Press Release

FORT WAYNE — Four counties in Indiana have recently received funds for fish passage projects.

In 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced 22 states would receive $35 million to support 39 projects that will address outdated or obsolete dams, culverts, levees and other barriers fragmenting the nation’s rivers and streams.

Around the world, millions of barriers are fragmenting rivers, blocking fish migration, and putting communities at higher risk to flooding. Improving fish passage is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species while building safer infrastructure for communities and improving climate resilience.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in climate resilient infrastructure, healthy rivers and streams, and abundant fisheries. The 2023 projects represent the second year of a five-year commitment and build on 40 projects announced last year.

The projects in Indiana are as follows:

Allen County, Fort Wayne Rivers Fisheries Improvement Project, $900,000

This project will remove two culverts and the Spy Run Dam, and will fund a feasibility study for the removal of the Hosey Dam in the Maumee River Basin in Indiana.

Johnson County, Removal of a Low-Head Dam and Fish Passage Barrier, $560,000

This project will remove a low-head dam from Big Blue River in Edinburgh. The removal will benefit lake sturgeon and American eel as well as several species of mussels including the threatened round hickorynut, rabbitsfoot, spike, wavyrayed lampmussel, kidneyshell and purple lilliput.

Madison County, Shadyside Park Low-Head Dam Removal, $300,000

This project will remove the Shadyside Park Dam on Killbuck Creek, a major tributary of the Upper White River in Indiana. This low-head dam blocks fish migration, degrades quality aquatic habitat, and is a hazard to recreational users of Killbuck Creek.

Wayne County, Dam Removals Along The East Fork Of Whitewater River, $650,000

This project will remove three low-head dams along the main channel of the East Fork, Whitewater River. These dams are no longer used, are hazardous to people, and harmful to native species of freshwater fish and mussels.