Department of Environmental Conservation

Degree held:

BS, University of Vermont, 2008
Wildlife & Fisheries Biology

Degree in Progress:

MS, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2011 (expected)
Department of Environmental Conservation, Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology

Project:

Diadromous fish migrations & non-traditional fish passage at east coast barriers and restoration projects.

Contact:

Email: mbelcher’at’eco.umass.edu
Office: Conte Anadromous Fish Research Lab
Mail: 1 Migratory Way  P.O. Box 796
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Office: (413) 863-3805
Cell: (802) 376-6686

Position:

Research Assistant

Support:

USGS, S. O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Lab, Turners Falls, MA
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Gloucester, MA

Faculty Advisor:

Dr. Alex Haro, Ecologist and Section Leader of Fish Passage Engineering, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center

Project abstract:

Fish populations are highly dependent upon the characteristics of their aquatic habitat which supports all their biological functions. Migratory fish have several developmental life stages which require different environments for successful feeding, breeding and dispersal. If barriers and obstructions exist within a waterway, fish are prevented from spawning successfully due to their inability to reach their natural, or preferred, spawning grounds. Time of the year, water levels, water temperature, reproductive state and numerous other factors must be considered prior to selection of a fishway. Effective fishway design requires extensive integration of biological and hydraulic data. It is crucial to be able to describe biological parameters that form the basis of engineered fish passage designs.

Our goal is to produce a document that is meant to be used by engineers, fishery biologists and other practitioners working primarily on pro-active fish passage projects, and in particular, dam removals and nature-like fishways. It is also expected that there will be application of this material to hydro projects and regulatory staff involved in hydro projects. This manual is meant to comprehensively address standardization in design and operation of primarily non-traditional fish passage structures and alternatives such as dam removals (full and partial), ‘hybrid’ dam removals, fish ramps, bedrock modifications, backwatering weirs, dam and weir notches, rock ramps, culverts and other newer designs of grade controls that incorporate passage for fish, and in some cases restoration of full ecological connectivity in coastal river systems. This manual is unique in its combination of design standards and biological parameters that form the basis of designs with specific guidance targeting North American species and sites. Upon completion, it is our goal to produce a web-based document for the public containing information described above.