Coalition demands action after thousands of fish found dead near Ripogenus Dam

PISCATAQUIS COUNTY, Maine (WABI) - After thousands of fish were found dead near the Ripogenus Dam on the West Branch of the Penobscot River in late July, a coalition is calling for improvements to managing the waterway. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is asking the dam's operator for answers. The fish died after a transmission line failed, sparked a fire, and caused a trip event resulting in a two-hour dam shut down which caused water levels to drop significantly. The Maine Council of Trout Unlimited, along with other organizations, filed comments with FERC. The coalition claims the dam is outdated and drains water from the area causing a risk to the ecosystem. Brookfield Renewable is managing the Ripogenus and Penobscot Mills hydroelectric projects. Relicensing for those projects is currently pending.