In partnership with other groups, agencies, and landowners, we’re making miles of upstream and downstream habitat accessible to migratory and resident fish—and a host of other aquatic creatures in our waterways. List of Partners.

The complete removal of Raymond Brook Dam in Hebron, CT, a partially-breached, 25 foot wide barrier, has reestablished flows on this fast-moving, coldwater stream.  It’s reconnected 41 miles of high quality habitat in the Salmon River watershed, which should benefit American eels and Atlantic salmon--as well as resident fish populations and other aquatic species.

In July 2007 we helped fund replacement of the Dingle Road culvert on Bronson Brook in Worthington, MA.  This opened up 4.5 miles of high quality, coldwater habitat on a tributary of the Westfield River.  The culvert was severely damaged during Hurricane Floyd.  It was replaced with a bottomless arch designed to support movement and potential upstream habitat for Atlantic salmon.  It should also benefit resident Eastern brook trout and black nosed dace.

Pinney Hollow Brook Dam at Plymouth, VT, was taken out in September 2007.  The removal of that 22 foot wide barrier opened up 2 miles of upstream habitat on an Ottauquechee River tributary that supports self-sustaining populations of brook trout, slimy sculpin, and blacknose dace.  It was the last barrier between the brook and the main stem Ottauquechee, and returns nearly 5 miles of habitat to resident fish for spawning and seasonal movements.  Many species will benefit from the natural flows on Pinney Hollow Brook.

We’re working to complete a fishway at Rogers Lake in Old Lyme, CT.  The dam repair and construction will restore 2 miles of habitat on the Mill River and should be a boost to spawning alewife.  Work on the Rogers Lake town dam will begin this summer, with completion of the fishway expected in 2009.

Once the StanChem Fishway is built in Berlin, CT, 16.5 miles of habitat on the Mattabesset River will be restored.  This will reopen the entire historic habitat range for American shad on the Mattabesset.  It should also be a boost to migrating alewife, blueback herring, and sea lamprey.  The firm of Fuss & O’Neill has been chosen for design and engineering work—made possible by grant funding of over $53,000.  The Fishway could be in place as early as 2009.

Alternatives for Springborn dam in Enfield, CT.  CRWC received a $25,000 grant to help explore the option of removing the Springborn Dam on the Scantic River.  Sediment testing is completed and a feasibility study by CT DEP should be finished by the end of 2008.  The goal is to have removal of Springborn Dam given full consideration as an option for the Scantic--benefitting American shad, sea lamprey, American eel, Atlantic salmon, brook trout and other species.

Removal of two lower dams on the Green River in Greenfield, MA, and fishway construction on two upper dams, will ultimately help restore 94 miles of habitat in Massachusetts and Vermont.  CRWC has already been awarded grants totaling $100,000 to advance this work, with more applications pending.  Removal of the two lower-most barriers could come as early as 2009, as Mass Riverways has deemed this Green River ecosystem work a Priority Project.  Among the fish targeted to benefit are sea lamprey, American eel, American shad, blueback herring, and Atlantic salmon.

By year’s end the Homestead Woolen Mills Dam in West Swanzey, NH, is expected to be gone.  Once that happens, 27 river miles of habitat on the Ashuelot River will be newly freed--to the benefit of species that include American shad, American eel, blueback herring, sea lamprey, Atlantic salmon, and a host of smaller aquatic inhabitants.

Partner list:

RAYMOND BROOK DAM: Partners included American Rivers, CT DEP, The Nature Conservancy, and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.)  This work was accomplished on privately held land in cooperation with the land’s owners.

BRONSON BROOK: Partners included the Town of Worthington, USDA, MA DFW, USFWS, NOAA-American Rivers, and the Westfield River Wild and Scenic Committee.

PINNEY HOLLOW BROOK DAM: Partners included the Vermont Dams Task Force.

Current projects:

ROGERS LAKE FISHWAY: Partners include CT DEP, Yale, Save the Sound, NOAA, and the Town of Old Lyme.

STANCHEM FISHWAY PROJECT: Partners include CT DEP, StanChem Inc., the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the CT Corporate Wetlands Restoration Program.

SPRINGBORN DAM REMOVAL PROJECT: Partners include American Rivers, CT DEP, and the Scantic River Watershed Association.

GREEN RIVER ECOSTYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT: Partners include the Town of Greenfield, American Rivers, Mass Riverways, NOAA and many others.

HOMESTEAD WOOLEN MILLS DAM REMOVAL PROJECT: Partners include NH DES River Restoration Task Force, HWM, Inc, American Rivers, NOAA, EPA 319, NH F&G, NH CWRP, USFWS, Town of Swanzey, NH DOT, FAF, TNC, NRCS.