Restoring River Connectivity: Affordable Fish Passage for America’s Overlooked Species

Reconnecting America’s Rivers, One Fishway at a Time

In the U.S., stream fishes are among the most endangered groups of vertebrates — yet they’re also among the least understood and most overlooked. Most fish ladders have been designed for large, migratory species like salmon, leaving behind the vast diversity of small-bodied native fish that also need to move freely through freshwater ecosystems. BK-Riverfish is changing that.

At the heart of this story is a modular, affordable fishway system developed by a passionate, family-run team and piloted on the Eel River in Roann, Indiana. This innovative design mimics natural flow conditions and has already proven effective for species ranging in size from just 40mm to 750mm. Built to be replicated, these fishways offer a practical solution for low dams and outdated infrastructure across the country—without disrupting historic water uses like milling.

But this isn’t just a story about engineering. It’s a story about collaboration. From the scientific assistance of the Ecosystems Connections Institute, to the cooperative ventures with the Connecticut River Conservancy,  to the support of Renovators Supply in Erving, Massachusetts, to the video expertise of Jimmy Lee Powell, this project reflects the power of partnerships. The Jones River Watershed Association is now putting the system to use on its river, evidence that this model is both adaptable and scalable.

As they continue building new installations and growing awareness, BK-Riverfish is proving that small-scale, grassroots innovation can drive big ecological impact. This is stream restoration at its most practical, and its most hopeful.