Free The Andro

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Free The Andro The ability to pass fish is key to the future viability of migratory fish populations in the Androscoggin River.

Free The Andro is a local nonprofit working to restore abundant and sustainable migratory fish passage at the Brunswick Dam to connect communities, revive fish populations, and broaden economic opportunities in the Androscoggin River watershed. The Free the Andro (FTA) coalition is a Maine nonprofit creating a voice for the survival of migratory fish that use the Androscoggin River to access spawning grounds by raising community awareness and taking action to improve fish passage through dams as a critical means of returning the river to a functional ecosystem. The Brunswick-Topsham dam with its active hydro-power facility is well documented as a significant obstacle to both upstream and downstream passage. The current relicensing of the hydro-power producer by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the fact that new licenses run for 30 to 50 years, creates a once in a lifetime opportunity to assure unfettered fish passage is restored to the Lower Androscoggin River. FTA will support solutions ranging from dam removal to properly vetted dam redesigns that it agrees are supported by solid data from objective research and accepted best practices for creating unfettered fish passage. Founding members:

Merrymeeting Bay Trout Unlimited (Chapter 329)
Maine Rivers
American Rivers

FTA recognizes the need for a strong and credible voice and welcomes new members from individuals to organizations that share its goals as expressed in its mission statement and that will help support its cause.

Free The Andro is a non-profit group of local volunteers. Our budget is tiny (we meet in the library 🤓📖). But as dam rel...
10/15/2026

Free The Andro is a non-profit group of local volunteers. Our budget is tiny (we meet in the library 🤓📖). But as dam relicensing discussions get more technical we need to hire 2 dam management and fisheries engineers to help us make the strongest case for changes that will benefit our community and the river. If you would like to chip in please click here.

Help support Free The Andro by donating or sharing with your friends.

Chip Spies discusses the recent fish kill and the FTA mission.
10/15/2026

Chip Spies discusses the recent fish kill and the FTA mission.

Jim Bleikamp here.

Thanks to Chip Spies, the founder of Free the Andro, a non-profit advocating free fish passage at the Brunswick Dam, for joining today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz to follow up on the major weekend fishkill, his complaints about the facility, and his longterm goals as the re-licensing process for the Brunswick Dam continues.

You may hear the full interview here.

https://www.radiomidcoastwcme.com/portfolio/free-the-andro-founder-chip-spies-on-the-wcme-midcoast-morning-buzz/

10/13/2026

It happened again this weekend. Thousands of fish killed by the Brunswick dam while trying to migrate back to sea. We thought reposting the information in this video might help people better understand the issue.

This weekend - thousands of fish were killed by Brunswick Dam while trying to migrate back to sea. A tiny fraction of ad...
10/12/2026

This weekend - thousands of fish were killed by Brunswick Dam while trying to migrate back to sea. A tiny fraction of adults make it upstream to reproduce because the ladder is poorly designed. The few fish that make it up produce young that need to migrate back to sea. Unfortunately, some years, thousands of them get chewed up in the turbines trying to find a way down. FTA is advocating for upstream and downstream fish passage solutions.

A great example of creative thinking and win win results for clean energy and fish passage.
10/05/2026

A great example of creative thinking and win win results for clean energy and fish passage.

At Maine’s Upper Barker Dam, engineers have drawn up an unusual escape route for American eels: a climbing wall made from the same rope used to farm mussels.

09/19/2026

For those that missed the gathering we sponsored this week. Presentations from reps of Brookfield (dam owners), Maine Department of Marine Resources, and FB Environmental are all included here. It was an educational and friendly night considering strategies and issues involved in improving fish passage.

FTA to sponsor a panel on fish passage possibilities.
09/10/2026

FTA to sponsor a panel on fish passage possibilities.

09/03/2026

“Improving Fish Passage at the Brunswick Dam – What Is Possible”

Free The Andro is sponsoring a panel discussion featuring representatives from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, Brookfield Renewable Partners, and FB Environmental to explore possible designs that can be considered to restore abundant and sustainable fish passage at the Brunswick Dam. Come learn what is possible.

5:00-6:30 pm, Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (Doors open at 4:30 pm)

Morrell Meeting Room, Curtis Memorial Library - 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick

07/17/2026

Free The Andro recently adopted the following mission statement.

Mission Statement:

“Free The Andro is a local nonprofit working to restore abundant and sustainable migratory fish passage at the Brunswick Dam to connect communities, revive fish populations, and broaden economic opportunities in the Androscoggin River watershed.”

(FTA is confident options are available to both improve fish passage AND generate hydropower as they do on the Sebasticook river. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18mmoiWQBv/?mibextid=wwXIfr)

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Brunswick, ME
04011

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