Biologist works hard to duplicate Mother Nature's work (Atlantic salmon)

[jpak]

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/sports/stories/2382268.shtml

In the upper reaches of the Kennebec River watershed, Oberton Stream gurgled beneath a slick coat of black ice.

The season's first breath of arctic air held the surrounding 3,000-foot mountains -- Elephant, Reddington, Abraham -- captive, as if in a painting.

It's beautiful, inspiring country. But only a well-trained eye could identify it as salmon habitat.

"It baffles people, this far inland. But this is some of the finest salmon water in the entire state," said biologist Paul Christman as he scanned the pebbly river bottom through a hole he'd chiseled in the ice.

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