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{{#Wiki_filter:A Management Plan for A meric an Shad in the Connecticut River Basin Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission February 4, 1992 Preface This plan is endorsed by the Connec ticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission for implementation in its efforts to restore anadromous fishes to the Connecticut River basin. The plan wa s prepared by the Shad Studies Subcommittee under authority of the Technical Committee for Fisheries Management of the Connecticut River. The Subcommittee serve s an advisory role to the Technical Committee and Commission regarding curre nt management issues and information needs pe rtinent to shad and river he rring r estorati on in the ba sin. The Su bcommitte e will also periodically re vise the plan to reflect progress made towa rd realization of the restoration goal and objectives. Major revisions to the plan will require review and a pproval of the Commission. - David F. Egan Chairman , CRASC Prepared by Shad Studies Subcommittee:
{{#Wiki_filter:A Management Plan for American Shad in the Connecticut River Basin Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission February 4, 1992 Preface This plan is endorsed by the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission for implementation in its efforts to restore anadromous fishes to the Connecticut River basin. The plan was prepared by the Shad Studies Subcommittee under authority of the Technical Committee for Fisheries Management of the Connecticut River. The Subcommittee serves an advisory role to the Technical Committee and Commission regarding current management issues and information needs pertinent to shad and river herring restoration in the basin. The Subcommittee will also periodically revise the plan to reflect progress made toward realization of the restoration goal and objectives. Major revisions to the plan will require review and approval of the Commission.
Kenneth Cox , Chairman, VT F & W Carol Henders on, NH F & G Boy d Ky nard , USF WS Ted M ey ers, USFWS John O'Leary, MA F & W Tom Savoy, CT DEP I. Intr oduction In 1967, State (CT, MA, NH, VT) and F ederal Fishery Agencies (USFWS, NMFS) signed a Statement of Intent for a coope rative fishery restoration program in the Connecticut River basin.
- David F. Egan Chairman, CRASC Prepared by Shad Studies Subcommittee:
The Statement called for the establishment of a population of two million shad to the mouth of the Connecticut River with passage of one million above Holy oke Dam, 850,000 above Turners Falls Dam, and 750,000 above Vernon Dam thus restoring shad to their historical range at Bellows Falls, Vermont. These goals we re initially chosen base d on an estimation of potential spawning habitat situated above each mainstem dam in re lation to the total and fishway efficie ncies expe rience d on the Col umbia Rive
Kenneth Cox, Chairman, VT F & W Carol Henderson, NH F & G Boyd Kynard, USFWS Ted Meyers, USFWS John O'Leary, MA F & W Tom Savoy, CT DEP I. Introduction In 1967, State (CT, MA, NH, VT) and Federal Fishery Agencies (USFWS, NMFS) signed a Statement of Intent for a cooperative fishery restoration program in the Connecticut River basin.
: r. Effor ts continu e to try to meet the se goa ls.American shad population levels in the Connecticut River demonstrate natural var iability (Figur e 1) typical of Clupeid fishes. Annua l spawning run estimates of American shad have varied from 386,000 to a high of 1,634,000 since 1966 (Table 1). The var iability seen is the result of differe nces in r ecruitme nt of indiv idual y ear-c lasses a nd has be en shown t o be rela ted to environmental conditions (Crecco and Savoy 1984).
The Statement called for the establishment of a population of two million shad to the mouth of the Connecticut River with passage of one million above Holyoke Dam, 850,000 above Turners Falls Dam, and 750,000 above Vernon Dam thus restoring shad to their historical range at Bellows Falls, Vermont. These goals were initially chosen based on an estimation of potential spawning habitat situated above each mainstem dam in relation to the total and fishway efficiencies experienced on the Columbia River. Efforts continue to try to meet these goals.
Fish pass age fa cilities, providing upstrea m acces s for Ame rican sh ad to Be llows Fa lls, Verm ont, were imp roved at Holy oke Dam b y 19 76, and c ompleted at Turne rs Falls and Ver non Dams in 1980 and 1981, respectively. Poor passage within the fish ladders at Turners F alls was improved by chang ing ladder flow patterns - prior to the 1983 and 1984 runs (Table 2). Similar modifica tions to impr ove passa ge eff iciency through the Vern on fish la dder we re made in advanc e of the 1 984 and 19 89 spawni ng runs.Comparison of mean American shad population levels between pre and post 1976 Holyoke L ift improvements demonstrate little difference (Fig ure 1. 1966-1975, x=837,581; 1976-1990, x=828.426), however, recruitment of virgin America n shad has increased slightly (Figure 2.
American shad population levels in the Connecticut River demonstrate natural variability (Figure
1966-197 5, x=604,33 9; 1976-19 84, x=718,5
: 1) typical of Clupeid fishes. Annual spawning run estimates of American shad have varied from 386,000 to a high of 1,634,000 since 1966 (Table 1). The variability seen is the result of differences in recruitment of individual year-classes and has been shown to be related to environmental conditions (Crecco and Savoy 1984).
: 06) coinc ident with fish pass age imp rovemen ts.This would suggest that a small increase in Americ an shad production has resulted from restoring the American shad to their historic. rang
 
: e. Increa sed upriver fish passage at Holy oke without successful downstream passage fac ilities has resulted in a decline in the proportion of repeat spawner s in the Conn ecticut R iver (Ta ble 1). Th is place s increa sed relia nce on vir gin spawning shad which may be a destabilizing influence on longterm population levels. Caref ul moni torin g of age an d spaw ning h isto ry as well as mon itori ng of pr opose d down strea m pass age fa ci li ti es wi ll be ne ce ss ar y.During the period 1975-1979 no significant downrive r passage of spent adult American sha d was provided at Holyoke D am. Beginning in 1980, a combination of technique s has been employe d to pro vide p assage a round turbi nes at Holyoke (canal d rawdow ns, ba scule gate op ening, operati on of the B oatlock St ation By pass)1 and in 1983 at Turners Falls Dam where the log sluice is o pened fo r a peri od each day during Jun e and July when adu lt shad ar e prese nt (Table 3). Thes e reque sts for by pass oper ations we re first formalize d in an Ann ual Notif ication L etter to indi vidu al dam operat ors in 1987 a s a requ est fr om th e fish eries agencie s and t hen la ter th rough the FERC p rocess i n the cas e of Holy oke. The signing of the Me morandum s of Agr eement w ith Northea st Utilities Service Company (NUSCO) a nd New En gland Po wer Compa ny (NEP) in 1990 prov ide spec ific date s for com pletion of byp ass fac ilities at a ll applica ble mainst em dams for American shad as well as Atlantic salmon (Appendic es C and D). Careful monitoring of the population dynamics of the Amer ican shad population after these facilities are c ompleted will be necessa ry to evalua te their e ffectiv eness.While efforts to restore American shad to the Connecticut River Ba sin have primarily addr essed upstrea m passag e issues in the mainst em river , similar is sues have receiv ed atten tion in ce rtain major tributaries. Of these tributaries, the Farming ton River in Connecticut has received most of the atten tion to date. Shad pas sage d iscussion s, howeve r, are u nderwa y on the Westfi eld River in Massachusetts. Efforts have also been initiated to quantify and describe the contribution of tr ib ut ar ie s t o t he sh ad sp or t f is he ry.On the Conn ecticut R iver main stem, one unantici pated be nefit of t he fishwa y a t Bellow s Falls dam is the e xpansion of the upstr eam ran ge of A merican shad bey ond their historic l imit. I t is not known whether shad will pass the Bellows Falls fishway in significant numbers, and how this range ex pansi on cou ld aff ect th e Conn ectic ut Ri ver sh ad pop ulati on. Do wnstr eam pas sage for both a dult shad a nd juvenil e shad (s hould rep roductio n occur u priver f rom Bell ows Fall s)will be provided through the Atlantic salmon passage f acilities scheduled for operation in 1994.
Fish passage facilities, providing upstream access for American shad to Bellows Falls, Vermont, were improved at Holyoke Dam by 1976, and completed at Turners Falls and Vernon Dams in 1980 and 1981, respectively. Poor passage within the fish ladders at Turners Falls was improved by changing ladder flow patterns - prior to the 1983 and 1984 runs (Table 2). Similar modifications to improve passage efficiency through the Vernon fish ladder were made in advance of the 1984 and 1989 spawning runs.
: 1. Reports documenting the evaluation of t he bypass techniques are cit ed under the references secti on.
Comparison of mean American shad population levels between pre and post 1976 Holyoke Lift improvements demonstrate little difference (Figure 1. 1966-1975, x=837,581; 1976-1990, x=828.426), however, recruitment of virgin American shad has increased slightly (Figure 2.
Detailed information on the biology and status of American shad stocks of the eastern United States, including the Connecticut River, is available in the fishery management plan developed by the Atlantic States Marine F isheries Commission (1985). The purpose of the Connecticut River Ba sin plan is t o identify manage ment obje ctives a nd activi ties that a re spec ific to the basin and essential to attaining full restoration of the species to the basin.
1966-1975, x=604,339; 1976-1984, x=718,506) coincident with fish passage improvements.
II. Management Goal To restore and maintain a spawning shad population to its historic rang e in the Connecticut River basin and to provide and maintain sport and the traditional in-river commercial f isheries for the species.III. Managem ent Ob jectives The seve n manag ement obj ectives listed bel ow suppor t the mana gement goal. E ach obje ctive is followed by re ference to tables and appendices w hich document progress on activities toward full achievement of the stated objective.
This would suggest that a small increase in American shad production has resulted from restoring the American shad to their historic. range. Increased upriver fish passage at Holyoke without successful downstream passage facilities has resulted in a decline in the proportion of repeat spawners in the Connecticut River (Table 1). This places increased reliance on virgin spawning shad which may be a destabilizing influence on longterm population levels. Careful monitoring of age and spawning history as well as monitoring of proposed downstream passage facilities will be necessary.
: 1. Achieve and sustain an adult population of 1.5 to 2 million individuals entering the mouth of the Connecticut River annually. (Table 1)2. A maximum rate of exploitation shall not exceed 40% of the spawning population, based on a 5-year running average (Crecco and Savoy 1987). (Table 1)
During the period 1975-1979 no significant downriver passage of spent adult American shad was provided at Holyoke Dam. Beginning in 1980, a combination of techniques has been employed to provide passage around turbines at Holyoke (canal drawdowns, bascule gate opening, operation of the Boatlock Station Bypass)1 and in 1983 at Turners Falls Dam where the log sluice is opened for a period each day during June and July when adult shad are present (Table 3). These requests for bypass operations were first formalized in an Annual Notification Letter to individual dam operators in 1987 as a request from the fisheries agencies and then later through the FERC process in the case of Holyoke. The signing of the Memorandums of Agreement with Northeast Utilities Service Company (NUSCO) and New England Power Company (NEP) in 1990 provide specific dates for completion of bypass facilities at all applicable mainstem dams for American shad as well as Atlantic salmon (Appendices C and D). Careful monitoring of the population dynamics of the American shad population after these facilities are completed will be necessary to evaluate their effectiveness.
: 3. Achieve annual passage of 40 to 60%
While efforts to restore American shad to the Connecticut River Basin have primarily addressed upstream passage issues in the mainstem river, similar issues have received attention in certain major tributaries. Of these tributaries, the Farmington River in Connecticut has received most of the attention to date. Shad passage discussions, however, are underway on the Westfield River in Massachusetts. Efforts have also been initiated to quantify and describe the contribution of tributaries to the shad sport fishery.
of the spawning run (based on a 5-y ear running averag e)at each successive upstream barrie r on the Connecticut River mainstem. (Table 2)
On the Connecticut River mainstem, one unanticipated benefit of the fishway at Bellows Falls dam is the expansion of the upstream range of American shad beyond their historic limit. It is not known whether shad will pass the Bellows Falls fishway in significant numbers, and how this range expansion could affect the Connecticut River shad population. Downstream passage for both adult shad and juvenile shad (should reproduction occur upriver from Bellows Falls) will be provided through the Atlantic salmon passage facilities scheduled for operation in 1994.
: 1. Reports documenting the evaluation of the bypass techniques are cited under the references section.
 
Detailed information on the biology and status of American shad stocks of the eastern United States, including the Connecticut River, is available in the fishery management plan developed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (1985). The purpose of the Connecticut River Basin plan is to identify management objectives and activities that are specific to the basin and essential to attaining full restoration of the species to the basin.
II. Management Goal To restore and maintain a spawning shad population to its historic range in the Connecticut River basin and to provide and maintain sport and the traditional in-river commercial fisheries for the species.
III. Management Objectives The seven management objectives listed below support the management goal. Each objective is followed by reference to tables and appendices which document progress on activities toward full achievement of the stated objective.
: 1. Achieve and sustain an adult population of 1.5 to 2 million individuals entering the mouth of the Connecticut River annually. (Table 1)
: 2. A maximum rate of exploitation shall not exceed 40% of the spawning population, based on a 5-year running average (Crecco and Savoy 1987). (Table 1)
: 3. Achieve annual passage of 40 to 60% of the spawning run (based on a 5-year running average) at each successive upstream barrier on the Connecticut River mainstem. (Table 2)
: 4. Maximize outmigrant survival for juvenile and spent adult shad. (Table 3)
: 4. Maximize outmigrant survival for juvenile and spent adult shad. (Table 3)
: 5. Enhance and promote the recrea tional opportunities associated with shad fishery management throughout the species' historical rang
: 5. Enhance and promote the recreational opportunities associated with shad fishery management throughout the species' historical range. (Tables 4, 5, 6, & 7)
: e. (Tables 4, 5, 6, & 7)
: 6. Establish and maintain a permanent population monitoring program on the Connecticut River.
: 6. Establish and maintain a permanent population monitoring program on the Connec ticut River.(Appendix A)
(Appendix A)
: 7. Establish an annual research progr am to address management prog rams associated with shad restoratio n goals and obj ectives. (Ap pendix B)IV. Program Evaluation The plan will be reviewed and, if necessar y, revised a nnually to reflec t current management problems and issues and progress made toward sha d restoration in the Connecticut River basin.
: 7. Establish an annual research program to address management programs associated with shad restoration goals and objectives. (Appendix B)
IV. Program Evaluation The plan will be reviewed and, if necessary, revised annually to reflect current management problems and issues and progress made toward shad restoration in the Connecticut River basin.
 
V. References Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 1985.
V. References Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 1985.
Fishery manage ment plan for ana dromous a losid stock s of the e astern U nited State s: America n shad. hic kory shad, ale wife, an d bluebac k herrin g: phase II in interst ate manage ment plan ning for migrato ry alosids of the Atlan tic coas t. Washing ton. DC.Crecco. V.A. and T. Savoy. 1985.Density-depe ndent catchability a nd its potential causes and consequences on Connectic ut River sh ad. Alosa sapidissim
Fishery management plan for anadromous alosid stocks of the eastern United States:
: a. Can. J. F ish. Aqua t. Sci.42(10):1649-1657.
American shad. hickory shad, alewife, and blueback herring: phase II in interstate management planning for migratory alosids of the Atlantic coast. Washington. DC.
Crecco. V.A.. and T.F. Savoy. 1987.Fishery ma nagement plan for American sha d in the Connecticut River. Conn. Dept. of Envir. Protection. Hartford. CT. USA. 136 p.
Crecco. V.A. and T. Savoy. 1985.
Density-dependent catchability and its potential causes and consequences on Connecticut River shad. Alosa sapidissima. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.
42(10):1649-1657.
Crecco. V.A.. and T.F. Savoy. 1987.
Fishery management plan for American shad in the Connecticut River. Conn. Dept. of Envir. Protection. Hartford. CT. USA. 136 p.
Northeast Utilities Service. 1984.
Northeast Utilities Service. 1984.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holy oke Dam Canal System-1984. F inal Report to N E Utilities Service. Hartfo rd. Conne cticut.Northeast Utilities Service. 1985.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1984. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holy oke Dam Canal System-1985. F inal Report to N E Utilities Service. Hartfo rd. Conne cticut.Northeast Utilities Service. 1986.
Northeast Utilities Service. 1985.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holy oke Dam Canal System-1986. F inal Report to N E Utilities Service. Hartfo rd. Conne cticut.Northeast Utilities Service. 1987.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1985. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holy oke Dam Canal System-1987. F inal Report to N E Utilities Service. Hartfo rd. Conne cticut.Northeast Utilities Service. 1988.
Northeast Utilities Service. 1986.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holy oke Dam Canal System-1988. F inal Report to N E Utilities Service. Hartfo rd. Conne cticut.Northrop. R.B. 1978.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1986. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.
Fish guidance and control at power pla nt water intakes. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartfo rd. Conne cticut.
Northeast Utilities Service. 1987.
O'Lear y. J.A.. and B. Ky nard. 1980.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1987. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.
Behavi or of adu lt Americ an shad a nd y oung of the y ear clu peids in un derwate r electr ic fields. F inal Repor t to NE Utili ties Serv ice. Ha rtford, Connectic ut.O'Lear y. J. A.. and B. Ky nard. 1981.
Northeast Utilities Service. 1988.
Behavi or of adu lt Americ an shad a nd y oung of the y ear clu peids in un derwate r electr ic fields. F inal Repor t to NE Utili ties Serv ice. Ha rtford. Connectic ut.O'Lear y. J.A.. and B. Ky nard. 1982.
Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1988. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.
Holyoke Dam fishe ry studies - 1981. Fina l Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford.
Northrop. R.B. 1978.
Connectic ut.O'Lear y. J.A.. and B. Ky nard. 1983.
Fish guidance and control at power plant water intakes. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.
Movement s of radi o-tagg ed fish du ring stu dies of do wnrunnin g adult A merican shad in the Holyoke Da m canal system - 1982. F inal Report to NE Utilities Service, Hartford, Connectic ut.Savoy. T.. and D. Shake. 1991.
 
Population dynamics studies of American sha
O'Leary. J.A.. and B. Kynard. 1980.
: d. Alosa sapiddisma. in the Connecticut River. Final completion Report for AFC-17. Connecticut Department of E nvironmental Protection. 50 p.
Behavior of adult American shad and young of the year clupeids in underwater electric fields. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford, Connecticut.
O'Leary. J. A.. and B. Kynard. 1981.
Behavior of adult American shad and young of the year clupeids in underwater electric fields. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.
O'Leary. J.A.. and B. Kynard. 1982.
Holyoke Dam fishery studies - 1981. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford.
Connecticut.
O'Leary. J.A.. and B. Kynard. 1983.
Movements of radio-tagged fish during studies of downrunning adult American shad in the Holyoke Dam canal system - 1982. Final Report to NE Utilities Service, Hartford, Connecticut.
Savoy. T.. and D. Shake. 1991.
Population dynamics studies of American shad. Alosa sapiddisma. in the Connecticut River. Final completion Report for AFC-17. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. 50 p.
Taylor, R.. and B. Kynard. 1984.
Taylor, R.. and B. Kynard. 1984.
Studies of downrunning adult alosids in the Holyoke Dam canal sy stem -1983. Final Report to NE Utilities Service, Hartford, Connecticut. Shad Manage ment Plan. 4 Feb.
Studies of downrunning adult alosids in the Holyoke Dam canal system -1983. Final Report to NE Utilities Service, Hartford, Connecticut. Shad Management Plan. 4 Feb.
1992 APPE NDI X A. ANNUAL P OPULA TI ON MONI TORI NG REQUIREMEN TS Requirem ents liste d under th is section are pre sented in order of priority , but all a re requ ired to monitor shad population status and trends from ye ar to yea r.1. Population estimates for numbers of shad entering the Connecticut River.
1992
: 2. Estimates of shad sport harvest throughout the Connecticut River basin and commerc ial harvest at tidewater.
 
: 3. Ups tream and do wnstr eam pas sage cou nts fo r adul t and j uveni le sha d wit h pert inent age st ru ct ur e a nd se x r at io da ta at ea ch Co nn ec ti cu t R iv er ma in st em fi sh pa ss ag e f ac il it y.4. An estimate of the relative abundance of juvenile sha d produced in the Connecticut River basin.APPENDIX B. RESEARCH AN D DEVELOPM ENT ACTIVITIES The following studies and development projects were unde rtaken in 1991:
APPENDIX A. ANNUAL POPULATION MONITORING REQUIREMENTS Requirements listed under this section are presented in order of priority, but all are required to monitor shad population status and trends from year to year.
: 1. Aquatec, Inc. monitored the relationship and effect Vermont Yankee N uclear Power Plant operation on American shad distribution, growth and population dy namics in the upper Turners Falls an d lower V ernon imp oundments. The sex ra tio, fec undity and ag e distribu tion of ad ult America n shad at t he Turne rs Falls and Ver non Darn fishway s was studi ed. Sampli ng of juv enile America n shad oc curred in the uppe r Turner s Falls po ol and in th e lower V ernon po ol.2. NUSCO and NEP conducted downstream fish passage studies for adult and juvenile American shad at e ach comp any's hy droelec tric fac ilities in a ccorda nce with t he MOA sc hedules.3. The USFWS Sunderland Office of Fishery Assistance sampled the American shad population below Cabot Station for length-weight data and sex ratios. Radio telemetry were tested.
: 1. Population estimates for numbers of shad entering the Connecticut River.
: 4. The Con te Anadr omous Fish Researc h Center (CAFRC) co nducted t wo studies on shad in 1991 that were aimed at understanding the beha vior of adults in fishways: (1) e xperimental investigations of the choice of water flow ha bitat during the diel cy cle of prespawned adults, and (2) d ev el op me nt of a v id eo sys te m t o m on it or sh ad be ha vi or in th e T ur ne rs Fa ll s f is hw ay.CAFRC also develope d the meth ods to cond uct a det ailed ev aluation of the Tur ners Fa lls fishway in 1992. Juve nile shad studies to b e undert aken by the CAFRC i n 1991 inc luded fie ld studies using hydroa coustic techniques to determine the effect of phy sical environmental factors on migration ecology and migratory route.
: 2. Estimates of shad sport harvest throughout the Connecticut River basin and commercial harvest at tidewater.
APPE NDI X C. CRASC-NUSCO DO WNSTREA M FI SH PAS SAGE MOA , JULY 26, 1990 ARTICLE I:
: 3. Upstream and downstream passage counts for adult and juvenile shad with pertinent age structure and sex ratio data at each Connecticut River mainstem fish passage facility.
PASSAG E AND STUDY DATES 1. Holyoke Canal Sy stem NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passag e facilities for Atlantic salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Hol yok e Canal Sy stem by April 1992. and to ev aluate it s effec tiveness by November 1994.
: 4. An estimate of the relative abundance of juvenile shad produced in the Connecticut River basin.
: 2. Hadley F alls Station NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passag e facilities for Atlantic Salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the H adley F alls Station by April 1993, and to evaluate its eff ectiveness by November 1995.
APPENDIX B. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES The following studies and development projects were undertaken in 1991:
: 3. Turners Falls Project If th e Holy oke Cana l Sys tem downst ream pa ssage f acilitie s are init ially success ful, NUSCO agree s to provid e downstr eam pass age fa cilities f or Atlant ic salmon a nd fish fr om the fa mily Clupeidae at the Turners Falls Project by April 1994. If significant c ontinued modifications are needed at the Holy oke Canal System downstrea m passage facilities, the date for providing the Turners Falls Project downstream passag e facilities may be delayed to Apr il 1995. The decision as to the initial success of the Holyoke Canal System downstream passa ge facilities shall be made no later than October 1992.
: 1. Aquatec, Inc. monitored the relationship and effect Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant operation on American shad distribution, growth and population dynamics in the upper Turners Falls and lower Vernon impoundments. The sex ratio, fecundity and age distribution of adult American shad at the Turners Falls and Vernon Darn fishways was studied. Sampling of juvenile American shad occurred in the upper Turners Falls pool and in the lower Vernon pool.
: 4. Northfield Project NUSCO agrees to complete studies and provide implementation schedules a s required at the Northfield Project by Ma rch 1993.
: 2. NUSCO and NEP conducted downstream fish passage studies for adult and juvenile American shad at each company's hydroelectric facilities in accordance with the MOA schedules.
APPENDIX D. CRASC-NEP DOWNSTREAM FISH PA SSAGE MOA, JULY 26, 1990 ARTICLE II:
: 3. The USFWS Sunderland Office of Fishery Assistance sampled the American shad population below Cabot Station for length-weight data and sex ratios. Radio telemetry were tested.
SCHEDULE NEC ESSARY TO MEE T PASSAG E DATES 1.Overa ll Schedul e The Company will follow the schedule of activities which is outlined below:
: 4. The Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center (CAFRC) conducted two studies on shad in 1991 that were aimed at understanding the behavior of adults in fishways: (1) experimental investigations of the choice of water flow habitat during the diel cycle of prespawned adults, and (2) development of a video system to monitor shad behavior in the Turners Falls fishway.
VERNON#Through Spr ing 1990 -
CAFRC also developed the methods to conduct a detailed evaluation of the Turners Falls fishway in 1992. Juvenile shad studies to be undertaken by the CAFRC in 1991 included field studies using hydroacoustic techniques to determine the effect of physical environmental factors on migration ecology and migratory route.
Phys ica l mode l t est ing#Spring 1 990 - Study and iden tify alternative sy stems. Con duct radio-tagged fish studies.
 
#Sum mer 1990 - I nstall and operate. Vernon "fish pipe"#1991 - Evaluate alter native sy stems with radi o-tagge d fish st udies#1992 to 199 3 - Engineer and designed preferr ed syst em#Sp ring 19 93 - Issue a notice to p roceed with co nstruction of preferred system**#April 1994 - Operate preferr ed syst em and m onitor pass age#199 4 to 19 96 - E valuate e ffectivenes s and mod ify facility as nece ssary** The issuance of a notice to proceed in this ag reement means. notification of the selected contrac tor to pro ceed wi th constr uction as describ ed and de fined in th e agre ed on con tract.
APPENDIX C. CRASC-NUSCO DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE MOA, JULY 26, 1990 ARTICLE I: PASSAGE AND STUDY DATES
TABLE 1. Po pulation est imate s, year-class str ength, ex ploitation rates, nu mbers a nd percentage of repeat spawners of American shad in the Connecticut River. 1966-1990.
: 1. Holyoke Canal System NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passage facilities for Atlantic salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Holyoke Canal System by April 1992. and to evaluate its effectiveness by November 1994.
Year Yea r-Class Str engt h 1 Populati on Estim ate 2 Ex plo it Ra te (%)Repea t Spaw ners 3 Fem ales%Ma les% 1966 1026000 535000 28.7 1967 559000 742000 19.8 1968 266000 940000 13.0 1969 575000 1185000 9.4 1970 655000 1264000 10.0 133055 27 208112 27 1971 1000000 1188000 10.4 115812 25 326056 45 1972 344000 477000 19.3 51320 25 114288 42 1973 299000 421000 25.2 65612 40 51312 20 1974 594000 914000 12.0 89922 24 188709 35 1975 725000 847000 22.1 50170 16 138815 26 1976 653000 1040000 19.1 61158 12 185659 35 1977 1177000 386000 30.2 25507 10 32850 25 1978 861000 623000 16.2 55307 24 54934 14 1979 1062000 618000 14.2 69660 24 81825 25 1980 851000 745000 13.5 39337 11 120098 31 1981 402000 957000 17.4 74862 23 164275 26 1982 225000 1042000 12.0 23142 6 98511 15 1983 753000 1634000 12.2 116673 21 312761 29 1984 482000 1329000 12.0 78174 12 264435 39 1985 795000 16.4 71766 21 176673 39 1986 795000 27.7 37209 9 156467 41 1987 481000 32.7 70679 35 150590 54 1988 529000 24.6 33199 19 35475 10 1989 796000 16.7 200615 45 70056 20 1990 655000 14.6 51016 19 57957 15 1.Year-class strength is the sum of virg in recruitment of 4, 5 and 6 y ear old shad (Savoy and Shake, 1991).
: 2. Hadley Falls Station NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passage facilities for Atlantic Salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Hadley Falls Station by April 1993, and to evaluate its effectiveness by November 1995.
2.Population estimates derived from Holyoke Lift rate numbers as desc ribed in Crecco and Savoy (1985).
: 3. Turners Falls Project If the Holyoke Canal System downstream passage facilities are initially successful, NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passage facilities for Atlantic salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Turners Falls Project by April 1994. If significant continued modifications are needed at the Holyoke Canal System downstream passage facilities, the date for providing the Turners Falls Project downstream passage facilities may be delayed to April 1995. The decision as to the initial success of the Holyoke Canal System downstream passage facilities shall be made no later than October 1992.
3.Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Marine Fisheries unpublished data taken from fish collected at the river mouth.
: 4. Northfield Project NUSCO agrees to complete studies and provide implementation schedules as required at the Northfield Project by March 1993.
Year Run Comm Sport Holyo ke Lifted Parent M ay June Juv I Blue Ind C. Exp S. Exp Exp 1966 621300 97959 55601 16212 3.5 467740 565.6 246.0 32.8 15.8 10.4 28.7 %1967 742300 96348 50251 19494 3.3 595701 963.7 436.8 20.2 13.0 6.8 19.8 %1968 945800 85067 37166 24693 3.0 823567 546.7 603.0 11.1 9.0 4.0 13.0 %1969 1108080 74658 36234 45349 4.5 997188 100 4.4 375.1 19.0 6.7 3.1 9.4 %1970 1140480 84178 42577 65751 6.5 1013725 855.8 243.8 27.8 7.4 4.0 11.1 %1971 1128600 76242 47184 52719 5.2 1004574 117 5.2 203.1 65.7 6.8 4.5 11.0 %1972 390960 71908 20348 25572 8.6 298704 145 8.5 616.0 15.3 18.4 6.4 23.6 %1973 353700 87179 18945 25104 10.1 247576 896.9 534.2 12.7 24.6 7.1 30.0 %1974 952560 78709 30883 53147 6.3 842968 991.7 334.6 8.3 3.5 11.5 %1975 847530 123344 64151 114137 17.3 660035 627.1 378.8 14.6 8.9 22.1 %1976 936900 138650 59696 346702 46.9 738554 839.1 286.5 14.8 7.5 21.2 %1977 361890 97024 19543 202997 82.7 245323 962.0 322.5 26.8 7.4 32.2 %1978 560700 85962 14979 144698 31.5 459759 798.6 468.6 18.6 209.8 15.3 3.2 18.0 %1979 557010 73321 14071 255753 54.5 469618 904.5 448.4 47.9 107.0 13.2 2.9 15.7 %1980 685080 88329 12189 376276 64.4 584562 488.1 202.4 21.3 222.8 12.9 2.0 14.7 %1981 909270 97684 68771 377124 50.8 742815 513.5 313.4 12.5 127.1 10.7 8.5 18.3 %1982 939330 81132 44058 294834 36.2 814140 652.8 637.3 4.8 54.6 8.6 5.1 13.3 %1983 1574460 99328 99372 528185 38.4 1375760 119 9.8 564.8 16.6 393.2 6.3 6.7 12.6 %1984 1231110 88579 71305 496879 46.4 1071226 111 1.2 120 6.0 11.2 433.4 7.2 6.2 13.0 %1985 727560 89303 41160 481669 80.7 597097 406.3 206.8 15.9 229.8 12.3 6.4 17.9 %1986 748440 117770 105155 352122 67.0 525515 419.6 470.8 17.0 158.8 15.7 16.7 29.8 %1987 587520 64732 93340 271974 63.3 429448 369.7 340.9 44.3 265.4 11.0 17.9 26.9 %1988 647640 77119 52906 294157 56.8 517555 686.0 194.8 24.0 319.1 11.9 9.3 20.1 %1989 979440 72996 60059 353819 41.8 846385 119 5.3 708.6 61.6 137.0 7.5 6.6 13.6 %1990 816480 57642 37831 363825 50.5 721007 940.2 432.9 43.0 251.4 7.1 5.0 11.7 %1991 1195920 70479 85494 523153 50.3 1039947 580.4 234.3 49.4 156.7 5.9 7.6 13.0 %1992 1628039 50039 120146 721764 49.5 1457854 776.0 389.0 97.4 161.9 3.1 7.6 10.5 %1993 749227 32358 64855 340431 52.2 652014 473.3 287.3 79.6 129.1 4.3 9.0 13.0 %1994 325558 20000 180807 TABLE 2. Adult shad passage at the three lowest Connecticut River mainstem fishways. 1966-1990.
 
Perc ent efficie ncy (% Eff.) re lative to the imm ediate downs tream facility is a lso expre ssed.Year Pop. Est a Holyo ke Lift Turners F alls Gatehou se Vernon Ladder No.b% Eff No.c% Eff.No.% Eff.1966 535000 16000 3.0   1967 742000 19000 2.6   1968 940000 25000 2.7   1969 1185000 45000 3.8   1970 1264000 66000 5.2   1971 1188000 53000 4.5   1972 477000 26000 5.5   1973 421000 25000 5.9   1974 914000 53000 5.8   1975 847000 114000 13.5   1976 1040000 347000 33.4   1977 386000 203000 52.6   1978 623000 145000 23.3   1979 557000 256000 41.4   1980 745000 376000 50.5 300< 0.1 1981 957000 380000 39.7 200< 0.1 97 48.5 1982 1042000 290000 27.8 10< 0.1 9 81.8 1983 1634000 530000 32.4 12710 d 2.4 2597 e 20.4 1984 1329000 490000 36.9 4330 f 0.9 335 g 7.7 1985 795000 480000 60.4 3860 0.8 833 21.6 1986 795000 350000 44.0 17860 5.1 982 5.5 1987 481000 280000 58.2 18960 6.8 3459 18.2 1988 647000 290000 54.8 15790 5.4 1370 8.7 1989 796000 350000 44.0 9510 2.7 2953 h 31.1 1990 655000 360000 55.0 27910 7.8 10894 39.0 a. Population estimates derived from Holy oke Lift rate numbers as de scribed in Crecco and Savoy (1985).b. Passage counts rounded to nearest 10,000th fish.
APPENDIX D. CRASC-NEP DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE MOA, JULY 26, 1990 ARTICLE II: SCHEDULE NECESSARY TO MEET PASSAGE DATES 1.Overall Schedule The Company will follow the schedule of activities which is outlined below:
VERNON
      #       Through Spring 1990 - Physical model testing
      #       Spring 1990 - Study and identify alternative systems. Conduct radio-tagged fish studies.
      #       Summer 1990 - Install and operate. Vernon "fish pipe"
      #       1991 - Evaluate alternative systems with radio-tagged fish studies
      #       1992 to 199 3 - Engineer and designed preferred system
      #       Spring 19 93 - Issue a notice to proceed with construction of preferred system**
      #       April 1994 - Operate preferred system and monitor passage
      #       199 4 to 19 96 - Evaluate effectiveness and modify facility as necessary
** The issuance of a notice to proceed in this agreement means. notification of the selected contractor to proceed with construction as described and defined in the agreed on contract.
 
TABLE 1. Population estimates, year-class strength, exploitation rates, numbers and percentage of repeat spawners of American shad in the Connecticut River. 1966-1990.
Year-Class         Population        Exploit              Repeat Spaw ners 3 Year Strength 1         Estim ate 2     Rate (% )   Fem ales     %       Ma les     %
1966         1026000             535000         28.7 1967           559000             742000         19.8 1968           266000             940000         13.0 1969           575000             1185000           9.4 1970           655000             1264000         10.0       133055     27       208112     27 1971         1000000             1188000         10.4       115812     25       326056     45 1972           344000             477000         19.3       51320     25       114288     42 1973           299000             421000         25.2       65612     40       51312     20 1974           594000             914000         12.0       89922     24       188709     35 1975           725000             847000         22.1       50170     16       138815     26 1976           653000             1040000         19.1       61158     12       185659     35 1977         1177000             386000         30.2       25507     10       32850     25 1978           861000             623000         16.2       55307     24       54934     14 1979         1062000             618000         14.2       69660     24       81825     25 1980           851000             745000         13.5       39337     11       120098     31 1981           402000             957000         17.4       74862     23       164275     26 1982           225000             1042000         12.0       23142     6       98511     15 1983           753000             1634000         12.2       116673     21       312761     29 1984           482000             1329000         12.0       78174     12       264435     39 1985                               795000         16.4       71766     21       176673     39 1986                               795000         27.7       37209     9       156467     41 1987                               481000         32.7       70679     35       150590     54 1988                               529000         24.6       33199     19       35475     10 1989                               796000         16.7       200615     45       70056     20 1990                               655000         14.6       51016     19       57957     15
: 1. Year-class strength is the sum of virgin recruitment of 4, 5 and 6 year old shad (Savoy and Shake, 1991).
: 2. Population estimates derived from Holyoke Lift rate numbers as described in Crecco and Savoy (1985).
: 3. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Marine Fisheries unpublished data taken from fish collected at the river mouth.
 
Year Run     Comm     Sport   Holyo ke Lifted   Parent   M ay     June     Juv I Blue Ind C. Exp S. Exp   Exp 1966   621300   97959   55601     16212       3.5   467740   565 .6   246 .0   32.8             15.8   10.4 28.7 %
1967   742300   96348   50251     19494       3.3   595701   963 .7   436 .8   20.2             13.0     6.8 19.8 %
1968   945800   85067   37166     24693       3.0   823567   546 .7   603 .0   11.1             9.0     4.0 13.0 %
1969   1108080   74658   36234     45349       4.5   997188 100 4.4   375 .1   19.0             6.7     3.1 9.4 %
1970   1140480   84178   42577     65751       6.5 1013725   855 .8   243 .8   27.8             7.4     4.0 11.1 %
1971   1128600   76242   47184     52719       5.2 1004574 117 5.2   203 .1   65.7             6.8     4.5 11.0 %
1972   390960   71908   20348     25572       8.6   298704 145 8.5   616 .0   15.3             18.4     6.4 23.6 %
1973   353700   87179   18945     25104     10.1   247576   896 .9   534 .2   12.7             24.6     7.1 30.0 %
1974   952560   78709   30883     53147       6.3   842968   991 .7   334 .6                     8.3   3.5 11.5 %
1975   847530   123344   64151   114137     17.3   660035   627 .1   378 .8                   14.6     8.9 22.1 %
1976   936900   138650   59696   346702     46.9   738554   839 .1   286 .5                   14.8     7.5 21.2 %
1977   361890   97024   19543   202997     82.7   245323   962 .0   322 .5                   26.8     7.4 32.2 %
1978   560700   85962   14979   144698     31.5   459759   798 .6   468 .6   18.6   209 .8   15.3     3.2 18.0 %
1979   557010   73321   14071   255753     54.5   469618   904 .5   448 .4   47.9   107 .0   13.2     2.9 15.7 %
1980   685080   88329   12189   376276     64.4   584562   488 .1   202 .4   21.3   222 .8   12.9     2.0 14.7 %
1981   909270   97684   68771   377124     50.8   742815   513 .5   313 .4   12.5   127 .1   10.7     8.5 18.3 %
1982   939330   81132   44058   294834     36.2   814140   652 .8   637 .3   4.8     54.6   8.6     5.1 13.3 %
1983   1574460   99328   99372   528185     38.4 1375760 119 9.8   564 .8   16.6   393 .2   6.3     6.7 12.6 %
1984   1231110   88579   71305   496879     46.4 1071226 111 1.2 120 6.0   11.2   433 .4   7.2     6.2 13.0 %
1985   727560   89303   41160   481669     80.7   597097   406 .3   206 .8   15.9   229 .8   12.3     6.4 17.9 %
1986   748440   117770   105155   352122     67.0   525515   419 .6   470 .8   17.0   158 .8   15.7   16.7 29.8 %
1987   587520   64732   93340   271974     63.3   429448   369 .7   340 .9   44.3   265 .4   11.0   17.9 26.9 %
1988   647640   77119   52906   294157     56.8   517555   686 .0   194 .8   24.0   319 .1   11.9     9.3 20.1 %
1989   979440   72996   60059   353819     41.8   846385 119 5.3   708 .6   61.6   137 .0   7.5     6.6 13.6 %
1990   816480   57642   37831   363825     50.5   721007   940 .2   432 .9   43.0   251 .4   7.1     5.0 11.7 %
1991   1195920   70479   85494   523153     50.3 1039947   580 .4   234 .3   49.4   156 .7   5.9     7.6 13.0 %
1992   1628039   50039   120146   721764     49.5 1457854   776 .0   389 .0   97.4   161 .9   3.1     7.6 10.5 %
1993   749227   32358   64855   340431     52.2   652014   473 .3   287 .3   79.6   129 .1   4.3     9.0 13.0 %
1994   325558   20000             180807
 
TABLE 2. Adult shad passage at the three lowest Connecticut River mainstem fishways. 1966-1990.
Percent efficiency (% Eff.) relative to the immediate downstream facility is also expressed.
Turners Falls Holyoke Lift                              Vernon Ladder Year       Pop. Esta                                Gatehouse No.b       % Eff       No.c       % Eff. No.       % Eff.
1966           535000       16000       3.0 1967           742000       19000       2.6 1968           940000       25000       2.7 1969           1185000       45000       3.8 1970           1264000       66000       5.2 1971           1188000       53000       4.5 1972           477000       26000       5.5 1973           421000       25000       5.9 1974           914000       53000       5.8 1975           847000       114000     13.5 1976           1040000       347000     33.4 1977           386000       203000     52.6 1978           623000       145000     23.3 1979           557000       256000     41.4 1980           745000       376000     50.5         300     < 0.1 1981           957000       380000     39.7         200     < 0.1         97     48.5 1982           1042000       290000     27.8           10     < 0.1         9     81.8 1983           1634000       530000     32.4     12710 d       2.4     2597 e     20.4 1984           1329000       490000     36.9       4330 f     0.9       335 g     7.7 1985           795000       480000     60.4       3860       0.8       833     21.6 1986           795000       350000     44.0       17860       5.1       982       5.5 1987           481000       280000     58.2       18960       6.8     3459       18.2 1988           647000       290000     54.8       15790       5.4     1370       8.7 1989           796000       350000     44.0       9510       2.7     2953 h     31.1 1990           655000       360000     55.0       27910       7.8     10894       39.0
: a. Population estimates derived from Holyoke Lift rate numbers as described in Crecco and Savoy (1985).
: b. Passage counts rounded to nearest 10,000th fish.
: c. Passage counts rounded to nearest 10th fish.
: c. Passage counts rounded to nearest 10th fish.
: d. The Ice Ha rbor style ladder at Cabot Station (Turners Falls) is structurally modified to improve flow patterns for increased shad passag e during the 1983 run.
: d. The Ice Harbor style ladder at Cabot Station (Turners Falls) is structurally modified to improve flow patterns for increased shad passage during the 1983 run.
: e. Flow t hrough the I ce Har bor sty le ladde r at Ver non Station is increa sed in an a ttempt to in crease shad passage.
: e. Flow through the Ice Harbor style ladder at Vernon Station is increased in an attempt to increase shad passage.
: f. Structural modifications similar to those made at Cabot Station are undertaken at the spillway ladder (Turners Falls) in advance of the 1984 sha d run.g. The first structural changes are made to the Ice Ha rbor style ladder at Vernon.
: f. Structural modifications similar to those made at Cabot Station are undertaken at the spillway ladder (Turners Falls) in advance of the 1984 shad run.
: h. Structural modifications similar to those made at Cabot Station are undertaken at the Vernon ladde
: g. The first structural changes are made to the Ice Harbor style ladder at Vernon.
: r.
: h. Structural modifications similar to those made at Cabot Station are undertaken at the Vernon ladder.
TABLE 3. Downst ream p assage of A meric an shad at the Holyoke and Tur ners Fa lls Dams on the Connecticut River. 1980-1990.
 
Year Holy oke Da me Turners F alls 3 Boatlock Station 1 Bascule Gate 2 1980 142,190 1981 31,313 1982 3,093 1983 120,096 15,066 1984 58,370 3,394 1985 123,040 15,167 1986 50,589 18,279 1987 38,686 open-no counts 18,880 1988 22,263 119,540 11,488 1989 3,300 56,000 no counts made bypass opera ted 1990 52,534 76,116 no counts made bypass opera ted 1 Boatloc k Station by pass estim ates.2 Counts are estimate s based on extrapola ted subsa mples.3 Counts made at Cabot Station log sluice.
TABLE 3. Downstream passage of American shad at the Holyoke and Turners Falls Dams on the Connecticut River. 1980-1990.
TABLE 4. Expande d effort and har vest data for shore a nd boat angle rs on the C onnectic ut River between the Enfield Dam and the Wilson State Boat Launch, 1986-1990.
Holyoke Dame Year                                                       Turners Falls3 1                  2 Boatlock Station         Bascule Gate 1980                                 142,190 1981                                 31,313 1982                                   3,093 1983                                 120,096                                 15,066 1984                                 58,370                                   3,394 1985                                 123,040                                 15,167 1986                                 50,589                                 18,279 1987                                 38,686       open-no counts           18,880 1988                                 22,263             119,540           11,488 no counts made 1989                                   3,300               56,000 bypass operated no counts made 1990                                 52,534               76,116 bypass operated 1
Shore Anglers Year Total Hours Total Anglers Average Angling Day Catch per Hour Total Shad Caught 1986 9054 6707 1.35 0.49 2806 1987 7039 4662 1.51 0.41 2876 1988 8544 4910 1.74 0.28 2371 1989 6518 4404 1.48 0.54 3513 1990 7054 5187 1.36 0.60 4209 Boat Anglers Year Total Hours Total Anglers Average Angling Day Catch per Hour Total Shad Caught 1986 24392 1477 4.13 0.38 8962 1987 11294 1412 4.00 0.44 4968 1988 9251 1041 4.19 0.44 4053 1989 3990 660 3.15 0.43 1730 1990 6623 902 3.43 0.83 5478 Total Anglers Year Total Hours Total Anglers Total Shad Ca ught 1986 33446 8184 11768 1987 18333 6074 7844 1988 17795 5951 6424 1989 10508 5064 5243 1990 13677 6089 9687 TABL E 5. E xpan ded ef fort a nd h arves t data for s hore a nd b oat an glers belo w Hol yoke D am, between Route 116 and Route 391 bridges, 1986-1990.
Boatlock Station bypass estimates.
Shore Anglers Year Total Hours Total Anglers Average Angling Day Catch per Hour Total Shad Caught 1986 56960 16184 3.74 0.97 57512 1987 48227 17151 2.81 1.00 48917 1988 22948 8946 2.56 0.71 16213 1989 27995 8307 3.37 0.99 27715 1990 21393 8557 2.50 0.69 14761 Boat Anglers Year Total Hours Total Anglers Average Angling Day Catch per Hour Total Shad Caught 1986 29637 6634 4.50 1.27 35875 1987 36045 7639 4.70 1.06 36579 1988 24023 5005 4.80 1.26 30269 1989 22967 4176 5.50 1.18 27101 1990 21243 4125 5.15 0.63 13383 Total Anglers Year Total Hours Total Anglers Total Shad Ca ught 1986 86597 22818 93387 1987 84272 24790 85496 1988 46971 13951 46482 1989 50962 12483 54816 1990 42636 12682 28144 TABLE 6. Public visitation counts at fishways on the Connecticut River, 1981 to 1990 Year Holyoke Turners F alls Vernon 1981 12,568 1982 5,162 1983 6,997 1984 4,984 1985 5,012 7,878 1986 6,686 15,787 1987 12,980 6,224 6,789 1988 11,440 6,848 6,893 1989 9,781 5,699 7,543 1990 11.643 10.087 12,586 Means 11,461 7,027 10,079 TABLE 7. Public visitation counts for the Rainbow Fishway on the Farmington River, Connecticut, 1985-1990 1 Year Number of Group Tours Number of visitors 1985 12 1986 19 1987 11 (Plus 2 op en house day s) 1988 11 (Plus 2 op en house day s) 316 1989 9 (Pl us 1 o pe n h ou se da y) 297 1990 10 (P lu s 1 op en ho us e d ay)266 1 Estimates of numbers of visitors are minimum numbers as the display s and viewing gallery are open to the public from the second week in April through the sec ond week in July and in the fall from the first week in October until the second week in November
2 Counts are estimates based on extrapolated subsamples.
.
3 Counts made at Cabot Station log sluice.
Figure 1. Population Estimate of Amer ican shad in the Connecticut River (1966 - 1990) 1 (1966 -1975 mean = 837,581) (1976 -1990 mean = 828,426) 1 Information derived fr om Table 1 (T. Savov. CT DEP. personal communication).
 
Figure 2. Virgin adult recruitment of Ame rican shad in the Connecticut River (1966 - 1984) 1 (1966 -1975 mean = 604,339) (1976 -1984 mean = 718,506) 1 Information derived fr om Table 1 (T. Savov. CT DEP. personal communication).}}
TABLE 4. Expanded effort and harvest data for shore and boat anglers on the Connecticut River between the Enfield Dam and the Wilson State Boat Launch, 1986-1990.
Shore Anglers Average Total                      Catch per    Total Shad Year       Total Hours                   Angling Anglers                       Hour         Caught Day 1986                 9054           6707           1.35         0.49           2806 1987                 7039           4662           1.51         0.41           2876 1988                 8544           4910           1.74         0.28           2371 1989                 6518           4404           1.48         0.54           3513 1990                 7054           5187           1.36         0.60           4209 Boat Anglers Average Total                      Catch per    Total Shad Year       Total Hours                   Angling Anglers                       Hour         Caught Day 1986                 24392           1477           4.13         0.38           8962 1987                 11294           1412           4.00         0.44           4968 1988                 9251           1041           4.19         0.44           4053 1989                 3990           660           3.15         0.43           1730 1990                 6623           902           3.43         0.83           5478 Total Anglers Year             Total Hours         Total Anglers     Total Shad Caught 1986                               33446                 8184                 11768 1987                               18333                 6074                   7844 1988                               17795                 5951                   6424 1989                               10508                 5064                   5243 1990                               13677                 6089                   9687
 
TABLE 5. Expanded effort and harvest data for shore and boat anglers below Holyoke Dam, between Route 116 and Route 391 bridges, 1986-1990.
Shore Anglers Average Total                      Catch per    Total Shad Year       Total Hours                     Angling Anglers                         Hour         Caught Day 1986               56960         16184           3.74         0.97         57512 1987               48227         17151           2.81         1.00         48917 1988               22948           8946           2.56         0.71         16213 1989               27995           8307           3.37         0.99         27715 1990               21393           8557           2.50         0.69         14761 Boat Anglers Average Total                      Catch per    Total Shad Year       Total Hours                     Angling Anglers                         Hour         Caught Day 1986               29637           6634           4.50         1.27         35875 1987               36045           7639           4.70         1.06         36579 1988               24023           5005           4.80         1.26         30269 1989               22967           4176           5.50         1.18         27101 1990               21243           4125           5.15         0.63         13383 Total Anglers Year             Total Hours           Total Anglers     Total Shad Caught 1986                               86597                 22818                 93387 1987                               84272                 24790                 85496 1988                               46971                 13951                 46482 1989                               50962                 12483                 54816 1990                               42636                 12682               28144
 
TABLE 6. Public visitation counts at fishways on the Connecticut River, 1981 to 1990 Year                   Holyoke             Turners Falls            Vernon 1981                                                         12,568 1982                                                           5,162 1983                                                           6,997 1984                                                           4,984 1985                                                           5,012                   7,878 1986                                                           6,686                   15,787 1987                                   12,980                 6,224                   6,789 1988                                   11,440                 6,848                   6,893 1989                                   9,781                 5,699                   7,543 1990                                   11.643                 10.087                   12,586 Means                                 11,461                 7,027                   10,079 TABLE 7. Public visitation counts for the Rainbow Fishway on the Farmington River, Connecticut, 1985-19901 Year                 Number of Group Tours             Number of visitors 1985                                                       12 1986                                                       19 1987                             11 (Plus 2 open house days) 1988                             11 (Plus 2 open house days)                             316 1989                               9 (Plus 1 open house day)                             297 1990                               10 (Plus 1 open house day)                             266 1
Estimates of numbers of visitors are minimum numbers as the displays and viewing gallery are open to the public from the second week in April through the second week in July and in the fall from the first week in October until the second week in November.
 
Figure 1. Population Estimate of American shad in the Connecticut River (1966 - 1990)1 (1966 -1975 mean = 837,581) (1976 -1990 mean = 828,426) 1 Information derived from Table 1 (T. Savov. CT DEP. personal communication).
Figure 2. Virgin adult recruitment of American shad in the Connecticut River (1966 - 1984)1 (1966 -1975 mean = 604,339) (1976 -1984 mean = 718,506) 1 Information derived from Table 1 (T. Savov. CT DEP. personal communication).}}

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A Management Plan for American Shad in the Connecticut River Basin Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission February 4, 1992 Preface This plan is endorsed by the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission for implementation in its efforts to restore anadromous fishes to the Connecticut River basin. The plan was prepared by the Shad Studies Subcommittee under authority of the Technical Committee for Fisheries Management of the Connecticut River. The Subcommittee serves an advisory role to the Technical Committee and Commission regarding current management issues and information needs pertinent to shad and river herring restoration in the basin. The Subcommittee will also periodically revise the plan to reflect progress made toward realization of the restoration goal and objectives. Major revisions to the plan will require review and approval of the Commission.

- David F. Egan Chairman, CRASC Prepared by Shad Studies Subcommittee:

Kenneth Cox, Chairman, VT F & W Carol Henderson, NH F & G Boyd Kynard, USFWS Ted Meyers, USFWS John O'Leary, MA F & W Tom Savoy, CT DEP I. Introduction In 1967, State (CT, MA, NH, VT) and Federal Fishery Agencies (USFWS, NMFS) signed a Statement of Intent for a cooperative fishery restoration program in the Connecticut River basin.

The Statement called for the establishment of a population of two million shad to the mouth of the Connecticut River with passage of one million above Holyoke Dam, 850,000 above Turners Falls Dam, and 750,000 above Vernon Dam thus restoring shad to their historical range at Bellows Falls, Vermont. These goals were initially chosen based on an estimation of potential spawning habitat situated above each mainstem dam in relation to the total and fishway efficiencies experienced on the Columbia River. Efforts continue to try to meet these goals.

American shad population levels in the Connecticut River demonstrate natural variability (Figure

1) typical of Clupeid fishes. Annual spawning run estimates of American shad have varied from 386,000 to a high of 1,634,000 since 1966 (Table 1). The variability seen is the result of differences in recruitment of individual year-classes and has been shown to be related to environmental conditions (Crecco and Savoy 1984).

Fish passage facilities, providing upstream access for American shad to Bellows Falls, Vermont, were improved at Holyoke Dam by 1976, and completed at Turners Falls and Vernon Dams in 1980 and 1981, respectively. Poor passage within the fish ladders at Turners Falls was improved by changing ladder flow patterns - prior to the 1983 and 1984 runs (Table 2). Similar modifications to improve passage efficiency through the Vernon fish ladder were made in advance of the 1984 and 1989 spawning runs.

Comparison of mean American shad population levels between pre and post 1976 Holyoke Lift improvements demonstrate little difference (Figure 1. 1966-1975, x=837,581; 1976-1990, x=828.426), however, recruitment of virgin American shad has increased slightly (Figure 2.

1966-1975, x=604,339; 1976-1984, x=718,506) coincident with fish passage improvements.

This would suggest that a small increase in American shad production has resulted from restoring the American shad to their historic. range. Increased upriver fish passage at Holyoke without successful downstream passage facilities has resulted in a decline in the proportion of repeat spawners in the Connecticut River (Table 1). This places increased reliance on virgin spawning shad which may be a destabilizing influence on longterm population levels. Careful monitoring of age and spawning history as well as monitoring of proposed downstream passage facilities will be necessary.

During the period 1975-1979 no significant downriver passage of spent adult American shad was provided at Holyoke Dam. Beginning in 1980, a combination of techniques has been employed to provide passage around turbines at Holyoke (canal drawdowns, bascule gate opening, operation of the Boatlock Station Bypass)1 and in 1983 at Turners Falls Dam where the log sluice is opened for a period each day during June and July when adult shad are present (Table 3). These requests for bypass operations were first formalized in an Annual Notification Letter to individual dam operators in 1987 as a request from the fisheries agencies and then later through the FERC process in the case of Holyoke. The signing of the Memorandums of Agreement with Northeast Utilities Service Company (NUSCO) and New England Power Company (NEP) in 1990 provide specific dates for completion of bypass facilities at all applicable mainstem dams for American shad as well as Atlantic salmon (Appendices C and D). Careful monitoring of the population dynamics of the American shad population after these facilities are completed will be necessary to evaluate their effectiveness.

While efforts to restore American shad to the Connecticut River Basin have primarily addressed upstream passage issues in the mainstem river, similar issues have received attention in certain major tributaries. Of these tributaries, the Farmington River in Connecticut has received most of the attention to date. Shad passage discussions, however, are underway on the Westfield River in Massachusetts. Efforts have also been initiated to quantify and describe the contribution of tributaries to the shad sport fishery.

On the Connecticut River mainstem, one unanticipated benefit of the fishway at Bellows Falls dam is the expansion of the upstream range of American shad beyond their historic limit. It is not known whether shad will pass the Bellows Falls fishway in significant numbers, and how this range expansion could affect the Connecticut River shad population. Downstream passage for both adult shad and juvenile shad (should reproduction occur upriver from Bellows Falls) will be provided through the Atlantic salmon passage facilities scheduled for operation in 1994.

1. Reports documenting the evaluation of the bypass techniques are cited under the references section.

Detailed information on the biology and status of American shad stocks of the eastern United States, including the Connecticut River, is available in the fishery management plan developed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (1985). The purpose of the Connecticut River Basin plan is to identify management objectives and activities that are specific to the basin and essential to attaining full restoration of the species to the basin.

II. Management Goal To restore and maintain a spawning shad population to its historic range in the Connecticut River basin and to provide and maintain sport and the traditional in-river commercial fisheries for the species.

III. Management Objectives The seven management objectives listed below support the management goal. Each objective is followed by reference to tables and appendices which document progress on activities toward full achievement of the stated objective.

1. Achieve and sustain an adult population of 1.5 to 2 million individuals entering the mouth of the Connecticut River annually. (Table 1)
2. A maximum rate of exploitation shall not exceed 40% of the spawning population, based on a 5-year running average (Crecco and Savoy 1987). (Table 1)
3. Achieve annual passage of 40 to 60% of the spawning run (based on a 5-year running average) at each successive upstream barrier on the Connecticut River mainstem. (Table 2)
4. Maximize outmigrant survival for juvenile and spent adult shad. (Table 3)
5. Enhance and promote the recreational opportunities associated with shad fishery management throughout the species' historical range. (Tables 4, 5, 6, & 7)
6. Establish and maintain a permanent population monitoring program on the Connecticut River.

(Appendix A)

7. Establish an annual research program to address management programs associated with shad restoration goals and objectives. (Appendix B)

IV. Program Evaluation The plan will be reviewed and, if necessary, revised annually to reflect current management problems and issues and progress made toward shad restoration in the Connecticut River basin.

V. References Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 1985.

Fishery management plan for anadromous alosid stocks of the eastern United States:

American shad. hickory shad, alewife, and blueback herring: phase II in interstate management planning for migratory alosids of the Atlantic coast. Washington. DC.

Crecco. V.A. and T. Savoy. 1985.

Density-dependent catchability and its potential causes and consequences on Connecticut River shad. Alosa sapidissima. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

42(10):1649-1657.

Crecco. V.A.. and T.F. Savoy. 1987.

Fishery management plan for American shad in the Connecticut River. Conn. Dept. of Envir. Protection. Hartford. CT. USA. 136 p.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1984.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1984. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1985.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1985. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1986.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1986. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1987.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1987. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northeast Utilities Service. 1988.

Studies of outmigrating adult clupeids in the Holyoke Dam Canal System-1988. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

Northrop. R.B. 1978.

Fish guidance and control at power plant water intakes. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

O'Leary. J.A.. and B. Kynard. 1980.

Behavior of adult American shad and young of the year clupeids in underwater electric fields. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford, Connecticut.

O'Leary. J. A.. and B. Kynard. 1981.

Behavior of adult American shad and young of the year clupeids in underwater electric fields. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford. Connecticut.

O'Leary. J.A.. and B. Kynard. 1982.

Holyoke Dam fishery studies - 1981. Final Report to NE Utilities Service. Hartford.

Connecticut.

O'Leary. J.A.. and B. Kynard. 1983.

Movements of radio-tagged fish during studies of downrunning adult American shad in the Holyoke Dam canal system - 1982. Final Report to NE Utilities Service, Hartford, Connecticut.

Savoy. T.. and D. Shake. 1991.

Population dynamics studies of American shad. Alosa sapiddisma. in the Connecticut River. Final completion Report for AFC-17. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. 50 p.

Taylor, R.. and B. Kynard. 1984.

Studies of downrunning adult alosids in the Holyoke Dam canal system -1983. Final Report to NE Utilities Service, Hartford, Connecticut. Shad Management Plan. 4 Feb.

1992

APPENDIX A. ANNUAL POPULATION MONITORING REQUIREMENTS Requirements listed under this section are presented in order of priority, but all are required to monitor shad population status and trends from year to year.

1. Population estimates for numbers of shad entering the Connecticut River.
2. Estimates of shad sport harvest throughout the Connecticut River basin and commercial harvest at tidewater.
3. Upstream and downstream passage counts for adult and juvenile shad with pertinent age structure and sex ratio data at each Connecticut River mainstem fish passage facility.
4. An estimate of the relative abundance of juvenile shad produced in the Connecticut River basin.

APPENDIX B. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES The following studies and development projects were undertaken in 1991:

1. Aquatec, Inc. monitored the relationship and effect Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant operation on American shad distribution, growth and population dynamics in the upper Turners Falls and lower Vernon impoundments. The sex ratio, fecundity and age distribution of adult American shad at the Turners Falls and Vernon Darn fishways was studied. Sampling of juvenile American shad occurred in the upper Turners Falls pool and in the lower Vernon pool.
2. NUSCO and NEP conducted downstream fish passage studies for adult and juvenile American shad at each company's hydroelectric facilities in accordance with the MOA schedules.
3. The USFWS Sunderland Office of Fishery Assistance sampled the American shad population below Cabot Station for length-weight data and sex ratios. Radio telemetry were tested.
4. The Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center (CAFRC) conducted two studies on shad in 1991 that were aimed at understanding the behavior of adults in fishways: (1) experimental investigations of the choice of water flow habitat during the diel cycle of prespawned adults, and (2) development of a video system to monitor shad behavior in the Turners Falls fishway.

CAFRC also developed the methods to conduct a detailed evaluation of the Turners Falls fishway in 1992. Juvenile shad studies to be undertaken by the CAFRC in 1991 included field studies using hydroacoustic techniques to determine the effect of physical environmental factors on migration ecology and migratory route.

APPENDIX C. CRASC-NUSCO DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE MOA, JULY 26, 1990 ARTICLE I: PASSAGE AND STUDY DATES

1. Holyoke Canal System NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passage facilities for Atlantic salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Holyoke Canal System by April 1992. and to evaluate its effectiveness by November 1994.
2. Hadley Falls Station NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passage facilities for Atlantic Salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Hadley Falls Station by April 1993, and to evaluate its effectiveness by November 1995.
3. Turners Falls Project If the Holyoke Canal System downstream passage facilities are initially successful, NUSCO agrees to provide downstream passage facilities for Atlantic salmon and fish from the family Clupeidae at the Turners Falls Project by April 1994. If significant continued modifications are needed at the Holyoke Canal System downstream passage facilities, the date for providing the Turners Falls Project downstream passage facilities may be delayed to April 1995. The decision as to the initial success of the Holyoke Canal System downstream passage facilities shall be made no later than October 1992.
4. Northfield Project NUSCO agrees to complete studies and provide implementation schedules as required at the Northfield Project by March 1993.

APPENDIX D. CRASC-NEP DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE MOA, JULY 26, 1990 ARTICLE II: SCHEDULE NECESSARY TO MEET PASSAGE DATES 1.Overall Schedule The Company will follow the schedule of activities which is outlined below:

VERNON

  1. Through Spring 1990 - Physical model testing
  1. Spring 1990 - Study and identify alternative systems. Conduct radio-tagged fish studies.
  1. Summer 1990 - Install and operate. Vernon "fish pipe"
  1. 1991 - Evaluate alternative systems with radio-tagged fish studies
  1. 1992 to 199 3 - Engineer and designed preferred system
  1. Spring 19 93 - Issue a notice to proceed with construction of preferred system**
  1. April 1994 - Operate preferred system and monitor passage
  1. 199 4 to 19 96 - Evaluate effectiveness and modify facility as necessary
    • The issuance of a notice to proceed in this agreement means. notification of the selected contractor to proceed with construction as described and defined in the agreed on contract.

TABLE 1. Population estimates, year-class strength, exploitation rates, numbers and percentage of repeat spawners of American shad in the Connecticut River. 1966-1990.

Year-Class Population Exploit Repeat Spaw ners 3 Year Strength 1 Estim ate 2 Rate (% ) Fem ales  % Ma les  %

1966 1026000 535000 28.7 1967 559000 742000 19.8 1968 266000 940000 13.0 1969 575000 1185000 9.4 1970 655000 1264000 10.0 133055 27 208112 27 1971 1000000 1188000 10.4 115812 25 326056 45 1972 344000 477000 19.3 51320 25 114288 42 1973 299000 421000 25.2 65612 40 51312 20 1974 594000 914000 12.0 89922 24 188709 35 1975 725000 847000 22.1 50170 16 138815 26 1976 653000 1040000 19.1 61158 12 185659 35 1977 1177000 386000 30.2 25507 10 32850 25 1978 861000 623000 16.2 55307 24 54934 14 1979 1062000 618000 14.2 69660 24 81825 25 1980 851000 745000 13.5 39337 11 120098 31 1981 402000 957000 17.4 74862 23 164275 26 1982 225000 1042000 12.0 23142 6 98511 15 1983 753000 1634000 12.2 116673 21 312761 29 1984 482000 1329000 12.0 78174 12 264435 39 1985 795000 16.4 71766 21 176673 39 1986 795000 27.7 37209 9 156467 41 1987 481000 32.7 70679 35 150590 54 1988 529000 24.6 33199 19 35475 10 1989 796000 16.7 200615 45 70056 20 1990 655000 14.6 51016 19 57957 15

1. Year-class strength is the sum of virgin recruitment of 4, 5 and 6 year old shad (Savoy and Shake, 1991).
2. Population estimates derived from Holyoke Lift rate numbers as described in Crecco and Savoy (1985).
3. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Marine Fisheries unpublished data taken from fish collected at the river mouth.

Year Run Comm Sport Holyo ke Lifted Parent M ay June Juv I Blue Ind C. Exp S. Exp Exp 1966 621300 97959 55601 16212 3.5 467740 565 .6 246 .0 32.8 15.8 10.4 28.7 %

1967 742300 96348 50251 19494 3.3 595701 963 .7 436 .8 20.2 13.0 6.8 19.8 %

1968 945800 85067 37166 24693 3.0 823567 546 .7 603 .0 11.1 9.0 4.0 13.0 %

1969 1108080 74658 36234 45349 4.5 997188 100 4.4 375 .1 19.0 6.7 3.1 9.4 %

1970 1140480 84178 42577 65751 6.5 1013725 855 .8 243 .8 27.8 7.4 4.0 11.1 %

1971 1128600 76242 47184 52719 5.2 1004574 117 5.2 203 .1 65.7 6.8 4.5 11.0 %

1972 390960 71908 20348 25572 8.6 298704 145 8.5 616 .0 15.3 18.4 6.4 23.6 %

1973 353700 87179 18945 25104 10.1 247576 896 .9 534 .2 12.7 24.6 7.1 30.0 %

1974 952560 78709 30883 53147 6.3 842968 991 .7 334 .6 8.3 3.5 11.5 %

1975 847530 123344 64151 114137 17.3 660035 627 .1 378 .8 14.6 8.9 22.1 %

1976 936900 138650 59696 346702 46.9 738554 839 .1 286 .5 14.8 7.5 21.2 %

1977 361890 97024 19543 202997 82.7 245323 962 .0 322 .5 26.8 7.4 32.2 %

1978 560700 85962 14979 144698 31.5 459759 798 .6 468 .6 18.6 209 .8 15.3 3.2 18.0 %

1979 557010 73321 14071 255753 54.5 469618 904 .5 448 .4 47.9 107 .0 13.2 2.9 15.7 %

1980 685080 88329 12189 376276 64.4 584562 488 .1 202 .4 21.3 222 .8 12.9 2.0 14.7 %

1981 909270 97684 68771 377124 50.8 742815 513 .5 313 .4 12.5 127 .1 10.7 8.5 18.3 %

1982 939330 81132 44058 294834 36.2 814140 652 .8 637 .3 4.8 54.6 8.6 5.1 13.3 %

1983 1574460 99328 99372 528185 38.4 1375760 119 9.8 564 .8 16.6 393 .2 6.3 6.7 12.6 %

1984 1231110 88579 71305 496879 46.4 1071226 111 1.2 120 6.0 11.2 433 .4 7.2 6.2 13.0 %

1985 727560 89303 41160 481669 80.7 597097 406 .3 206 .8 15.9 229 .8 12.3 6.4 17.9 %

1986 748440 117770 105155 352122 67.0 525515 419 .6 470 .8 17.0 158 .8 15.7 16.7 29.8 %

1987 587520 64732 93340 271974 63.3 429448 369 .7 340 .9 44.3 265 .4 11.0 17.9 26.9 %

1988 647640 77119 52906 294157 56.8 517555 686 .0 194 .8 24.0 319 .1 11.9 9.3 20.1 %

1989 979440 72996 60059 353819 41.8 846385 119 5.3 708 .6 61.6 137 .0 7.5 6.6 13.6 %

1990 816480 57642 37831 363825 50.5 721007 940 .2 432 .9 43.0 251 .4 7.1 5.0 11.7 %

1991 1195920 70479 85494 523153 50.3 1039947 580 .4 234 .3 49.4 156 .7 5.9 7.6 13.0 %

1992 1628039 50039 120146 721764 49.5 1457854 776 .0 389 .0 97.4 161 .9 3.1 7.6 10.5 %

1993 749227 32358 64855 340431 52.2 652014 473 .3 287 .3 79.6 129 .1 4.3 9.0 13.0 %

1994 325558 20000 180807

TABLE 2. Adult shad passage at the three lowest Connecticut River mainstem fishways. 1966-1990.

Percent efficiency (% Eff.) relative to the immediate downstream facility is also expressed.

Turners Falls Holyoke Lift Vernon Ladder Year Pop. Esta Gatehouse No.b  % Eff No.c  % Eff. No.  % Eff.

1966 535000 16000 3.0 1967 742000 19000 2.6 1968 940000 25000 2.7 1969 1185000 45000 3.8 1970 1264000 66000 5.2 1971 1188000 53000 4.5 1972 477000 26000 5.5 1973 421000 25000 5.9 1974 914000 53000 5.8 1975 847000 114000 13.5 1976 1040000 347000 33.4 1977 386000 203000 52.6 1978 623000 145000 23.3 1979 557000 256000 41.4 1980 745000 376000 50.5 300 < 0.1 1981 957000 380000 39.7 200 < 0.1 97 48.5 1982 1042000 290000 27.8 10 < 0.1 9 81.8 1983 1634000 530000 32.4 12710 d 2.4 2597 e 20.4 1984 1329000 490000 36.9 4330 f 0.9 335 g 7.7 1985 795000 480000 60.4 3860 0.8 833 21.6 1986 795000 350000 44.0 17860 5.1 982 5.5 1987 481000 280000 58.2 18960 6.8 3459 18.2 1988 647000 290000 54.8 15790 5.4 1370 8.7 1989 796000 350000 44.0 9510 2.7 2953 h 31.1 1990 655000 360000 55.0 27910 7.8 10894 39.0

a. Population estimates derived from Holyoke Lift rate numbers as described in Crecco and Savoy (1985).
b. Passage counts rounded to nearest 10,000th fish.
c. Passage counts rounded to nearest 10th fish.
d. The Ice Harbor style ladder at Cabot Station (Turners Falls) is structurally modified to improve flow patterns for increased shad passage during the 1983 run.
e. Flow through the Ice Harbor style ladder at Vernon Station is increased in an attempt to increase shad passage.
f. Structural modifications similar to those made at Cabot Station are undertaken at the spillway ladder (Turners Falls) in advance of the 1984 shad run.
g. The first structural changes are made to the Ice Harbor style ladder at Vernon.
h. Structural modifications similar to those made at Cabot Station are undertaken at the Vernon ladder.

TABLE 3. Downstream passage of American shad at the Holyoke and Turners Falls Dams on the Connecticut River. 1980-1990.

Holyoke Dame Year Turners Falls3 1 2 Boatlock Station Bascule Gate 1980 142,190 1981 31,313 1982 3,093 1983 120,096 15,066 1984 58,370 3,394 1985 123,040 15,167 1986 50,589 18,279 1987 38,686 open-no counts 18,880 1988 22,263 119,540 11,488 no counts made 1989 3,300 56,000 bypass operated no counts made 1990 52,534 76,116 bypass operated 1

Boatlock Station bypass estimates.

2 Counts are estimates based on extrapolated subsamples.

3 Counts made at Cabot Station log sluice.

TABLE 4. Expanded effort and harvest data for shore and boat anglers on the Connecticut River between the Enfield Dam and the Wilson State Boat Launch, 1986-1990.

Shore Anglers Average Total Catch per Total Shad Year Total Hours Angling Anglers Hour Caught Day 1986 9054 6707 1.35 0.49 2806 1987 7039 4662 1.51 0.41 2876 1988 8544 4910 1.74 0.28 2371 1989 6518 4404 1.48 0.54 3513 1990 7054 5187 1.36 0.60 4209 Boat Anglers Average Total Catch per Total Shad Year Total Hours Angling Anglers Hour Caught Day 1986 24392 1477 4.13 0.38 8962 1987 11294 1412 4.00 0.44 4968 1988 9251 1041 4.19 0.44 4053 1989 3990 660 3.15 0.43 1730 1990 6623 902 3.43 0.83 5478 Total Anglers Year Total Hours Total Anglers Total Shad Caught 1986 33446 8184 11768 1987 18333 6074 7844 1988 17795 5951 6424 1989 10508 5064 5243 1990 13677 6089 9687

TABLE 5. Expanded effort and harvest data for shore and boat anglers below Holyoke Dam, between Route 116 and Route 391 bridges, 1986-1990.

Shore Anglers Average Total Catch per Total Shad Year Total Hours Angling Anglers Hour Caught Day 1986 56960 16184 3.74 0.97 57512 1987 48227 17151 2.81 1.00 48917 1988 22948 8946 2.56 0.71 16213 1989 27995 8307 3.37 0.99 27715 1990 21393 8557 2.50 0.69 14761 Boat Anglers Average Total Catch per Total Shad Year Total Hours Angling Anglers Hour Caught Day 1986 29637 6634 4.50 1.27 35875 1987 36045 7639 4.70 1.06 36579 1988 24023 5005 4.80 1.26 30269 1989 22967 4176 5.50 1.18 27101 1990 21243 4125 5.15 0.63 13383 Total Anglers Year Total Hours Total Anglers Total Shad Caught 1986 86597 22818 93387 1987 84272 24790 85496 1988 46971 13951 46482 1989 50962 12483 54816 1990 42636 12682 28144

TABLE 6. Public visitation counts at fishways on the Connecticut River, 1981 to 1990 Year Holyoke Turners Falls Vernon 1981 12,568 1982 5,162 1983 6,997 1984 4,984 1985 5,012 7,878 1986 6,686 15,787 1987 12,980 6,224 6,789 1988 11,440 6,848 6,893 1989 9,781 5,699 7,543 1990 11.643 10.087 12,586 Means 11,461 7,027 10,079 TABLE 7. Public visitation counts for the Rainbow Fishway on the Farmington River, Connecticut, 1985-19901 Year Number of Group Tours Number of visitors 1985 12 1986 19 1987 11 (Plus 2 open house days) 1988 11 (Plus 2 open house days) 316 1989 9 (Plus 1 open house day) 297 1990 10 (Plus 1 open house day) 266 1

Estimates of numbers of visitors are minimum numbers as the displays and viewing gallery are open to the public from the second week in April through the second week in July and in the fall from the first week in October until the second week in November.

Figure 1. Population Estimate of American shad in the Connecticut River (1966 - 1990)1 (1966 -1975 mean = 837,581) (1976 -1990 mean = 828,426) 1 Information derived from Table 1 (T. Savov. CT DEP. personal communication).

Figure 2. Virgin adult recruitment of American shad in the Connecticut River (1966 - 1984)1 (1966 -1975 mean = 604,339) (1976 -1984 mean = 718,506) 1 Information derived from Table 1 (T. Savov. CT DEP. personal communication).

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