About the Fishway
Each spring when the shadbush blooms, American Shad, Sea Lamprey, Atlantic Salmon and other anadromous fish swim up the Connecticut River as they begin their annual spring migration. Driven by their evolutionary instincts, adult fish return to spawn in the rivers of their birth.
The fishlift at HG&E’s Robert E. Barrett Fishway helps migrating fish over the dam. It was the first and most successful fish lift on the Atlantic coast. It consists of two elevators or “lifts” which carry migrating fish up and over the Holyoke dam.
2023 Season
May 10 through June 18, 2023
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Days: Wednesday through Sunday
*Also, open Memorial Day, May 29
Educational Materials
HG&E has developed a variety of educational materials that can be accessed remotely to compliment your fishway and Connecticut River lessons. Please visit the links below for more details.
- Fishway Teacher Materials
- American Shad Weight Trend - a math lesson for high school students
- Connecticut River Fishes - an ELA lesson for elementary school students
Tours
The Barrett Fishway offers free educational programs for schools. The Robert E. Barrett Fishway is staffed by knowledgeable and friendly guides who are available to share information about anadromous fish and restoration efforts.
HG&E’s Robert Barrett Fishway is open to the general public in 2023.