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	How's the Fish Program Doing? Michael Parker and Henry Warchol As you know, the Westfield River Watershed Association has very actively supported the Federal and State efforts to restore anadromous fish, including the Atlantic salmon, to the Westfield River. With the construction of the denil fish ladder at DSI in West Springfield in 1995, we have been able to move fish upstream to access good habitat. Atlantic salmon, American shad, sea lamprey, and blueback herring use this facility. Resident fish, such as white suckers, bass, and trout, also use the fish ladder to move back and forth in the river for food and cover. Recently, an eelway was built to get specific information on eels and move them upstream as well. In order to help restore salmon, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife annually stocks approximately 1,000,000 fry (baby fish) in the upper reaches of the river. This is done in early spring soon after they emerge from eggs in the hatchery. These fry are distributed based on habitat conditions in the river and tributaries. In order to accomplish this enormous task, volunteers are enlisted to help. These volunteers include citizens from all walks of life and all ages. On a sunny Saturday in April of this year, over 24 people, most from WRWA, gathered in Granville to stock Dickinsen and Munn Brooks. Over 50,000 fry were successfully stocked that day. A week later, over 60 volunteers, many from WRWA, helped stock the Middle Branch of the Westfield with over 70,000 fish. WRWA members also stocked fry during the weekdays when state staff was more abundant. Thanks to all who helped. The Westfield River Watershed Association also actively participates in the Egg to Stream Program that provides a chiller aquarium for school kids and trains teachers so the classroom can set up the tank, get salmon eggs, control their development, and stock them when they hatch. This educational program has been very successful. There are tanks in a few schools in the watershed, with more anticipated. What a great way to introduce children to environmental science and biodiversity! The 1,000,000 Atlantic salmon fry live for two years in the river, growing into parr, which are about 5 or 6 inches in length. Many do not survive due to predation from other fish, birds, and mammals. Some die from other natural causes and competition. Those that do live become more acclimated for salt water at the end of their second year in the river and move downstream over and through dams and other obstacles as they head for the ocean. These outmigrating fish are called smolts. After reaching the ocean in Long Island Sound, they continue migrating to the waters off Greenland where they spend the next couple of years feeding and growing into adult fish weighing from 10 to 20 pounds. These fish, which were stocked in the Westfield River by volunteers four years before, now begin their journey back to the Westfield River. Those that make it to the DSI fish ladder are captured there for transport to the fish hatchery to begin the process over again. Every tenth adult salmon returning to the Westfield is transported upstream and released in the river to allow for natural regeneration. While the numbers of returning Atlantic salmon, to the Westfield and elsewhere in the world, are declining, we have been seeing an increase in American shad and sea lamprey. These fish are important indicators of watershed health, and their increase is viewed as a sign that our river is in good shape. American eels are captured in the new eelway at DSI, counted, sized, and moved upstream. This project is providing valuable data on this fish to the US Fish and Wildlife Service as well as the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MADFW). Both the fishway and eelway are operated by MADFW with the assistance of WRWA members. Henry Warchol has taken the lead on this for the WRWA and has done an incredible job of helping restore fish to the Westfield River. This year (2002) returns to DSI are as follows through June 18th: Atlantic Salmon - 5 (worldwide populations declining), American Shad - 2,716 (weather causing delays in migrating), Blueback Herring - 4 (Why are these numbers so low?), Sea Lamprey - 2,371 (A RECORD NUMBER!!), American Eel - 243 (Should see lots more in warmer weather). Studies abound at the fishway, in addition to the eel research. Shad are being radio-tagged to be released in Westfield for determining the "Zone of Passage" for fish at the sewer treatment plant in advance of the expansion project. Blueback herring reproduction is being studied in the Westfield River above DSI to help determine why we get so few of these valuable food fish back. Other fish, including lampreys, are occasionally tagged to study migration habits. The restoration program continues to be the centerpiece of the many WRWA activities. The return of these fish shows the need to view the Westfield River system as a great connected natural resource, where what happens in one part of the watershed can affect other parts. As people understand the value of these programs, they take actions that have a positive effect on our watershed.