Sturgeon coexisted with dinosaurs, making the endangered Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon very special. Dr. Boyd Kynard has spent more than 35 years studying this fish with UMass (ECO Dept), the US Fish & Wildlife Service and US Geologic Survey (Conte Lab). He will discuss how Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon went from being a “landlocked” population located only upstream of Holyoke Dam in the 1970s to a non-landlocked population that ranges throughout the river. You will hear about his research on spawning locations, effect of hydropower operations on spawning, and population status. This research is providing guidance for regulatory and fisheries management agencies during the current relicensing of hydropower operations at Holyoke and Turners Falls Dams.
Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center