Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument announces $140,000 for ecosystem restoration and climate resilience projects

Date:
March 4, 2024
Contact:Mark Wimmer

Patten, Maine - Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument will receive $140,000 in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to continue restoration work to improve aquatic passages (culverts and bridges) to benefit endangered Atlantic salmon. These projects infuse much-needed funding in putting people to work in addressing critical ecosystem needs to restore healthy and resilient park lands while benefiting communities surrounding parks. 

Projects during 2023 and over the past several years have entailed building and/or renovating durable bridges and culverts to improve Atlantic salmon habitat. The bridges and culverts have degraded over time through the effects of flooding, impacts from beaver dams and environmental conditions. The additional funding will increase the number of passage improvements and habitat restorations.

Superintendent Mark Wimmer commented: "We are pleased to receive funding to continue to improve Atlantic salmon habitat at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. We look forward to continued engagement with Maine-based contractors, tribes and partners to make a difference in the Penobscot River watershed."

Atlantic salmon will have greater access to breeding grounds, food resources and cool water refugia. Improved passage will also restore natural flow regimes and will benefit sensitive wetland resources, aquatic and terrestrial habitats and recreation sites up and downstream of the projects.

This announcement is a promise to future generations. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the National Park Service is working to address the impacts of the climate crisis, including intensifying drought, wildfires, flooding and legacy pollution in national parks and other public lands. These resources will serve parks and communities across the United States with forward-looking projects.  

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Department of the Interior is implementing more than $2 billion in overall investments to restore our nation's lands and waters, guided by a new restoration and resilience framework to support coordination across agency restoration and resilience programs and drive transformational outcomes. 

Climate change is an overarching influence over national parks. This Inflation Reduction Act funding is a long-term opportunity to make significant investments in our nation's lands and waters in the fight against climate change. This work will also advance America the Beautiful, the Administration's initiative to restore and conserve 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030. The full lists of Inflation Reduction Act projects are available online at: IRA Restoration and Resilience projects.

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