Fish Passage Schedule
The Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission establishes an annual schedule for the operation of up and downstream passage for a number of dams in the Connecticut River basin. These schedules are based on the projected movement of migratory fish and may be adjusted in season to address actual observations.
| Location (Project) | Upstream Fish Passage | Species | Life Stage | Date of Operation1 | Hours of Operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilder | Ladder | salmon | adult | May 15 - Jul 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| salmon | adult | Sep 15 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Bellows Falls | Ladder | salmon | adult | May 15 - Jul 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| salmon | adult | Sep 15 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Vernon | Ladder | salmon | adult | May 15 - Jul 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| salmon | adult | Sep 15 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad & herring | adult | May 15 - Jul 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Turners Falls | Cabot Ladder, Gatehouse Ladder, and Spillway Ladder | salmon | adult | Apr 1 - Jul 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| salmon | adult | Sep 15 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad & herring | adult | Apr 1 - Jul 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Holyoke | Zone-of-Passage Flows2 | salmon, shad, herring and sturgeon | adult | Apr 1 - Jul 153 | 24 hrs/day |
| Tailrace Lift and Spillway Lift |
salmon, shad & herring | adult | Apr 1 - Jul 15 | up to 12 hrs/day4 | |
| Tailrace and Spillway Eelways |
eels | adults | Apr 15 - Nov 155 | 24 hrs/day | |
1. Actual dates of operation are based on passage of fish at the next lowest downstream fishway and/or monitoring of radio-tagged adult salmon locations.
2. Zone -of-passage flow of 1,300 cfs or more to the bypass reach below the dam
3. Zone-of-passage flows for shortnose sturgeon passage in summer (July 16 through September 14) are not currently required until downstream passage measures are in place to protect down-running sturgeon.
4. Actual hours of operation on a day-to-day basis are to be determined by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife in consultation with the project owner.
5. Actual eelpass installation dates are dependent on river flow conditions.
| Location (Project) | Downstream Fish Passage Exit | Species | Life Stage | Date of Operation1 | Hours of Operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McIndoes | Log Sluice3 | salmon | smolt | Apr 1 - Jun 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| Ryegate (Dodge Falls) | Fish Bypass Facility | salmon | smolt | Apr 1 - Jun 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| Wilder | Log Sluice2 | salmon | smolt | Apr 1 - Jun 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| salmon | adult | Oct 15 - Dec 315 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Bellows Falls | Angled Fish Guide Wall and Log Sluice2 | salmon | smolt | Apr 1 - Jun 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| salmon | adult | Oct 15 - Dec 315 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Vernon | Fish Bypass at Unit 10 | salmon | smolt | Apr 1 - Jun 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| salmon | adult | Oct 15 - Dec 315 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | adult | Jun 1 - Jul 31 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | juvenile | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Louvers and Fish Pipe at Unit 4 | eels | adults | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | |
| salmon | smolt | Apr 1 - Jun 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| salmon | adult | Oct 15 - Dec 315 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | adult | Jun 1 - Jul 31 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | juvenile | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| eels | adults | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Northfield | Barrier Net | salmon | smolt | Apr 1 - Jun 151 | 24 hrs/day |
| Turners Falls | Log Sluice and Trash Sluice | salmon | smolt | Apr 7 - Jun 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| salmon | adult | Oct 15 - Dec 315 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | adult | Jun 1 - Jul 31 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | juvenile | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| eels | adults | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Holyoke6 | Canal Louver Bypass | salmon | smolt | Apr 7 - Jun 15 | 24 hrs/day |
| salmon | adult | Oct 1 - Dec 315 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | adult | Jun 15 - Jul 31 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | juvenile | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| eels | adults | Aug 1 - Aug 31 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| sturgeon | adults | Apr 7 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| Bascule Gate4 | eels | adults | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | |
| salmon | smolt | Apr 7 - Jun 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| salmon | adult | Oct 15 - Dec 315 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | adult | Jun 1 - Jul 31 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| shad | juvenile | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
| eels | adults | Sep 1 - Nov 15 | 24 hrs/day | ||
1. Date of initiating operation April 1 or as soon as possible after high spring flows subside. Net can be removed after smolt emigration ceases at the Cabot sampler upon consultation with the Coordinator.
2. Minimum log sluice gate opening of 3.5 feet at Bellows Falls and 5 feet at Wilder.
3. The McIndoes log sluice gate is now capable of tracking headpond level and can operate continuously.
4. Bascule gate may be closed periodically in order to facilitate upstream passage at spillway fishlift, as directed by Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife fishway personnel.
5. Downstream passage operation, or monitoring with operation as needed, is required for salmon when salmon are upstream of a location.
6. Holyoke passage operation dates may be adjusted to facilitate fish passage facility improvements if approved by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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