Headgates dam removal update 8/14/21:

[AndyS]

Did a walking tour with John Jengo and small group today, the meeting/tour was announced on Wastebook.
He said Headgates dam comes down in 2024 with the approval of Bridgewater Township ( that shouldn't be a problem, I hope) He has the $$$, one of the biggest hurdles.
A rock ramp will be installed at the Island Farm Fish Weir in Bridgewater/South Bound Brook hopefully in 2023, ( same as the one on the Cape Fear river)

[FASTEDDIE29]

Going to be interesting to see what the end result is.

[thmyorke1]

fishing for shad and stripers in the south branch will be interesting

[Bruce Litton]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

fishing for shad and stripers in the south branch will be interesting

I was thinking same about N. Branch. There are some small stripers caught around 206.

[Mark B.]

In the South Branch they will be able to swim up to the Rockefellers Mill Dam, Flemington. Is there a dam on the North Branch? I read a historical paper (late 1800"s ?) that documented an American Shad run in the North Branch. The A. shad currently in the Raritan River are the progeny of adult Delaware River A. shad stocked in the South Branch near Packer's Island (Rt. 31 Bridge), Flemington in the early 1980's. So, that is the water that they are imprinted on.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Mark B.

In the South Branch they will be able to swim up to the Rockefellers Mill Dam, Flemington. Is there a dam on the North Branch? I read a historical paper (late 1800"s ?) that documented an American Shad run in the North Branch. The A. shad currently in the Raritan River are the progeny of adult Delaware River A. shad stocked in the South Branch near Packer's Island (Rt. 31 Bridge), Flemington in the early 1980's. So, that is the water that they are imprinted on.

There is a very short dam right at the first 202 bridge, you can see it from google street view. Id imagine they get over that when water is high. There isnt another dam until around bedminster (somewhere between the lamington confluence and the 206/202 bridge), a bit taller but at this point in the river im not sure if shad would even care to go up into the north branch at this point though.

[FASTEDDIE29]

The migrating fish will make it into both the north and south branch without a doubt. Yes he main stem is my only concern once this project happens, if ever! See what happens.