Downeast TU is a chapter of Trout Unlimited, a national non-profit organization dedicated to protect and conserve North American cold-water fish species and habitat. Membership is open to all, go to www.tu.org/join305Downeast and use chapter code 305 Downeast TU.
Monthly meetings are the Fourth Wednesday of the month from October to May at the Moore Center, 125 State Street, Ellsworth, ME
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https://downtownbangor.com/
A lot has happened over the summer and we are looking forward to gathering with our DETU members and supporters once again. Included in this newsletter are upcoming events and a summer recap. Please send any news items you would like to share with our chapter to Tammy Packie tpackiegmail.com (tpackie[at]gmail[dot]com). Please like our Facebook page Downeast TU and check out our website www.downeasttu.org
2025 November DETU Newsletter
*Holiday Gathering December 10-NO monthly meetings November or December
Dec. 10 5-8pm DETU Holiday Gathering with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing at Moore Community Center Ellsworth. Join us for this fun family event! Maine Guide Carroll Ware will share his world-wide adventures and have books to sign. In 2020 Carroll received the MDIFW Wiggie Robinson Legendary Maine Guide Award. Carroll holds 53 world fly-fishing records and in 2021 was the first fisherman inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.
Potluck, talk and book signing, gear table, children's activities and 2 raffle drawings. We will have a 50/50 raffle and will draw the winner of our current raffle at the end of the evening. Prizes are a $250 LL Bean Gift Certificate, an antique Montague bamboo fly rod or a 2 box set of flies tied by DETU members. Funds raised will be used for Trout Camp and conservation projects. We hope to make this an annual event. Free, but please RSVP to tpackiegmail.com (tpackie[at]gmail[dot]com) to help us plan.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing PHWFF is dedicated to the physical and emotional health of disabled active and veteran military personnel. Rehabilitation is through fly fishing activities, education, and outings. From Project Lead Mike Manning “As we reflect on Veterans Day, please remember that while they may no longer be in the military, many veterans are still fighting their own internal battles. Not all injuries are visible. On average, more than 20 veterans lose their lives to suicide daily in the United States. Sadly, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs believes the real number is much higher as veteran suicide is often under reported. When people ask if it’s worth the time to volunteer or support the program I point out that no veteran who has gone through the PHWFF program has died by suicide, and over 65,000 veterans have gone through the program so far.”
PHWFF, DETU, and DSF encourage all to check out the activities and enjoy camaraderie with fellow veterans. We now have two locations in Downeast Maine. Meet at the DSF Hatchery in East Machias on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 6-8pm, and at the Ellsworth VFW on the 3rd Wednesday of the month (Nov. 19) from 6-8pm. Contact Mike Manning Project Lead at mike.manningprojecthealingwaters.org (mike.manning@
November 16 1pm-Dedication ceremony for the Joseph P. Robbins - Gaddis Pool Park in East Machias. Joe was responsible for creating a beautiful park and boat launch on this site, a popular place for canoeists and fishermen. Joe was a founding member of the Downeast Salmon Federation and a supporter of DETU. He joined Rob Packie, Dwayne Shaw, and Jeff Reardon for a great talk on Sea-run Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon in Downeast, Maine on WERU in may of 2020. Our deepest sympathy to Joe’s family, and friends.
October 22 Meeting Recording Water quality study of brook trout streams in Hancock County-Mark Whiting. Here is a link from last months meeting for those who were not able to attend : https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/
Passcode: Ummzi#03
Flies & Lies Returns DETU Life member Bob Bechtold is once again hosting Flies & Lies starting Oct. 5 on the first and third Sundays of the month from 5-8pm. Open to individuals interested in sharing the art of fly tying and the sport of fly fishing. Meetings twice per month from November to April. Dates: November 2 &16, December 7 & 21, January 4 & 18, February 8 & 22, March 8 & 22 and April 5 & 19 2026. Machias Savings Bank 96 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, ME. For information contact Bob at rtbechtoldgmail.com (rtbechtold[at]gmail[dot]com) or 207-288-4957.
Union River Economic Study available. Conducted by One Water Econ and HUB Collective in partnership with Frenchmans Bay Conservancy, Heart of Ellsworth, Downeast Salmon Federation, Union Salmon Association, this report examines the economic, ecological, and community impacts of three potential management scenarios for the Ellsworth Hydroelectric Project.
Read the full study and share your thoughts: www.unionriverstudy.com
Headwaters Bluff Preserve- Frenchman Bay Conservancy has an opportunity to conserve 5,788 acres of woods and wetlands in Amherst. This land is one of the largest blocks of intact forest in our region and is at the headwaters of the Union and Penobscot Rivers, both critical in the fight against climate change. Please help conserve it. FBC has until December 31 to purchase Headwater Bluffs. Use the link to learn more: frenchmanbay.org/
Hancock County-Four Hancock County towns, Blue Hill, Surry, Orland and Penobscot, voted to form Maine’s first regional dam district November 4. The new district will consist of elected town officials and property owners chosen to prepare for the transfer of ownership of two dams on Toddy Pond and Alamoosook Lake. By creating the district, voters also approved funding, proportional to the amount of Toddy Pond property in each town, to cover the legal and administrative fees needed to set up the district. This does not include maintenance costs. A recent review of the Toddy Pond Dam shows it is in poor condition, with an estimate of $150,000 needed for ongoing maintenance.
The creation of a watershed district to own Toddy Pond became possible after a new law, introduced by State Reps. Nina Milliken (Blue Hill) and Steve Bishop (Bucksport) passed this summer with bipartisan support. Efforts began when communities learned that the current owners, Bucksport Mill LLC and parent company American Iron and Metal filed to abandon Toddy Pond, Alamoosook Lake, and Silver Lake Dams. Residents feared lower water levels, damage to fish habitats, and reduced property values for homeowners. The new district will elect local boards, set budgets, and prepare for the transfer of dam ownership which is expected to take effect in 2026.
Our recent Penobscot River Trip, hosted by the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company in October was a huge success, with members from all of the founding organizations of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust: American Rivers, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Maine Audubon, Natural Resources Council of Maine, The Nature Conservancy, the Penobscot Nation and Trout Unlimited attending. We thank Zack Klyver for this great idea. Plans are in the works for a future trip to provide opportunities for more shared conservation efforts on Maine’s largest river.
TU State and National News. Kennebec River-There is a written agreement between The Nature Conservancy and Brookfield Renewable that sets the stage for the sale of the four lower dams on the Kennebec. This should result in the decommissioning and removal of the dams that are barriers to fish passage. This will not only enhance the recovery of Atlantic Salmon, an endangered species, but also several other sea-run fish that are cornerstone species in Maine. Trout Unlimited, our state council, and many dedicated TU members worked with The Kennebec Coalition over many years to make this happen. It’s a great win for salmon, other fish, the environment and conservationists in Maine.
Maine Trout Camp. June 14-18 2026 in Solon Maine. We are looking for 2-3 students ages 13-17 from our area who would like to attend this excellent learning experience. Please refer anyone interested to our Youth Education Coordinator Mike Elkavitch melkavitchgmail.com (melkavitch[at]gmail[dot]com). Information is available on the Maine TU State Council website https://www.tumaine.org/index.
Congratulations to GRTU! They have been awarded a $4,000 Embrace A Stream (EAS) grant from TU National to continue conservation efforts on the Ducktrap River. Their application was ranked #2 in importance in the nation. Funds will be used for eDNA studies in 2026 and 2027 to assess the status of Atlantic Salmon and Brook Trout in the Ducktrap watershed and help guide future restoration projects. Past and future conservation efforts on the Ducktrap will be presented at their December 9th meeting at Maine Sport in Rockport.
TU supports Conserving the Land and Waters of the Magalloway River. Watch a webinar from 9/25 on YouTube! to learn why the Magalloway Collaborative conservation effort is so important for climate resilience and critical habitat protection in Maine.
Northeast Regional Rendezvous April 10-12 2026 Attending a TU Regional Rendezvous is one of the best ways to connect with like-minded fishermen and conservationists. Attend a weekend packed with idea sharing alongside fellow community-based volunteers, scientists, and anglers who are the most passionate champions for cold, clean rivers and streams.
Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors Election: Board Chair Mark Whiting’s 3 year term is ending and interested applicants have until November 21st to submit papers. The current Board of Supervisors are: ● Chair, Mark Whiting ● Vice Chair Andrew Sankey ● Treasurer, Ant Blasi ● Secretary, David DePrez ● Associate Supervisors Jennifer Riefler and Peter Jordan. HCSWCD supports healthy watersheds with Water Quality and Invasive Plant Monitoring, Watershed Mapping, and Shoreline Erosion Control. They help with Environmental Permitting and Private Road Management Plans, and hold Educational Workshops. Ballots will be mailed on November 24th to all those who would like to vote. Please call 207-667-8663 or email hcswcdinfohancockcountyswcd.org (hcswcdinfo@
November 18 7pm The Nature Conservancy “Women in Climate Policy” Colby College. Panelists working to advance policy for our climate future will discuss how important policy action at the state and federal levels is in helping us slow and minimize the damage of climate change. This discussion focuses on the accomplishments of women working in the climate sector. Free-Register at https://preserve.nature.org/
Nov. 19 3pm: The Hydropower Reform Coalition is sponsoring free on-line training on hydropower dam relicensing. Use this link for information and registration https://docs.
The Gulf of Maine River Herring Network along with Manomet Conservation Sciences, will host a half-day workshop on December 4, 2025, from 10-4pm at the Belfast Boathouse to review current river herring monitoring practices and gaps in monitoring for management and restoration with the goal to standardize data collection and design long-term monitoring programs. Contact Anne Zegers at 207.419.3222 or azegersmanomet.org (azegers[at]manomet[dot]org) for more information.
Fish Culturist Position: Embden State Fish Rearing Station is Maine's largest fish culture facility, specializing in brook trout and landlocked salmon. They produce 260,000 catchable fish annually, about 1/4 of the total pounds of fish stocked statewide each year. They are looking for a full-time Fish Culturist who's eager to enhance recreational sport fisheries and conserve native Maine fish. Visit mefishwildlife.com/careers to learn more and apply today!
Flyline Podcast: S4E2: Paul Ostiguy, “The Man in the Big Land”
We met Paul at the Marlborough Fly Fishing Expo in January. A lodge owner and passionate angler his love for fishing has shaped a life of uncharted waters. Paul shares unforgettable stories of fishing and managing the challenges of operating in remote settings spent in Labrador, Canada.
Drought in Maine: The Maine Drought Task Force/National Weather Service reported on November 6 that all of Maine was in a state of drought, with 18.96% of the state is in Moderate Drought (D1), 38.31% is in Severe Drought (D2), and 42.72% is in Extreme Drought (D3) by area. Conditions have worsened across all of Maine, despite rain events that brought precipitation recently. All of Maine’s population resides in at least moderate drought conditions.
The Maine CDC Drinking Water Program noted low water levels affected public water supplies in almost half of Maine counties. As of 11/6/2025, there are 499 dry wells reported in all 16 Maine Counties. Of these, 330 are reported as dug wells, 125 as drilled wells, six are spring wells and the remainder are reported as unknown. The Drinking Water Program received 21 calls related to drought for private wells in October. DWP encourages private well owners to report dry wells to the Maine Emergency Management Agency Dry Well Survey: https://maine-dry-well-survey-
Surface water conditions are improving, but groundwater levels lag far behind. Estimated precipitation will not eliminate drought conditions prior to the winter freeze. Once the ground has frozen, precipitation that would normally replenish groundwater won’t soak in, leaving wells and aquifers low until the spring thaw. The seasonal outlooks for November through January favor above normal temperatures, which could help keep the groundwater recharge window open. James Sinko, a meteorologist and hydrologist with the National Weather Service office in Caribou, said 96.4% of Washington County has been classified as being in extreme drought. 8 to10 inches of rain would be needed to improve conditions. https://www.maine.gov/mema/
DETU Officers: We have no President at this time.
Vice President Al West aldimegmail.com (aldime[at]gmail[dot]com)
Secretary Karen Svenson granitefarmroadrunner.com (granitefarm[at]roadrunner[dot]com)
Treasurer Arthur Benson ajbrxyahoo.com (ajbrx[at]yahoo[dot]com)
Downeast Trout Unlimited Gear: Hats $25, Brook Trout pins $20, Brook Trout Earrings $16. These items make great gifts!
We are looking forward to gathering with our DETU members and supporters on December 10. Please send any news you would like to share with our chapter to Tammy Packie tpackiegmail.com (tpackie[at]gmail[dot]com) for our next newsletter. Happy Holidays!
Downeast Trout Unlimited (DETU) is dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring Maine's cold water fisheries and their watersheds. For membership renewal call 800-834-2419. For NEW memberships go to www.tu.org/join305Downeast.
Mail donations to Downeast Trout Unlimited, c/o Arthur Benson Treasurer; 32 Cottage Way Hampden ME 04444. Equipment Donations: If you have more equipment than you need please consider donating it to help our chapter raise money for our conservation and education programs. For more information visit https://www.downeasttu.org/ or Downeast TU on Facebook
