Improving fish habitat productivity through controlled dam removals and fishway construction as part of a reclamation plan

摘要

Mining sites are frequently equipped with dams and reservoirs for water supply. At the time of closure, the dam decommissioning represents an important component of reclamation programmes. Several small dams in North America are reaching the end of their lifespan and the removal process is becoming an increasingly popular technique in the restoration offish habitats. During the reclamation process at the Heath Steele Mine (NB, Canada), approximately 90 km2 of drainage basin area has been reopened to fish migration in the North Branch of the Miramichi River system through dam removals and modifications to existing obstructions.