Fish Ladder Construction Turns Reservoir Into Sandy Wonderland

Over the past few days, water levels in the Turner Reservoir receded dramatically exposing bottles, shells and vegetation on top of the soft sandy ground normally seen by fish and occasional divers. An island located off Arcade Avenue and Route 152 - once isolated by water - is traversed by pedestrians. Visitors walk on the peninsula near the border of East Providence with dogs and fishing rods in hand. 

But the change in waterscape is not a Nostradamus prediction. According to Michael Bartlett, assistant superintendent of East Providence’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the level of the reservoir has been lowered at the request of the Army Corp of Engineers. Their contractor is currently working on the installation of fish ladders at both the reservoir and Hunt’s Mill dams. The reservoir will be allowed to fill back up naturally starting next week. 

Spectators are able to take a nature trail around the reservoir on what is known as the “Seekonk side” of the dam, according top Bartlett. On the East Providence side, the dam is a small wooden building. Inside are two control gates that allow water to bypass the dam, said Bartlett. The East Providence Water Department operates and maintains that system.

“It is really more of an art than a science," Bartlett said in an e-mail. "They have to open the gates enough to drop the water level without letting so much water through at one time to flood down stream."

According to Bob Lamoureaux, superintendent of , the reservoir is strictly under the jurisdiction of the City of East Providence. Seekonk's municipal departments do not play a role in the state-funded project.

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