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Fish Ladder Open House
May 17 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm EDT
The Fish Ladder Open House is a free event sponsored each year by the Westfield River Watershed Association (WRWA), and works in cooperation with A&D Hydro, Inc. and the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to offer this one-day-a-year event to the public. Community members of all ages are welcome to stop by and check out the annual migration of our large native androgynous fish. WRWA members will offer short tours along the canal and dam at the former Southworth Paper Company on Front Street in West Springfield.
The walk to the fish ladder is about ten minutes down an accessible dirt path. Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate shoes and to dress for the weather; binoculars are helpful for bird-watching and seeing the wildlife up close. There is little shade along the open canal, so sunscreen and big hats are a good choice on warm, sunny days.
The event coincides with World Fish Migration Week, which takes place May 18-24. with WRWA as we gain access to the viewing room at the West Springfield Fish ladder. We try to time this event with shad migrations. Last year’s highest fish count was mid-June at the Holyoke Dam on the CT River. Westfield typically sees shad a bit earlier in the season.