Atlantic Salmon Management
The Connecticut River stock of Atlantic salmon disappeared from the Connecticut River just after the turn of the 19th century. The loss was recognized by the public and there was a subsequent attempt to restore the population in the 1860s. The project was abandoned after a couple of decades but was resurrected again in 1967. The basin’s natural resource management agencies agreed that conditions and likelihood for success had improved enough to merit a second try.
Atlantic salmon management in the Connecticut River basin is supported by State and Federal legislation. This mandate created the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission. Member agencies agreed to work together and ceded authority for the management of salmon to this multi-agency, interstate Commission. The Commission was then free to guide a cooperative salmon restoration effort which includes habitat protection, fisheries management, research, regulation, hatchery production and stocking.
The long-term efforts of this cooperative partnership have resulted in an annual return of adult Atlantic salmon to a river from which the native interjurisdictional stock had been extirpated. The restoration efforts throughout the watershed are associated with economic improvements such as observed on the Farmington River as well as social benefits for the thousands of school kids who have had the hands-on opportunity to raise salmon in the classroom and release their fish in the streams that flow through their communities.
Accomplishments
Fry Stocking
The Connecticut River Coordinator's Office spent 15 staff days stocking about 800,000 Atlantic salmon fry in 2006 in MA, NH and CT. This is out of a total of 5.8 million salmon stocked in the Connecticut River basin. State and Federal cooperators, including the U.S. Forest Service, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife, New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game, and Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, collect the salmon at hatcheries throughout the basin. They are transported in tanks to nursery habitat in over 37 different streams. Hundreds of citizens volunteer their time, meeting the fish transport truck at its destination, then carefully hand-carrying the young salmon in buckets to the streams where the fish are gently released. There the young fry will grow for another two years before migrating to the ocean.
Smolt Emigration Estimate
After millions of Atlantic salmon are released throughout the Connecticut River basin, State and Federal fishery biologists return to the streams in the fall to check on the results. Juvenile salmon are collected, counted, and measured at hundreds of locations in the fall giving some indication of salmon growth and survival. However, since the assessment occurs in the fall (because spring flows preclude such efforts), it is likely that numbers of salmon observed then are higher than would be seen the following spring. As a consequence, biologists have to estimate the actual number of outmigrating smolts based on data collected the previous fall.
To get around this gap in the data, in 2006, the Connecticut River Coordinator's Office worked cooperatively with Northeast Generation Services Company (now FirstLight Power Resources Services, LLC) Holyoke Gas & Electric Department to fund a study conducted by Greenfield Community College. The College collects, marks and releases salmon smolts in Turners Falls, MA and recaptures the smolts in Holyoke, MA. An estimate of the total number of emigrants from the upper basin can be drawn by sampling the fish in the spring, using this process, as they leave the system. The trends in this estimate give an indication of overwinter survival and resulting program success. Because of high flows, an estimate could not be made in 2006. In 2005, the estimate was 81,041 +/- 36,139 smolts. (The highest unadjusted estimate since the studies were first initiated). In 2004, the estimate was 77,548 +/- 41,000 smolts.
Fish Scales
Adult Atlantic salmon that return from the ocean to spawn in the Connecticut River basin are called sea-run salmon. Almost all of the sea runs are captured at one of four sites in the basin: Leesville dam on the Salmon River (CT), Rainbow dam on the Farmington River (CT), DSI dam on the Westfield River (MA) or Holyoke dam on the mainstem Connecticut River (MA). The captive salmon are transported in a tank to the Richard Cronin National Salmon Station where they are held and later spawned. Biologists weigh and measure the salmon. They vaccinate the salmon to keep it healthy. They also remove scales for age and origin analysis.
The fish scales are mounted on a microscope slide and its image is magnified so that fishery managers can count the growth rings or annuli. These rings, like those on a tree, show periods of active growth followed by periods of slow growth which comprise an annual cycle. The annuli in freshwater look different than those in saltwater, so periods of marine and freshwater habitation can be estimated. It is even possible to tell if a salmon has spawned by looking at its scale. In this way scientists can form a picture of activities for this salmon predicting, for example, the age of the fish when it became a smolt and the total age of the adult when it returned from the ocean. This information is important to know because salmon that are stocked together in the spring don’t always leave for the ocean or return to spawn at the same time. Though most salmon from the Connecticut River spend two years in freshwater and two years in saltwater, some follow a very different pattern.
International Salmon Management
The Connecticut River Coordinator’s Office works with the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission member agencies to provide summary Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Restoration program data to the U.S. Atlantic Salmon Assessment Committee for inclusion in the Annual Report. This information is used by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) to address concerns identified by the group responsible for the international management of Atlantic salmon on the high seas, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO).
Partnership
The unique feature of the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program is that is has engaged and focused the activities of four State and two Federal agencies on restoring this river and its aquatic resources for almost 40 years. Probably no other single resource issue could have accomplished this. Perhaps more importantly, the agencies have not just been partners. They have cooperatively collaborated to get the job done. State and Federal staff exchange equipment, services, expertise, and sometimes even funds, thereby accomplishing things that no one agency could have managed independently. Resources have used effectively and efficiently to address objectives throughout the four state basin.
Salmon Habitat
The following projects were completed in 2006; all received partial or full funding through the Connecticut River Coordinator’s Office:
Salmonid Habitat Restoration via Culvert and Bridge Apron Modification on Sandy Brook in Colebrook, CT
Lead-Farmington River Watershed Association, CTDEP and USFWS
This project modified a span bridge apron by placing a rock ramp at the downstream end to backwater the culvert and rebar substrate cages on the apron to direct flows across the apron during low flows to expedite fish passage below Sandy Brook Road on Sandy Brook.
This project opened 6.6 miles of instream habitat to benefit Atlantic salmon, native brook and stocked brown trout and resident fish.
Ballou Dam Removal in Becket, MA
Lead-MA Riverways with American Rivers, Fish America Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Southern New England Program, Town of Becket, Trout Unlimited, U.S. Geological Survey, Westfield River Watershed Association
Removal of the Ballou Dam (along with the previous removal of the upstream Silk Mill Dam) restores fish access to aquatic habitat above and below the dam in Yokum Brook a Westfield River tributary. It is expected to benefit Atlantic salmon and other resident fish including brook and brown trout, blacknose dace and white sucker. The Town also received the benefit of a fire suppression water holding tank installed to replace the impoundment behind the dam.
About a mile of access to stream habitat was restored through this project.
Bronson Brook Culvert Replacement in Worthington, MA
Lead-MA Riverways with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, American Rivers, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Town of Worthington and USFWS
The Dingle Road cement, double-box culvert was replaced with a bottomless arch culvert.
One barrier was removed and fish passage was improved for Atlantic salmon and native brook trout.
Eels Passage at Lower Mill Pond, Hyde, Bunnells, Ingham Hill and Rainbow dams
Lead-CTDEP with Beardsley Park Zoo, City of Norwich, Town of Groton, Conneticut Department of Environmental Protection, Farmington River Power Co., Old Lyme Land Trust, Old Saybroook Land Trust, U.S. Geological Survey and USFWS
The State of CT identified 7 projects in 2005 (upgrades to existing eelpasses, new projects and improved monitoring) each was designed to improve eel access to important habitat in Connecticut. This ongoing collaborative project has improved eel access at Greeneville, Bunnells, Lower Mill Pond and Ingham Hill Pond. Eelpasses have been constructed at Hyde Pond and Rainbow dam. This project also facilitated additional future assessment and monitoring through the use of fyke nets.
Five barriers were removed and access to two miles of eel habitat was re-opened.
UPDATE
Homestead Woolen Mill Feasibility Study in West Swanzey, NH
Lead-NHDES, NHFG, NHDHR, Town of Swanzey, CRWC, American Rivers/NOAA, USFWS
Comprehensive study conducted on the dam and its Ashuelot River surroundings to enable a well-informed and locally-based choice for dam removal or fish passage potentially benefiting salmon, shad, and herring
Town working to identify funding to stabilize historic covered bridge piers.
Dam removal engineering and partner fund raising underway.
The following projects were completed in 2005; all received partial or full funding through the Connecticut River Coordinator’s Office:
Tower Brook Culvert Retrofit in Chesterfield, MA
Lead-MAEOEA Riverways, Town of Chesterfield, Wild and Scenic River Committee, MDFW, USFWS
Raised the tailwater streambed with passable rock step-pools downstream to eliminate perched outlet; Added streambed material in the culvert and planted to stabilize the outer stream bank and access paths
Frees about a mile of habitat benefiting salmon, brook trout and other resident species
Homestead Woolen Mill Feasibility Study in West Swanzey, NH
Lead-NHDES, NHFG, NHDHR, Town of Swanzey, CRWC, American Rivers/NOAA, USFWS
Comprehensive study conducted on the dam and its Ashuelot River surroundings to enable a well-informed and locally-based choice for dam removal or fish passage potentially benefiting salmon, shad, and herring
Town selection expected by vote in Spring 2006
Pizzini Dam Removal in East Haddam, CT
Lead-American Rivers, CRWC, CTDEP, CTR/LIS Ecosystem Team, USFWS
Removed the remaining impediment to fish passage on the Eightmile River
Provides salmon, shad, herring and resident species with access to the remaining 4 miles of historic spawning habitat; Project required tagging and relocation of mussels of special concern
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