Riverkeeper, Susquehanna University relocate more than 50 stranded fish from dam passageway pools, add to growing research of species using channel

​A small team from Susquehanna University and the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association captured and relocated more than 50 fish from the top resting pool of the fish passageway alongside the Adam T. Bower Memorial Fabridam near Shamokin Dam to the nearby river on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. 

The project is part of an ongoing effort between the two groups to help rescue fish species trapped in the pools when water levels drop within the passageway while also researching species that use the channel.

“This is the first time we have been able to access and remove fish in the spring and we were anxious to see what species were here now versus when we do this in the fall after a full summer’s worth of flow through the passageway,” said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. “We have relocated more than 1,000 fish now in this location and unfortunately the conditions weren’t great when we were there on Tuesday.”

Water was still flowing slowly into the top pool due to a higher water level and a few bags being inflated for inspection ahead of the upcoming boating season. Those bags were deflated and the water level slowly dropped while the group worked.

“The pool was much deeper and murkier than it has been in the fall, and we weren’t able to canvas it as thoroughly as we would like, but we did still come across fish representing 12 different species within four families,” said Zaktansky.

Most prevalent among those were Mimic Shiners (17), Bluntnose Minnows (10), Banded Darters (9) and Smallmouth Bass (6). Other species found during the electrofishing experience that were subsequently measured and weighed before being released included Shorthead Redhorse, Greenside Darter, Tessellated Darter, Rock Bass, Green Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Pumpkinseed and Bluegill. 

“It was great to be able to get out to see what we could capture for the spring. We weren’t able to effectively capture all individuals due to the size and depth of the pool, but it was interesting to see a lot of similar species to our fall rescues,” said Sara Ashcraft, ecologist with Susquehanna University’s Freshwater Research Institute. “The most notable thing for me – and I was not there last fall – was the smaller amounts of Rock Bass and larger amounts of sunfish. Also, the Banded Darters and Greenside Darters had a lot of color to them due to their spawning season.”

Check out info about previous fish relocation efforts in these pools, by date:
Oct. 20, 2025
Dec. 19, 2024
Nov. 27, 2024