On a recent canoe trip up the remote Narraguagus River, Ellie Mason observed what looked like prime Atlantic salmon habitat. The river is small, but its upper stretches and tributaries are among the wildest in Maine, surrounded by forest and largely free of development. With a dam removed, endangered salmon could soon gain access to these waters.
The prospect is encouraging, but the report from Inside Climate News is careful to note that habitat access alone may not secure a comeback. As the climate changes, the conditions that make the river suitable for salmon could shift, undermining what looks like a promising recovery.
Because this article draws on a single source, there are no conflicting accounts to compare. The outlook is simply hopeful in the near term and uncertain over the longer run, with climate change standing as the main caveat to the dam-removal success story.