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A Future for the American Shad in Delaware - Wildlife Habitat Incentives
Program (WHIP)
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The Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) is taking steps to help bring back the
American shad to the
Brandywine watershed in Delaware. In combination with several state
and federal agencies and the
Brandywine Conservancy,
a strong cooperative partnership has been forged to remove dams and
provide fish passage along the Brandywine River, restoring habitat and
nurturing the sustainability of a historically significant aquatic
species - American shad. Working as a project coordinator, the
Conservancy will facilitate and administer the subsequent steps in this
exciting effort to reintroduce native species after a 300 year absence.
One of the largest tributaries of the Delaware Estuary, the Brandywine
watershed spans 325 square miles in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Because of the
Brandywine's dramatic drop in elevation, numerous mills flourished along its
banks during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The mills required dams, which
inadvertently reduced passage for spawning fish.
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In the late 1600s, before the first dams were constructed, the Brandywine
supported tens of thousands of American shad. Like salmon, shad hatch in
freshwater streams and rivers. They migrate to the ocean where they live for
four to six years before returning to their home streams to spawn. Shad were an
important food source for Native Americans as well as early European settlers.
The spring shad run up the Schuylkill River is credited with helping to save
General Washington's hungry troops at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War.
By improving fish-passage, five migratory fish species-including American
shad-could return to spawn in the Brandywine. The Wildlife Habitat Incentives
Program (WHIP), administered by the NRCS, will provide funding to help remove
two of the dams on the river that are owned by the state. By removing the dams,
migratory fish will have a greater range to migrate up-stream.
“The Natural Resources Conservation Service is proud to help the Brandywine
Conservancy restore wildlife habitat along the Brandywine River. Through WHIP, a
program authorized through the Farm Bill, we are able to help the conservancy
finance and jumpstart the dam removal project. Along with assisting in the
removal of the two dams along the Brandywine, WHIP funds are also being used to
create a rock-ramp for the city of Wilmington,” said Sally Kepfer, NRCS State
Resource Conservationist.
The Brandywine Conservancy has long recognized that the restoration of migratory
fish would bring enormous environmental and recreational benefits to the
Brandywine. Populations of birds and mammals (e.g., heron, mink, fox) would
likely increase due to the augmented food supply. Restoring these important
species to the river would increase the biological vitality of the watershed and
contribute to recreational fishing.
Click Thumbnail Map on right to see a full page map of
the Brandywine Shad Restoration sites.
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The owners of the dams range from private individuals to the
City of Wilmington and
State of Delaware. The Conservancy also
undertook extensive research on available options for enhancing fish passage,
successful fish restoration efforts in other rivers, and related environmental
and permitting issues. Building on relationships with the dam owners and on
completed research, the Conservancy produced a feasibility study in the spring
of 2005. The study describes engineering options such as fish ladders, rock
ramps and partial or full removal of dams to provide fish passage. In addition,
the study outlines costs, required permits, and possible funding sources to
implement the restoration effort. To promote public interest, the Conservancy
also created an informative slide show on American shad.
Currently, the Conservancy is collaborating with the
Hagley Museum, DuPont,
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC),
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the City of Wilmington to
implement fish passage on the dams they own. Work is underway with the remaining
Delaware dam owners to develop site-specific concept and design plans to provide
fish passage. DNREC has already received and the City of Wilmington is in the
process of applying for funding from NRCS to implement fish passage. Finally,
NFWF has recently funded a feasibility study on dams in Pennsylvania to
determine how best to restore migratory fish to the Pennsylvania portion of the
Brandywine.
For more information about the Brandywine Habitat Restoration Project, shad
in the Brandywine, this history and cultural significance of shad in Delaware
and the Brandywine Conservancy, please visit the following link -
http://www.brandywineconservancy.org/shad.html.
Information within the above text was provided by the Brandywine Conservancy –
release date April24, 2007
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program - WHIP is a voluntary program for people who
want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through
WHIP USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service provides both technical
assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to establish and improve
fish and wildlife habitat. WHIP agreements between NRCS and the participant
generally last from 5 to 10 years from the date the agreement is signed.
WHIP has proven to be a highly effective and widely accepted program across
the country. By targeting wildlife habitat projects on all lands and aquatic
areas, WHIP provides assistance to conservation minded landowners.
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 reauthorized WHIP as a
voluntary approach to improving wildlife habitat in our Nation. Program
administration of WHIP is provided under the Natural Resources Conservation
Service.
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