Dispute puts fish in peril

Disagreement over responsibility for opening lock for shad spawning puts future population in jeopardy

Web posted May 10, 2000

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By Robert Pavey
Staff Writer

A dispute over opening and closing New Savannah Bluff Lock to allow migrating shad to reach upstream spawning grounds could reduce future populations of the fish in the Savannah River.

American shad appear each spring after migrating from Canadian waters. Augusta, under a lease with the Army Corps of Engineers, is supposed to open the lock repeatedly to allow the fish through.

Opening the lock enables the fish to reach an additional 20 miles of river, including shoals above Augusta where shad spawn, said Steve Gilbert, a senior U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist.

Under terms of the city's lease of the lock from the Corps of Engineers, the Fish & Wildlife Service is supposed to advise when and how to operate the lock during the shad spawn, Mr. Gilbert said.

This year's recommendation was to open the lock Mondaythrough Friday from March 27 through June 2, according to a letter Mr. Gilbert sent city officials March 10.

``Several weeks later, we found out the lock had not been operated and nobody seemed to know where the letter was,'' Mr. Gilbert said.

After a series of discussions, Augusta officials agreed to open the lock three times per day Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 7 a.m. and noon.

That routine was supposed to begin Monday, but it still didn't happen.

Augusta Port Authority secretary Rick Toole said the problem was that anglers who enjoy catching fish blocked by the dam complained.

City officials are working to resolve the issue, which revolves around who has the authority to decide when the lock should be opened and closed.

``Our interpretation of the lease agreement -- our understanding rather -- was somewhat different than the Fish & Wildlife folks','' said Drew Goins, Augusta's assistant public works director.

Beginning today, he said, the lock will be opened multiple times Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through June 2.

However, wildlife authorities fear it will be too little, too late.

``We've already blown it for this season,'' Mr. Gilbert said. ``The last week in April to the first week in May is the most important time.''

American shad return after four years at sea to the waters where they hatched. Blocking this year's spawn is likely to reduce the number of shad that return four years from now.

``A bad spawn this year will create a bad year class,'' he said. A bad year class shows up years later in the form of reduced populations.

``The fishermen who complain need to understand the reason we're doing this in the first place is so their children and grandchildren will have a chance to fish someday,'' Mr. Gilbert said.

Mr. Goins said Augusta officials want to avoid similar problems next year.

``We've mutually agreed to meet later on this summer so we have a better understanding of their needs, and them with our concerns over problems related to fishing and recreational uses.''

Reach Robert Pavey at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 119.