The purpose of this project is to evaluate economic factors associated with land held in trust for the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe and Penobscot Indian Nation that will be impacted by a proposed Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) re-licensing action. The West Branch Project involves two impoundments (Sysladobsis and West Grand) located on Grand Lake Stream, a tributary of the St. Croix River in Penobscot, Washington, and Hancock Counties, Maine. Domtar Maine Corporation has applied to FERC for a new license to continue to operate three existing structures: Sysladobsis Dam, West Grand Dam, and Farm Cove Dike. Continued operation of these structures controls regional lake levels, affecting landowners and tribal resource lands in the area. The structures were approved by Congress in 1916 and have been in operation since.
The purpose of this contract is to evaluate the economic impacts of the structures’ on lands of the United States held in trust for the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe and the Penobscot Indian Nation. The structures impact several lakes and lands in the area, including trust lands located in Sakom Township (5ND BPP) and Pukakon Township (5 Range 1 NBPP) and Lakeville Township along Sysladobsis Lake, Pocumcus Lake, Junior Bay, Junior Lake, Scraggly Lake, Keg Lake, and Bottle Lake.
This study is focused on the economic value of water storage for hydroelectric use on trust lands. Additional economic impacts, including impacts to natural resources and cultural resources, will be addressed in a separate contract with BIA. All economic study data will be used to justify financial compensation to the tribes. Impacts to the tribes include: loss of traditional cultural properties, loss of ability to practice traditional lifeways associated with streams vs. impounded lakes, increased bioaccumulation in fish of naturally occurring arsenic due to altered hydrology, loss of medicinal plant habitat, and loss of hunting/gathering land. The tribes have been affected for an extended period of time, and have adapted their primary subsistence from stream fishing to lake fishing. Although the tribes would ultimately prefer the impoundments removed and land/streams restored, this would result in again changing their lifestyle. In the meantime, economic compensation will help them manage and mitigate damages to their treaty rights.