Fish Passage
Many fish must travel upstream to complete their lifecycle, a journey that is impossible if there are structures impeding the way.
Over a lifetime, all rivers and streams evolve – courses shift, pools become deeper or shallower, rocks shift. After numerous high-flow events, there were a number of areas in the stream at Nine Mile Run where riffles needed to be adjusted to decrease the vertical distance between the downstream and upstream water level. In 2018, we partnered with the City of Pittsburgh and Dave Derrick to complete a partial stream restoration aimed at ensuring that fish would be able to safely and successfully travel upstream.
As we monitor the stream, we can see the impact: greater fish diversity, greater quantity of fish recorded during sampling and a more ecologically sound space, one that provides food for a number of animals, including the belted kingfisher and northern water snake, among others.
Partners
City of Pittsburgh
Dave Derrick
