Edes Falls Project

Preserving a Vital Maine Fishery

In 2024, TU Sebago Chapter, in partnership with Lakes Environmental Association, Sebago Clean Waters, and many other partners, will restore passage for Sebago Lake landlocked salmon by removing the Edes Falls dam on the Crooked River in Naples. This restoration will also benefit wild brook trout, which need to navigate the watershed for fall spawning and to find suitable habitat throughout the year.

The Crooked River is the most vital nursery habitat for Sebago Lake salmon. In recent years, many conservation projects have improved the habitat. But rapid climate change has created new challenges for the fishery such as lower water levels and warmer water temperatures. During low flow conditions, the Edes Falls dam represents an impediment to spawning salmon and other species. In fact, depending on how you measure it and the year measured, between 83% and 98% of salmon nursery habitat is located above Edes Falls.

In 2022 the town of Naples approved removal of the center and eastern part of the dam, restoring and improving access for this historic Maine fishery, while leaving a remnant of the dam on the west bank to honor its historical legacy. Your donations will help with completing this project and protecting our water.

The Edes Falls Dam removal project is a collaborative effort managed and funded by several partners, including the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, Lakes Environmental Association, Maine Council of Trout Unlimited, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Sebago Clean Waters, Sebago Lake Anglers, Sebago Rotary, The Nature Conservancy, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.