The Naugatuck River Restoration Coalition, working to restore fish passage at Kinneytown Dam on the Naugatuck River, says federal regulators have found the dam “out of compliance.”

According to an email from Anthony Allen at Save the Sound, in December “the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) declared Hydroland, the owner of Kinneytown Dam, out of compliance with their licensing exemption for its failure to provide safe, timely, and effective fish passage, and directed them to comply with a strict schedule for the implementation of measures to restore fish passage. The fish ladder at Kinneytown Dam has failed to adequately pass fish since it was constructed, and passage rates have continued to decline with the disrepair and neglect of the facilities and ceased operations of the hydropower units. Now, based on the documentation of on-the-ground conditions and failed fish runs by Save the Sound, Naugatuck River Revival Group (NRRG), and Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), FERC has finally escalated its enforcement efforts and is requiring a comprehensive review of necessary solutions to this longstanding issue.”

“Your continued support has made possible these collective efforts to develop a record on which FERC could act. The filing of our Complaint on September 30, 2021 argued aggressive and comprehensive action, including revoking the Kinneytown license exemption based on noncompliance and material alterations of the facility and its operations. While FERC dismissed the Complaint on the grounds of administrative exhaustion (a doctrine that requires that all administrative review processes and remedies be pursued prior to the filing of a legal complaint), it clearly grabbed FERC’s attention and drove urgency on this matter,” he added.

“Less than a week after dismissing our Complaint, FERC filed enforcement action. After two decades of noncompliance, this is a serious step forward in this monumental fight for the fish, wildlife, and communities of the Naugatuck River Valley.”

More information is available from the:

Naugatuck River Revival Group

Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments

Save the Sound

Join us Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. on Zoom for “Fishing the Housatonic Top to Bottom” with Jeff Yates.

Click to register and receive the Zoom link.

Reaching the Long Island Sound in Nutmeg TU’s area, the Housatonic River offers anglers a chance to catch trout, smallmouth, striped bass and other species, year-round.

Jeff is TU’s National Director of Volunteer Operations, a guide in Connecticut, and author of Fly Fishing Fairfield County: Secrets of Suburban Streams.

Jeff Yates, chapter conservation chair for Mianus TU and author of the book Fly Fishing Fairfield County will lead a virtual tour of the Mill River Thursday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m.

Click here to register.

Jeff’s talk is part of the Learn A Local River is a series from Mianus TU to help anglers discover the streams in their own backyard.

The talk is free and open to the public. Share these learning opportunities with friends, family, colleagues and anyone who cares about the health of our local waters.

Jan. 1 brings with it the need to buy a Connecticut fishing license, good for the calendar year.

Click here to buy your printable license online direct from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

New this year, Connecticut’s Fishing and Hunting Guidebooks are now online in an eBook version, allowing anglers to to quickly check a regulation, confirm legal hunting hours, check season dates, and more – from anywhere, anytime.

While DEEP is still printing some fishing and hunting guides (available in limited quantities), it is asking hunters, trappers, and anglers to do their part and make use of the digital options.

The Town of Fairfield has announced an agreement with Aquarion Water Co. to increase the amount of water diverted from the Mill River watershed in Greater Fairfield.

Fairfield, Fairfield Conservation Commission and several other local groups that had challenged the proposal, citing on environmental and supply concerns. The agreement approves the diversion but adds monitoring safeguards.

Click here to read more in the Connecticut Post.