The Return of the Salmon!

     In the article "Salmon Spawning in Winooski River Improves by 44 Percent," Vermont Digger authors detail the Winoooski River fishway's record salmon spawning run. In the Fall of November 2011, huge numbers of Atlantic Salmon made their way from Lake Champlain to the Winooski River through a "fish-lift" at the Winooski One hydro-electric facility. 
    The fish lift was designed to trap and truck fish passage at the Winooski Falls above Salmon Hole in Winooski so that the species may find suitable spawning habitat and also increase fishing opportunities to the many Vermont residents who utilize the river. In 1786, Ira and Ethan Allen had the first damming of the river, blocking upstream salmon migration and decreasing salmon populations extensively. With the installment of the fish lift, the fishery is luckily "being restored' according to John Warshow, owner of the Winooski One Partnership that opeates the hydro-electric facility. Typically hydro-electric dams can severely alter the composition and health of rivers and the multitude of species that are dependent on the existence of that river. As Ira Allen's dam construction prevented the migration of Atlantic salmon, local extinction could very well have been a consequence. Salmon decline is also correlated with the decline of the North American beaver and increases in benthic macroinvertibrates. In Vermont, and the general New England area, many efforts are underway to restore salmon to native regions by removing obsolete dams and updating others wtih fish lifts and ladders. While damming has been a controversial issue for salmon, issues with pollution and predation seem to be decreasing as the fish are increasing in number over time.
     Fishery biologist Nick Staats who is monitoring the salmon run illustrates a "44% increase over last year's record of 130 fish," resulting in 189 salmon making their way back to the Winooski River from Lake Champlain- proving that dam update efforts are paying off. By updating current dams to support fish and other species migration, many dams in the United States can better restore the health and diversity of their rivers. Additionally, the return of salmon has increased fishing opportunities for the locals, contributing to a healthier, local diet and a real appreciation for the Winooski River as a whole. 

 

Nick Staats holding a salmon caught at the Winooski One facility. 

Source: VT Digger's Webpage at http://vtdigger.org/2011/11/27/salmon-spawning-in-winooski-river-improves-by-44-percent/ published November 22, 2011 by the Vermont Digger Staff and accessed on March 25, 2012 by myself.