AUTHORS: Sophia M. Bonjour, U.S. Geological Survey; Cody G. Bowden, U.S. Geological Survey; Allison A. Pease, University of Missouri; Marc A. Mills, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; David M. Walters, U.S. Geological Survey; Ryan J. Trimbath, U.S. National Parks Service; Curtis Wagner, Ohio Department of Natural Resources; Ramsey Langford, Summit Metro Parks; Matthew R. Acre, U.S. Geological Survey
ABSTRACT: Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to migratory species, particularly when compounded with additional environmental stressors. The Gorge Dam, located in the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern as designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is scheduled for removal in the coming years. Dam and associated contaminated sediment removal is a part of ongoing restoration efforts aimed at improving water quality, enhancing fish habitat, and facilitating fish passage. These efforts follow the removal of five other dams along the Cuyahoga River. In this study, we used acoustic and radio telemetry to examine the seasonal movements of two migratory redhorse sucker species from 2023 to 2024). Silver Redhorse (Moxostoma anisurum) remained within the Cuyahoga River year-round, moving upstream an average of 28.8 km from March to April to an area between the historic Brecksville Dam (removed in 2020) and the Gorge Dam. In contrast, all seven Shorthead Redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum) tagged in the river during 2023 migrated from the river into Lake Erie between May and July, moving a minimum of 60 km away from the river and averaging 19 km per day at emigration. Five Shorthead Redhorse returned to the Cuyahoga River between February and April 2024, with most fish moving more than 4 km upstream of the historic Brecksville Dam. Telemetry data provide support that fish are moving into areas reconnected by dam removals in the Cuyahoga River and reveal long-range migration patterns between the river and Lake Erie by Shorthead Redhorse.
