‘Thousands’ of dead fish discovered along Androscoggin River
Thousands of River Herring Killed at Brunswick‑Topsham Dam, Local Group Says
Brunswick, Maine — A sudden death toll of river herring has been spotted along the banks of the Androscoggin River in Brunswick, the local environmental organization Free the Andro says was caused by the dam’s turbines. The group, which has been lobbying for improved fish passage at the Brunswick‑Topsham hydroelectric facility, counted thousands of dead fish lining the river shore as far as Water Street.
Free the Andro’s founder, Chip Spies, first learned of the fish kill on Sunday morning. “We saw fish lining the shore along Water Street,” Spies told the Press Herald. “They were all dead, and it was clear they had been caught in the dam’s turbines.” The fish, which had been migrating downstream, were likely unable to navigate the existing fish ladder and were swept into the high‑speed water that powers the turbines.
The Brunswick‑Topsham dam, owned by Brookfield Renewable Energy, has been in operation for decades. Its license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will expire in 2029, and the agency is currently reviewing whether to renew it for another 50 years. FERC will decide not only on a new license but also on any conditions that should accompany it, including the installation of a new fish passage system or even removal of the dam altogether.
Free the Andro has long argued that the dam’s current fish passage facilities are inadequate. Maine Department of Marine Resources counts show that the majority of fish are not able to make it through the existing fish ladder, preventing them from reaching historic spawning grounds upstream. “These occurrences are the reason we founded Free the Andro and are working to create safe and effective upstream and downstream fish passage requirements for the Brunswick dam by FERC,” Spies said.
The group’s report of thousands of dead fish is consistent with the agency’s data on fish movement. Yet Brookfield Renewable Energy has not yet responded to a request for comment. The dam’s impact on migratory species has been a point of contention for years, and the recent kill has brought fresh scrutiny to the facility.
“We’re not surprised,” Spies added. “The fish kill is a very obvious example of what is wrong with the existing facility and how it impacts migratory species that rely on the Androscoggin to complete their life cycles.” He noted that the fish were likely caught in the turbines while trying to travel downstream—a path that should be unobstructed for migratory species.
Local residents have seen the aftermath. Photographs taken by Spies show dozens of dead herring stacked along the riverbank near Water Street, a stark reminder of the dam’s ecological toll. The fish kill has prompted a renewed call from environmental groups for FERC to impose stricter fish‑passage requirements on the dam’s upcoming license renewal.
While the federal agency has yet to release a decision, the situation underscores the broader debate over the future of hydropower and river ecosystems in Maine. The Brunswick‑Topsham dam is one of several structures on the Androscoggin that have been scrutinized for their impact on fish populations.
Free the Andro’s campaign is part of a larger movement across the state to protect migratory fish. The group’s efforts include public outreach, monitoring of fish populations, and lobbying for policy changes that would facilitate safer passage for species such as river herring, alewife, and eels.
As the river continues to flow, the question remains whether the Brunswick‑Topsham dam will be able to coexist with Maine’s ecological needs. The upcoming FERC review will likely shape the next chapter for the Androscoggin’s fish populations and the hydroelectric facility that has powered the region for generations.
