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Date: 5/9/2023
HOLYOKE — The Robert E. Barrett Fishway at the Holyoke Dam is opening for its annual viewing season this month, in full, for the first-time post coronavirus pandemic, which also signals time for the 56th Annual HG&E Shad Derby.
The Barrett Fishway, owned and operated by Holyoke Gas & Electric, consists of two elevators or “lifts” which carry migrating fish up and over the Holyoke Dam. Starting May 10, visitors can watch the lifts in action from an observation deck overlooking the Connecticut River. Located off Bridge Street in Holyoke, just west of the South Hadley-Holyoke Bridge, the Holyoke Fishway’s 2023 season runs from May 10 through June 18.
One of the big events coming out of viewing season is the Shad Derby. Derby days for all ages of fishermen are May 13-14 and 20-21, back-to-back weekends of contest from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A grand prize of $1,000 in cash will be awarded to the first-place winner in the senior division, while the winner of the junior division will also receive a cash prize.
The official rules for the Shad Derby are as follows:
The Derby first started over a half-decade ago and HG&E became owners of the facility in 2001 and took over derby operations.
“It’s a really cool community event for kids and adults,” said HG&E’s Fishway Coordinator Sierra Humiston.
The world record for heaviest shad caught is 11 pounds and 4 ounces and was taken from the Connecticut River in Massachusetts. The facility proudly displays the record inside its visitor center.
The fishway is open for self-guided tours during regular business hours. In addition, HG&E will provide a guided tour each Saturday and Sunday throughout the season at 1:30 p.m. This tour is free and open to the public.
A guide will take guests on a 45-minute tour of the facility and share information about fish species of the Connecticut River. Additionally, the Barrett Fishway offers free educational programs for schools. Reservations for school groups are required, please visit www.hged.com/tour for more details.
Another fun tradition within the overall tradition of viewing season is gifting mothers a free carnation to commemorate Mother’s Day and the spirit of rebirth on the Connecticut River when visiting on the holiday. This is now a decade-old tradition for HG&E and the fishway.
“I think the main takeaways are twofold, they get to see the facility which is where we generate the majority of the electric for the city of Holyoke, the hydro plant there, and then they also get to see the migration of fish which seeing the two things together, how [HG&E] is enhancing environmental operations in order to protect fish species,” said Director of Marketing and Communications for HG&E Kate Craven.
Humiston added their guides are well trained and versed in the histories of the different fish species in the river. Tours of the Fishway have served as great educational opportunities for students who field trip to it as on top of the experience, the Robert E. Barrett Fishway is one of the largest fish passage facilities in the country.
“It’s an incredible opportunity. Not only are they getting to see that firsthand, but they’re also getting all of those little facts and any of their questions answered and making connections to their everyday life to the facility,” said Humiston.