Joe Perillo explained operation of the Schuylkill Dam Fishway to students at the official opening of the newly reconstruction fish ladder.

Aquatic biologists Joe Perillo and Lance Butler monitor the Schuylkill River and the fish swimming beneath the surface. Their multiyear study of shad and other anadromous species has just been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science (83:1, 2633,2009). The article is titled, "Evaluating the Use of Fairmount Dam Fish Passage Facility with Application to Anadromous Fish Restoration in the Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania."

Prior to the creation of the Fairmount Dam in 1820, American shad, striped bass and other migratory species moved freely upstream as far as Pottsville. The dam became a physical barrier, completely blocking access to spawning grounds. In the years to follow, eight more dams were erected and industrial pollution into the Schuylkill River resulted in the demise of anadromous fish.

In 1979, a fish passage was constructed on the west side of Fairmount Dam. Between 2002 and 2006 the Philadelphia Water Department began monitoring the fish population above and below the fishway. During their three-year study, Joe and Lance identified 26 species of fish, as well as several hybrid species, using the fishway during spring migrations.

American shad, hickory shad, striped bass and river herring were frequently seen in the fishway, and the presence of juvenile alewife upstream of the fishway in 2005-2006 suggests that quality spawning and nursery habitats still exist above Fairmount Dam. Counts for adult American shad showed a discernible increase during the three-year period and although the numbers are significantly lower than historical records, fish surveys below Fairmount Dam indicate increasing trends in fish density during spring migrations.

These preliminary results suggest that the reconstructed Fairmount Dam Fishway may have a critical role in reestablishing shad and other migratory fish populations throughout the Schuylkill River watershed. Click here to view the complete study.