Location
UMass Amherst
Start Date
27-6-2011 1:35 PM
End Date
27-6-2011 1:55 PM
Description
Many dams no longer serve a useful function and should be removed or replaced with fish passage structures. At least, that seems clear to Fisheries Professionals. However, even the smallest dams often have a broad constituency with many interest that may be overlooked or dismissed by stream restoration proponents. These interests include flat-water recreation, shore-front property values, water supply for fire protection, waterfowl habitat, perceived flooding benefits of a dam, or the simple desire to preserve the status quo. The failure to identify these interests and address them early in the process of stream restoration project planning can lead to opposition and ultimately derail good fish passage projects. We present a case study of a successful stream restoration project that included two dam removals and construction of a rock ramp fishway.
Session C2- Building stakeholder consensus to achieve fish passage success-Sedgeunkedunk Stream restortion case study
UMass Amherst
Many dams no longer serve a useful function and should be removed or replaced with fish passage structures. At least, that seems clear to Fisheries Professionals. However, even the smallest dams often have a broad constituency with many interest that may be overlooked or dismissed by stream restoration proponents. These interests include flat-water recreation, shore-front property values, water supply for fire protection, waterfowl habitat, perceived flooding benefits of a dam, or the simple desire to preserve the status quo. The failure to identify these interests and address them early in the process of stream restoration project planning can lead to opposition and ultimately derail good fish passage projects. We present a case study of a successful stream restoration project that included two dam removals and construction of a rock ramp fishway.
Comments
Steven Shepard is the owner of Aquatic Science Associates, Inc., a small consulting firm located in Brewer, Maine. He is a Certified Fisheries Professional with 26 years of experience focusing on stream ecology, fish sampling, instream habitat modeling, stream restoration, freshwater mussel surveys and water quality. He has extensive experiene in various energy sectors including hydroelectric project permitting, pipeline permitting, compliance and NEPA document preparation. He was worked for license applicants, the FERC, and as an electric utility staff scientist. Although he is based in the Northeast, his experience includes energy projects in the Pacific northwest, the mid-west and North Carolina. He has a MS degree in Zoology from the University of Maine and a BS in Fisheries Science from the University of Washington.