Rock Dams: Bad for Fish
A fish-blocking manmade rock dam in New Hampshire’s White Mountains Region. (Bob Mallard)
NFC Executive Director Bob Mallard tackles the issue of manmade rock dams in MidCurrent. This article is part of a sponsored native fish conservation column made possible by our friends at Epic, manufacturer of premium fly rods, including the NFC favorite 370 FastGlass.
“As the temperature rises and the masses head to their favorite streams for some relief from the heat, they leave behind a trail of disturbance including litter, rock cairns, and small rock dams.”
“Manmade rock dams can warm the water by widening and slowing the flow. They can block fish passage, preventing them from reaching critical thermal refuge and spawning habitat. Rock dams also concentrate fish, making them easier for anglers to exploit as well as natural predators such as blue herons, kingfishers, otters and mink.”
Special thanks to MidCurrent and Epic for their ongoing support of NFC, and for giving voice to our wild native fish and the places they live.
