WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Dams to be destroyed to help restore fish population (Waterbury-WTNH) _ There's a trend that's growing to help improve fish beds in some of the nation's rivers - Dams are being destroyed. Edwards Dam was used for more than 150 years to power a textile mill in Augusta, Maine. But that mill has been gone for years, and the dam was just slowing down the flow of water along the Kennebec River, making it hard for fish to swim and breed. So they're breaking it down. Now three dams along the Naugatuck River in Connecticut are being torn down for the same reason. News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports. The Naugatuck River runs 40 miles as it winds through Connecticut, and while it may look like a healthy body of water, take a closer look. There are some sections of the river that barely move. That means stagnant water. That's not a good breeding place for fish. Linda Bioski owns a boating and sports accessory store in Waterbury, and she grew up right along the Naugatuck. Linda Bioski: "You really couldn't fish there years ago. The smell of the river was horrendous and the color of it. "When that stream was polluted it was bad. One of the worst in the state, and it's improved so much." But the Department of Environmental Protection is doing what it can to bring new life to the river and make it even better. The latest project involves removing three dams along the waterway which haven't been used for years. Tom Morrissey, D.E.P.: "The benefit associated with these structures was mainly mechanical and hydropower for manufacturing facilities which were located adjacent to the river. Those manufacturing facilities have long since left." Tom Morrissey says instead of helping, the dams have been keeping fish from breeding along certain sections of the river. Morrissey: "Those dams cut off it's connection to the sea and cut off the fish migration up those streams." So later this month, the Plattsmill Dam will be torn down, as well as the Freight Street Dam, both of which are in Waterbury. Then the Union City Dam in Naugatuck will be removed as well. DEP officials say if everything goes as planned fish should should be able to swim freely all along the Naugatuck, and that's good news for Linda Bioski. Bioski: "I'll be fishing. I love fishing." Basically, the oxygen level of much of the Naugatuck river is too low to support a large fish pool. In addition to the dams slowing the water down, the DEP says Waterbury's sewage treatment plant must go through renovations to improve the quality of the water they pour into the river. The total cost of the project including upgrading several sewage treatment facilities is $220 million dollars. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Dams to be destroyed to help restore fish population
(Waterbury-WTNH) _ There's a trend that's growing to help improve fish beds in some of the nation's rivers - Dams are being destroyed. Edwards Dam was used for more than 150 years to power a textile mill in Augusta, Maine. But that mill has been gone for years, and the dam was just slowing down the flow of water along the Kennebec River, making it hard for fish to swim and breed. So they're breaking it down. Now three dams along the Naugatuck River in Connecticut are being torn down for the same reason.
News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports.

The Naugatuck River runs 40 miles as it winds through Connecticut, and while it may look like a healthy body of water, take a closer look. There are some sections of the river that barely move. That means stagnant water. That's not a good breeding place for fish.

Linda Bioski owns a boating and sports accessory store in Waterbury, and she grew up right along the Naugatuck.

Linda Bioski: "You really couldn't fish there years ago. The smell of the river was horrendous and the color of it.
"When that stream was polluted it was bad. One of the worst in the state, and it's improved so much."

But the Department of Environmental Protection is doing what it can to bring new life to the river and make it even better. The latest project involves removing three dams along the waterway which haven't been used for years.

Tom Morrissey, D.E.P.: "The benefit associated with these structures was mainly mechanical and hydropower for manufacturing facilities which were located adjacent to the river. Those manufacturing facilities have long since left."

Tom Morrissey says instead of helping, the dams have been keeping fish from breeding along certain sections of the river.

Morrissey: "Those dams cut off it's connection to the sea and cut off the fish migration up those streams."

So later this month, the Plattsmill Dam will be torn down, as well as the Freight Street Dam, both of which are in Waterbury. Then the Union City Dam in Naugatuck will be removed as well. DEP officials say if everything goes as planned fish should should be able to swim freely all along the Naugatuck, and that's good news for Linda Bioski.

Bioski: "I'll be fishing. I love fishing."

Basically, the oxygen level of much of the Naugatuck river is too low to support a large fish pool. In addition to the dams slowing the water down, the DEP says Waterbury's sewage treatment plant must go through renovations to improve the quality of the water they pour into the river. The total cost of the project including upgrading several sewage treatment facilities is $220 million dollars.

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