How a Connecticut Dam Now Photographs Every Fish That Passes Through
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📰 The quick summary: A new hydraulic fishway system installed at a Connecticut hydroelectric dam uses AI to photograph and record each fish as it passes, offering a flexible and data-rich alternative to traditional fish passage methods.
📈 One key stat: The project runs for 3 years, long enough to determine whether the system can serve as a cost-effective alternative to traditional fish passage methods across North America.
💬 One key quote: “Each passage produces one image and one data record for every fish moving through the hydraulic passage system,” which is why researchers and observers often refer to the process as a ‘fish selfie.’
1️⃣ The big picture: Hydroelectric dams generate clean energy but often block fish migration routes that species like American Shad and River Herring have relied on for centuries. Traditional solutions such as fish ladders and elevators exist, but they can be costly and difficult to adapt as river conditions change. A new project at the Tunnel Generating Station in Preston, Connecticut is testing a hydraulic fishway system that guides fish through a tube spanning the dam using attraction flow. Inside the tube, AI cameras photograph and record each fish as it passes, producing what researchers call a “fish selfie.” This marks the first large-scale use of Fishheart’s Hydraulic Fishway Technology in North America.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Fish can now pass a Connecticut hydroelectric dam without being physically handled or disturbed, making migration safer and less stressful for species already under pressure. Researchers collect detailed species data, measurements, and migration patterns in real time, giving scientists an unprecedented look at how fish navigate human-altered rivers. Because the system is mobile and adaptable, it can be adjusted as river conditions shift, making it far more flexible than fixed traditional fishways. A successful outcome could open the door to deploying this technology at similar facilities across North America, benefiting countless fish populations. Restoring migration routes for species like American Shad and River Herring supports broader ecosystem recovery efforts that wildlife managers have prioritized for years.
3️⃣ What’s next: The project will continue for 3 years as researchers assess how effectively fish locate and use the passage system. Data collected through the AI monitoring system will help evaluate whether the technology is ready for wider deployment. If results are positive, similar facilities across North America could adopt the system as a flexible and cost-effective alternative.
Read the full story here: Ecoportal – They built a hydroelectric dam in Connecticut, and now fish “take a selfie” every time the current draws them in and they swim across it
