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NOVEMBER 2009

Harden Furniture Helps Atlantic Salmon Return To New York Waterways

A fish hatchery at Harden Furniture’s historic factory will help re-introduce Atlantic Salmon to the waterways of Central New York, more than 100 years after being lost to over-fishing and industrialization in the region.

MCONNELLSVILLE, N.Y.—The Atlantic Salmon could again flourish in Fish Creek after being absent from Central New York waterways for more than a century, and Harden Furniture is playing a key role. The family-owned furniture manufacturer is hosting a test hatchery for 5,000 eggs during the spring of 2010.

In partnership with the Fish Creek Atlantic Salmon Club, Harden Furniture has agreed to host the test hatchery and, if successful, has committed to housing an even larger, permanent hatchery. Once established, the Atlantic Salmon are expected to once again embark on a remarkable cycle of journeying hundreds of miles into the Atlantic before returning to their birth site to spawn after two years.

The company has operated along Fish Creek since 1844 and welcomed the opportunity to help re-establish the native species to the area.

“Participating in this initiative to re-introduce the Atlantic Salmon is an exciting opportunity for Harden to build upon our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Greg Harden, CEO. “The section of Fish Creek that flows past the Harden Factory has always been a popular spot for anglers, and we are extremely excited about the opportunity for a new generation to be able to see Atlantic Salmon flourish in Central New York after disappearing from this area for so long.”
The Fish Creek Atlantic Salmon Club, in cooperation with wildlife officials, will closely monitor the progress of the Atlantic Salmon released this spring. If the re-introduction is successful, Harden is committed to installing a larger, permanent hatchery with a capacity of up to 60,000 eggs.

Once the fry are released and grow to maturity in the waters around McConnellsville, the Atlantic Salmon will begin a two-year migration to the ocean and as far away as the warm Gulf Stream waters off Greenland and Iceland before returning as adults up to two feet long to spawn in Fish Creek.

The section of Fish Creek that flows past the Harden Factory features a small dam that has supplied power to the factory throughout its long history. Wildlife experts say that the dam structure is not high enough to impede the migration of adult Atlantic Salmon returning to spawn.

By the start of the 20th century, populations of Atlantic Salmon virtually disappeared from creeks and streams in New York and surrounding states due to overfishing with nets, dam construction and pollution.

MAY 2009

HARDEN SUSTAINS

Harden Furniture graces the cover of the latest issue of Wood & Wood Products Magazine, and have also been featured in NHFA Home Furnishings Retailer magazine for our "green" initiative. The articles focus on our continuing commitment to the environment. To download and read each feature, click on the links below.

WOOD & WOOD PRODUCTS FEATURE

NHFA HOME FURNISHINGS RETAILER FEATURE

Harden Furniture was featured on Rochester, NY's WROC-TV's "Go Green" segment, outlining all the efforts Harden goes through to create sustainable furniture...

Harden

Fine furniture from generation to generation

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