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An Enterprising Popular Program Gives Fish a New Passage to Old Habitat, Spawning Grounds

US Fish and Wildlife Service Press Release
March 3, 2000
Ken Burton 202-208-5657

To avoid ghosts, Sarah Winchester is said to have followed her medium’s advice and kept carpenters working on her San Jose, California, home 24 hours a day for 38 years. She left behind one of the most confounding mansions in America, a house on 161 acres that remains a museum of mazes, blocked doorways and stairways to nowhere.

Dozens of species of fish in the United States have faced a situation that for decades has been every bit as daunting. No mediums were involved — instead, fish became victims of the industrial revolution as dam after dam fragmented habitat and cut them off from their essential habitats and spawning grounds. In fact, they faced baffling blockages not unlike those at the Winchester House. Unlike the slightly adled Sarah Winchester, however, fish faced life or death.

Now, more than 100 years after the advent of the industrial revolution and the hundreds of mostly small dams that were thrown up on almost every river in the United States to help generate power for American factories, those old obstacles are being dismantled.

“Restoring fish passageways is one of the most effective things we can do to increase fish populations, and we’ve made some impressive progress,” said Cathleen Short, Chief of the Fisheries Division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“We’ve really only just begun,” said Short. “Whether we take out old dams altogether or help notch dams or build passages around them, we’re helping a species of fish make its own comeback.”

Approximately 75,000 dams that are 6 feet, or higher, and some 2.5 million smaller obstructions now block or impede fish passage in the nation’s waterways and is a principal reason for dramatic declines of migratory fish. Larvae, juvenile and adult fish are often unable to reach spawning or rearing grounds.

“There may be few programs that have enjoyed such a wide cross-section of support,” said Hannibal Bolton, Chief of the Fisheries Division’s Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance branch. “We helped to build a new fish passageway on the James River in Richmond that involved more than two dozen federal, state and local agencies and civic organizations. When you have that many people in agreement from that kind of cross-section, you know you’re on to something.”

In 2000, the Service has $900,000 to pump into fish passage projects in seven watersheds in 12 states, removing four dams and other impediments and restoring access to more than 1,000 miles of habitat for fish and other aquatic species.

More than 17 commercially and recreationally important species such as salmonids, American shad, river herring and sturgeon as well as four species already on the Endangered Species list will benefit, and the projects also hold the promise of helping to avoid listing other species.

Last year, the program completed restoration projects in 14 states, including those designed to help the watershed work of more than 50 partners. Some 23,000 acres of riparian, streambank and wetland habitats were restored and 1,000 miles of river were improved or reopened to spawning and rearing habitat. At least 50 species of fish and wildlife benefited, including 10 listed fish and freshwater mussels.

Next year, the program target is to restore 32,000 acres of wetland and riparian habitat and another 1,000 miles of stream habitat; 13 listed species and 17 recreational species of fish will benefit from that work.

Passageway efforts are directed by the Service’s Fishery Resources Offices nationwide, where agency biologists work with local residents to identify fish barriers, design solutions and complete improvements in cooperation with a wide array of partners, assess fish populations and monitor results and implement riparian and in-stream habitat restoration projects.

“This program gives us an unparalleled opportunity to improve fish populations in a very direct, beneficial way,” said Bolton. “Some states already have joined in this effort with their own aggressive programs. We look forward to working with dozens of new partners across the country in the months and years ahead.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management assistance offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

Planned Passageway Programs

Middle Satstop Road Culvert Replacement, Mason/Greys Harbor County, WA - Culvert replacement will open 2.5 miles of spawning habitat for coho salmon and sea-run cutthroat. Successful spawning and rearing will aid in the recovery of these species.

Little Susitna River Culvert Replacement, Anchorage, AK - This project will replace unpassable culverts, opening the river to coho salmon spawning and rearing areas. Increased spawning and rearing area will enhance the fish population of this important coho salmon river.

Gulf of Mexico Enhancement of Marine Organisms, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, TX - Three water control structures on the Refuge will be retrofitted to allow movement of fish and other marine animals into a 2000 acre brackish marsh from the Gulf of Mexico.

San Juan River Weir Passage, NM - A weir spans the entire San Juan River partially blocking access by resident fish including the endangered Colorado pikeminnow and the razorback sucker. Fifty miles of river for spawning, rearing habitat will be opened. Partners include: State of New Mexico, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Public Service of New Mexico.

Rio Grande, San Acacia Diversion Fish Passage, NM - The San Acacia Diversion dam de-waters the Rio Grande, stranding large numbers of the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow and other species. The project will fund final design to allow the silvery minnow to reach perennial habitat upstream of the dam.

Gulf of Mexico, National Wildlife Refuges Bayou Flow Improvement, TX - Channelization, leveeing and other water control structures have stopped the use of these wetland by fish and other marine animals. Water control structures on 4 Refuges will be retrofitted to allow access to about 10,000 acres of marsh.

Missouri River Tributary Passage Project, MO, IA, KS, and NE - The Missouri River’s severely altered habitat has negatively impacted many of its fish species. Tributaries provide important refuge areas. Some of these tributaries are blocked by low head dams or weirs. Fish passage structures will be built to benefit pallid sturgeon, paddlefish, sicklefin, and sturgeon chubs.

Cape Fear Locks and Dams, NC - The Army Corps of Engineers will conduct a cost benefit study to determine if these structures are worth maintaining or should be removed. When removed, 132 miles of Cape Fear River and 2,000 miles of tributaries will be opened to anadromous and other native fish.

Swepsonville Dam, NC - Breeching or removal of the dam will open 11 miles of Haw River habitat, plus 247 miles of tributaries for the endangered Cape Fear shiner and other fish.

Culvert modification on Rogue Harbor Branch, Patuxent River, MD - In partnership with Maryland DNR and the Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge four culverts will be modified. America eel, blue back herring and alewives will benefit by having access to additional spawning and rearing areas.

Fish Passage on Vinton Dam, Podunk River, CT - Blueback herring and alewives are important part of the fresh and salt water food chain. A fish ladder will be built on the Vinton Dam providing these fish an additional 20 acres of important spawning and nursery habitat.

Yellowstone & Tongue River, MT - The federally listed pallid sturgeon will benefit from irrigation screening.