Fairmount Dam Fishway

Fairmount Dam Fishway. . , Fish Migration , The illustration below depicts the relationship between the Fairmount Dam and the Delaware Estuary., Migratory fish species embark on a long journey to spawn in freshwater by entering the estuary from the ocean and making their way up the Delaware River and into the Schuylkill River., History of the Fishway , The Schuylkill River, the largest tributary to the Delaware River, supported large numbers of American shad until the construction of dams in the early 1800s. Historical records indicate other migratory species, such as blueback herring and striped bass, ascended the Schuylkill River as far upstream as Pottsville, PA, but have not done so since the creation of the Fairmount Dam in 1821., The Fairmount Dam Fishway was designed to allow fish passage around the Fairmount Dam and was completed in the spring of 1979. In 2006, a total of 16,850 fish representing 26 species were counted passing through the fishway including 345 American shad, 9 hickory shad, 61 striped bass, and 7 river herring., Repairs and improvements to the facility were completed in 2009. The slots between the chambers of the fishway have been widened, the flow through the chambers has been modified, and the entrance and exit channels have been redesigned, in hopes of increasing the variety of species and the numbers of fish using the fishway., Improved water quality and habitat, along with increased fish access to upstream spawning areas, ensures the long-term sustained health of our rivers and streams. these improvements have helped to spur fishing and recreational activities on the Schuylkill River, reviving this significant waterway and its river bank communities., How the Fishway Works ,

1️⃣ A fish following its instinct to swim upstream in the Schuylkill River encounters the turbulent water of the Fairmount Dam's spillway. A current of water, produced by the fishway, flows into the river from the fishway entrance, serving as a guide for the fish, and attracting them to swim through the entrance into the first chamber., 2️⃣ The water, pouring through the slots connecting each chamber, guides the fish through the fishway. The water levels, in each chamber, are slightly higher than the chamber before it, allowing the fish to gradually bypass the dam. Additional chambers were added to the fishway, decreasing the effort required by the fish to swim from one chamber to the next., 3️⃣ The slots between adjacent chambers maintain the varied water levels throughout the fishway. The slots were widened to ease the passage of fish through the fishway., 4️⃣ Live images are captured by a camera through a window in one chamber of the fishway, which are then transmitted to the web and to the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center across the river. The live camera feed can be accessed at www.fairmountwaterworks.org., 5️⃣ Fish exit the fishway through the gate and swim into the waters beyond the Fairmount Dam.

, Fish of the Schuylkill River , American Shad Alosa sapidissima . Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis . Hickory Shad Alosa mediocris . Striped Bass Marone saxatilis, Over 26 species of fish have been observed using the fishway. Pictured above are several examples of key migratory species., Barriers Along the Schuylkill River , The map below depicts barriers to fish passage along the Schuylkill River. Several proposed plans exist for fish passage facilities or dam removals for the remaining barriers on the Schuylkill River, with an ultimate goal of providing 100 miles of vital upstream habitat for resident and migratory species.