Headgates dam removal official announcement:

[AndyS]

https://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2021/21_0042.htm?fbclid=IwAR16wJQ5l8k01Pq5MNZfzOa3bldIq Pw1yYAGk9A1qTQHyHtedwmbU5IcJe8

(21/P042) TRENTON – The obsolete Headgates dam on the Raritan River in Somerset County will be removed using natural resource damages funds secured by the state, opening significant stretches of the river’s North and South branches to fish passage for the first time in nearly two centuries, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced.

So what this means is Bridgewater Township signed off and gave the go ahead. I spoke with John Jengo over the summer (the same person in charge of removing the 3 other dams) and he said it would be 3 years out if Bridgewater approved. Seems like this was fast track approved after Ida, wondering if there is any chance the dam could come down sooner.

Can't wait to see people fishing for trout getting their drags smoked by big shad up on the South Branch in Three Bridges !

[bigfishy]

Thats gr8 news!!

[Lard Almighty]

It's going to be bittersweet. I've caught a lot of big fish under that dam. But it will make the river healthier in the long run. I wonder what the fishing will be like there when the dam comes down? I've seen it go both ways.

[AndyS]

I like fishing where the Robert St. dam used to be, got this one there.

[Jigman13]

No ladder? Just straight removal?

[AndyS]

No ladder? Just straight removal?

They didn't want to put in another fish ladder that doesn't work, besides the dam is cracking and has a very large sewer line runs through it.
A rock ramp is going in down at the Island Farm Fish Weir near Bridgewater/South Bound Brook.

[Detour66]

It's going to be bittersweet. I've caught a lot of big fish under that dam. But it will make the river healthier in the long run. I wonder what the fishing will be like there when the dam comes down? I've seen it go both ways. I agree! that spot holds a lot of nice walleye and smallmouths!

[Billfish715]

It will be great for allowing more fish to move upstream. There's no saying how many but the kind of fish that will move upstream is predictable. How far upstream they will go is also debatable depending on water flow and oxygen levels, but it is not inconceivable to hear of striper catches up, pretty far on the South Branch. I think the next, big upstream dam would be in Clinton.

The ecosystem will be changed, no doubt. I know that stripers enjoy eating trout in the Delaware River. Can the same thing happen in the branches of the Raritan and its tributaries? The results of removing the barriers will certainly be worth watching although significant changes will take time. Even with the removal of the Columbia Dam on the Paulinskill, the feared mass migration of shad into Blairstown and Marksboro hasn't been a factor .........yet!

[Hookmanski]

It will be great for allowing more fish to move upstream. There's no saying how many but the kind of fish that will move upstream is predictable. How far upstream they will go is also debatable depending on water flow and oxygen levels, but it is not inconceivable to hear of striper catches up, pretty far on the South Branch. I think the next, big upstream dam would be in Clinton.

The ecosystem will be changed, no doubt. I know that stripers enjoy eating trout in the Delaware River. Can the same thing happen in the branches of the Raritan and its tributaries? The results of removing the barriers will certainly be worth watching although significant changes will take time. Even with the removal of the Columbia Dam on the Paulinskill, the feared mass migration of shad into Blairstown and Marksboro hasn't been a factor .........yet!

As someone who grew up going to school in Clinton I was there a ton as a kid. To be able to catch a striper from below that bridge.... would be absolutely incredible. Our 5th grade class did a walking trip to the Mill to look for invertebrates and there is an insane amount of life just below that dam. Stripers would make it even cooler!

[thmyorke1]

It will be interesting to see shad and stripers go up farther. Not that I personally saw many stripers up that far, a lot of shad 1 spring though. I know some nice stripers have been caught up around there though.

Unless the dam by the fish ladder also changes with that ramp, im not expecting much of a change TBH

I'm more interested in seeing what will happen to the resident fish. Wonder if some of the other spawning runs like suckers, carp, etc will change much in the branches.

[Billfish715]

Here’s a thought about future fishing possibilities for the Raritan and its branches with a the removal of the head gates dam………..Will there be an attempt to imprint and stock steelhead or more sea run browns? Probably a waste of money but some people have short memories or were not around when it was tried before. Remember the Swimming River project? Many of you were not even around then. The Manasquan River brown trout stocking?

If the shad return and they spawn, all bets are off once the shad fry start to swim toward the ocean. It’s fun to think about.

[Mark B.]

A recent publication about the status & plans for dams on the Raritan R. and other NJ waterways:

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/75e531ba578b468784cadfd7bbf732b6

[AndyS]

A recent publication about the status & plans for dams on the Raritan R. and other NJ waterways:

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/75e531ba578b468784cadfd7bbf732b6

#2 Lost Valley- yup, it rains it floods, good luck on this one, they did do some tree planting recently, woop-dee-doo !

#3 Island Farm -I gotta see this one, should be interesting once completed !

#4 Headgates dam- Like captain Picard says, "make it so"

#5 Blackwells Mills- Was told this dam was never a factor in anything, I'd be surprised if this was removed in my lifetime.

#6 Lost valley boat ramp, not really one of those "go to" destinations, yup it's the Muddystone !

#7 Mill Lane North Branch- Not buying it. Talked to the home owner there as I was pulling tires out of the North Branch and asked them if they would be interested in removing the dam, they said no, not really. This is the home that has all the kayaks and canoes in the backyard. Only way this is coming down is if the State strong arms the owner to fork over the millions of dollars to fix the already breached dam.

#8 Rockafellows dam - BWAHAHAHAHAHA Even John Jengo said this guy is the biggest dIck H3ad he ever talked to, NOT going to happen, sorry. Only way this comes down is if it crumbles into pieces.

# 11 Califon dam- how many years has the local TU talked about removing this, I would need 3 hands !

#13 Nunns Mill -Not a game changer, private property from what I can remember.

#15 Klines Mill North Branch- Really interesting spot if you have never seen it, there is a lock that allows part of the river to flow onto private property. My dad knew about this spot and took me there fishing some 50 years ago !
What's another 50 years, this isn't going anywhere anytime soon, sorry.

#19 Trash Trap- First flood it'll end up in Raritan bay, just like the kayak launch in Piscataway.

#21 Bridge over canal- I would actually like to see this, should be a great spot to fill those 5 gallon buckets !

# 0000 - Lake Solitude High Bridge dam- Funny how this was never mentioned and just rebuilt for the "well to do" so the rich folk have a place to dip their toes in the water. To me, other than the Headgates this would be the biggest dam removal and benefit the most, but the "stakeholders" overlooked this, how could it be, it's prime trout water up there. Funny how a small town like High Bridge came up with the $$$$$ out of nowhere to rebuild this dam.

#000000 - Ravine Lake dam Far Hills- Amazing how "stakeholders" only see what they want to see. Ravine Lake dam sits on top of prime Brook Trout grounds. This dam has turned this section of the North Branch into a cesspool of carp infested water. Recently rebuilt ( for whatever reasons) I guess the rich and famous in Far Hills need a place to go boating close to home. Funny how money talks and bul***hit walks.

[DanH]

A recent publication about the status & plans for dams on the Raritan R. and other NJ waterways:

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/75e531ba578b468784cadfd7bbf732b6

A very good read , worth keeping . Thank You!

[Jigman13]

Bridge over canal is an awful idea. Esp in that area. Maybe consider more canal crossings elsewhere along the river?

Pretty funny solitude wasnt mentioned. Its massive. It would certainly alter the private fly stretch above the lake as well as the KLG...

[AndyS]

Bridge over canal is an awful idea. Esp in that area. Maybe consider more canal crossings elsewhere along the river?

Pretty funny solitude wasn't mentioned. Its massive. It would certainly alter the private fly stretch above the lake as well as the KLG...

There was actually talk of removing that dam on the canal, oh wait, we need it to collect drinking water for New Brunswick, never mind.

Lake Ravine dam is massive also, I guess the "stakeholders" at Raritan Headwaters Association some how over looked this, how could this be I wonder ????

[Mark B.]

[QUOTE=AndyS;565930].

#8 Rockafellows dam - BWAHAHAHAHAHA Even John Jengo said this guy is the biggest dIck H3ad he ever talked to, NOT going to happen, sorry. Only way this comes down is if it crumbles into pieces.

When I was working at NJDF&W I fielded a call from him that resulted in us not stocking trout there anymore. When I broached the subject of removing the dam he became very agitated: "That dam is what keeps my home from flooding!" You couldn't talk to him.

[thmyorke1]

Lost Valley is an interesting place. If i understand correctly thats basically from Finderne ave to the raritan-millstone confluence, i dont go into it directly much but know from the other side of the river and from paddling through it's like the wild west back there with ATVs , fireworks, campfires, swimmers, etc. I dont know what part of Lost Valley they are looking to improve but I would hope those guys having fun back there dont run into any issues with it being an official park or anything.
And yea it floods a lot.

Klines Mill Dam is interesting, i never knew myself if it blocked much fish come highwater events. I notice it does back up a good amount of water but not seriously. The dam im more interested in on the NB would be the Ravine Lake dam Andy mentioned. That actually makes a noticable impact to the water quality on the upper north branch where it should be Wild trout/Holdover trout water. But yea huge private/club lake. Dont see it coming down unfortunately.

The bridge at #21 sounds nice, wonder if it would help some of the commuters that take the canal? Cant say i ever been at that part of the canal myself