Welcome to World Fish Migration Day the Connecticut Version!

Transcription

1 Welcome to World Fish Migration Day the Connecticut Version! May 24, 2014 has been designated as World Fish Migration Day (or WFMD) and there will be events and celebrations all around the world. To learn about events in other countries, go to To learn about what is going on in Connecticut, READ ON! WFMD events in Connecticut are sponsored by The Nature Conservancy- Connecticut Chapter (an international conservation organization), the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (a State government natural resource management agency), Princeton Hydro (a private environmental engineering firm), and many other local partners who will be identified later. Mirgratory fish have played an important role in the history of Connecticut and their importance is undiminished today. Throughout the day on May 24 th, some of the organizations that are working to protect and restore runs of migratory fish will be telling their story through lectures, tours, and Open Houses. Whether you are an angler, a naturalist, or just interested in nature or engineering, there will be something for you to learn and see. With some luck if conditions are right there will be active fish migrations occurring on May 24 that you can observe. Events will be geared for the entire family. This pool below a fishway is full of migrating alewives! Events fall into one of four categories. First, there will be two presentations in the morning to tell attendees about migratory fish. To learn more about that, scroll down past the description of all the participating sites (page 18). Second, there will be a guided progressive tour of five fishways (structures that allow fish to migrate around dams) for a limited number of participants, third there will be open houses at other fishways in the 1

2 state where visitors can drop in on their own schedule to be shown the fishway, and fourth, there will be some fishways visitors can have a tour at a specific time. To learn about these events and find directions to the participating fishways, see below. Fishway tours and open houses There will be 15 fishways across the state open to the public where visitors can learn about fish and hopefully even see some as they swim up the fishways. Below is a Connecticut map of the participating fishways, each marked with a number and a legend providing the name of each fishway. Below that we have listed information about each fishway, and provided the hours it will be open, the street address, and the latitude and longitude. Scan through the list and find ones either near you or in areas you ve always wanted to visit. Print or copy the information for your visit on May 24 th. Visit one or visit many. There will be signs near each site, pointing you in the right direction. There is no charge to visit any of these fishways. (One is actually not a fishway but a location where a large dam was removed to make the river safer for fish and humans. Visit it to hear the story of how that happened!) 2

3 Site 1: Mianus Pond Dam Fishway Host for visit : Town of Greenwich- Conservation Commission Contact information: Open house y/n Y Times: 9:00AM to 1:00 PM Staff responsible: Joe Cassone Private, guided visit only y/n N Time: Address of site: 900 E. Putnam Ave. (125 River Road Extension) Town: Cos Cob section of Greenwich GPS coordinates: _ N W Stream Name: Mianus River A steeppass fishway at the head-of-tide with resting pools, an underwater camera, an electronic fish counter, and an eel pass. Turn off U.S. Rt. 1 (East Putnam Ave.) onto River Road Extension heading north and immediately turn into parking lot on right for adult day care center. Follow signs. If this site will be available for a visit on a day other than May 24, please provide details here: Hosting an Open House on Saturday April 5 th from 1-3 PM as well 3

4 Site 2: Bunnells Pond & Pequonnock River Apron Fishways Hosts for visit : Connecticut Fund for the Environment- Save the sound and CT DEEP Open house y/n_y Times: 10 am to 3 pm Private, guided visit only y/n N Time: Contact information: _ (Save-the-Sound) Address of site: 123 Glenwood Ave. Town: Bridgeport GPS coordinates: _ N W Stream Name: Pequonnock River Two fishways about 1,000 feet apart. The upper one is at the tall dam that forms Bunnells Pond next to Beardsley Park and Zoo. It has an underwater camera that sends video to the web and is the tallest steeppass fishway on the East Coast. The lower one is a brand new pool-and-weir fishway set into a unique concrete apron that has to be seen to understand. Staff will be on hand at both places to explain. Look for the entrance for wonderland of ice off glenwood ave. and follow signs back to large parking lot. Park there and look at the upper fishway from across the river. Then walk back to the lower fishway in Glenwood park. Staff there will advise you on your options for seeing the upper fishway more closely. 4

5 Site 3: tingue Dam Fishway Hosts for visit : Mastrobattisto, Inc., Town of Seymour, and ct deep_ Contact information: (CTDEEP) Open house y/n_n Times: Private, guided visit only y/n Y Time: 10:00 am 11:00 am Address of site: 40 wakeley street Town: _seymour GPS coordinates: N W Stream Name: naugatuck River This is a unique bypass channel type of fishway, perhaps the largest of its kind on the east coast. It is unlikely to be completed on may 24 but the contractor is allowing limited public access for a first look at this fishway, which has been carved mostly out of bedrock. The fishway will closely resemble a natural stream that circumvents a historic dam and passes under rt. 8. There will be a town-owned park around the fishway. With luck, there will be water passing down the fishway and fish moving up on may 24. The public will be allowed in only during the specific times listed for this day and visitors must arrive by 10 am. park in parking lot across the street and walk over to entrance gate to meet guide. 5

6 Site 4: Harry O. Haakonsen Fishway at Wallace Dam Hosts for visit : Connecticut Fund for the Environment/ Save-the-Sound and CTDEEP Contact information: _ (Save-the-Sound) Open house y/n Y Times:_10:00 am 3:00 pm Private, guided visit only y/n N Time: Address of site: corner of River Road and Quinnipiac Street_ Town: _Wallingford GPS coordinates: N W Stream Name: _Quinnipiac River A Denil style fishway with an underground viewing room with a camera that records video of fishway passing up the fishway. A small eel pass on the spillway. Often you can see fish down below the fishway as well. Pull into the small dirt parking lot right next to the fishway on River Road north of the intersection. Additional parking available on opposite side of road slightly north of site. 6

7 Site 5: east haven diversion dam Fishway Hosts for visit : south central CT regional water authority_ and CTDEEP_ Contact information: (CTDEEP) Open house y/n Y Times:_10:00 AM 3:00 PM Private, guided visit only y/n N Time: Address of site: 255 rock street Town: east haven_(foxon section) GPS coordinates: _ N W Stream Name: farm River A steeppass fishway at a low diversion dam. This is the newest fishway in Connecticut, having been completed this past winter. Turn south off U.S. Rt. 1 (foxon road) onto River Road. go to end and turn left on rock street and immediately look for signs on left. Drive down entrance road to dam site. 7

8 Site 6: branford water supply ponds dam Fishway Host for visit : branford land trust Contact information: Open house y/n yes Times:_ 10:00 am to 3:00 Private, guided visit only y/n No Time: Address of site: 25 short rocks road Town: _branford GPS coordinates: _ N W Stream Name: queach brook A steeppass fishway over an old dam with an electronic fish counter and a unique system for letting eels climb over the dam using nets. Very aesthetically pleasing use of large cut stone from the stony creek quarry to line the fishway. The fishway is on the west side of short rocks road. Follow signs. ParkiNg along side of short rocks road and stonegate drive. Do not block driveways._ 8

9 Site 7: stanchem Dam Fishway Hosts for visit : stanchem and ct deep Contact information: (860) (StanChem) _(CTDEEP) Open house y/n_y Times:_10 am 3 pm Private, guided visit only y/n _N Time: Address of site: 401 Berlin road Town: _east berlin GPS coordinates: N W Stream Name: mattabesset River This is a denil fishway with a resting pool, a counting house, an underground viewing window, and a unique eel pass. Visitors will be able to go down in the counting house and see fish swim past the window. Drive through gate, stay to right, follow signs. 9

10 Site 8: _Rainbow Dam Fishway Host for visit : CTDEEP/Inland Fisheries division Contact information: Open house y/n_y Times:_ 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Private, guided visit only y/n _N Time: Address of site: 400 Rainbow Road Town: Windsor Stream Name: Farmington River GPS coordinates: _ N W Directions: I-91 to exit 40. West on rt. 20 toward Bradley airport but take hamilton south exit. At end of ramp, turn left, go under rt. 20 and at stop sign, turn right on rainbow road. Go about ¼ mile and look for sign and gate on left. THE LARGEST FISHWAY IN CONNECTICUT, THIS VERTICAL SLOT FISHWAY WRAPS AROUND A 59 HIGH HYDROELECTRIC DAM. VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO GO DOWNSTAIRS AND VIEW THE UNDERGROUND VIEWING WINDOW AND SEE THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FISHWAY AS WELL AS WATCH STAFF HANDLE ADULT SALMON IF ANY ARRIVE ON THIS DAY. TOURS OF THE HYDROELECTRIC POWERHOUSE WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED. You might combine this stop with lunch at a nearby restaurant and a visit to the Open House at the former spoonville dam site (#9). Drive into entrance drive and park in parking lot. Walk on grass along concrete wall of the fishway downhill to the gate by the bleachers and look for signs. 10

11 Site 9: spoonville dam removal Host for visit : _ farmington river watershed association Contact information: Open house y/n_y Times:_10 am noon Address of site: 50 tunxis ave. Town: _ east granby GPS coordinates: _ N W Stream Name: farmington River An old large concrete dam was removed at this location to help fish migrate upstream. From 10 AM to 12 Noon the FRWA (coordinator of the removal project) will be on site with photos of what it looked like before, the demolition process, plus info and images from the site s varied history as a fish migration route, native fishing ground, hydropower source, and whitewater venue. Come see a beautifully free-flowing river and marvel at what a good job was done getting all of the structure out. You might combine this stop with lunch at a nearby restaurant and a visit to the Open House at Rainbow Dam. Rte. 187 north of the Farmington River bridge, turn east on Spoonville Road and then immediately turn right onto Spoonville Road that will turn into Tunxis Ave. After passing under Rte. 187, drive another half mile and look for signs on right. Park alongside road. 11

12 Site 10: leesvile Dam Fishway Host for visit : ct deep Contact information: Open house y/n Y_(unstaffed)_ Times:_10:00 am 3:00 pm Private, guided visit only y/n N Time: Address of site: 60 powerhouse road Town: _east haddam GPS coordinates: N W Stream Name: salmon River This is a Denil fishway with a double trap for capturing adult atlantic salmon returning from the ocean. for most of the day, this fishway will be unstaffed, BUT visitors are free to park outside the gate and walk about one minute to the dam and observe the fishway. They are not allowed to go on the fishway. Often, visitors may see salmon leaping in the river below. At the end of the day (around 6 pm) staff will arrive at the fishway to check the trap and any visitors present will be able to watch that process and if a salmon happens to be in the trap, see the tagging and releasing of the salmon. Salmon often arrive at this fishway during the memorial day weekend. park in two small parking areas at the end of the dirt road by the inner gate. Park so others can fit in next to you. Do not park in front of gate. 12

13 Site 11: Mary Steube Fishway Host for visit : Old Lyme Land Trust Contact information: Open house y/n_y Times: noon 3 pm Private, guided visit only y/n N Time: Address of site: around 25 Boston Post Road_ Town: Old Lyme GPS coordinates: _ N W Stream Name: Mill Brook A steeppass fishway with a small viewing window in the resting pool with an electronic fish counter. This fishway is located within the Griswold nature preserve and VISITORS will HAVE TO WALK about 5 to 7 minutes along a level but uneven old road to reach IT. The preserve is on the north side of U.S. Rt. 1 (look for sign). Visitors will turn south on Stoneleigh Road (across the street from Griswold Preserve entrance) and park along the road (careful not to block driveways) and cross Rt. 1 carefully. Follow signs. 13

14 Site 12: ROGERS LAKE Fishway Host for visit : TOWN OF Old Lyme _(note fish in talons of osprey in Town seal below) Contact information: _X-212 Open house y/n Y Times: 12:45 pm 3:00 pm_ Private, guided visit only y/n N Time: Address of site: 180 Boston Post Road Town: Old Lyme GPS coordinates: _ N W Stream Name: Mill Brook A steeppass fishway with an electronic fish counter. This fishway is located ON THE DAM THAT FORMS Rogers Lake and parking at the dam is not available so visitors will park at the parking lot at Hains park and walk to the fishway-- about a 5 to 7 minute walk along a level paved road to reach the fishway. hains park is on the north side of U.S. Rt. 1 (look for sign). Follow signs. 14

15 Site 13: Latimer Brook Fishway Host for visit : CT DEEP/ Inland Fisheries Division_ Contact information: Open house y/n_y (unstaffed)_ Times: 10:00 3:00 pm Private, guided visit only y/n N Time: Address of site: none,but close to 80 Boston Post Road Town: East Lyme (Flanders)_ GPS coordinates: N W Stream Name: Latimer Brook A steeppass fishway set inside an old concrete fishway. There is a hand-operated trap at the top. When the fish are in, it is very easy to see fish crowding in a pool below the fishway and entering the fishway._there will be no staff present this day except for when the progressive tour stops by. The public is welcome to visit at any time. Best accessed from eastbound Boston Post Road, coming from Flanders Four-Corners. Look for the sign just before the I-95 Entrance. Pull into dirt parking lot. Parking right next to fishway. If this site will be available for a visit on a day other than May 24, please provide details here: Open to public at all times. 15

16 Site 14: Greeneville Dam Fishlift Host for visit : City of Norwich- Norwich Public Utilities Contact information: _Jeanne Kurasz Office: JeanneKurasz@npumail.com Open house y/n_n Times: Private, guided visit only y/n Y Time: 10:00 to 11:00 am Address of site: 5 Eighth Street Town: _Greeneville section of Norwich GPS coordinates: N W Stream Name: Shetucket River This is one of only two fishlifts (elevators) in Connecticut and the only one open to the public. Fish crowd in below and are lifted in a water-filled bucket by a computer-driven overhead motor to above the dam where they are dumped into an exit flume and then swim past a viewing window to get counted. Visitors will see fish lifted and the fish swim past the window._also downstream passage facilities and an unique eel lift. This is one of the largest fishways in the state. Off CT Rt. 12, turn east onto Eighth Street, cross railroad tracks and old canal and turn left after building (look for signs) 16

17 Site 15: Hallville Pond Dam Fishway Host for visit : Eastern Connecticut Conservation District Contact information: (860) x403 Open house y/n Y Times:_12:30 3:30pm Private, guided visit only y/n N Time: Address of site: 40 Hallville-Poquetanuck Road Town: _Preston GPS coordinates: _ N W Stream Name: Poquetanuck Brook A steeppass fishway over an 11 high old mill dam with a intermediate resting pool, an underground window and fish video recording system, streaming video to the internet, and an eel pass. For more information, visit The fishway is on the east side of the road (also known as Rt. 2A). Follow signs for parking If this site will be available for a visit on a day other than May 24, please provide details here: There will be another open house at the Hallville Fishway on June 7 th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in connection with Connecticut Trails Day 17

18 Talks about Migratory Fish and Conservation Efforts Start the day with Steve Gephard, a fish biologist with the CTDEEP, and Sally Harold, Director of Migratory Fish Projects with The Nature Conservancy, and listen to their talks on migratory fish. Steve s talk will focus on the biology of the various species of migratory fish found in Connecticut, their status, and describe some of the threats facing them. Sally will review the various dam removal and fishway construction projects undertaken in Connecticut by a variety of partners working to restore runs to Connecticut waters. These talks will be free and held at the Lyme - Old Lyme High School in Old Lyme (69 Lyme St, Old Lyme) from 9:00 am until 11:00 am. After the talk, attendees will be free to either go off and enjoy the rest of the day by themselves or visit one or more of the participating fishways listed above. Steve and Sally will be leading a tour of five fishways in Eastern Connecticut: Mary Steube and Rogers Lake fishways in Old Lyme, Latimer Brook fishway in East Lyme, Greeneville fishlift in Norwich, and the Hallville fishway in Preston before returning back to Old Lyme. For descriptions of these fishways, see text above. These sites have limited parking so participation will be capped at 25 cars (no limit on the number of people). To participate, you must register. To register, see below. (insert registration here) 18

19 Primary Sponsors Partners: Lyme-Old Lyme Regional District 18 High School 19