Lower Blackstone River
Fish Passage
The Lower Blackstone River Fish Passage Project seeks a path for achieving diadromous fish passage on the Blackstone River in Rhode Island that benefits the ecosystems, economies, and heritage of the river and the downstream Narragansett Bay and North Atlantic systems.
The Blackstone River was once a tidal river that was home to culturally and economically significant species such as river herring and American shad, which migrate between saltwater and freshwater ecosystems. The construction of 39 dams along the Blackstone River prevented migrating fish from reaching their breeding habitat and led to population decline. Through partnership and collaboration, the Lower Blackstone River Fish Passage Project was established to restore fish populations by establishing fish passage through the Blackstone River’s lowest four dams.
The goal of this project is to provide fish passage around the Blackstone’s lower four dams to enhance aquatic connectivity and restore the balance between humans and the river. The dams include the Valley Falls and Elizabeth Webbing in Central Falls, and Slater Mill & Main Street Dams in Pawtucket. Establishing fish passage is a top priority in the NBEP Blackstone Needs Assessment and is a collaborative effort between partners in the region.
Photo credit: Alison McKellar, Flickr.
NBEP Project Role and Background Information
Efforts to restore fish passage on the lowest 4 dams in the Blackstone have been ongoing for approximately 30 years. In 2021, NBEP convened diverse stakeholders and established the NBEP Blackstone Needs Assessment, which identified fish passage as a top priority for the Blackstone River watershed.
NBEP continues to fund and support project partners from 2022-present.
Funding provided through NBEP and the RI Department of Environmental Management, with convening assistance from the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, will enable The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island to lead development of a plan for passing fish from Narragansett Bay to above the Valley Falls Dam on the Blackstone.
Once complete, this would constitute the largest fish passage project in the Narragansett Bay watershed.
Past Meetings
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