Latest news with #StripedBass
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fish ladder in Holyoke opens for season following upgrades
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Robert E. Barrett Fishway at the Holyoke Dam is open to the public after being closed for upgrades. The Robert E. Barrett Fishway allows migrating fish to make it over the Holyoke Dam, but due to upgrades to the hydroelectric unit at the Hadley Falls Station last year, the fishway was closed to the public. The fishway is operated by Holyoke Gas & Electric and consists of two 'lifts' that carry migrating fish up the Connecticut River. It was built in 1955 and was the first fish lift on the Atlantic Coast. As the fish swim upstream, against the current, they make their way into the traction water which flows just alongside the dam. They then swim into the fish lift. Local fisherman catches prehistoric fish in Connecticut River American Shad, Sea Lamprey, and Blueback Herring are just a few of the fish that migrate through the fishway. The American Shad is the most common fish, and so far this year, they've seen over 115,000 of them moving up the river. As of Tuesday, the following fish were counted as they head upstream: Species Weekly Total 5/11-5/17 Year to Date American Shad 89,786 116,294 Blueback Herring 35 50 Gizzard Shad 14 21 Striped Bass 3 4 Sea Lamprey 1,850 2,310 Shad migration takes place during late March or April, and after spawning, they swim back downstream in June and July and may survive to spawn more than once. Sea lampreys are eels that are a common sight in the Connecticut River. After hatching from their eggs, the eels can spend up to four years in rivers and streams, like the Connecticut River, for their 'parasitic phase.' These creepy looking fish can be found in the Connecticut River Records from the Holyoke Dam show that 2,310 sea lampreys have passed through the fish lifts so far this year. Adult sea lampreys can be found in the Connecticut River during May and June. To see these and other fish pass through, the fishway is open to the public through June 15th, Wednesdays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
TWRA assessing if TVA Cherokee Dam changes could harm ‘critical' Striped Bass habitat
GRAINGER COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is asking anglers for feedback as they assess how a Tennessee Valley Authority change to the Cherokee Dam could harm a 'critical survival zone' for large Striped Bass. According to the TWRA, the TVA has announced plans to replace the current aeration system at Cherokee Dam in 2026 with new turbine technology. The upgrade, which is meant to improve water quality downstream, could have negative impacts for aquatic wildlife in the Cherokee Reservoir, particularly Striped Bass, the TWRA said. 'Unleash American energy' Tennessee Valley Authority reviews coal plans following Trump's executive orders The current oxygenation lines in the reservoir were installed to meet the TVA's requirement for minimum dissolved oxygen levels in water that is discharged below the dam. One of the unexpected benefits of the system was the creation of a cool, oxygen-rich refuge in the reservoir during summer months, which is a 'critical survival zone' for Striped Bass, who rely on cooler, well-oxygenated water to make it through the hot summer months. The Cherokee Reservoir provides limited natural options. The upgrade, however, will allow the TVA to meet the downstream oxygenation goals without needing to operate the in-reservoir oxygen lines, which would cause the refuge area of Striped Bass to disappear. The TWRA said this will significantly reduce their chances of surviving the summer and reaching sizes over 25 inches. The agency said it anticipates there will be a higher summer mortality rate among the species, similar to what was seen during an incident last year when the oxygen lines were not yet active during a period of high heat. The TWRA is working to develop a response plan to address the expected changes. Initially, the agency is asking for input from anglers through creel surveys being conducted on the Cherokee Reservoir concerning the new development. Anglers and stakeholders are also invited to share feedback and questions by contacting TWRA_Fisheries@ Search underway for missing teens after police pursuit in Loudon County Striped Bass were originally native to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, also known as the Gulf of America. The species may also be called rockfish, striper, or linesides. In Tennessee, the species is only found where they have been stocked or where they have migrated from stocked waters. The average harvested size of Striped Bass from reservoirs is approximately 32 inches, but the state record is 65 pounds and 6 ounces. The TWRA says there have not been changes made to Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass stocking programs in the Cherokee Reservoir. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
