The Salmon River in Oswego County, New York, is home to significant numbers of trout and salmon, making it a popular location for recreational fishing. It’s also the location of a state-operated fish hatchery that supplies fish for more than 100 public waterways, including Lake Ontario. But erosion, sedimentation, and changes in water flow have degraded the habitat in the Salmon River, threatening the health of fish that live, grow, and reproduce there. We are supporting efforts to prevent erosion and restore habitat on the river to support Great Lakes native fish species.
The Lake Ontario Committee represents fishery management agencies of Lake Ontario. The Committee identified restoration projects on the Salmon River as a priority for Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. Atlantic salmon are native to Lake Ontario, though due to habitat destruction were historically lost from Lake Ontario. Fishery managers are restoring Atlantic salmon populations in Lake Ontario, focusing on stocking and habitat restoration, particularly in key locations like the Salmon River. These restoration efforts are funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and NOAA’s partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
Restoration at the Salmon River Trestle Pool
The Trestle Pool is one of the many popular fishing spots along the Salmon River. The area has several structures associated with an abandoned railroad trestle bridge that remained in and around the river. The central pier of the trestle stood in the middle of the river, creating a shaded pool where fish would congregate.
But while the pool was attracting fish to the area, the trestle structures were degrading the habitat on which those fish relied. By disrupting the natural flow of the river, the structures were causing an increase in the amount of sediment. This risked smothering habitat that native species such as Atlantic salmon use for spawning. They also were causing water to back up during high flow events, eroding stream banks along the river and further degrading fish habitat.
NOAA provided nearly $390,000 in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to help remove the central pier and south abutment structures of the trestle bridge in 2023. This work is helping to restore the river to more natural conditions and improve habitat used by native Great Lakes fish. With the south abutment removed, water from the river can now flow into the floodplain during high water events, reducing the risk of downstream erosion. Removal of the center pier also eliminated a hazard that was impacting navigation on the river, including drift boats often used by the sport fishing community.
Additional work at the trestle pool project site, including replanting areas disturbed by construction, is expected to be completed in 2025. The project will wrap up with the installation of 600 feet of large wood structures—called “toe-wood”—along the base of the stream bank. Toe-wood helps stabilize stream banks while also providing shade and habitat for aquatic species, including important rearing habitat for juvenile Atlantic salmon.
Phase 3 and Beyond
NOAA provided another $300,000 in funding to support restoration downstream of the trestle pool. This phase of the project will install in-stream structures, including toe-wood, to help stabilize the stream bank. These structures will help improve rearing and spawning habitat for Atlantic salmon, reduce erosion, and restore natural habitat and flow to the river. Construction is expected to begin in 2025.
These projects will help support Atlantic salmon and other native species in the Salmon River. They will complement several other restoration projects already completed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Dan Bishop, NYSDEC Regional Supervisor of Natural Resources for Region 7, notes that “in addition to the habitat benefits provided to the native species, the projects are expected to benefit other fish species, including the Pacific salmon and steelhead rainbow trout, that support important fisheries.”
Each project will include monitoring to ensure the project is functioning as designed. Track monitoring information for the Trestle Pool project and Phase 3 project.
“Nearly 350,000 people fish New York’s Great Lakes and their tributaries each year, comprising 7,800 fishing days,” said Marc Gaden, Executive Secretary of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. “The importance of restoring and protecting habitat to support this thriving fishery cannot be overstated. The Commission has long supported the restoration of Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario and the great work being done in the Salmon River through this partnership is a significant step forward in that effort.”
Project Partners
- Great Lakes Fishery Commission
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New York Field Office
- Finger Lakes Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance
- Lake Ontario Committee
