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It takes money to make money. What goes up must come down (sometimes). Row, row, row your boat and there are plenty of fish in the sea � thanks in part to our Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation Program.
Barriers to fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.
Learn more about fish passage - such as defunct dams, undersized culverts and poorly-designed road crossings � often create public safety hazards and barriers to economic growth. When the Service and our partners open waterways for native fish, opportunities for making (and saving) money open along with them. Revenue generated from increased recreation feeds local economies and creates new job opportunities. Local governments save money on water treatment and road-crossing maintenance, which directly saves tax dollars. Boosts to fisheries support commercial fishermen and result in more affordable seafood. You don’t need to live near the water to reap the benefits of free-flowing rivers.
Across the Northeast region, fish passage projects have an immediate impact while also investing in the future.
Projects that pay
East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
River herring in the Satucket River had a problem. For 150 years, the Carver Cotton Gin dam in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts prevented them from accessing 13 miles of river and 652 acres of pond � habitat the imperiled fish once had access to for spawning. In 2017, the Service, state agencies, and other partners collaborated in removing the dam.
With river herring able to reproduce thanks to reconnection to spawning habitat, the herring population will increase. River herring play an important role in the food web for larger species like striped bass - a species that motivates many recreational fishing trips and generates commercial fishing revenue to the tune of $75 per fish. Using economic modeling, a study determined that the additional striped bass fishing resulting from the removal of the Carver Cotton Gin Dam could generate up to $11,000 in recreational spending and increase commercial fishing revenue by up to $27,000 per year. Recreational fishing trips in Massachusetts also generate revenue when visitors spend money at local restaurants, lodging, and retail businesses.
Removing the dam also reduced the risk of flooding upstream and the risk of flood-related damage to nearby homes and commercial buildings. The avoided property damages that could have resulted from a storm are estimated at $160,000.
Even the short-term economic impacts of the dam demolition and river restoration are impressive. The $785,000 invested in the Carver Cotton Gin Dam removal generated approximately $1.5 million in economic output across Massachusetts and created seven jobs during the project implementation phase.
Harrison County, West Virginia
In Harrison County, West Virginia, the Clarksburg Water Board, with assistance from the Service, removed three defunct dams on the West Fork River in 2016. The removals created 13.5 miles of river habitat suitable for freshwater mussel species, helping to recover endangered species historically found in this area like the snuffbox and clubshell mussels.
Removing the three dams re-connected 491 miles of river mainstem and tributaries upstream of the dams, significantly improving accessibility and safety for recreational boating. Combined with West Virginia Department of Natural Resources opening up 10 new boat launches along the river, the long-term economic impact in the region from new recreational boating trips is expected to be approximately $632,000 per year in revenue and several new long-term jobs.
Local tourism is also growing. In 2018, the community launched the Float the Fork festival to honor the removal of these three dams from the West Fork River. This annual event features a six-mile float down the river on kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards, as well as musical performances, a pre-float pancake breakfast, and food and craft vendors. This celebration brings visitors to the area who spend money at hotels, restaurants, and local businesses.
Removing the dams along the West Fork has also saved local communities money by improving water quality. The Clarksburg Water Board was able to reduce water treatment costs by approximately $46,000 in the first year following the dam removals. In addition, the Clarksburg Water Board, owner of the dams, now avoids having to pay the approximately $26,000 needed annually to maintain them.
The $1.2 million invested in the demolition of the West Fork Dams and restoration of the river generated approximately $2.7 million in economic output across the state (a 125% return on investment) and created 15 jobs during the project implementation phase.
Investing in fish and rivers means investing in the future
Though economic studies offer insight into the market-based value of the ecological services provided by restored rivers like improved water quality, flood risk reduction, and recreational opportunities, people also value simply having restored natural places and healthy populations of aquatic species near them.
Even if they cannot, or don’t want to, catch or eat fish, people still value fish conservation and restoration because of the ecological and cultural importance.
A study that explored attitudes and values about fish found that even though some of the general public has lost their connection to migratory fish, many people deeply value the water bodies in their neighborhoods and the natural, healthy habitat provided by a restored river. This sense of place can also be considered a value to which fish passage and aquatic connectivity projects contribute.
Removing old infrastructure that's a barrier to aquatic connectivity is one of the most effective and efficient ways to restore our rivers. It’s also good for our communities, generating revenue and savings costs. What’s good for the fish is good for the American people � and the economy.
Recreational Activities
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