A GUIDE TO VIEWING

RIVER HERRING IN
COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS

What Happens?

About River Herring

Each spring,
millions of river
herring migrate
into Massachusetts
coastal waters to
begin their annual
trek up dozens of
our coastal streams
and rivers. They
are returning to the
place of their birth,
to spawn and create a new generation of river herring.
These determined travelers face many challenges along
their spawning runs. Dried up river beds and voracious
predators like striped bass, bluefish, cormorants, and of
course, humans, impede their progress and reduce their
numbers. Dams and steep elevation changes completely
block their passage in many streams. The river herring are
helped around these barriers by man-made fish ladders.
Fish congregate and cue up for a chance to fight the
current, rush up the ladders, and continue on with their
journey. This behavior creates an amazing spectacle that
attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Two species of fish in coastal Massachusetts are

collectively referred to as river herring. They are
the alewife ((Alosa
Alosa pseudoharengus
pseudoharengus)) and the blueback
herring ((Alosa
Alosa aestivalis
aestivalis).
). They are very
similar in appearance and both species are
anadromous, meaning they are born in freshwater,
spend the majority of their lives in the ocean, and
return to freshwater to spawn. Mature river herring
undertake an upriver spawning migration in the
spring. In Massachusetts waters, alewives spawn
in late March to mid-May when water temperature
reaches about 51F. Blueback herring spawn later
in the spring (late April through June), when water
temperature reaches about 57F.

MarineFisheries staff and local volunteers at fishway on the Charles River

in Newton, MA, where MarineFisheries repaired a fish ladder in time for the
2005 spring Herring run.

Take your friends and family out on the next beautiful

spring day and enjoy this spectacle provided by Mother
Nature! This pamphlet provides location and viewing
dates for several of our most impressive and accessible
river herring runs. Check the map on the back page of
this publication for more information.

Alosa pseudoharengus

River herring are an important component of

a healthy coastal and riverine ecosystem. There are
over 100 separate river herring runs throughout
the Commonwealth. Many of these runs have seen
a decline in the herring population in recent years.
MarineFisheries collects data on the population status
in these key runs to guide management decisions
regarding regulations. These regulations are
important to help sustain the herring population in
coastal Massachusetts.
Herring runs may be under the direct control
of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
(MarineFisheries
(MarineFisheries
MarineFisheries),
), or they may be under the control of
local town government (with MarineFisheries oversight).
Contact your town to find out if they are responsible
for the management of the herring resource. If the
town has control, they will be able to provide you
with information regarding harvest regulations and
permitting. Otherwise, contact MarineFisheries
for state regulations (http://www.mass.gov/
marinefisheries).

alewife

How Can You Help?

The freshwater stage is the time in a river herrings life
when humans can have a great impact. Obstructions to
passage such as dams and road culverts can block the fishs
upstream progress and prevent them from reaching suitable
spawning habitat. Water withdrawals due to public water use
and agricultural practices can have a negative impact on river
herring, preventing upstream migration or stranding juveniles
trying to get out of a system. Pollution is also an ongoing
problem. Poor water quality affects river herring of all ages,
from developing eggs to adults. Finally, over-harvesting the
fishery or poaching can remove too many adults from a run,
reducing the number of fish successfully reproducing.
There are a number of ways that the public can become
involved in conserving the river herring populations. Fish
ladders should be included in all dam structures that are
located in herring streams. These ladders must then be kept
clean and functioning so the fish can keep returning every
spring. Dams that are old and outdated, are safety hazards, or
that are no longer necessary should be removed. Agricultural
practices should be required to allow for the passage of
herring, both during the spring upstream migration and
the late summer and fall juvenile out-migration. All water
withdrawals should be managed with river herring in mind
and water conservation should be practiced at all times.
Concerned citizens can become involved by attending local
government meetings, by advocating responsible stewardship
of the river herring resource, and especially by educating
themselves and others about the biology and requirements
for a healthy river herring run. For more information
and a survey of all anadromous fish passages in coastal
Massachusetts, visit www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/
publications/technical.htm for the following
technical reports, TR-15, 16, 17, and 18.
We urge you to report all poaching
activity and vandalism to local town
authorities and the Massachusetts
Environmental Police (800-632-8075).

Alosa aestivalis

blueback herring

Woolen Mill Dam and Fishway Parker River Newbury

This is a relatively small run (currently under 10,000
herring) but it is one of the few on the North Shore that
is accessible for viewing. The fishway is located just a
short distance off the side of Central Street at the Woolen
Mill Dam. Parking is difficult so this site may not be
ideal for large groups. The Woolen Mill Dam is the first
of six dams on the Parker River and each one is provided
with a fishway to provide passage to the headwaters in
Pentucket Pond.
Location: Central Street at Parker River, near intersection with
Orchard Street.
Viewing Dates: April 15 May 15
Watertown Dam and Fishway Charles River Watertown
The Charles River supports one of the largest
blueback herring runs in the Commonwealth and is being
used as a donor population for restoration efforts in the
Neponset and Ipswich Rivers. The Watertown Dam is
the second of numerous dams located along the length of
the Charles River, and extensive efforts by MarineFisheries
and other agencies have been made to provide access to
upstream spawning habitat. Fish passage is now provided
at each dam up to river mile 20.
Location: Department of Conservation & Recreation River
Front Park off California Street
Viewing Dates: May 15 June 15
Jackson Square Dam and Fishway - Back River-Weymouth
Located in Weymouths historic district (Jackson
Square), the herring run has played an important role in
the citys history as the herring was both a prized and
protected resource. The new fishway is a weir-pool design
built in the 1990s by MarineFisheries. The run begins at
Whitmans Pond, and flows through and under the Iron
Hill area, passing under Commercial Square. It flows
past the town incinerator, into Back River and out to sea.
Location: Intersection of High Street, Water Street and Pleasant
Street, East Weymouth Viewing Dates: April 20 May 15
Jenny Grist Mill Dam and Fishway Town Brook Plymouth
This stream has been the subject of an ongoing restoration effort involving local, state and Federal agencies. A notched weir-pool fishway,
that operates at Jenny Grist Mill, facilitates the passage of river herring past the mill. To date this program has resulted in
improvements to one fishway, adult stocking in the headwater pond and removal of an impassable dam. In addition to
river herring, smelt and smelt eggs have been observed in the lower reaches of the brook.
Location: Spring Lane off Summer Street (Downtown Plymouth)
Viewing Dates: April 20 May 20
Wareham Street Dam and Fishway Nemasket River Middleboro
The Nemasket River supports the largest river herring run in Massachusetts. Estimates based on visual
counts by volunteers have consistently exceeded one million fish per year. The primary reason for the large
size of this run is the availability of over 5,000 acres of spawning and nursery habitat in the upper reaches
of the Nemasket River. The fishway at Wareham Street is a large weir-pool ladder that was designed
and constructed by MarineFisheries 1996. The Nemasket River fishery is managed jointly by the towns of
Lakeville and Middleborough through their herring committee.
Location: Wareham Street off Route 105 (Main Street) downtown Middleboro
Viewing Dates: April 1 May 2

Mill Pond Dam and Fishway Agawam River Wareham

Since 1632, the Agawam system supports a very productive
river herring fishery largely due to the more than 500 acres
of spawning and nursery habitat available in its ponds and
impoundments. In addition to the river herring, the Agawam
River also supports a small rainbow smelt population, and in
recent years numbers of gizzard shad have been observed. The
smelt spawn below the first dam to above the head of the tide.
American shad have also been taken at the catching station at Rt.
6 during operation of the herring fishery.
Location: The Elks Club lot off Route 6/28 West below Mill Pond
Viewing Dates: April 7 May 20
Monument River Fishway Monument River Bournedale
This system supports one of the Commonwealths most
productive river herring populations. DMF has monitored
this run for over 20 years using electronic and visual counts to
estimate population size, which has ranged from 91,000 fish in
1980 to 672,000 in 2000. Because of its size and accessibility,
this population is the primary source of mature adult alewives
for MarineFisheriess stocking program. The construction of
the canal inhibited upstream access by intercepting the streams
natural channel. A series of weir-pool and notched weir-pool
fishways, which are integrated within the streams artificial
channel, allows river herring to migrate upriver to spawning sites
in Bourne and Plymouth.
Location: Route 6/28 (Scenic Highway north side of Cape Cod Canal) at
the Army Corps of Engineers comfort station
Viewing Dates: April 20 May 30
Lower Mill Pond Dam and Fishway Stony Brook - Brewster
Stoney Brook has long been one of the Commonwealths
most popular herring runs. The annual migration of river
herring up this stream attracts numerous Cape Cod tourists
every year. A series of connected weir-pool fishways and stone
baffles allow the fish to surmount a natural elevation change and
mill pond dam, enabling them to reach the 386 acres available in
the headwater ponds. This run was described in great detail by
John Hay in his book The Run.
Location: Next to Thomas Prence Grist Mill (intersection of Stony Brook
Road and Setucket Pond)
Viewing Dates: April 15 May 20
Alewife Brook Essex
Alewife Brook flows from Chebacco Lake into the Essex
River. Chebacco Lake provides 206 potential acres of spawning
habitat for alewives. It is one of the few river herring runs in
Massachusetts that is not impeded by man-made dams. However,
in recent years, beavers have constructed dams near the outlet
of Chebacco Lake, thus sometimes impeding access to this
large potential spawning area. This run is best viewed from the
bridge on Apple Street. Parking is limited so this site may not be
appropriate for large groups.
Location: Apple Street bridge located just off Route 22 in Essex
Viewing Dates: April 15 May 20
Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
617.626.1520
Web site: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/index.html

Who You Can Contact!

Many areas have dedicated volunteer groups whose members
are very knowledgeable about the watershed and the local
fisheries. These groups make many contributions to the
conservation of anadromous fisheries by increasing public
awareness of the resources and by conducting fish counts
and other data gathering and restoration activities. Get
involved with the activities of your local watershed and fish
counting groups. The following is a list of herring counting
groups in your local area:
North Shore

Essex River Eight Towns and a Bay (www.8tb.org)

Ipswich River Ipswich River Watershed Association
(www.ipswichriver.org)
Little River Massachusetts Audubon Society
(www.massaudubon.org)
Merrimack River Lowell Land Trust (www.lowelllandtrust.org)
Parker River Parker River Clean Water Association (www.parkerriver.org)

Boston Area

Charles River Charles River Watershed Association

(www.charlesriver.org)
Mystic River Mystic River Watershed Association
(www.mysticriver.org)
Neponset River Neponset River Watershed Association
(
(www.neponset.org)
Saugus River Saugus River Watershed Council
(www.saugusriver.org)

South Shore

Buzzards Bay watershed Coalition for Buzzards Bay

(www.savebuzzardsbay.org)
Jones River Jones River Watershed Association (www.jonesriver.org)
Mattapoisett & Sippican Rivers Alewives Anonymous
(www.plumblibrary.com/alewives.html)
Nemasket River Lakeville/Middleboro Herring Commission,
Town Hall, 340 Bedford Street, Lakeville, MA 02347
North & South Rivers North and South Rivers Watershed
Association (www.nsrwa.org)
Taunton River Taunton River Watershed Alliance
(www.trwaonline.org)

Cape Cod

Falmouth Fishermans Association ATTN: Mr. Lou Turner, 88

Oyster Pond Road, Falmouth, MA 02540

Production of this brochure was made possible

by contributions from the GE Foundation,
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., and Cashman
Contractors through the Massachusetts
Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership.

brochure design by sandy rabb