NFWF Grant Profile

Conduct an assessment of the impacts of Rainbow Reservoir Dam, located on the Farmington River in Windsor, Connecticut. This dam is the first barrier on the river and is located only 8.5 miles upstream of the confluence with the Connecticut River. It blocks access to 96% of the Farmington River watershed, severely limiting access to miles of suitable spawning habitat for diadromous fish, including 5 key species--alewife, blueback herring, American shad, American eel, and sea lamprey. This investigation and community engagement effort will establish a potential pathway to restoration of fish passage on the Farmington River and to Long Island Sound, benefiting the ecosystems and communities of the region.