THE HYDRAULIC IMPLICATIONS OF RELICT INDUSTRIAL (LOG DRIVE ERA) INFRASTRUCTURE ON LARGE RIVERS IN THE NORTHEAST

Following the 2013 removal of the Veazie Dam in the lower Penobscot River, the reemergence of remnant logging structures (“boom islands”) in the former dam impoundment raised questions about what should be done, if anything, with the derelict structures. Knowledge about the impacts of the boom islands on diadromous fish species will help to inform decision-making efforts about dam removal projects involving remnant infrastructure. Detailed knowledge of the water flow velocity conditions around boom islands is important to assessing the impact of logging industry infrastructure on fish habitat, but there are challenges associated with direct measurements and traditional numerical approaches to predicting their hydraulic effects. We apply 3D hydraulic modeling calibrated with 3D hydraulic velocity measurements collected by an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to address ecological questions that require a detailed knowledge of the hydraulic conditions of the Penobscot River. With these detailed measurements and modeling results, we capture detailed information about flow kinematics in the Penobscot River to inform decision-making efforts related to aquatic habitat restoration.