Migratory fish are a vital part of healthy river ecosystems.
Join us in restoring these native populations and the health of our rivers.
All fish are mobile, but none on the Connecticut River make longer journeys than the suite of migratory fish moving upriver from the Atlantic Ocean: blueback herring, alewives, American shad, American eels, Atlantic salmon and sea lampreys. These migrations have been taking place for thousands of years. The journeys of these species may take them through thousands of ocean miles annually, and nearly 200 miles upriver.
Want to see the migration in action? Visit a dam near you!
Fish migrate up the Connecticut River and its tributaries from May to July. They travel hundreds of miles and face barriers along the way.
Turners Falls Dam
About the facility
The Turners Falls ladders help migrating fish get past the Turners Falls dam. These stair-like ladders consist of a series of rising pools, each pool approximately one foot higher than the last. Completed in 1980, the Turners Falls ladders are a series of three ladders located along a 2.5-mile stretch of the river. The Turners Falls ladders are located at the Cabot Hydroelectric Station, the spillway (dam) and the gatehouse.
Who passes through this dam?
When do fish migrate?
Upstream
How are they moving?
Fish enter the fishladder at Cabot station, or continue upstream to a second ladder at the dam. If they enter here, they travel upslope using a series of stepped pools to reach the power canal, where they can continue swimming upstream. To move downstream, fish move over the spillway when there is water or out through the power canal.
Where and when can I see them?
The Turners Falls Fishway lets visitors see what fish look like underwater as they swim upstream. The fish ladder is open for public viewing during the height of spawning season from mid-May to mid-June. Admission is free.
(behind the Montague Town Hall)
1 Avenue A
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Vernon Dam
About the facility
The Vernon Dam was built in 1909, and its primary use is to generate hydropower by harnessing the power of the river. The fish ladder at the Vernon Dam became operational in 1981 and provided upstream access for migratory fish. The dam is owned and operated by Great River Hydro. The fish ladder at Vernon Dam is to the left of the powerhouse.
Who passes through this dam?
When do fish migrate?
Upstream
Downstream
How are they moving?
At the Vernon Dam, fish move upstream by using the fish ladder. With stepped pools of flowing water, fish can hop up the ladder from the base of the barrier to the waters behind. At this site there is also an eel ladder. The eel wrap around the pegs as they move upward. Unlike the fish ladder, the eel ladder does not span the height of the dam. The eel drop into a bucket after traversing the ladder and are deposited above the dam by fishway staff. To move downstream, fish at this site either go over the dam spillway or through a bypass pipe around the dam.
When and where can I see them?
The outside viewing platform at the Vernon Dam fish ladder is open to the public during migratory fish season. There is no indoor viewing open to the public. Local organizations and companies sometimes run tours at the fishway. The fish ladder is located at the following address:
Vernon Dam
110 Governor Hunt Rd
Vernon, VT 05354
Fish migration by the numbers
Volunteer opportunities
From counting fish to planting trees, there is no shortage of ways to get involved in working to support migratory fish. This work is not possible without the support of organizations and community members alike!
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