In 2012 and 2013, Maine removed two old Penobscot River dams to restore migratory routes; by September 2026, the Milford fish lift had counted a preliminary 5.85 million river herring returning upstream

In 2012 and 2013, Maine removed two old Penobscot River dams to restore migratory routes; by September 2026, the Milford fish lift had counted a preliminary 5.85 million river herring returning upstream

In a significant ecological feat, the Penobscot River restoration in Maine has revitalized migratory fish numbers dramatically. The removal of the Great Works and Veazie dams has paved the way for essential fish migration pathways once again. As a result, the population of river herring has surged from just 556 to over 5 million.