Preston River Fish Ladder

• PRESTON -- The first fish elevator on the Quinebaug River could help bring a variety of migratory fish to the Shetucket River Watershed. For local anglers, that means more chances to fish. "It will open up good shad fishing opportunities in the springtime. But the biggest thing is, over a long period of time, it will increase the fishing opportunities."
• Environmental experts also expect the number of fish to start increasing five years after the ladder is built. The fish elevator is slated for the Tunnel Hydroelectric station on Roosevelt Avenue, owned by Northeast Generation Services, a subsidiary of Northeast Utilities. The station is in Preston and Lisbon. Construction is slated for July through December. It should begin operating in April 2007.
• Bruce Roberts of Lisbon, a past Trout Unlimited president, said the fish elevator will be a huge benefit, allowing shad a route upstream into Broad Brook, a prime spawning ground. "Right now, that whole section is stuck between two dams -- Aspinook and the Tunnell dam," Roberts said.
• Young shad typically spend five years in the ocean and then return to rivers to spawn. Experts are expecting to see the population increase by 2012 -- five years after the elevator begins operating. With the new fish elevator, fish will be able to swim all the way to Jewett City. The fish will be stopped at the Aspinook Dam, however, Gephard said. A fishway is scheduled to be built there in the future, he said, which will allow the fish to bypass the dam. The department will evaluate the fish going through the lift during the first three migration seasons after the ladder opens, Robinson said.