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The Kennebec River originates at the outlet of Moosehead Lake and flows southerly for 145 miles to the head of Merrymeeting Bay at Abagadassett Point, about seven miles above Bath, Maine. From Merrymeeting Bay the Kennebec waters continue south, through the Maine coastal area, another 20 miles to the Atlantic Ocean at Hunnewell Point. The main river is tidal as far as Augusta, 25 miles above Abagadassett Point. Between its origin and mean tide at Augusta, the river falls about 1,026 feet in a distance of 120 miles, as an average gradient of 8.5 feet per mile. The principal headwater tributary is the Moose River which drains 716 square miles of mountainous watershed area around Jackman, and flows easterly into Moosehead Lake.
Many watersheds, and the riverside communities within them, have undergone transformation over the years as the economic winds have changed. Global markets, technology, and other influences changed the backbone of numerous industries throughout the watersheds in Maine. Understanding the key assets of our watersheds is part of securing a stable future for our citizens and their communities.
Rivers like the Kennebec – that have defined their watershed’s economic and social patterns for generations – establish an identity to a region. As watershed protection continues as an important strategy, viewing each watershed as a collective unit must include more than just looking at town and county lines or political boundaries.
The watershed view must include many things. For example, communities that have developed a viable tourism component in their watershed economies have long recognized the economic advantages of being surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes and open space. Spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, and open-space recreation provide opportunities for wildlife watchers, hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing, and other activities.
The pressure of “urban sprawl” forces individual communities to examine their cultural connections to other communities; then each must decide what role it will play in ensuring progress and economic security for the greater watershed region. Retaining old and building new cultural connections amongst communities within a watershed is crucial in creating an image of any watershed.
If communities care about their region, they will work together to restore and protect its values. The strong social bonds that have developed over time provide watersheds with the assets to build and strengthen connections across communities. Collaboration is beneficial in many ways. The celebration of people and place preserve the old ways of life and paint a picture of the watershed region with vibrancy from the past. New traditions that come from change create threads that become part of the community fabric far into the future. It helps communities to revitalize downtowns, protect open space, and support a lifestyle for its residents.
Underlying this challenge is the ethic that each new generation needs to appreciate and understand their watershed, and their place in it. Conservation-based development and sustainable forest-use practices occurring in a manner consistent with the watershed ecological capacity is critical to building a sustainable future for all.
By offering a diversity of experiences and cultural amenities to visitors, a watershed region can present itself as a responsible collection of opportunities to enjoy and appreciate. Educational programs on the environment, sports, arts, crafts, and history enhance the experience of any visitor already attracted to the open space, recreational opportunities and the character of the region.
Each view of a watershed has many elements—from the natural features of its landscape, to the historical and cultural diversity of its cities and towns. Local groups can help by working with conservation groups, state agencies, planning boards, and elected officials to develop watershed awareness partnerships. Programs that reach out and work with local communities to provide diverse resources, technical information, and funding help our citizens in making key decisions throughout Maine. Focusing on partnering with local groups will help to improve the effectiveness of protecting resources within the Kennebec watershed.
| Want to know more? Check out these clean river resources... | |||
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 | American Whitewater is a leading boaters-rights advocacy organization. Visit them online at: www.americanwhitewater.org | Maine Rivers’ mission is to protect, restore and enhance the health and vitality of Maine's Rivers. www.mainerivers.org | River Network is a national leader in supporting grassroots river and watershed conservation groups. www.rivernetwork.org | RiverSmart is a national public education campaign helping Americans understand how daily water usage affects rivers. www.riversmart.org www.riversmart.org |
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