Connecticut River Herring Restoration

In 2010, culverts were replaced on Bride Brook in Connecticut. With the increased flow from the new, larger culvert, fish were able to swim upstream for the first time in more than a decade.

Culverts, which allow water to flow under roads and bridges, are everywhere. Culverts sometimes block fish from swimming upstream. Many old culverts are much more narrow than the streams that channel through them, and sometimes too high for fish to jump through. When this happens, fish can’t reach their spawning habitat upstream of the culvert.

The herring run on Bride Brook is the second largest in the state. In the 1970s, it was as high as 175,000 per year. But the culverts had reduced the run to less than half that number.

With tidal flows restored, adult river herring now have access upstream to Bride Lake to spawn, and juveniles can swim downstream to feed and grow in the ocean. Approximately 275,000 fish passed through the new culvert during the spring of 2012; more than triple what had seen in recent years.

A Similar project will replace tide gates on the West River in New Haven Connecticut. The improved tide gates will allow a more natural flow of water and improve fish passage.

source: NOAA FishNews

Penobscot River Dam Removal

On June 11, 2012, an event was held at the Penobscot Indian Nation reservation to celebrate the breaching of the Great Works Dam on the Penobscot River in Maine. The Great Works dam breaching kicks off a larger effort to improve access to nearly 1,000 miles of river habitat on the Penobscot River.

This large-scale, ecosystem-level project will remove the Great Works and Veazie dams and build a fish bypass around the Howland dam. The project will open up the river to eleven species of migratory fish, including endangered Atlantic salmon, sturgeon, and river herring.

The project will also create new community and economic benefits throughout the watershed. The removal of the Great Works dam, which was partially funded by NOAA through the Recovery Act, has supported more than 250 jobs including engineering, hydrology, construction, science, and local contracting services.
Similar benefits are expected for the Veazie Dam removal and Howland bypass construction. With the river flowing freely, fishers, kayakers, and paddlers will have increased opportunities for recreation on the river.

The three dams are currently used for hydropower generation.  They will continue to operate until the time of removal. Energy generation lost as a result of the removals and decommissioning will be replaced by expanding capacity at existing projects primarily within the Penobscot River watershed. When the project is complete, hydropower generation will be maintained at the same levels as before the project began, and may even increase.

The project is part of collaboration between the Penobscot River Restoration Trust, NOAA and other federal and state agencies, the Penobscot Indian Nation, and seven conservation groups.

source: NOAA FishNews