Location
UMass Amherst
Event Website
http://fishpassage.ecs.umass.edu/Conference2012/
Start Date
7-6-2012 10:30 AM
End Date
7-6-2012 10:50 AM
Description
The lower Susquehanna River has four hydroelectric dams with technical fishways constructed to pass American shad and other alosines. The first three dams; Conowingo, Holtwood and Safe Harbor, have fish lifts constructed in 1991, 1997 and 1997, respectively. The fish lift at Safe Harbor Dam performs very well, passing an average of 72% of the American shad that pass Holtwood, eight river miles downstream. There is also evidence that the Safe Harbor fish lift passes American shad with little delay, passing large numbers of shad one day after large numbers are passed at Holtwood. Unfortunately, the fish lifts at Conowingo and Holtwood perform poorly in comparison. A radio telemetry study, conducted in 2010, estimated that only 45% of the American shad in the Conowingo tailrace were passed. The Holtwood fish lift passes an average of 31% of the American shad passed at Conowingo, 15 river miles downstream. A radio telemetry study, conducted in 2001 estimated that Holtwood passed 34% of the fish that reached the project. Fish passage must be significantly improved at these projects to permit successful shad restoration.
Session B7 - The Lower Susquehanna River: 3 Fish Lifts & 3 Fish Passage Results
UMass Amherst
The lower Susquehanna River has four hydroelectric dams with technical fishways constructed to pass American shad and other alosines. The first three dams; Conowingo, Holtwood and Safe Harbor, have fish lifts constructed in 1991, 1997 and 1997, respectively. The fish lift at Safe Harbor Dam performs very well, passing an average of 72% of the American shad that pass Holtwood, eight river miles downstream. There is also evidence that the Safe Harbor fish lift passes American shad with little delay, passing large numbers of shad one day after large numbers are passed at Holtwood. Unfortunately, the fish lifts at Conowingo and Holtwood perform poorly in comparison. A radio telemetry study, conducted in 2010, estimated that only 45% of the American shad in the Conowingo tailrace were passed. The Holtwood fish lift passes an average of 31% of the American shad passed at Conowingo, 15 river miles downstream. A radio telemetry study, conducted in 2001 estimated that Holtwood passed 34% of the fish that reached the project. Fish passage must be significantly improved at these projects to permit successful shad restoration.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2012/June7/2
Comments
Fisheries Biologist, Pa Fish and Boat Commission since 2008