CTFishTalk.com: Fishway receives approval from Wallingford - Connecticut Conservation & DEP ( CT Conservation & DEP ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

bigoutdoors · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 144 Location: windham ct

Fishway receives approval from Wallingford
By: George Moore,

WALLINGFORD - - By 2010, Mary Mushinsky's "fish rodeo" near the Quinnipiac River's Wallace Dam will be no more.

The Town Council last week approved plans to build a structure that will allow migrating fish to get over the Wallace Dam, near Quinnipiac Street and River Road.

The fishway will use a series of boards that will allow the fish to hop over the small dam.

Mushinsky, a state representative and executive director of the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association, said most fish cannot get over Wallace Dam. For the last few years, Mushinsky and other volunteers have hand-lifted fish over the dam using nets. State regulators have referred to the operation as a "fish rodeo," Mushinsky said. That will no longer be needed after the fishway is in operation, Mushinsky said.

"The fishway allows (fish) to make a whole series of short leaps which they can do" she said. "They can't do the big leap."

Mushinsky and QRWA volunteers will maintain the fishway, but Wallingford will technically own the facility, since it will be located on town-owned property. The fishway will likely be constructed in 2009 and will begin operation in 2010.