Peter Gray Hatchery Update  
A Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quote sums up this past month perfectly, "The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain".

Rain is a beautiful thing when you work in fisheries, although it is not always convenient. A rainy day is perfect for writing a hatchery update (like today), but not so much for a redd count .

We typically spend our November redd counting throughout the East Machias Watershed. What is a redd , you may ask? A redd is essentially a nest that a female salmon creates on the river bottom. Once the eggs have been deposited into the pit and fertilized, she then covers them with gravel. How do we count them? Well we dress very warm, pack a tasty lunch, hop in the canoes and we pole down spawning shoals in search of freshly disturbed areas of the stream-bed.

This year's redd counts have been rather few and far between, due to rain. Unfortunately when we receive this much rain, the rivers can be quite dangerous to be on and the in-water visibility is poor, making it difficult to see the redds.

Now for the most important question. Have we found any redds? Why yes we have! We have seen 4 redds in the Mainstem, 1 in Northern Stream and 1 in Barrows Stream. Typically 1 female digs 1 redd. We will conduct more redd counts when the conditions improve, before the river freeze over.

On another note, we have spent a few days down at Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery in East Orland this month. There we were able to lend a hand to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) during the days they were spawning the East Machias and Pleasant River adults. Those fertilized eggs will be moving into our two hatcheries sometime after the first of the year. Thank you to the USFWS for allowing us to lend a hand, and for snapping a few photos of us!

Check out the pictures in this Peter Gray Hatchery Update!

If you are new to receiving these updates and would like to catch up on some you have missed, please visit our website here . Also if you like the work we are doing, please considering donating towards the continuation of the Peter Gray Parr Project .

Happy Holidays!
From the Peter Gray Hatchery Managers, Zach and Rachel
Above, Rachel obtaining genetic samples.
On the right, Meagan in the tank, helping collect/spawn fish.
Photos courtesy of the USFWS, Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery
Barrows Stream
Northern Stream on a snowy day
Zach laying down eggs into the incubator trays.
Photo courtesy of the USFWS, Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery
$60k Peter Gray Parr Project
Matching Gift Challenge - Over $30k matching funds raised so far!

DSF friend and supporter, Charlie Harriman (out smolt trapping with Rachel in the photo above), has made a $60k Matching Gift Challenge for the Peter Gray Parr Project ! This means that all donations to the Project will be matched 1:1 up until we meet that $60,000 challenge. Double your donation amount and join Charlie in his enthusiastic efforts to help restore Atlantic salmon from the brink of extinction in Maine and get your donation doubled by giving to the Peter Gray Parr Project today! So far about $20,000 has been raised towards this matching gift. Thank you to all that have given.

If you believe in the importance of restoring Atlantic salmon to our U.S. rivers, then please consider making a Matching Challenge Gift to the Peter Gray Parr Project. We will be continuing our work to restore salmon to Downeast Maine and would appreciate your help! Click  HERE to donate. Thank you for your support!
Merchandise

You can also support us by purchasing some DSF swag! Hats, vests, and shirts can be found HERE . Other ways to help are to become a member !






As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to reach out to me at Rachel@mainesalmonrivers.org. I hope this update finds you well and you enjoyed reading about the Peter Gray Parr Project . Thank you for all you have done, and continue to do, in the pursuit of Atlantic salmon restoration!

Kind Regards,

Peter Gray Hatchery Staff 
If you'd like to read more on the Peter Gray Parr Project 's beginnings and future please read our  Parr Project Booklet

There is a short Parr Project video on our website  HERE.

Thank you to the Trout and Salmon Foundation for your continued support of the Peter Gray Parr Project !
Wild Atlantic salmon numbers in the U.S. have been at a record low, but DSF is working to bring them back. Please support our work by becoming a member  of the Downeast Salmon Federation. Together, we can restore sea-run fisheries in Maine.