The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (SBMWA) recently got funding from American Rivers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to do a feasibility study on the restoration of shad to the Millstone River.  

This study will examine the feasibility of restoring American Shad and other diadromous fish in the Lower Millstone River in central New Jersey.  The goal is to identify the most appropriate means of providing fish passage for these native fish and restoring the ecological integrity of the river.  Among other potential restoration strategies, the project will explore the possibility of removing two dams on the lower Millstone River which would open up over 14 miles of the river to diadromous fish.  The study will assess potential positive and negative effects of dam removal.

Dam removal allows for the free migration of fish and other aquatic species where they had previously been confined.  The Island Farm Weir located about 160 feet downstream of the confluence of the Millstone and Raritan Rivers has a large fish ladder and a record of successful fish passage since 1996.  This data shows that American shad, river herring, and American eel all were moving through the fish ladder as recently as 2005 (the most recently reported data).  Each of these species had free access to the Millstone River up to the Weston Causeway dam, located 1.5 miles upstream from the confluence with the Raritan River and spanning Manville Borough and Franklin Township.  Conducting fish passage projects at this dam and at the Blackwell Mills Dam, located 4.7 miles upstream of the Weston Causeway Dam in Franklin and Hillsborough Townships, would provide these diadromous fish access to over an additional 14 miles of the Millstone River.  Both dams are run-of-the-river dams originally built to service mills which are no longer in existence.

One of the advantages of dam removal is the restoration of the ecological integrity of the river.  It allows for the reestablishment of equilibrium between river flow and sediment flow, allowing the stream to meander as needed and naturally create advantageous fish habitat.  An additional benefit would be increased safety for recreational users of the river for whom the two dams pose a severe hazard.

Ecosystem Services Provided:

Water Protection, Filtration & Control: Water quality and quantity- Wetland restoration

Biological Diversity: Habitat- Protecting aquatic habitat, Federal threatened/endangered species habitat protection

Total Project Cost: $105,183

Status: The SBMWA received $35,000 from American Rivers — and NJDEP has promised an additional $40,000 once they get permission from one of the dam owners.

If you would like further information about this project, contact Conservation Resources Inc.