Crooked River Excursion: Sebago’s ‘Secret’ Landlocked Salmon Stronghold: A CX3 Portland Event

The Crooked River is one of the most fascinating and historic rivers in the State of Maine. With an outlet less than an hour from Portland at Sebago Lake, the Crooked winds its way north and west to its headwaters in the White Mountain National Forest.

This 59-mile river contributes approximately 2 trillion gallons of clean water to Sebago Lake, drinking water source for almost 20% of the population of Maine. The Crooked is home to one of the last endemic populations of wild spawning landlocked salmon (Sebago Salmo Salar) in the United States. In fact, the Crooked may be the only river where unintroduced wild landlock salmon spawn naturally.

Recently the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited, in partnership with local stakeholders, received a crucial victory from the voters in the town of Naples to allow TU to remove the center portion of the historic Edes Falls Dam to restore unimpeded passage to spawning salmon. This innovative approach will see TU partner with historic preservationists to preserve the dam’s abutments for posterity while ensuring salmon passage to spawning grounds remains open.

This tour will take you to the historic Edes Fall dam area to observe the project location and learn about salmon spawning from a Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist. In addition to learning more about this singular landlock salmon river, attendees will visit spectacular Sebago Lake State Park at the mouth of the Crooked to enjoy all the park has to offer.

The talk and activities at the Crooked River are free and open to all, but require advance registration to help with headcount.