Making Urban Fish Habitat Restoration Work Through the Recovery Act in the Northeast U.S

In the Northeast US, NOAA Fisheries invested over 30 million dollars in 11 habitat restoration projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  Eight of these projects created or enhanced diadromous fish passage at 15 mainstem river obstructions and more than 50 tributary obstructions via dam removal, fishway installation, culvert replacement, and bypass or rock ramp installation.  Some challenges to implementation were likely unique to ARRA; however, the scope of these projects produced unexpected complexities, especially related to restoration in the urban environment.  The West River Fish Passage and Tidal Marsh Restoration Project in New Haven, Connecticut, which involved the installation of self-regulating tide gates on a river in a densely populated area, highlights these challenges.  Here, the amount of habitat restored was limited by the elevation of surrounding infrastructure, and additional hydrological analyses were needed to examine upstream impacts from expected increases to tidal flow. Design and construction of enhancements to an upstream park were subsequently required to resolve environmental justice issues.  Presently under construction, the West River project will provide enhanced access for diadromous fish to six miles of riverine habitat and will restore more than 50 acres of tidal marsh.