Project Partners Since the project has begun, we have had many committed partners who for a wide variety of reasons share the mission, goals and/or purpose of the Penobscot River Restoration Project. Partners include: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-NMFS) is the federal agency, a division of the Department of Commerce, responsible for the stewardship of the nation's living marine resources and their habitat. As a steward, NOAA Fisheries has an obligation to conserve, protect, and manage living marine resources in a way that ensures their continuation as functioning components of marine ecosystems, affords economic opportunities, and enhances the quality of life for the American public. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that preserves and restores our nation's native wildlife species and habitats. Created by Congress in 1984, NFWF directs public conservation dollars to the most pressing environmental needs and matches those investments with private funds. The PPL Corporation (PPL) is a Fortune 500 energy holding company. PPL has agreed to sell the Veazie, Great Works, and Howland Dams to the Trust for project purposes. PPL has partnered with the Trust in rebalancing the hydropower assets and generation capacity in the Penobscot Watershed in the interest of sea-run fisheries restoration. The State of Maine - Department of Marine Resources and State Planning Office support the mission of the Project, and provide integral guidance. Read DMR's operational plan for the Penobscot, which closely ties in the goals of the Project. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has the mission of working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The U.S. Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs (DOI-BIA) The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) responsibility is the administration and management of 55.7 million acres of land held in trust by the United States for American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives. The Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) is a non-profit organization providing resources and assistance to businesses and community leaders to ensure the future success of the region. The organization has been working diligently for 40 years with Eastern Maine entrepreneurs and community leaders, focusing on sustained growth and on fostering the high quality of life for which Eastern Maine is renowned. The Gulf of Maine Council (GOMC) is a U.S.-Canadian partnership of government and non-government organizations working to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine to allow for sustainable resource use by existing and future generations. The Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CWRP) is an innovative private-public initiative aimed at preserving, restoring, enhancing and protecting aquatic habitats throughout the United States. Bringing together corporations, federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations and academia, the CWRP allows members to contribute in a fundamental way to crucial projects involving America's coastal and inland aquatic resources and support related education programs.