river and stream continuity

Alison DixonHousatonic Valley Association (HVA)

Berkshire Outreach Manageradixon@hvatoday.org

413-394-9796

Jane WinnExecutive Director

Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT)

jane@thebeatnews.org413-230-7321

River (Habitat) Continuity Project Contacts

Stream CrossingsStream Crossings Where roads and railways cross rivers and Where roads and railways cross rivers and

streamsstreamsOver 900 stream crossings have been identified in the Housatonic Watershed in Massachusetts

It’s not only fish that may It’s not only fish that may have difficulty moving have difficulty moving

through crossingsthrough crossings

Wildlife can be impeded from Wildlife can be impeded from using the crossing due to a variety using the crossing due to a variety

of culvert problemsof culvert problems

Impacts of Sub-Standard Impacts of Sub-Standard CrossingsCrossings

• Habitat loss and Habitat loss and degradationdegradation

• Alteration of ecological Alteration of ecological processesprocesses

• Road kill leading to Road kill leading to population lossespopulation losses

• Population fragmentation Population fragmentation and isolationand isolation

• Reduced access to vital Reduced access to vital habitatshabitats

• Disruption of processes Disruption of processes that maintain regional that maintain regional populationspopulations

ReplacementReplacement

• Replace culvert with:Replace culvert with:• 1. Bridge1. Bridge• 2. Oversized (1.2 bankfull width) culvert with 2. Oversized (1.2 bankfull width) culvert with

river substrateriver substrate

1. Alert us to any crossing concerns

2. Obtain GPS coordinates for that location

3. Take upstream and downstream pictures of the crossing (INLET and OUTLET)

4.Send pictures and coordinates to adixon@hvatoday.org

5.Keep building beautiful bridges that allow free passage

What can SAM do ?

Thank you to our Past Thank you to our Past and Present Fundersand Present Funders

Natural Resources Damages Fund

For more information visit www.streamcontinuity.org