Link to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Web site

Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission

Check out Public Law 98-138, the Congressional legislation behind the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission.

Why a Commission?

The need and reason for the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission and its Committees are readily understood given the number of agencies involved, the enormity of the Connecticut River basin, and the complexity of the species.

A minimum of six State and Federal resource management agencies (see the Commission's membership list), major electric utility companies, a host of private dam owners, and a variety of other organizations and individuals are involved with the restoration of Atlantic salmon and other migratory species. Connecticut River Atlantic salmon restoration requires that these different individuals and groups work together cooperatively.
The Connecticut River is the longest river in New England, stretching over 400 miles from the Long Island Sound to the Canadian border. The Connecticut River is the southernmost Atlantic salmon river in the United States, supporting over 60 species of fish, 14 of which are migratory. These unique attributes of the Connecticut River basin have shaped and defined the restoration program.
The Atlantic salmon has a complicated life history, traveling over 2,000 miles to Greenland and back during its lifetime. In the Connecticut River basin, its freshwater habitat spans four New England states. The Atlantic salmon has strict habitat requirements throughout this range.

Membership

The Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission (Commission) provides guidance to the restoration program on all administrative and biological issues. Established by Congress in 1983 (and reauthorized in 2002 for another 20 years) through the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Compact (Public Law 98-138), it is composed of ten Commissioners, representing four State agencies, the public, and two Federal agencies. The following table lists Commission members.

Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission Membership

Federal		U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Director, Northeast Region National Marine Fisheries Service: Director, Northeast Region
Connecticut		Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection: Director, Fisheries Division Public Sector Representative, Appointed by the Governor
Massachusetts		Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife: Director Public Sector Representative, Appointed by the Governor
New Hampshire		New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game: Executive Director Public Sector Representative, Appointed by the Governor
Vermont		Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife: Commissioner Public Sector Representative, Appointed by the Governor

Technical Committee

Commissioners are advised on scientific and technical issues by a Technical Committee. The Technical Committee is comprised of senior staff biologists from each member agency plus the U.S. Forest Service and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. The Technical Committee has created several standing sub-committees to address specific issues: Shad Studies, Salmon Studies, Fish Passage, and Genetics. Experts and cooperators from the U.S. Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division, private industry, and conservation groups participate in meetings of these sub-committees and the Technical Committee.

Learn More

To learn more about the CRASC, please click the links below. All links will open in a new window.

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