DEM recently partnered with The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island (TNC) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region on a new fish passage improvement project for the annual herring run on the Narrow River and Gilbert Stuart Stream. Each Spring, river herring make their way from the ocean to inland freshwater systems to spawn, or reproduce. These seasonal migrations are amazing to behold, as the herring navigate their way upstream by the thousands! This project will strengthen the run with a new barrier to keep returning fish from hitting a dead end.

Previous collaborative fish passage improvement projects with the TNC include the Saugatucket River, Annaquatucket River, and Ten Mile River fish ladders. DEM values our close partnership with the TNC and USFWS in enhancing Rhode Island’s ecosystems and providing better access to outdoor recreation opportunities through collaborative construction projects of fishing piers and boat ramps throughout the Ocean State, allowing more people to connect with nature.