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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
Spring Running: Family Fun-In
by Esther J. Perne The 3rd Annual Spring Running Festival in Augusta on Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14, is the ideal celebration destination for all ages and interest levels. It's a good way to learn more about the majestic and mighty Kennebec River, and a good opportunity to enjoy some unique aspects of historic downtown Augusta Held at the Mill Park and Old Fort Western on the Kennebec Riverfront, the event is interesting, educational, and easy to attend. Just head for the tents, the music, the artisans' displays, and the children watching in awe as anglers help them tie flies, handle rods, and cast. The Spring Running is about a river re-born — the Kennebec River, an awesome source of food and transportation, settlement and livelihood, inspiration and recreation over the centuries, symbolized by eagles soaring freely overhead, Indians and explorers paddling its length and tributaries, and fish inhabiting the waters in abundance.
Once ten species of native migratory fish populated the Kennebec River — alewives, blueback herring and American shad among them. Every spring, these river herring would return from the ocean to freshwater to spawn in the Kennebec River watershed. At one time, the migration ran into the millions. Packing fish for export was big business, but these fish were also critical to the river's food chain as nourishment for eagles, osprey, and river-dependent mammals. Unfortunately for the fish, industrialization brought pollution, log drives and damming of the Kennebec. There was a virtual collapse of the migratory fish population, as they were blocked from upstream passage. New regulations under the Clean Water Act passed thirty-four years ago have curbed the pollution, the log drives have stopped, and the Edwards Dam, which once strangled the river at the head of tide in Augusta, has been removed. With that removal, the river herring have returned. More state of the art fish passage is slated for dams upstream. The Spring Running Festival marks the return of the herring runs to the Kennebec River. First held in 2006, the celebration has returned each year, just like the fish that got it started in the first place. For more on the Spring Running Festival, visit www.springrunning.com.
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