A dispute over opening and closing New Savannah Bluff Lock to allow migrating shad to reach upstream spawning grounds could reduce future populations of the fish in the Savannah River. Service A dispute over opening and closing New Savannah Bluff Lock to allow migrating shad to reach upstream spawning grounds could reduce future populations of the fish in the Savannah River.
American shad appear each spring after migrating from Canadian waters.
Augusta, under a lease with the Army Corps of Engineers, is supposed to open the lock repeatedly to allow the fish through. This year's recommendation was to open the lock Monday through Friday from March 27 through June 2, according to a letter Gilbert sent city officials March 10. After a series of discussions, Augusta officials agreed to open the lock three times per day Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 7 a.m. and noon. That routine was supposed to begin Monday, but it still didn't happen. Augusta Port Authority secretary Rick Toole said the problem was that anglers who enjoy catching fish blocked by the dam complained.