Title
Observations of American eels using an upland passage facility and effects of passage on the population structure
Publication Date
2009
Keywords
American eel, eels, eel ladder, Hudson River, migration, local movements, recapture, productivity, barriers
Journal or Book Title
North American Journal of Fisheries Management
Abstract
Over two seasons, we observed passage of American eels (Anguilla rostrata) at an eelpassage facility (eel ladder) placed adjacent to an upland mill dam on a small tributary to theHudson River, New York. American eel use of the ladder was significantly correlated with freshetsand moon phase, similar to other studies of eel migration. Most of the migrants were young (,20cm total length). Several large American eels (.35 cm) exhibited local movements, including useof the ladder, as shown by recaptures of individuals marked with coded wire tags. Operation ofthe eel ladder greatly reduced the density of small American eels below the mill dam. Placing eelladders on upland obstructions has the potential to enhance the productivity of silver (sexuallymature) eels, an important consideration in the Hudson Valley, where hundreds of barriers havebeen constructed on upland tributaries.
Pages
715-720
Volume
29