A Management Plan for American Shad in the Connecticut River Basin

Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission
February 4, 1992

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Preface

This plan is endorsed by the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission for implementation in its efforts to restore anadromous fishes to the Connecticut River basin. The plan was prepared by the Shad Studies Subcommittee under authority of the Technical Committee for Fisheries Management of the Connecticut River. The Subcommittee serves an advisory role to the Technical Committee and Commission regarding current management issues and information needs pertinent to shad and river herring restoration in the basin. The Subcommittee will also periodically revise the plan to reflect progress made toward realization of the restoration goal and objectives. Major revisions to the plan will require review and approval of the Commission.

- David F. Egan
Chairman, CRASC

Prepared by Shad Studies Subcommittee:

Kenneth Cox, Chairman, VT F & W
Carol Henderson, NH F & G
Boyd Kynard, USFWS
Ted Meyers, USFWS
John O'Leary, MA F & W
Tom Savoy, CT DEP

I. Introduction

In 1967, State (CT, MA, NH, VT) and Federal Fishery Agencies (USFWS, NMFS) signed a Statement of Intent for a cooperative fishery restoration program in the Connecticut River basin. The Statement called for the establishment of a population of two million shad to the mouth of the Connecticut River with passage of one million above Holyoke Dam, 850,000 above Turners Falls Dam, and 750,000 above Vernon Dam thus restoring shad to their historical range at Bellows Falls, Vermont. These goals were initially chosen based on an estimation of potential spawning habitat situated above each mainstem dam in relation to the total and fishway efficiencies experienced on the Columbia River. Efforts continue to try to meet these goals.

American shad population levels in the Connecticut River demonstrate natural variability (Figure 1) typical of Clupeid fishes. Annual spawning run estimates of American shad have varied from 386,000 to a high of 1,634,000 since 1966 (Table 1). The variability seen is the result of differences in recruitment of individual year-classes and has been shown to be related to environmental conditions (Crecco and Savoy 1984).

Fish passage facilities, providing upstream access for American shad to Bellows Falls, Vermont, were improved at Holyoke Dam by 1976, and completed at Turners Falls and Vernon Dams in 1980 and 1981, respectively. Poor passage within the fish ladders at Turners Falls was improved by changing ladder flow patterns - prior to the 1983 and 1984 runs (Table 2). Similar modifications to improve passage efficiency through the Vernon fish ladder were made in advance of the 1984 and 1989 spawning runs.

Comparison of mean American shad population levels between pre and post 1976 Holyoke Lift improvements demonstrate little difference (Figure 1. 1966-1975, x=837,581; 1976-1990, x=828.426), however, recruitment of virgin American shad has increased slightly (Figure 2. 1966-1975, x=604,339; 1976-1984, x=718,506) coincident with fish passage improvements. This would suggest that a small increase in American shad production has resulted from restoring the American shad to their historic. range. Increased upriver fish passage at Holyoke without successful downstream passage facilities has resulted in a decline in the proportion of repeat spawners in the Connecticut River (Table 1). This places increased reliance on virgin spawning shad which may be a destabilizing influence on longterm population levels. Careful monitoring of age and spawning history as well as monitoring of proposed downstream passage facilities will be necessary.

During the period 1975-1979 no significant downriver passage of spent adult American shad was provided at Holyoke Dam. Beginning in 1980, a combination of techniques has been employed to provide passage around turbines at Holyoke (canal drawdowns, bascule gate opening, operation of the Boatlock Station Bypass)¹ and in 1983 at Turners Falls Dam where the log sluice is opened for a period each day during June and July when adult shad are present (Table 3). These requests for bypass operations were first formalized in an Annual Notification Letter to individual dam operators in 1987 as a request from the fisheries agencies and then later through the FERC process in the case of Holyoke. The signing of the Memorandums of Agreement with Northeast Utilities Service Company (NUSCO) and New England Power Company (NEP) in 1990 provide specific dates for completion of bypass facilities at all applicable mainstem dams for American shad as well as Atlantic salmon (Appendices C and D). Careful monitoring of the population dynamics of the American shad population after these facilities are completed will be necessary to evaluate their effectiveness.

While efforts to restore American shad to the Connecticut River Basin have primarily addressed upstream passage issues in the mainstem river, similar issues have received attention in certain major tributaries. Of these tributaries, the Farmington River in Connecticut has received most of the attention to date. Shad passage discussions, however, are underway on the Westfield River in Massachusetts. Efforts have also been initiated to quantify and describe the contribution of tributaries to the shad sport fishery.

On the Connecticut River mainstem, one unanticipated benefit of the fishway at Bellows Falls dam is the expansion of the upstream range of American shad beyond their historic limit. It is not known whether shad will pass the Bellows Falls fishway in significant numbers, and how this range expansion could affect the Connecticut River shad population. Downstream passage for both adult shad and juvenile shad (should reproduction occur upriver from Bellows Falls) will be provided through the Atlantic salmon passage facilities scheduled for operation in 1994.

Detailed information on the biology and status of American shad stocks of the eastern United States, including the Connecticut River, is available in the fishery management plan developed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (1985). The purpose of the Connecticut River Basin plan is to identify management objectives and activities that are specific to the basin and essential to attaining full restoration of the species to the basin.

II. Management Goal

To restore and maintain a spawning shad population to its historic range in the Connecticut River basin and to provide and maintain sport and the traditional in-river commercial fisheries for the species.

III. Management Objectives

The seven management objectives listed below support the management goal. Each objective is followed by reference to tables and appendices which document progress on activities toward full achievement of the stated objective.

1. Achieve and sustain an adult population of 1.5 to 2 million individuals entering the mouth of the Connecticut River annually. (Table 1)

2. A maximum rate of exploitation shall not exceed 40% of the spawning population, based on a 5-year running average (Crecco and Savoy 1987). (Table 1)

3. Achieve annual passage of 40 to 60% of the spawning run (based on a 5-year running average) at each successive upstream barrier on the Connecticut River mainstem. (Table 2)

4. Maximize outmigrant survival for juvenile and spent adult shad. (Table 3)

5. Enhance and promote the recreational opportunities associated with shad fishery management throughout the species' historical range. (Tables 4, 5, 6, & 7)

6. Establish and maintain a permanent population monitoring program on the Connecticut River. (Appendix A)

7. Establish an annual research program to address management programs associated with shad restoration goals and objectives. (Appendix B)

IV. Program Evaluation

The plan will be reviewed and, if necessary, revised annually to reflect current management problems and issues and progress made toward shad restoration in the Connecticut River basin.

Footnotes

1. Reports documenting the evaluation of the bypass techniques are cited under the references section.

V. References

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 1985.

Fishery management plan for anadromous alosid stocks of the eastern United States: American shad. hickory shad, alewife, and blueback herring: phase II in interstate management planning for migratory alosids of the Atlantic coast. Washington. DC.

Crecco. V.A. and T. Savoy. 1985.

Density-dependent catchability and its potential causes and consequences on Connecticut River shad. Alosa sapidissima. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42(10):1649-1657.

Crecco. V.A.. and T.F. Savoy. 1987.

Fishery management plan for American shad in the Connecticut River. Conn. Dept. of Envir. Protection. Hartford. CT. USA. 136 p.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1984.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1984. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1985.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1985. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1986.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1986. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1987.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1987. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1988.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1988. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northrop. R.B. 1978.

Fish guidance and control at power plant water intakes. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

O'Leary. J.A.. and B. Kynard. 1980.

Behavior of adult American shad and young of the year clupeids in underwater electric fields. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford, Connecticut.

O'Leary. J. A.. and B. Kynard. 1981.

Behavior of adult American shad and young of the year clupeids in underwater electric fields. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

O'Leary. J.A.. and B. Kynard. 1982.

Holyoke Dam fishery studies - 1981. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

O'Leary. J.A.. and B. Kynard. 1983.

Movements of radio-tagged fish during studies of downrunning adult American shad in the Holyoke Dam canal system - 1982. Final Report to NE Utilities Service, Hartford, Connecticut.

Savoy. T.. and D. Shake. 1991.

Population dynamics studies of American shad. Alosa sapiddisma. in the Connecticut River. Final completion Report for AFC-17. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. 50 p.

Taylor, R.. and B. Kynard. 1984.

Studies of downrunning adult alosids in the Holyoke Dam canal system -1983. Final Report to NE Utilities Service, Hartford, Connecticut. Shad Management Plan. 4 Feb. 1992

APPENDIX A. ANNUAL POPULATION MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

Requirements listed under this section are presented in order of priority, but all are required to monitor shad population status and trends from year to year.

1. Population estimates for numbers of shad entering the Connecticut River.

2. Estimates of shad sport harvest throughout the Connecticut River basin and commercial harvest at tidewater.

3. Upstream and downstream passage counts for adult and juvenile shad with pertinent age structure and sex ratio data at each Connecticut River mainstem fish passage facility.

4. An estimate of the relative abundance of juvenile shad produced in the Connecticut River basin.

APPENDIX B. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

The following studies and development projects were undertaken in 1991:

1. Aquatec, Inc. monitored the relationship and effect Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant operation on American shad distribution, growth and population dynamics in the upper Turners Falls and lower Vernon impoundments. The sex ratio, fecundity and age distribution of adult American shad at the Turners Falls and Vernon Darn fishways was studied. Sampling of juvenile American shad occurred in the upper Turners Falls pool and in the lower Vernon pool.

2. NUSCO and NEP conducted downstream fish passage studies for adult and juvenile American shad at each company's hydroelectric facilities in accordance with the MOA schedules.

3. The USFWS Sunderland Office of Fishery Assistance sampled the American shad population below Cabot Station for length-weight data and sex ratios. Radio telemetry were tested.

4. The Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center (CAFRC) conducted two studies on shad in 1991 that were aimed at understanding the behavior of adults in fishways: (1) experimental investigations of the choice of water flow habitat during the diel cycle of prespawned adults, and (2) development of a video system to monitor shad behavior in the Turners Falls fishway. CAFRC also developed the methods to conduct a detailed evaluation of the Turners Falls fishway in 1992. Juvenile shad studies to be undertaken by the CAFRC in 1991 included field studies using hydroacoustic techniques to determine the effect of physical environmental factors on migration ecology and migratory route.

APPENDIX C. CRASC-NUSCO DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE MOA, JULY 26, 1990

ARTICLE I: PASSAGE AND STUDY DATES

1. Holyoke Canal System

   NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passage facilities for Atlantic salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Holyoke Canal System by April 1992. and to evaluate its effectiveness by November 1994.

2. Hadley Falls Station

   NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passage facilities for Atlantic Salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Hadley Falls Station by April 1993, and to evaluate its effectiveness by November 1995.

3. Turners Falls Project

   If the Holyoke Canal System downstream passage facilities are initially successful, NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passage facilities for Atlantic salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Turners Falls Project by April 1994. If significant continued modifications are needed at the Holyoke Canal System downstream passage facilities, the date for providing the Turners Falls Project downstream passage facilities may be delayed to April 1995. The decision as to the initial success of the Holyoke Canal System downstream passage facilities shall be made no later than October 1992.

4. Northfield Project

   NUSCO agrees to complete studies and provide implementation schedules as required at the Northfield Project by March 1993.

APPENDIX D. CRASC-NEP DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE MOA, JULY 26, 1990

ARTICLE II: SCHEDULE NECESSARY TO MEET PASSAGE DATES

1. Overall Schedule

   The Company will follow the schedule of activities which is outlined below:

   VERNON

   • Through Spring 1990 - Physical model testing

   • Spring 1990 - Study and identify alternative systems. Conduct radio-tagged fish studies.

   • Summer 1990 - Install and operate. Vernon "fish pipe"

   • 1991 - Evaluate alternative systems with radio-tagged fish studies

   • 1992 to 1993 - Engineer and designed preferred system

   • Spring 1993 - Issue a notice to proceed with construction of preferred system**

   • April 1994 - Operate preferred system and monitor passage

   • 1994 to 1996 - Evaluate effectiveness and modify facility as necessary

** The issuance of a notice to proceed in this agreement means. notification of the selected contractor to proceed with construction as described and defined in the agreed on contract.

1. Year-class strength is the sum of virgin recruitment of 4, 5 and 6 year old shad (Savoy and Shake, 1991).

2. Population estimates derived from Holyoke Lift rate numbers as described in Crecco and Savoy (1985).

3. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Marine Fisheries unpublished data taken from fish collected at the river mouth.

^a Population estimates derived from Holyoke Lift rate numbers as described in Crecco and Savoy (1985).

^b Passage counts rounded to nearest 10,000th fish.

^c Passage counts rounded to nearest 10th fish.

^d The Ice Harbor style ladder at Cabot Station (Turners Falls) is structurally modified to improve flow patterns for increased shad passage during the 1983 run.

^e Flow through the Ice Harbor style ladder at Vernon Station is increased in an attempt to increase shad passage.

^f Structural modifications similar to those made at Cabot Station are undertaken at the spillway ladder (Turners Falls) in advance of the 1984 shad run.

^g The first structural changes are made to the Ice Harbor style ladder at Vernon.

^h Structural modifications similar to those made at Cabot Station are undertaken at the Vernon ladder.

¹ Boatlock Station bypass estimates.

² Counts are estimates based on extrapolated subsamples.

³ Counts made at Cabot Station log sluice.

¹ Estimates of numbers of visitors are minimum numbers as the displays and viewing gallery are open to the public from the second week in April through the second week in July and in the fall from the first week in October until the second week in November.

Figure 1. Population Estimate of American shad in the Connecticut River (1966 - 1990)¹

(1966 -1975 mean = 837,581) (1976 -1990 mean = 828,426)
¹Information derived from Table 1 (T. Savov. CT DEP. personal communication).

Figure 2. Virgin adult recruitment of American shad in the Connecticut River (1966 - 1984)¹

(1966 -1975 mean = 604,339) (1976 -1984 mean = 718,506)
¹Information derived from Table 1 (T. Savov. CT DEP. personal communication).

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