Restoring Migratory Fish to the Connecticut River Basin

The mission of the Connecticut River Fisheries Program is to work with partners to restore migratory fish and their habitats in the Connecticut River Basin.

Explore this site to see why so many different agencies, organizations, and local citizens are working together to restore migratory fish, like American shad, river herring, American eel, shortnose sturgeon, and sea lamprey, as well as their habitats, to the Connecticut River basin.

103 East Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
(413) 548-9138 ext. 122

Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals may reach the Connecticut River Coordinator's Office through the Massachusetts Relay Service at 1-800-439-2370 (TTY / ASCII) or 1-800-439-0183 (voice).

The Connecticut River Coordinator's Office is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior. Our mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

Cabot Station and fishways at the Turners Falls project in Massachusetts. Credit: USFWS

Five major Connecticut River hydropower projects in MA, VT and NH begin relicensing process

UPDATE: March 21, 2013: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service submitted comments and research requests for the scoping process. Read those here and here.

January 11, 2013: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is collaborating with other federal and state agencies, as well as other organizations, on the upcoming 2018 relicensing of the Turners Falls, Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage, Vernon, Bellows Falls and Wilders projects. The five-year process began in early October. The projects collectively impact more than 175 miles of the river, which supports four endangered species and other sea-run fish, including American eel, American shad and river herring.

Fact Sheet (PDF - 737KB)
Project Notice (PDF - 1022KB)
Visit the TransCanada and First Light websites for more information.

Atlantic salmon with kype (hook) in the lower jaw. Credit: E. Peter Steenstra/USFWS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Will No Longer Produce Salmon for Connecticut River Restoration Program

Will Focus on Conservation of Other Species

At a meeting of the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission on July 10, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it will no longer culture salmon for restoration efforts in the Connecticut River Basin. The agency has supported salmon restoration for 45 years, but current low return rates and the science supporting salmon restoration have caused the Service to focus its efforts on other anadromous fish in the basin. The salmon program has resulted in many significant ecological benefits, for the Connecticut River watershed and other anadromous fish species.

The Service will continue to work with state agencies represented on the Commission and other conservation interests to restore and sustain other fisheries in the river basin. The Service will redirect fishery facilities and staff to support the conservation of American shad, American eel, river herring, and shortnose sturgeon in the Connecticut.

As a result of the Service’s decision, White River National Fish Hatchery, which has been closed since August 2011 due to flooding damage from Tropical Storm Irene, and Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery, both in Vermont, will no longer rear salmon. The Service is evaluating the future role of the Richard Cronin National Salmon Station in Massachusetts. The agency will continue to support education and outreach programs that build awareness about Atlantic salmon.

The Service has also initiated a three-year assessment of the Merrimack River salmon restoration program, and it is involved in salmon recovery efforts in the Penobscot and other rivers in Downeast Maine.

River herring population assessment. Credit: USFWS

2012 Annual Report

Please click on the link below to learn more about the work conducted by my office on a wide variety of activities dealing with migratory fish restoration and management, habitat restoration, assessment and planning. As noted in the report, these activities can only be conducted with extensive support from many appreciated volunteers, state agency staff support, and staff support from other programs within the USFWS.

Download the Annual Report (PDF 1.35MB)

Ken Sprankle, Coordinator