Fish Ladder Question

Hi Brian,
I was at Indianford dam today (Sunday) with my friend that is a fish biologist with the Illinois DNR., we watched as many fish tried to migrate unsuccessfully through the dam. He asked me if anyone has talked about installing a fish ladder at the dam. I haven't seen any discussion of this. Has the RKLD ever discussed the possibility of having a fish ladder installed at the dam for the spring spawning run ?
Thanks, Bob Hausler

DNR, at the time Sue Josheff did the dam inspection report, tried to force Rock County to install a fish ladder on the dam if repaired. The DNR, at that time, was trying to require fish ladders on all dams in need of repair.

RKLD fought that demand with the county because the only game fish species that migrate up dams is salmon, which are not a natural fish species in the Rock River.

We got our Senators and Assemblymen into the debate because no proof has ever been presented showing it increases fish species or movement of game fish. The result of the legislatures involvement brought about a change in law, which requires the DNR to fund any fish ladders.

Needless to say none has ever been mandated since.

Also, the respective DNR/Conservation Departments that funded those installations as research trials have since stopped funding them for being ineffective.

The fish people see trying to migrate up the dam are carp and we don’t need more of them.