Schuylkill River Shad Festival Swims Upstream to Phoenixville

The American Shad may look like your average fish, but it has quite a past. Organizers of a large multi-location festival coming to Phoenixville hope to celebrate that past.

Back in the Valley Forge winter, the story is that this humble fish helped sustain Gen. George Washington’s troops. Before that, the Lenni Lenape Indian tribe who inhabited this area made shad a large part of its diet. In addition, the American Shad and a process to restore the fish to Pennsylvania’s rivers “was the driving force behind the formation” of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Now, this fish will get the honor it deserves, thanks to the first ever multi-location festival in Phoenixville. A number of organizations are coming together to make the Schuylkill River Shad Festival possible.

Karen Johns is chairperson of the event, which is planned for April 30 with a rain date of May 1.

“I knew that I wanted the representation of different entities that were strong in the community and had passion,” Johns said.

The festival definitely has that representation, and Phoenixville organizations like the Green Team and The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area are on board, along with the Schuylkill Canal Association (SCA) and the Phoenix Iron Canal and Trail Association.

Betsy Daley, executive director of the SCA, said she hopes that the festival will help people learn about the importance of shad fishery and the history of the American Shad. The construction of four hydro-dams along waterways helped drive the shad away, cutting the fish off from their former spawning grounds, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. In that light, the Schuylkill River navigation system helped drive the fish away, and now, there's hope they'll come back.

With the integral role the American Shad played in the history of this area, Daley said she hopes the fish return to their ancestral grounds.

“We want to see that history come back around,” she said.

And it might. Exelon Energy opened up a fishway at the Black Rock Dam in 2009. This fish ladder could help the American Shad get back to the native spawning grounds. In addition, the state fish and boat commission has stocked nearly 4.5 million shad fry in the Schuylkill River.

“In 2003, for the first time in recent years, a large number of adult shad returned to the Schuylkill, indicating the 1999 and 2000 stockings had been successful,” according to the commission.

No one is entirely sure if the fish will make it to the festival in their honor. Johns said she heard a rumor of a baby shad spotted at the fish ladder.

“It was a pleasant little rumor,” Johns said. “That would be wonderful news.”

Daley said the last she heard, baby American Shad had made their way to Norristown.

“That’s the closest I’ve heard,” Daley said.

Johns said she’s heard lore of the shad since she was little. Her father and grandfather spoke of the fish, and she knew it helped the soldiers in Valley Forge weather the winter. The American Shad typically run between the blooming of the forsythia and lilacs, Johns explained.

“I’ve seen a few forsythia popping up,” Johns said. “So if you’re going to see one, now’s the time.”

While the return of the American Shad fishery is the ultimate hope, Johns said she wants the festival to tout the importance of the fish.

“Because we are focusing on the return—the possible, hopeful, potential return of the shad—I myself am hoping this event is educational for the public,” Johns said.

That education will start early, as elementary school students from the Phoenixville Area School District will learn about the American Shad and participate in an art exhibition.

Johns said the festival could still use volunteers, so if you’re interested in helping out, contact her at karenj97@comcast.net. Johns wanted to thank two donors who are making the festival possible, Manny DeMutis and Karl Bucas.

Daley said she hopes the festival educates and entertains.

“We hope people come out and enjoy it and learn a lot,” Daley said.

Here’s a peek at the events scheduled for April 30 (rain date May 1) in all three locations:

Lock 60

Head out for a float down a half-mile stretch of the canal. The SCA will also be coordinating a number of recreational activities on the water, including a five-mile guided paddle around the water trail. A fishing derby is also planned, in addition to boat rentals and educational demonstrations.

Taylor Alley Near the French Creek

Activities by this waterway will include performances by Jim Beers, who's a Lenni Lenape performer and storyteller, the band On the Rocks and musician Kendal Conrad. Kids’ activities are also being planned, and the Taylor Alley area will feature information about the history of the American Shad and a Lenni Lenape cultural program.

The Phoenixville Area Green Team may also introduce attendees to Bike Schuylkill, which will provide 10 bikes that are free to use in the Phoenixville area.

Black Rock Dam and Black Rock Sanctuary

The fish ladder, built in 2009, takes center stage and will help build the shad fishery up again. The Phoenix Iron Canal and Trails Association will give fish ladder tours and the Chester County Parks Department will be on hand to provide tours of the Black Rock Sanctuary.

As the festival grows closer, Phoenixville Patch will have more detailed information. Stay tuned. The festival also has a Facebook page, and a Web site is coming soon.