Each spring, MILLIONS of river herring migrate into waters, returning to their place of birth to create a new generation! This guide offers information on fifteen of our states busiest fish passage locations. VIEWING GUIDE Life Cycle of a Herring Adults migrate upstream to FRESHWATER Egg laying (spawning) happens in the same river they hatched! Blueback Herring Spawn in late April through June when water temperatures reach 57ºF

Surviving adults migrate downstream to SALTWATER Young fish stay in freshwater until they are mature enough Alewife to migrate to estuaries Spawn in late March to mid-May, when water temperatures reach 51ºF estuary, noun. [es·tu·ary] 1. a place where freshwater meets the ocean

What is a “fish ladder”? By the numbers... There are 13 diadromous species in A manmade structure (which often resembles a Massachusetts, including river herring, ladder with steps) that allows fish swimming up- Rainbow Smelt American eels, and rainbow smelt! stream to get past barriers like dams, waterfalls, and locks. Smelt spawn at night in freshwater from early March through May. Mass DMF designs and installs eel ramps Female rainbow smelt can lay in coastal rivers to assist their upstream between 5,000 and 80,000 eggs! migrations. 9 have been installed in Massachusetts since 2007!

Weir pools are made There are over 100 separate river up of a series of herring runs in Massachusetts! small pools of regular length to create a American Eel Since 2013, 23,500 river herring have long, sloping channel for The only catadromous fish in North been stocked throughout the region by fish to travel upstream. America, meaning it lives mostly in Mass DMF! freshwater but returns to the ocean to reproduce! River Herring swim very fast in short bursts to pass up the ladder, making for a spectacular show! diadromous, adj. [dahy·ad·ruh·muh s] 1. (of fish) migrating between fresh and salt waters. Bafflefishways look just like ladders! Examples include Denil and Alaskan Steeppass. Woolen Mill Dam & Fishway April 15 - Apple and Pond Street Bridges April 1 - Parker River, Newbury May 15 Alewife Brook, Essex May 1 This is the st1 of six dams on the Parker River, and each has a fishway to Mass DMF maintains an electronic counting station at Pond Street, provide passage to the headwaters in Pentucket Pond. with current run counts displayed! Bridges are located just off Western Avenue (Route 22). Central Falls Dam & Fishway May 1 - Dam & Fishway May 1 - , Winchester June 1 Mystic Lakes, Medford June 1 The ladder (located off Main Street near Mystic Valley Parkway) was River herring are counted using an underwater video camera operated installed in Fall of 2016, providing access to previously inaccessible by the Watershed Association (mysticriver.org) habitat in Wedge and Horn Ponds. Watertown Dam & Fishway May 1 - Jackson Square Dam & Fishway April 15 - , Watertown June 15 Back River, Weymouth May 15 This is the nd2 of eight dams along the Charles River - Extensive efforts The weir-pool fishway (built in the 1990’s by Mass DMF) is one of seven from Mass DMF and other agencies has provided 20 miles of fish total fish ladders, spanning 4.8 miles from Boston Harbor to Whit- passage access to upstream spawning habitats! man’s Pond. Barker Street Dam & Fishway April 15 - War Memorial Park Dam & Fishway April 15 - Herring Brook, Pembroke May 15 , West Bridgewater May 15 Near the Allen and High St. intersction, Herring Brook has more than Town River has 354 acres of spawning and nursery habitat available in 347 acres of spawning and nursery habitat. Improved passages have Lake Nippinicket. Run viewing is best seen on Arch street (between greatly increased fish numbers in the pond! River and Bryant streets) Oliver Mills Dam & Fishway April 1 - Wareham Street Dam & Fishway April 1 - , Middleboro May 1 Nemasket River, Middleboro May 1 Located on Nemasket street, just off Rt 44, the river has one of the Located off the Wareham and Sylvan St. intersection, this large weir- largest spawning areas in eastern Massachusetts, at more than 5000 pool ladder was acres! designed and constructed by Mass DMF in 1996. Jenny Grist Mill Dam & Fishway April 15 - Mill Pond Dam & Fishway April 1 - Town Brook, Plymouth May 15 Agawam River, Wareham May 15 Substantial improvements have been made to the fishway (including More than 500 acres of spawning and nursery habitat are available in the removal of several dams) to boost access. The Mill is located near the pond and impoundments, which is located just off Rt 6/28 West. the intersection of Summer St. and Spring Ln. Parking is available in the Elk Lodge. Monument River Fishway April 15 - Lower Mill Pond Dam & Fishway April 15 Monument River, Bournedale May 30 Stony Brook, Brewster - May 15 Mass DMF has monitored this run for more than 30 years using elec- Located near the intersection of Stony Brook and Setucket road, this tronic and visual counts to estimate population size, which has ranged fishway is described in great detail by John Hay in his book “The Run”. from 91,000 fish in 1980 to 672,000 in 2000! Mill Pond Dam & Fishway April 15 - Marstons Mills River, Barnstable May 15 Fish passage restoration work led by the Town has improved access to Middle and Hamblin ponds.

Run Size: Travel Information:

10,000 - 20,000 fish Public Parking

20,000 - 50,000 fish Street Parking

100,000 + fish Limited Parking

Group Friendly

Ideal Viewing Dates

Visit our website: www.mass.gov/service-details/diadromous-fisheries-project