Traverse City Builds New FishPass Project

Fish Barrier Systems Entering or Leaving the Great Lakes

In the past, fish barriers were typically dams or fish ladders, which allowed certain species, like salmon, to swim upstream to spawn. Today, a variety of systems, including physical, electrical, and chemical barriers, are used to prevent invasive fish from entering the Great Lakes and inland rivers and lakes.

Michigan has partnered closely with Illinois to prevent invasive Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes. If these carp were to enter Lake Michigan, they could devastate populations of salmon, trout, and walleye, as they consume enormous amounts of plankton, the very food these game fish rely on to survive.

Read More: Was The Most Dangerous Threat to Great Lakes Found in MI River?

A new system is being built in Traverse City to help certain game fish migrate upstream during breeding seasons while preventing invasive species from entering inland rivers and lakes.

New FishPass Project Launched in Traverse City

According to MLive, the FishPass project is currently being built in downtown Traverse City on the Boardman River where the former Union Street Dam once stood. A fish sorting system is being installed that acts almost like a fish obstacle course that will allow certain fish to go up stream while keeping out invasive fish.

Once FishPass is completed in 2027, it will feature 13 separate gates designed to contain, divert, or allow fish to pass. Fish will respond to light, sound, water flow, and other stimuli, and will be sorted into groups based on species and behavior.

You can take a look at how the system will operate by watching the video below:

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