Events

In celebration of World Fish Migration Day, take a guided walking tour of Bosher’s Dam and Fishway (home of the Shad Cam!) with DWR Fish Passage Coordinator, Alan Weaver and his fish passage crew. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the fishway inside the dam and learn directly from DWR staff about the history of the fishway and how the fish passage program helps maintain healthy populations of fish in Virginia like American Shad, Striped Bass, Sea Lamprey and over 30 other resident species including a multitude of Gizzard Shad. If conditions allow, there will also be a boat electrofishing demonstration and fish identification opportunity along with a chance to hold a James River fish!

Wear appropriate seasonal attire and good walking shoes. There is an approximate .40 mile walk from the parking area down a gravel road to the fishway. There is a walkway on the fishway with handrails, but climbing a few short flights of stairs is required to access the walkway. The counting room and window where Shad Cam is located can be viewed from above, but there is no public entry into the counting room (participants with internet access on their mobile devices can tune in to Shad Cam Live while on site as well). Those under age 17 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

This is an additional satellite event for World Fish Migration Day, which will have events and programs at Ancarrows Landing on May 4, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. For more information, visit Richmond World Fish Migration Day or the WFMDA Facebook page.

Opened in 1999, the fishway at Boshers Dam on the James River provides fish with access to 137 miles of the James River mainstem, 168 miles of its major tributaries, and several thousand miles of smaller tributaries in the accessible watershed. Learn more about Bosher’s Dam and view Shad Cam live!

Location: Access to Bosher’s Dam is through the Roslyn Retreat Center (8727 River Road, Richmond, VA 23229), just east of Rt.150/Parham Road. Once on the grounds, follow signs for Boshers Tour Parking.

Parking: If dry enough, vehicles can be parked on the lower field near the canal/RR crossing gate. If conditions are wet, parking will be at Tucker Hall.