Kinneytown Dam: Working for Better Passage for Migratory Fish
Over the past several decades, the Naugatuck River has made a remarkable comeback, with the return of fish, birds, and other wildlife, and an increase in human use. From 1999-2004 five dams were removed from the river. However, currently, there is an ineffective fish ladder at Kinneytown Dam that is preventing migratory fish from accessing miles of restored habitat upstream. Rivers Alliance of Connecticut is proud to be a part of the Naugatuck River Restoration Coalition, a coalition of concerned organizations formed to ensure that safe, timely, and effective fish passage returns to the Naugatuck River.
Providing safe, timely, and effective fish passage is a condition of the exemption from licensing the Kinneytown Dam was granted in 1983. While the fish ladder was built to meet this requirement, even when it was operating as designed, fish passage was modest, at best. Since 2013, the ladder has been rendered almost completely ineffective.
For more information on this hugely important issue, check out this interactive story-map.
Trump aims to strip protection from ocean preserve under cover of crisis
President Donald Trump is intending to open the door to commercial fishing in the only federal ocean Monument in the Atlantic. This precious marine preserve, Northeast Canyons and Seamounts, 150 miles off our coast is a haven of pristine waters and diverse wildlife.
The creation of the Monument in 2016 by President Barack Obama was brought about with strong advocacy from the entire Connecticut delegation, led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Rivers Alliance and many other environmental groups are asking you to join us in contacting Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen Chris Murphy, who are key supporters of the Monument.
Inflicting harm on this preserve will not save our fisheries. Quite the opposite. The fisheries of the future depend on deep-sea breeding and nurturing preserves. NE Canyons and Seamount is the only one we have in our region.
Contact Rep. DeLauro
New Haven Office Phone: (203) 562-3718
Washington, DC Office Phone: (202) 225-3661
Contact Sen. Murphy
HARTFORD (860) 549-8463
WASHINGTON DC P: (202) 224-4041
More information:
A beautiful distraction from COVID-19
Need a distraction from all things COVID-19? Call your congressional delegate and thank thank them for saving something beautiful – the Northeast Canyons and Sea Mounts National Monument.
Ask them to speak up this month for that $500,000 appropriation in fiscal year 2021 for an evaluation of the ecological features of the natural environment in the monument. This study will open the door to effective protection going forward.
The New Haven Register had a great opinion piece about it called The Serengeti of the Sea Needs Our Help.
The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is managed by two federal agencies. For more information, visit their websites at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Changes Proposed in CT Fishing Regulations
Changes Proposed in CT Fishing Regulations
July 20, 2017
From the Notice of Intent to Amend Regulations and Notice of Public Hearing:
The proposed amendments to the regulations will establish trout and Atlantic salmon stamps, and amend regulations concerning methods and gear types, fishing seasons for several waterbodies, harvest regulations for certain species (common carp, catfish and bullheads), Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Areas, Atlantic Salmon “Broodstock Areas,” Trout Parks, and Trophy Carp Waters. Additionally special regulations for black bass at Trap Falls Reservoir will be removed and several technical changes are made.
These proposals are intended to provide an additional source of revenue for natural resource programs, provide additional recreational fishing opportunities, and enhance existing fishing opportunities. Below is a summary of the proposed changes:
Section 1. Establishes $500 trout stamp and $10 broodstock Atlantic salmon stamp ($12.00 for a combination stamp) to fish for trout and Atlantic Salmon.
Section 2. Establish definitions for “maximum length”, “Tenkara” fishing (and allow Tenkara fishing to be considered “flyfishing”) and “bubble floats”.
Section 3. Removes the closed season from Alexander Lake, shortens the closed season at Green Falls Reservoir and adds a closed season to Baldwins Pond.
Section 4. Establish statewide regulations for common carp (subsection (f)), removes catfish & bullhead from the list of panfish (subsection (j)) and establishes creel & length limits for catfish (new subsection (s)). jaReguiations. (t.OV Connecticut eRegulations System — Tracking Number PR2O1 7-010 — Posted 7120/2017
Section 5. – Subsection (c). Establishes a short closed season on a small portion of the Farmington River Trout Management Area (TMAJ located in the Riverton area and changes the Mill River TMA (Fairfield) from a seasonal TMA to year-round catch-and-release fishing. – Subsection (g). Extends the Mill River Wild Trout Management Area downstream to the upper boundary of the Mill River TMA. – Subsection (h). Updates period when the broodstock salmon gear restriction applies to fishing for all species in broodstock areas. – Subsection (i), Adds Pasture Pond to the list of Trout Parks. – New subsection (I). Establishes a new type of special management area, “Trophy Carp Waters” on several waterbodies, with regulations that differ from the statewide regulations established in Section 4.
Section 6. Eliminate special bass regulations for Trap Falls Reservoir as per request of Aquarion Water Company. Additionally, there are several technical changes, most notably eliminating use of the term “charr” when referring to trout.
More information, and how to comment are at the CT eRegulations portal.
The public hearing is August 9, 2017, 6:30 pm, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Gina McCarthy Auditorium 79 Elm Street Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Snapping Turtle Leads Research With “Crittercam” Attached
A Hartford Courant article describes: “More than 600 children at Winding Trails Summer Day Camp teamed up with National Geographic to release Oz, a large snapping turtle with a Crittercam attached on his back to continue snapping turtle education and research in Connecticut. The Crittercam continues to assist scientists and explorers in their quest to understand and collect research data on the habits and patterns of snapping turtles in their natural habitats in the state of Connecticut. This is the second summer that Winding Trails has been working with National Geographic and Professor Tobias Landberg to study snapping turtles in Dunning Lake in Farmington.”