Robert L. Simmonds, Jr. and Mitchell D. Norman, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 5268-B Godwin Blvd, Suffolk, VA 23434

Abstract. Emporia Dam has blocked anadromous fish migration up the Meherrin River for over 90 years. A fish lift was constructed to allow passage of the American shad (Alosa sapidissima) that migrated to the dam each spring. Our objective was to identify ideal conditions (e.g., turbine discharge, time of day) for fish passage by monitoring American shad passage through the lift and their movements below the dam using radio telemetry. Because we only observed 7 American shad in the lift, we were unable to correlate passage with the above variables. Also, many of our radio tagged American shad died or regurgitated tags, or they moved downstream after tagging and never returned. Only 1 fish returned to the dam after tagging. For 3 days, this fish approached the dam at sunrise then moved downstream after sunset. It then stayed at the dam continuously for an additional 28 hours. We concluded that 1) fish lift entrance tunnel head must be automatically maintained, 2) repairs to the fish lift must be completed more rapidly (the lift only operated during 44% of the American shad run) and 3) fish approached the dam throughout the day/night and not just during a narrow time span.