A worker fits the Alaskan Steep Pass into the notch in the dam.

Sand bags hold back water flow while the fishway is installed.

Immediately after installation of the fishway, water rushes through the Alaskan Steep Pass. This fishway will allow anadromous fish to reach their spawning habitat.

The lip of the dam before restoration.

John Catena, of NOAA, supervises the crew as the ladder is being installed and fitted into the cut in the dam.

A view of the sand bags holding back the water as the installation proceeds. The ladder is being fitted into the notch in the dam.

Just before the notch is cut, sand bags are placed at the headwaters to allow notching of the dam. Once the dam is notched the ladder can be fit into place.

Eric Hutchins of NOAA checks the fit of the ladder at the restoration site.

Workers fit the ladder into place and secure it into the notched dam.

The dam before restoration, the drop creates a steep obstacle for anadromous fish returning to spawn.

A close up of the Parker River Dam before restoration. Several anadromous fish species use the river including; blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis; alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus; rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax and white perch, Morone americanus.

A crane lowers the first section of the fish passway into place. The Alaskan Steep Pass was delivered and installed in sections.

The first section of the fish passway is lowered and guided toward the notched area of the dam where it will be fitted into place and secured.

The crane lowers the first section into place, it is just about to be dropped into the notched dam.

Two workers guide the first section of the fish ladder into place.

The owner of the property watches as the first piece of the ladder is fit into the dam.

The Alaskan Steep Pass arrives at the restoration site.

The ladder is suspended in air just before being placed in the dam.

The crane lowers the ladder to the dam where it will be installed in a notched area designed to accommodate the ladder.

A close up of two workers notching the dam. The saw sprays water around the work area. This image was used in the NOAA Restoration Center brochure.

A worker finishes preparations just before installing the ladder.

A rest during the work, water is flowing through the cut in the dam.

The completed notch in the dam just before placement of the ladder.

Sandbags are placed above the dam and a worker begins the first cut to notch the dam.

Cutting the notch in the dam.

A view of Parker River looking downstream of the restoration site before restoration.

Eric Hutchins of NOAA examines the initial phase of the installment of the Alaskan Steep Pass Ladder.

Looking down from the lake and wetlands above the dam at Parker River toward the restoration site.

Contractors hired to complete the installation of the Alaskan Steep Pass fish ladder begin work.

A contractor fits the ladder into the place where the dam was notched to hold the ladder in place.

Eric Hutchins, NOAA, checks to see that the ongoing work meets the project specifications. All projects conducted with community-based restoration funds receive NOAA oversight and management.

A NOAA contract videographer, Tom Kane, documents installation of the first Alaskan Steep Pass fish ladder in New England waters.

Eric Hutchins, NOAA, and Cindy Mom, Essex County Greenbelt Association, discuss the project at the restoration site.

Contractors begin to fit the fish ladder into the notch in the dam.

fitting the ladder into the dam

drilling the ladder into the dam

This image shows the height of the dam at Parker River before restoration. Anadromous fish were forced to jump past this dam or use an outdated non- functioning dam to negotiate to their spawning grounds before the Alaskan Steep Pass fish ladder was installed.

A view of Parker River looking towards the dam.

Fresh water wetlands at the Parker River restoration site.

John Catena, NOAA Restoration Center, watches in the fading fall light as the project is completed.

A close up view looking down into the Alaskan Steep Pass fish ladder that was installed the Parker River dam to assist fish in navigating the dam.

Cindy Mom, Essex County Greenbelt Association, watches progress at the site. The Essex County Greenbelt Association was one of many partners that contributed expertise, funds or volunteers to accomplish the installation of the fish ladder.

The Alaskan Steep Pass fish ladder just before installation.

Wetlands at the Parker River restoration site.

Moss covered rocks in the Parker River.

An old fish ladder and pond are aesthetically beautiful but were not reliable or durable enough to help anadromous fish navigate past the dam at Parker River. The new fish ladder is cost-effective and will allow continued reliable access for anadromous fish to reach the spawning grounds in Parker River.

The old fish ladder and pond at Parker River required constant maintenance and did not provide reliable access for anadromous fish to the spawning grounds at Parker River.

The understory at Glade Bekken watershed is natural and desirable as spawning habitat for coho and chum salmon that are found in the streams in this watershed.

An image of the stream channel at the Glad Bekken restoration site before restoration. The restoration was conducted to remove and replace an outdated culvert. Then large woody debris was placed in the stream to provide complexity in the streambed.

Another view of the stream channel at the Glade Bekken restoration site.