08-24-2012, 04:10 PM
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the city of Fargo and River Keepers will host an event to celebrate the completion of the Christine and Hickson dams modification project on Aug. 29, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Hickson Dam site in Hickson, N.D.
Christine and Hickson dams are located south of Fargo, N.D., on the Red River. Prior to modification, these dams were significant migration barriers to many native fishes, such as lake sturgeon, that depend on a connected Red River system to access spawning and wintering habitat. Modification of the two dams reconnects these habitats, provides increased river recreational activities, eliminates drowning hazards at the dam, and greatly reduces dam maintenance and repair issues.
"The many functions of the Red River provide great benefits to the citizens of the valley," said Henry Drewes, DNR Northwest Region fisheries manager. "The dam modifications are a great enhancement to this river system and all of its recreational and ecological values."
Dam modification involves converting the instant drop at the dam into rock-arch rapids with a gentle slope of 3 to 5 percent, making the dam site passable by native fishes, and safer for river recreational activities such as kayaking and canoeing because the dangerous hydraulic rollers located immediately downstream of the dams are eliminated.
The Christine and HIckson dams modification project is a $1.7 million cooperative effort involving Minnesota DNR Divisions of Fisheries and Ecological and Water Resources, the city of Fargo, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, North Dakota State Water Commission, Great Plains Fish Habitat Partnership, Buffalo-Red River Watershed District, Cass County Water District, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, River Keepers and the city of Moorhead. Project construction began early November 2011, and was completed February 2012.
"We're excited and proud to be part of this modification project, which has involved such a great group of partners," said Bob Backman of River Keepers, a local non-profit organization that works for the benefit of Red River ecology and recreation. "This project is good for the fish, good for people and good for the river."
The celebration will include brief comments by the lead agencies for the project, a "ribbon tying" ceremony to represent reconnecting the Red River of the North, and a release of Lake Sturgeon fingerlings provided by the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. Several youth programs will also take place, including canoeing and kayaking through the newly created rapids and releasing a fleet of mini-canoes to drift northward to the Hudson Bay.
Christine and Hickson dams are located south of Fargo, N.D., on the Red River. Prior to modification, these dams were significant migration barriers to many native fishes, such as lake sturgeon, that depend on a connected Red River system to access spawning and wintering habitat. Modification of the two dams reconnects these habitats, provides increased river recreational activities, eliminates drowning hazards at the dam, and greatly reduces dam maintenance and repair issues.
"The many functions of the Red River provide great benefits to the citizens of the valley," said Henry Drewes, DNR Northwest Region fisheries manager. "The dam modifications are a great enhancement to this river system and all of its recreational and ecological values."
Dam modification involves converting the instant drop at the dam into rock-arch rapids with a gentle slope of 3 to 5 percent, making the dam site passable by native fishes, and safer for river recreational activities such as kayaking and canoeing because the dangerous hydraulic rollers located immediately downstream of the dams are eliminated.
The Christine and HIckson dams modification project is a $1.7 million cooperative effort involving Minnesota DNR Divisions of Fisheries and Ecological and Water Resources, the city of Fargo, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, North Dakota State Water Commission, Great Plains Fish Habitat Partnership, Buffalo-Red River Watershed District, Cass County Water District, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, River Keepers and the city of Moorhead. Project construction began early November 2011, and was completed February 2012.
"We're excited and proud to be part of this modification project, which has involved such a great group of partners," said Bob Backman of River Keepers, a local non-profit organization that works for the benefit of Red River ecology and recreation. "This project is good for the fish, good for people and good for the river."
The celebration will include brief comments by the lead agencies for the project, a "ribbon tying" ceremony to represent reconnecting the Red River of the North, and a release of Lake Sturgeon fingerlings provided by the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. Several youth programs will also take place, including canoeing and kayaking through the newly created rapids and releasing a fleet of mini-canoes to drift northward to the Hudson Bay.