I visited a fishlift with my friend Anne on Holyoke’s Infrastructure Day last month.
The fishlift gives fish an elevator ride so they can get past Holyoke’s municipally-owned hydroelectric dam on their way upstream to spawn.
You can see how the fish might have a problem without the lift.
Near the top of the lift is a viewing room where you can watch the fish continue on their way. We saw lots and lots of shad…
And sometimes a sea lamprey zipped by!
We listened to “Fish” by Mr. Scruff as we drove away to further adventures.
Comments (9)
Are the fish really heavy? [Fb]
@Daniel Yes.
@Daniel Totally heavy, man.
Salmon? [Fb]
@Debbie Shad and the occasional sea lamprey (others too, but not that day) — pics in the post.
Not pictured: the lifts themselves or the inside of the power station, because I was too busy clasping the railings in fear of heights and didn’t want to drop my phone.
Great pics. I went there with my family right after a storm and the water was too murky for me to see anything. Now I can see them. Thanks!
@Michael I had the same experience on a school trip to a fish ladder years ago — nothing but murk. It was nice to finally see it for real!