DRAFT 11/16/01
Fishway/Eelway Responsibilities
A Partnership
Prepared by Michael Parker, Watershed Team Leader
In Conjunction with Caleb Slater, Anadromous Fish Project Leader
And Westfield River Watershed Association
December 2001
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Operational and Maintenance Responsibilities at DSI Fishway/Eelway
A Partnership
I. Overview:
The DSI Fishway was built in 1995, as a result of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) relicensing process, and first operated in 1996. Since then, migratory fish (including
anadromous species such as Atlantic salmon, American shad, sea lamprey, and blueback
herring) have used this facility to move upstream where they can find suitable habitat to help
complete their life cycle. Prior to construction of the fishway, the DSI dam was the first barrier
fish encountered on their way up the Westfield River.
The FERC agreement clearly spells out responsibilities of the dam owner (DSI) and the
government (MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife).
In the summer of 2001, an eelway was constructed at the fishway, allowing the catadromous fish,
American eel, to migrate upstream to its natural habitat.
There are plans to continue to manage for these species and other migratory fish in the Westfield
River. Passage of fish at DSI opens up approximately 20 additional miles of habitat in the
mainstem Westfield and much more in the tributaries.
The Atlantic salmon restoration effort is based on the Strategic Plan for the Restoration of
Atlantic Salmon to the Connecticut River, revised July 1, 1998, prepared by the Connecticut
River Atlantic Salmon Commission (CRASC). This plan provides for 9 of every 10 adult Atlantic
salmon captured at DSI to be transported to the Cronin National Salmon Station, operated by the
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in Sunderland, Massachusetts for spawning. USFWS
personnel pick up and transport captured Atlantic salmon from DSI.
Good communication is the key to successful operation and maintenance of this facility.
An on-site procedural review meeting of principle partners before operation begins in the
spring (probably March) and another at the end of the season (November) would be very
beneficial for all.
The Overview Roles of Agencies and Groups:
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife:
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is the agency responsible for the protection
and management of the fish and wildlife resources of the Commonwealth. The Division is
authorized by the Federal Power Act to oversee fish and wildlife concerns at FERC licensed
hydropower projects in Massachusetts. The Division runs the anadromous fish restoration
program in the Massachusetts portion of the Connecticut River Basin and its tributaries, including
the Westfield River. The Division operates an Atlantic salmon hatchery in Palmer, MA,
coordinates Atlantic salmon fry stocking, and works with dam owners to guarantee fish passage.
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The Division is also responsible for monitoring fish passage at the fishway and eelway at
Fibermark DSI.
This Division has regulatory authority over fisheries laws and the application of the FERC
license at DSI.
The Division is responsible for overseeing the operation of the fishway and eelway at DSI.
_____________________________________________________________
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
This federal agency operates the federal fish hatcheries and research centers where anadromous
fish are kept, spawned, and studied. This agency assists the states where possible. It also has
many planning responsibilities for the program. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service usually comes
to the fishway to pick up trapped salmon for delivery to the hatchery. They also help design
passage, including the eelway at DSI.
USFWS operates fish hatcheries and picks up and transports captured Atlantic salmon
from DSI.
_____________________________________________________________
Westfield River Watershed Association:
This is the oldest and largest citizens’ organization in the Westfield River watershed. Founded in
1952, the WRWA has been in continual operation since that time. Staffed entirely by volunteers,
WRWA annually hosts a major environmental symposium at Westfield State College, holds an
eleven mile family canoe cruise, staffs a booth at country fairs in the watershed, organizes
volunteer fry stockers, assists in monitoring fish passage at DSI, sponsors river walks and
cleanups, and actively participates on various committees related to the Westfield River and its
watershed.
WRWA has volunteered to assist in operation of fishway from September 1 to October 31
(fall run) and the eelway from July 15 to October 31, and other times as needed.
_____________________________________________________________
The Watershed Initiative:
The idea of using natural river watersheds as the basis for ecosystem management and
protection in Massachusetts came into being in 1995 with the creation of the Watershed Initiative.
The Initiative encouraged the state environmental agencies:
Department of Environmental Protection
Department of Environmental Management
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Law Enforcement
Department of Agriculture
Metropolitan District Commission
…….to work together with local officials, federal agencies, and citizen groups to
share resources and more efficiently manage and protect our natural resources. This became
more formalized with the appointment of Watershed Team Leaders in 1998. Each one of the 27
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major river watersheds in Massachusetts has a Watershed Team Leader. The resultant
Watershed Teams (comprised of federal, state, and local officials working with citizens,
businesses, and citizen groups) meet regularly to identify environmental issues and work toward
resolving problems.
The Watershed Team helps identify needs and find financial and staffing resources to
assist in fish passage at DSI.
____________________________________________________________
Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission (CRASC):
The CRASC was established in 1963 by an act of Congress to facilitate Atlantic salmon
restoration in the Connecticut River Basin. This is a board of representatives (2 from each state)
for the entire Connecticut River Basin from New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and
Connecticut. The Connecticut River and Atlantic salmon restoration efforts occur throughout the
entire length of the Connecticut River and its tributaries. One of the representatives form each
state is the Director of the state fishery agency and the other is a member at large appointed by
the Governor. The CRASC helps guide the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state fisheries
agencies on restoration efforts. It also helped write and implement the Strategic Plan for
Restoration of Atlantic Salmon to the Connecticut River.
CRASC approves research projects (blueback herring), and fish allocations to Westfield
River.
II. Partnerships:
Starting in 1998, the Watershed Team identified restoration of migratory fish to the Westfield
River as a major priority. This included the denil fishway at DSI in West Springfield. At that time,
the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife hired Dr. Caleb Slater as Anadromous Fish
Project Leader to head up the restoration program. Working with Caleb, the Team quickly
learned how to monitor the fishway at DSI. Since then the Team has volunteered to help staff the
fishway during the fall fish passage (Sept 1 – Oct 31). This was the basis of a partnership to help
staff this facility. There is no formal partnership. Instead a core of agency and volunteer people
have agreed to cooperate to make things work. Others come and go from the regular routine as
needs arise. The core of the partnership includes………..
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
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Fibermark DSI – own, operate, and maintain dam, fishway, and manufacturing plant
MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife – monitor fish passage and FERC license
compliance
US Fish & Wildlife Service – cooperates and assists in restoration program
Westfield River Watershed Association – volunteers staff for fish/eelway monitoring
MA Executive Office of Environmental Affairs – volunteer staff for fish/eelway monitoring
and help find resources for addressing needs and issues
III. Operation and Maintenance of Facility:
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There are a number of things needing to be done to successfully operate this facility. These
include regulating flows, cleaning and maintaining trash racks, keeping debris out of minimum
flow slots in dam and fishway, clearing brush from around the fishway, repairing fishway itself
when needed, providing electricity to operate fishway and eelway, and providing staff to trap and
count fish at fishway and eelway.

Flows:
Spill over the dam is critical because fish need the proper flow of water in the bypass reach (the
section between the dam and the powerhouse that is “bypassed” by the power canal) in order to
reach the fishway. The fishway itself also needs proper flow, both in the fishway and through the
attraction water gate, to function efficiently.
The final Fish Passage Operation and Maintenance Plan was issued on January 22, 2001. It
defines the minimum flows that the DSI project must maintain:

Bypass reach habitat minimum flow of 85 cubic feet per second (cfs) or inflow.

Zone of passage minimum flow of 125 cfs or inflow during upstream fish passage seasons
(April 1 – July 15 and September 1 – October 31).
Flow is directed into the bypass through the following devices:
1) Three 3 foot wide and 2 foot deep slots in the dam adjacent to the head gate.
Hydraulic capacity of each slot: 25 cfs full open, 9 cfs half-open.
2) Downstream (DS) fish bypass system. Hydraulic capacity: 25 cfs.
3) Denil fishway. Hydraulic capacity: 40 cfs (15 cfs in fishway, 25 cfs attraction water system).
The following flows are required:
Time of Year
Flow Needed
April 1 – July 15
125 cfs
July 16 – August 31
85 cfs
Sept 1 – Oct 31
125 cfs
Nov 1 – March 31
85 cfs
Devices in Operation
2 slots full open, 1 slot ½ open, Denil fishway, DS fish bypass
2 slots full open, 1 slot ½ open, DS fish bypass
2 slots full open, 1 slot ½ open, Denil fishway, DS fish bypass
3 slots full open (DS fishway may be required through Dec 31)
Fibermark DSI is responsible for making sure the proper devices are in operation during
the above dates.
Fibermark DSI is responsible, as outlined in the Fish Passage Operation and Maintenance
Plan, for an early morning hydro shutdown procedure which is to be applied during peak
of the American shad and Atlantic salmon migration period (May and June).

Grounds Maintenance:
This facility has periodic need for brush cutting, grass and weed mowing, debris removal from
dam, debris removal from attraction zone, debris removal from trash racks, trash barrel
maintenance, etc.
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Overgrown vegetation can interfere with the successful operation of the facility. In addition,
visitors are occasionally brought to the facility as part of a cooperative outreach effort and both
safety and appearance are important.
Debris, brought into the facility by river flows, can adversely affect the successful operation. Logs
and other materials must be kept clear of the dam and attraction area.
The trash racks fill up with leaves and other debris very quickly. These must be kept open and
operating to ensure smooth fish passage.
The downstream passage racks and outlet fill up with debris quickly. This must be checked
regularly and kept free of flow-blocking materials.
The fishway attraction water system and salmon trap fill up with sticks and leaves, primarily in the
fall. This causes restrictions in water flows and jammed hydraulic doors, which interfere with fish
passage.
Responsibility for grounds maintenance rests with Fibermark DSI.
Some maintenance can be done by WRWA working with Fibermark and Massachusetts
Fisheries and Wildlife.
Daily cleaning of the fish trap, gates, and attraction water system will be performed by the
fishway staff.
Oversight of these conditions is the responsibility of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries
and Wildlife.

Mechanical Maintenance of Fishway:
Occasionally, pieces of operating equipment malfunction. The most common problem involves
the trash racks coming off track and not working. This may best be avoided through regular
cleaning and preventative maintenance as described above.
The pneumatic controls on the fishway trap doors sometimes malfunction and need repairs. This
can range from broken hoses to stuck doors. The compressor, which supplies air to these doors,
also needs routine maintenance.
The electric hoist, which lifts the salmon trap, needs routine maintenance and rarely repairs.
The fishway itself (concrete shell or wooden baffles) will need maintenance and/or repairs from
time to time.
Fibermark DSI is responsible for these repairs and maintenance upon the direction of the
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Mechanical Maintenance of Eelway:
The newly (2001) constructed eelway needs constant tweaking to keep it running properly.
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The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is responsible for the maintenance
of this project.
WRWA will assist in the maintenance of this project.

Fishway Monitoring:
During upstream fish passage season, April 1 – July 15 and September 1 – October 31, the
facility is staffed to identify and count fish and to trap Atlantic salmon for trucking upstream or to
the hatchery.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is responsible for monitoring the
fishway.
WRWA will assist monitoring when needed, most often September 1 to October 31.

Operation of Eelway:
The catadromous fish, American eel, does not utilize the denil fishway efficiently. The newly
installed eelway and trap is designed for this purpose. It will be operated from April 1 to October
31. This facility is designed to provide eel population data, including size, age, travel patterns,
etc. to the state and federal fisheries agencies.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is responsible for the operation of
the eelway.
WRWA will assist by operating the eelway when needed, particularly between July 15 and
October 31.
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IV. Contact Information as of November 1, 2001:
State Agency
Alex Haro
Eel Specialist
USGS Conte Research Lab
Turners Falls, MA
(413) 863-3806
Caleb Slater, Ph.D.
Anadromous Fish Project Leader
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
One Rabbit Hill Road
Westborough, MA 01581
(508) 792-7270 x133
Non-Government Citizens Group
Michael Parker
Watershed Team Leader
1048 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 532-4450
C. Mason Maronn, President
Westfield River Watershed Association
1048 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 532-7290
Dan Call, Special Projects
Westfield River Watershed Association
1048 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 532-7290
Fibermark DSI
Joe Sgambati (413) 263-5912
Dean Poggi (413) 263-5962
Fibermark DSI
70 Front Street
West Springfield, MA 01089
Henry Warchol, eel specialist
Westfield River Watershed Association
1048 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 532-7290
Federal Agency
Jan Rowan
Connecticut River Coordinator
US Fish and Wildlife Service
103 East Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
(413) 548-9138
Mickey Novack
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Sunderland Hatchery
East Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
(413) 548-9010
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