The Current River is a large flow in the heart of the City of Thunder Bay. The system is used by thousands of residents for swimming, walking and skiing trails, fishing for resident trout and general sightseeing. Due to a barrier dam at Boulevard Lake, the system lacked one major treasure - the opportunity to fish for large, migratory Rainbow Trout. NSSA is hoping to change this.

    Rehabilitation of the Current River as an accessible and vibrant urban fishery is a long term goal and project of the NSSA. The most important component of this project is the Current River Dam Fishway. The fishway is designed to allow Steelhead to migrate over the dam into the headwaters, and hopefully to produce a large self sustaining stock. The construction of the Fishway was a co-operative venture venture between NSSA, Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, Lake Superior Remedial Action Plan (RAP) and the City of Thunder Bay. The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines also contributed one time capital funding for this project in an effort to enhance the recreational aspect of the system.

    Despite introductions of juvenile rainbows from an upwelling box, and transfer of adults which spawned and successfully returned to Lake Superior, this project cannot yet be considered a success, as a self sustaining population has not yet been established. There have been anecdotal sightings of fish moving thru the Ladder, as well as some young of the year captured in years where no introductions took place, but the lack of substantial adults returning leads us to believe that some other obstacle in the lower river is impeding the ability of adults to return.

   This project is back on the list of top priorities, with focus being directed at the Cumberland Street “Cliff”, and the long granite slide as the river enters Lake Superior. Effort will be focused assessing these sites in 2003. Hopefully, alterations can be made that will ensure migration and bring this project to fruition.