Just saw this. Given that some of us fish the Quinapoxet, thought it would be of interest (also, our river guides here and here).
The Quinapoxet River is a well-loved coldwater fishery, and removing the dam will open up an estimated 35 miles (upstream, including main stem and tributary) of coldwater habitat for landlocked salmon and other species. Nice! @MassEcoRestore@MWRA_updatehttps://t.co/DR0vtg3OsW
— MA. Fish & Game (@MassDFG) March 6, 2018
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There’s good news, and GREAT… This is GREAT. Really hope this happens, this time!!!
The grant indicates it will pay to create engineered plans for the eventual removal which in all likelihood will allow the project to go out to bid. The article you posted states “The grant will assist MWRA to develop permit-ready plans for the removal.” One step closer, but the project to remove the dam still needs to be funded.
I’m not familiar with this river and “Landlocked Salmon” caught my eye. Can someone educate me? Thanks
The Quinapoxet flows into the Wachusett Reservoir, which has wild landlocked salmon. So far, they can only use the low gradient Stillwater river to reproduce. Once the dam is removed, it’s hoped that the salmon will utilize the Quinapoxet river as well…
Thanks. That is really exciting!
In this last week of October, 2024 the Quinnie Dam is finally coming down. According to workers on site, the demolitoin and stream repair should be done by end of next month. Last month nearly 1,000 mussels were removed from the lower Quinnie and “replanted” farther upstream. Curious which species will use the Quinnie for spawning? Hopefully both land locked salmon and smelt. Will brook trout in the Quinnie migrate down into Wachusett?
Will the State have a closed season (like the Quabbin tribs) to protect the LLS? Will they make the Quinnie a catch and release to protect LLS parr (hard to tell the difference from small brown trout)?
That is such great news. Thank you for informing us!
Link to demo prep from last week.
Demo started this week:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LQzFaTsq6YA
Very cool!