Celebrating the Penobscot River’s Revival: Removing Great Works Dam
June 11, 2012 Indian Island, Old Town, Maine
NRCM and our partners gathered on the banks of the Penobscot River for a a day of activities, as we witnessed the start of the removal of the Great Works Dam that has blocked the river for 200 years. Throughout the day there were a wide array of activities to celebrate this momentous occasion. This was a free public event.
The day kicked off at Sockalexis Hall with a live broadcast from the site where dismantling of the Great Works Dam began. The Penobscot Indian Nation then hosted a community-wide luncheon with ceremonial drumming and remarks by Project leaders. The celebration continued with opportunities to explore interactive and cultural exhibits, canoe on the river, and participate in other activities on Indian Island. The day culminated with a final community-wide celebration in the late afternoon.
About the Exhibits
There were a wide range of educational and interactive exhibits at Sockalexis Hall, including:
- A dynamic history of the Penobscot River
- A photography exhibit and other related artwork
- A traditional birch bark canoe on display
- Traditional Native American basket weaving and other traditional artisan crafts
- Children’s activities: a separate children’s activities and educational area
About the Speakers
A wide array of dignitaries offered remarks at this event; both at the actual breaching as well as at Sockalexis Hall. These dignitaries include, among others:
- Ken Salazar, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior
- Commissioner Pat Keliher, Maine Department of Marine Resources on behalf of State of Maine
- Eric Schwaab, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Management, NOAA
- Maine’s Congressional Delegation or their representatives
- Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine
- Representatives from our partner organizations as well as the local business community
News stories about the Great Works Dam removal
Decommissioning Dams: The Penobscot’s Song
The Economist news story and video | Jun 14, 2012
Dam Removal to Help Restore Spawning Grounds
New York Times news story | Jun 12, 2012
Saving a River, and Its Species
New York Times editorial | Jun 12, 2012
Hat Trick On The Penobscot River: Fewer Dams, Same Energy, More Fish
Forbes.com news story | Jun 12, 2012
Crews Begin Removing Great Works Dam; Kenneth Salazar Calls Effort ‘Milestone for River Conservation’
Bangor Daily News news story | Jun 12, 2012
LePage Should Have Attended Dam Ceremony
Portland Press Herald editorial | Jun 12, 2012
Great Collaboration, Work Behind Great Works Dam Removal
Bangor Daily News editorial | Jun 12, 2012
“A Great Day” as Dam Removal Begins
Portland Press Herald news story | Jun 12, 2012
‘It’s Easy for People in Maine to Forget What a Big Deal This Is’
Portland Press Herald news story | Jun 11, 2012
Maine Dam Removal Aims to Rescue Fish Species
Boston Globe news story | Jun 11, 2012
A Damned Dam On The Penobscot River
NPR news story | Jun 11, 2012
Recovering a River
Maine Sunday Telegram news story | Jun 10, 2012
Edwards Dam Success Foreshadows Penobscot River Project’s Future Bangor Daily News news story | Jun 09, 2012
Great Works Dam Starts to Come Down Monday as Part of Effort to Revive the Penobscot Bangor Daily News news story | Jun 09, 2012
Celebrating a Big Moment for the Penobscot River
Bangor Daily News op-ed | Jun 08, 2012
LePage Objects to Long-Planned Removal of Penobscot River Dam
MPBN news story | Jun 06, 2012
