Culverts & Dams

Dealing with Culverts and Dams

To many people, “fish passage” means salmon migrating upstream to their spawning grounds and downstream out to sea. However, there is more to the story. American shad and river herring (both alewife and bluebacks) once came up and down the Farmington by the tens of thousands too, and some still make the attempt. American eels and sea lampreys still make the journey every year also. Even local fish like trout and dace need to travel freely within the river to find good habitat. Many more animals—reptiles, amphibians, and mammals—need free passage along the edges of rivers and streams to in order survive and maintain healthy populations. There are hundreds of barriers in their way, many of which are either old dams or culverts where streams pass under roads.

At FRWA, we work with many partners to remove these barriers so fish can continue to migrate up and down the stream. FRWA is a founding member of the Long Island Sound River Restoration Network (RRN). The RRN is a network of Connecticut and New York based environmental organizations dedicated to the restoration and health of regions' rivers. Currently, there are 8 organizations that make up the RRN:

Funding of the RRN is provided by the Long Island Sound Futures Fund. To learn more about the River Restoration Network, go to https://www.savethesound.org/what-we-do/ecological-restoration/river-restoration-network/

Culverts and Stream Crossing Assessments

All forms of wildlife require routes of passage within their habitat in order to find food and shelter. Aquatic wildlife such as fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and insect nymphs also require the ability to move up and down the length of their stream habitat. However, human transportation needs require building infrastructure that allows us to safely pass over these streams. Structures such as bridges allow us to drive over streams on an elevated platform, and culverts divert streamflow to pass underneath roads.

Stream crossings are places where streams are crossed by roads, railways, or pipelines which may restrict the flow of the stream. In order to allow the stream to flow, a crossing structure is installed, which may be a culvert, a bridge, or a ford. These crossings also allow for stream habitat continuity, which is the continuous passage of fish and other aquatic organisms up and down the stream.

By their nature, rivers and streams are very responsive to changes in hydrology, or the movement of water throughout the landscape. This means that rivers change their course naturally over time, and that water can, and does, transport debris and sediments downstream. These characteristics can be problematic when sections of the river channel are confined to a specific path, such as a tube or tunnel. These structures can also interrupt aquatic wildlife corridors if they are not installed or maintained properly. Moreover, a damaged or undersized crossing during flood conditions can pose risks to public safety. 

Therefore, FRWA conducts routine stream crossing assessments throughout the watershed. These assessments help us understand where stream habitat is interrupted by road crossings, inhibiting aquatic migration. Badly placed or undersized culvert pipes can also be a public hazard due to their risk of failure during floods. They may eventually lead to road closures, and may become expensive for the state to maintain. The assessments are a first step in planning projects that will restore continuity, and will also be beneficial for local communities as well. FRWA wants to focus on crossings that will benefit local communities as well as the environment.

Stream crossing assessments will be conducted by our "Stream Team", made up of  FRWA staff and interns, as well as trained volunteers. We are interested in working with your community to understand which crossings are priorities in terms of highway management, flood preparedness and emergency services. The same design principles that ensure safe passage for fish and wildlife make for safer, more resilient crossings that require less maintenance.

FRWA has been funded to complete stream crossing assessments by the Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership (BCCC), the Farmington River Coordinating Committee (FRCC) and the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Committee (LFSWS). Learn more at streamcontinuity.org

Dam Removals and Retrofits

The upper reaches of the Farmington River offer abundant spawning habitat to migratory fish, but the habitat is under-used because of dams that block upstream passage.  Not every dam can be removed but FRWA is actively engaged in dam-related projects that would provide real benefits to fish and people. For instance, FRWA is a member of the River Restoration Network to help make these goals a reality.

Spoonville Dam

In 2009, FRWA received funding from the State of Connecticut (from polluter restitution payments) to coordinate an engineering study of the old Spoonville Dam in Bloomfield/East Granby. The dam, breached in 1955, pinches the river’s flow to a narrow, fast current that blocks upstream passage for migratory fish such as shad, alewife, and blueback herring as they return from the ocean and swim upstream to spawn. The engineering study concluded that the best way to restore fish passage would be complete removal of the dam, and it provided the design for removal. (Engineering study is available upon request).

Benefits of Removal

Removing these aged dams has helped to restore river flow rates and allow American shad, alewife, and blueback herring to swim up through Tariffville Gorge and access more than 20 additional miles of river. Additionally, removal has improved safety for boaters and swimmers. A historically scenic waterfall has also been recovered at a popular fishing site in place of the neglected dam.

Stakeholders

The towns of East Granby and Bloomfield have endorsed removal of these outdated dams. The whitewater paddling community benefits from the Tariffville Gorge, which lies just upstream of the dam, as it serves as the venue for world-class whitewater paddling events. The engineering study demonstrates no adverse impact of dam removal on the whitewater paddling run, except of course losing the chute through the dam breach. The gain in boater and swimmer safety was seen as offsetting the loss of this whitewater play feature. The dam owner, Connecticut Light and Power, a subsidiary of Northeast Utilities, supported the removal.

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Winchell-Smith Dam

After over a decade of research and coordination, FRWA is preparing to celebrate a huge success for the Farmington River. The Winchell-Smith Dam, located behind Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut, was removed in September 2025. The dam dates back to the 1600’s when it was the powerhouse of a booming grain business in Farmington during the early 20th century, and it may have been the first gristmill built on the Farmington River. Removal of the Winchell-Smith Dam is a critical step in returning the Farmington River to its historic role as spawning habitat for American shad, alewife, blueback herring, sea lamprey, American eel, and other aquatic species, and we are proud to be spearheading this effort.

The Winchell-Smith Dam was a low-head timber-crib dam that elevated the water surface of the Farmington River by approximately 3-4 feet and spanned approximately 210 feet across. The dam was constructed of large timber boxes, or ‘cribs’, filled with gravel, cobble, and boulder. The timbers in the dam were slowly deteriorating, however the dam persisted as a partial barrier to the movement of fish into the upper Farmington River, Pequabuck River, and their associated tributaries during low flow conditions.  The Winchell-Smith Dam is an important piece of history, however its functional life has passed, and it had been creating ecological and public safety hazards for the Farmington River.

By removing the dam, we intend to reduce local erosion and riverbank scour while eliminating hazards for river users. We intend to respect the historic value of this site by researching and repurposing existing timbers for historic preservation and educational purposes, and utilizing fill materials to recreate the scenic rapids at the site. Most importantly, we intend to enhance and restore habitat for fish that require access to small streams for food, thermal refuge, and spawning habitat. We hope that someday we will once again see thriving populations of American shad, river herring (both alewife and blueback herring), sea lamprey, American eel, white perch, trout, and white sucker in the Farmington River watershed.  

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Rainbow Dam

In 2024 American Rivers announced the inclusion of the Farmington River in its annual list of Most Endangered Rivers. Listed at #6 for 2024, the Farmington River was designated one of America’s most endangered rivers due to the conditions at Rainbow Dam. Rainbow Dam is managed by the Farmington River Power Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker. 

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The Farmington River supports diverse fish and wildlife, is a vital source of clean drinking water for the region, and provides boating and other diverse recreation opportunities. The West Branch of the Farmington is a highly regarded trout fishery and the river provides stretches of whitewater, used by individuals including world-class paddlers, and outfitters, further adding to its cultural value as a coveted recreation destination.

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But the Rainbow Dam, an outdated hydropower dam near the mouth of the river, is sapping life from the river, blocking fish migration and spurring outbreaks of toxic algae blooms that are harmful to people, pets, and wildlife. This facility, in operation since 1925, is in need of repair and impairing the Farmington River both upstream and downstream. In 2023, Rainbow Dam fishway was declared a failure and shut down due to its inability to provide safe and meaningful upstream fish passage, after decades of attempts.

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The power company has an unprecedented opportunity to tap into federal infrastructure funding to fix Clean Water Act violations, eliminate toxic algae blooms, and allow migratory fish populations to flourish again. The Most Endangered River campaign is bringing awareness and visibility to this issue and asking people to take action and encourage Stanley Black and Decker to fix the problems at their facility. 

 

Rainbow Dam limits migratory fish from access the Farmington River and its tributaries

The Farmington River is the Connecticut River’s longest tributary, and is a crucial part of life to plants, animals, and people alike, all of which depend on it for survival and wellness. Since there are no dams on the Connecticut River downstream of the Farmington River confluence, experts agree, it is critically important for restoring migratory fish access between Long Island Sound and the Upper Farmington River.  Decades of work and continued success to protect and restore the Farmington River–as a world-class cold-water fishery, recreation destination, and potential home for hundreds of thousands of migratory fish–hinges on threats posed by the Rainbow Dam. The company has had well over a century of largely unrestricted use of the Farmington River–it is time for them to demonstrate that it respects the river that they have been exploiting for over a century.

Join us in urging CT DEEP to continue its leadership in river restoration and convince Stanley Black & Decker to act now to put the Farmington River first, ensuring its health and safety for generations to come.

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We are asking our members to take the following three actions:

1. Reach out to Stanley Black & Decker leadership and tell them the time has come to repair the dam and stop holding the Farmington River hostage.  Visit MostEndangeredRivers.org to learn more about the conditions at the dam and take action.

2. Send a letter to Commissioner Dykes supporting her staff to force Stanley Black & Decker to abide by the laws of Connecticut and to hold Stanley Black & Decker accountable to the same laws that other dam owners in the state are required to abide by.

3. Support FRWA’s efforts by renewing your membership and donating to our effort.  Act now and your donation will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by a generous donor up to $25,000.  This offer expires on May 30th, so please help us reach our goal now! Donate here!

FRWA advocates for a river that passes migratory fish, that has consistent flows that are safe for anglers, boaters, and wildlife and that doesn’t lead to harmful algae blooms on the reservoir! You can make that happen!

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Target:

Stanley Black & Decker:

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection:

Subject:  

[option] Rainbow Dam hurts people and kills fish – that’s a bad deal for our river

[option] We’re definitely over the Rainbow (Dam) – it hurts people and kills fish

[option] Stanley Black & Decker has work to do – and there are tools out there to fix the Farmington River

Letter:

Dear Commissioner Dykes and CEO Allan,

The Rainbow Dam is screwing up the terrific progress we have made protecting and restoring the Farmington River watershed.  Commissioner Dykes you have demonstrated strong leadership in river restoration and environmental stewardship on behalf of Connecticut.  We want you and Stanley Black & Decker to continue being leaders.

The Rainbow Dam – a small, aging and poorly maintained hydropower dam on the Farmington River –  isn’t needed to meet the clean energy goals of Governor Lamont. The Rainbow Dam kills migratory fish, contributes to the regular creation of toxic algae blooms in the Rainbow Reservoir, and blocks the majority of the watershed’s habitat for migratory fish.  Aging and failing turbines only generate at night to avoid overheating.  This facility violates state and federal environmental laws and that needs to change.

I want to see a Farmington River that doesn’t make people sick if they swim or boat in it. I want to see a Farmington River with hundreds of thousands of migratory fish swimming upstream every spring.  Rivers belong to the public and I want my voice heard.

The Farmington River is a widely sought recreation destination for anglers, kayakers, tubers, and more. It provides drinking water for hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents and supports businesses, industry, and the local economy. It is long past time for Stanley Black & Decker to live up to its ideals. The company states: “We’re making a positive impact in various areas such as the environment, health and safety, innovation, sustainability, and community involvement. However, we acknowledge that there is still more work to be done.”  I am holding CEO David Allan to this commitment to continue doing more for the Farmington River, your employees, shareholders and the people of Connecticut.

There is a historic opportunity for Stanley Black & Decker to take advantage of federal funds to support a permanent solution to righting the wrongs that Rainbow Dam has created for decades.  The time to act is now.

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Read more about the Farmington River as one of America's Most Endangered Rivers

Long Island Sound River Restoration Network

Valley Press

Hartford Courant

New Britain Herald

Connecticut News 8 WTNH

CT Insider

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