Contact: Anna Eleria (781) 788-0007 ext. 225 cellphone: 617-821-3989

DATE: September 12, 2005

What? 

Environmental advocates are working with local state agencies to partially breach a dam in Waltham, MA to improve fish passage in the Charles River. Charles River Watershed Association, a regional non-profit research and advocacy group, will join the MA Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as workers will partially modify Bleachery Dam in Waltham to increase river herring and resident fish access over the dam.

Why? 

"This project means that the fish that use the Charles as a spawning ground will have a better chance than they've ever had of reproducing in the river," said Anna Eleria, environmental engineer and project manager at the Charles River Watershed Association.

Currently, there is a modest 15- to 20-foot breach on the southwest side of the river, which offers limited access upstream of the dam for fish. In general, fish prefer to swim along the edges of the river so fish on the south side of the river pass through the dam easily. However, fish on the north side of the river have difficulties traversing across the river to the south side and reaching the breach.

According to DMF fisheries biologists, a second breach of similar size on the northern side would assist fish passage considerably. This work will be conducted by DMF and will entail pushing down one or two granite blocks from the concrete apron of the dam to create an opening of 15 feet in width and one to three feet in depth. -more-

The Charles River supports one of the largest river herring runs in Massachusetts Bay and is being used as a donor population for restoration efforts in the Neponset and Ipswich Rivers. Yet, fish passage along the 80-mile Charles River is impeded by a series of 20 dams and low flows.

Going upstream from Watertown Dam, the Bemis Dam was breached 25 years ago, and fish pass the dam freely. Upstream of the Bemis Dam is Bleachery Dam in Waltham, which was partially breached on the Newton side for fish access by DCR ten years ago.

When? 

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 10:30 AM.

Where? 

The Bleachery Dam behind the Shaw's Supermarket at 130 River Street, Waltham, MA.

Who? 

Representatives from Charles River Watershed Association, MA Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), and MA Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership will be available to take questions from reporters.

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One of our country's first watershed organizations, CRWA formed in 1965 in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles River. This year, CRWA is celebrating 40 years of using science, advocacy and the law to protect, preserve and enhance the Charles River and its watershed. Since its earliest days of advocacy, CRWA has figured prominently in major clean-up and watershed protection efforts that have dramatically improved the health of the Charles.