Case Study

Kenyon Mills Nature-Like Fishway

The Kenyon Mills Nature Like Fishway created pockets of wetland habitat between the weirs.

Challenges

The neighboring community did not support full dam removal due to concerns about the impacts of lowered water levels on residential wells upstream. In addition, Kenyon Mills owned the dam and was willing to have it removed, but needed the impoundment for fire suppression.

Solutions

Construction crews implemented a partial dam removal and installed a rock ramp, or nature-like fishway spanning the full width of the river channel. The dam height was lowered and a rock ramp was constructed to create the riffles and flow necessary to sustain fish passage with a gradual incline in elevation.

Successes

Creating a nature-like fishway provided fish passage while allowing for the impoundment to remain upstream, providing water for fire suppression and ensuring that the upstream wells would not lose drinking water. In addition, during low flow, the rock ramps provide diverse habitat along the river’s edge.

References and Additional Resources

Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association’s presentation: http://www.wpwa.org/documents/KenyonPublicPresentation%20(3).pdf

Turek, J., A. Haro, and B. Towler (2016). Federal Interagency Nature-like Fishway Passage Design Guidelines for Atlantic Coast Diadromous Fishes. Interagency Technical Memorandum.

  • Location
    Richmond, Rhode Island
  • River
    Pawcatuck River
  • Year
    2013
  • Type
    River Wide Nature-Like Fishway
  • Cost
    $1,124,322
  • Project Partners
    Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association; Kenyon Industries, Inc.; Town of Richmond; Trout Unlimited; United States Fish and Wildlife Service; RI Coastal Resources Management Council; RI Department of Environmental Management; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Save the Bay; Richmond Conservation Commission; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; American Rivers; and Narragansett Bay Estuary Program