DEC Announces Actions to Protect Fish Populations in the Salmon River

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced actions underway to mitigate impacts of unusual low water flows along the Salmon River during the upcoming salmon run. These include modification of water releases and delayed opening of the river's lower fly fishing section ahead of the annual run which attracts thousands of anglers every year.

"New York State's Salmon River waterway boasts world class fall salmon and trout runs," said Region 7 Director Dereth Glance. "The modified water releases and delayed opening of the lower fly fishing section are necessary to ensure a successful egg collection at the hatchery to continue New York State's legacy of a thriving Lake Ontario salmonid fishery."

This summer, below-average rainfall led to low and declining water levels in the Salmon River Reservoir. The Executive Committee of the Salmon River Flow Management Team, comprised of natural resource agencies and Brookfield Renewable hydroelectric facility that regulates reservoir water levels, canceled scheduled whitewater releases and delayed the annual increase in baseflow to conserve reservoir water and maintain suitable flows throughout the salmon spawning run. Under a federal license, Salmon River seasonal baseflows are normally increased from 185 cubic feet/second (cfs) to 335 cfs on Sept. 1, as long as water levels in the Salmon River Reservoir are above a critical threshold. Levels are currently well below that threshold, requiring cancelation of a scheduled whitewater release over Labor Day weekend. Additionally, significant precipitation is not forecasted for the near term, prompting DEC to recommend a delay in the scheduled baseflow increase.

DEC's recommendation is based on abnormally high water temperatures coupled with low water flows in Salmon River tributaries, including Beaverdam Brook where migrating Chinook salmon access DEC's Salmon River Fish Hatchery for egg collection that support the State's successful stocking program. Increasing baseflows prematurely would likely cause Chinook salmon currently "staging" in Lake Ontario to begin their spawning migration into the Salmon River, which could strand and/or kill fish if water temperatures remain high. These fish will have difficulty reaching the DEC's hatchery until rainfall sufficiently raises Beaverdam Brook water levels.

To increase the probability that sufficient numbers of salmon reach the hatchery to sustain the salmon stocking program, the popular lower fly fishing section, located just below the hatchery and typically where large numbers of salmon and anglers congregate, will not open on Sept. 15. This section (PDF) will remain closed until DEC collects sufficient numbers of salmon eggs at the hatchery, or at least through October 31.

Anglers and all fishing enthusiasts are encouraged to experience New York's other exceptional Great Lakes tributary angling opportunities. Alternative locations include the Upper Fly Area located above the hatchery grounds on Route 22, and other alternative recreation areas listed on DEC's Find Places to Go webpage.

Visit DEC's 'Tackle Box' feature in the HuntFishNY App for waterbody-specific information on fishing regulations, stocking, and fishing/boating access sites. Additional information, including the I Fish NY Great Lakes Fishing Brochure, is available at DEC's website.