Fall Salmon Spawn on the Winooski

[Mistress]

I was working on the Bridge St bridge in Richmond earlier and USFWS showed up with a load of salmon they trapped at Hydro One just above the salmon hole in Winooski. The young fella from USFWS was very much into his work and I thanked him for all of us. He told me his name twice, I couldn’t pronounce it and will not even attempt to butcher the spelling on here! If you see this thanks again!
To date they have trapped and relocated over 170 salmon and is on track to beat last year’s total of 220 something, which was an exceptional year.
They have been struggling with the lamprey control program because of irregular water flow in the tributaries they usually treat so unfortunately we may see a bit of an increase in lamprey population.
All 21 of the fish released today were tagged and swam away quite healthy including one with a pretty bad lamprey wound.

[Reelax]

Now that is really cool!! I wonder how far up stream from Richmond they can get. Thanks for sharing Pat!!

[JabberJaws]

Out west salmon travel states upstream to spawn so my best guess is the next dam with no way for them to pass is as far as they can go. Imagine how many more salmon and walleye we could have in the lake if the fish and nature were able to do what they do. I love hydro power but there are ways for fish to pass if that were a consideration and dams that exist for no reason other than "its historical " I am willing to bet historically there was not a dam there alot longer than there has been one. Now I will officially step off the soap box bit only because the rod is bouncing and requires my attention.
Ramel

[striper192001]

I would think that they can only go as far as Bolton Dam. Probably lots of spawning habitat for that many fish. Perhaps we should start advocating for a fish ladder or elevator at the Bolton Dam.