis must be from the existing Kennebec River Restoration Fund, currently being held by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

summary

This resolve requires the Department of Marine Resources to develop and perform a comprehensive cost and benefit analysis of the restoration of anadromous fish to the Kennebec River system. The department must report to the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources by January 15, 2008.