The Pelham Dam is the first barrier to fish migration on the Hutchinson River upstream from the Long Island Sound. It holds back a reservoir, unused for almost 100 years.
Initially informed that the dam would not be removable, HVSC applied and received a NYSDEC grant to do the design and permitting of a fish ladder up and over the Pelham Dam. This was targeting the passage of river herring and eel.
In 2019, HVSC trapped an alewife (a river herring) at the base of the dam, establishing that they were in the Hutch for the first time since the 1800's. This was exciting news, and convinced the dam owners, Westchester County, that removing the dam to optimize the alewife restoration, was justified. Accordingly, they took over the project and changed their own plans from restoring the dam to removing it! HVSC is now a consultant to the County on the project which they are nursuing.
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