Location
UMass Amherst
Start Date
27-6-2011 1:55 PM
End Date
27-6-2011 2:15 PM
Description
Meeting fish passage objectives is one primary driver for modifying conditions at dams and other barriers. American Rivers has been involved with a number of dam removal projects for dams that had ladders or fishways. We propose a few reasons why this phenomenon is occurring 1) Society/communities putting a higher value on the river functions that fish ladders cannot provide; 2) Older fish ladders are failing to meet their objectives; 3) Maintenance problems exist and 4) Multiple species approaches are gaining popularity. American Rivers will describe the extent of these types of projects, present a few example cases and provide a decision-tree that is a combination of "best-fit" for the process to provide additional perspective to project managers who are evaluating fish passage.
Session C2- Thanks for putting in that fish ladder: Can you remove the dam now?
UMass Amherst
Meeting fish passage objectives is one primary driver for modifying conditions at dams and other barriers. American Rivers has been involved with a number of dam removal projects for dams that had ladders or fishways. We propose a few reasons why this phenomenon is occurring 1) Society/communities putting a higher value on the river functions that fish ladders cannot provide; 2) Older fish ladders are failing to meet their objectives; 3) Maintenance problems exist and 4) Multiple species approaches are gaining popularity. American Rivers will describe the extent of these types of projects, present a few example cases and provide a decision-tree that is a combination of "best-fit" for the process to provide additional perspective to project managers who are evaluating fish passage.
Comments
Sara Strassman is the Upper Midwest river restoration director for American Rivers. She has worked for American Rivers for 5 years and has been involved in more than 60 dam removal projects. Before managing restoration work in the Midwest, Sara managed to Free-Flowing Pennsylvania program, which provided technical and financial assistance to dam owners seeking t get rid of outdated dams. Sara has expertise in river restoration policy, project management, and restoration planning. She is a Certified Floodplain Manager and received her M.S. for University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environmental and her B.S. from Michigan State University.