Free The Andro

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 spawn

ing 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.

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

Great story about our first paddle down the Androscoggin.
08/07/2026

Great story about our first paddle down the Androscoggin.

08/06/2026

Our local Rep is well informed on the issue. There are technical solutions and Brookfield can fix this.

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)

06/08/2026

We can have hydro and fish!

06/08/2026

We can have hydro and fish!

06/03/2026

Last year Benton Falls managed to pass well over 10 million fish last year. Brunswick dam averages less that 100k. Keep in mind the Androscoggin is one of the largest rivers in Maine and the Sebasticook (Benton Falls) is only 27% the size by watershed area and only 10% by water flow.

05/30/2026

These fish represent all the ecological productivity blocked by the Brunswick dam. The Androscoggin has the potential to support 9 million fish if they could just get to their breeding grounds.

05/30/2026

These fish represent all the ecological productivity blocked by the Brunswick dam. The Androscoggin has the potential to support 9 million fish if they could just get to their breeding grounds.

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Brunswick, ME
04011

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