October 2019 WaterWatch THE NORTH AND SOUTH RIVERS WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Protecting our Waters Since 1970

Keeping Fish Out of Hot Water in Norwell and Hanover The Third Herring Brook will be able we had removed the Tack Factory dam runoff from pavement to protect this to keep its “cool” with new protections in 2017. Prior to dam removal, we had critical and increasingly rare resource – provided from being designated a known of remnant populations in cold, clean, flowing water. Coldwater Fisheries Resource (CFR) by tributaries to the Third Herring Brook. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries We speculated that with the dam removed Future Development and Wildlife. CFR-designated streams and temperatures reduced (the former Recently, the designation was put support fish that require cold water pond temperatures were well over 80 to the test with two redevelopments such as native brook trout, slimy sculpin, degrees in the summer!) the populations on Route 53 - the Hanover Mall and a black-nosed and longnose dace, and would be reconnected. We monitored Cumberland Farms. Both redevelop- white suckers. These fish are rarely their movements by inserting electronic ment projects will now be required to found in our area anymore because we tags into the fish and found they are using recharge their stormwater runoff into pipe hot runoff into our streams from the mainstem of the brook after hundreds the ground to slow and cool the water pavement, have old dams in our rivers, of years of being cut off! as it runs off the pavement. It is rare and withdraw too much water from our to see this series of events happen in streams particularly in the summer. Science Raises the Standards such a short time, from dam removal in Finding these fish meant that the 2017, to scientific monitoring results in Fish Tagging – Not A Game entire Third Herring Brook from Jacobs 2018, to protection enacted in 2019. Last year our ecologist, Sara Grady, Pond down to the North River is now Please note: Catch and release is and Massachusetts Division of Fisheries officially protected as a Cold Water advised for any brook trout captured in and Wildlife Biologist, Steve Hurley Fisheries Resource. Any future develop- the Third Herring Brook system to help surveyed the Third Herring Brook and ment or redevelopment along the brook protect and restore our limited wild found that native eastern brook trout will be held to a higher standard for brook trout resources. were using the brook in the area where treating and recharging stormwater

NSRWA.org October 2019 Page 1 NORTH AND SOUTH RIVERS All Good Things are Wild and Free WATERSHED ASSOCIATION On the last glorious weekend of the Our purpose is to Protect Our Waters. summer, we set out Sunday morning at 3:30 a.m. to fish for striped bass in We believe that an educated and engaged citizenry will result in healthy the North River. Fishing with flies from a rivers and watersheds, thus canoe, we were hoping the fall blitz was Educate + Engage = Healthy Rivers. still on as we set out with red LED head- Our goal for 2020 is to double the number lamps (fish allegedly can’t see red light) of people we educate and engage. and made our way through the shadows

OFFICERS of boats and docks from Roht Marine. President: Peter Hainer There was a waning moon, lots of stars Vice President: Kevin Cassidy Treasurer: Rick Mayfield and utter silence. Secretary: Barbara Carney Recognizing shapes was hard. Was that the marsh edge or a jetty or catwalk? BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tad Beagley Just before the gut by the red house in the Sally Caverly river was a catwalk to the right with a light Caleb Estabrooks Janet Fairbanks at its end, throwing a greenish circle in the Lindsey Flaherty water. All we heard was the sound of our Geoff Gordon canoe. One hundred feet from the catwalk Craig Hannafin Peter Kelly-Detwiler the water suddenly exploded with bait fish Deborah Lenahan and striped bass, “schoolies.” It was so Tack Factory Pond and how a combination Brendan Murray Margery Parker bizarre we had to look twice to understand of good solid science has informed our Martha Twigg what we were seeing. The light attracted advocacy and commitment to protect the bait and the remaining juvenile stripers our natural resources. ADVISORY COUNCIL (the big fish were gone to Duxbury Bay and The dams gone, nature has not for- Cindy Bayley Melissa McKim Kevin Beggs Jerome Murphy the Canal) were in a feeding frenzy. saken us, and she is rebuilding the wild Joell Bianchi Lauren Payne We paddled into the chaos, with sud- again. Native brook trout have returned Jeffrey Bilezikian Erich Roht Susan Caron Susan Setterland den splashing sound and fury, feeling like to the stream which has led to the des- Alex Clark Fred St. Ours we were in a wildly boiling pot of water. ignation of this tributary as a Coldwater David DeGhetto Daniel Sarles Schoolies were leaping a foot out of the Fishery. Resulting from many years of Jeff DeMarco Andrew Sullivan Krista Dirico Peter Tedeschi water, too many to count. We pulled the ca- hard work and the collaboration of our Herb Emilson Timothy Timmerman noe over to the rocks and threw our flies in. Executive Director Sam Woods with Peter Fairbanks Peter Tyack Margaret Kearns Paul Vercollone My fishing buddy caught one and I watched Steve Hurley from the Commonwealth’s Ken Kellaway Michael Wolfe my fly bounce on the back of another. Sud- Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and Richard Leach Susan Wolfe denly it was over. It stopped. Utter silence the dedicated members of the Sea Run Alex Mansfield returned and all that was left was the mov- Brook Trout Coalition, this designation has STAFF ing tidal water under the light. We fished required the Hanover Mall redevelopment Executive Director - Samantha Woods until 10:30am, first in the marsh in the (and all other future development) to Director of Development & Community dark and then way out on the sand bar at treat their stormwater to a much higher Engagement - Gabriela Silva the mouth in waist deep water watching standard, to preserve these efforts and

MassBays South Shore Regional the sun rise out of the sea. Not another give nature a chance to restore the wild Coordinator & Watershed Ecologist - bite, but the amazing beauty of the marsh and keep it free for us all. Sara Grady and a Spit completely devoid of human This year at our annual meeting we Director of Marketing & Communications - life. As the sun rose, we heard the sounds will honor Steve Hurley and the Sea Run Lori Wolfe of birds; the marsh was full of cranes and Brook Trout Coalition with the Barbara

Environmental Educator - Brian Taylor blue herons, mergansers and gulls. Pad- Pearson Memorial Award. Science in- dling back, I thought of Thoreau’s book forming advocacy and policy and working Community Outreach Coordinator - subtitle, “all good things are wild and free.” with fellow stewards of the environment Terri Birkeland In spite of being “skunked” for the works and protects our natural resources Lead Pontoon Boat Captain - Willard weekend I couldn’t help feeling embraced so all of us can discover the wild and Boulter in beauty and majesty of our rivers; in free of nature even in the dead of night

Yoga at the Rivers Edge and Columnist - this special place to have this amazing on the last weekend of summer. Kezia Bacon experience. I thought especially about

NSRWA the almost 50-year effort of our NSRWA P.O. Box 43/214 South Street to protect that wildness and keep the Norwell, MA 02061 rivers clean and free. I thought of our phone: 781-659-8168 nsrwa.org and exploresouthshore.org recent efforts to remove the dams on Peter Hainer the Third Herring Brook at the YMCA and President, NSRWA Board of Directors

NSRWA.org October 2019 Page 2 Healthy Waters Don’t Happen On Their Own

Juvenile and adult bald eagles taken from the Clean Enough for Future River Restoration? NSRWA pontoon boat by Quint Waters. A public meeting was held in parties including MIT, the Department September to seek input for three of Defense, and others who operated Bald Eagles Back alternative clean-up proposals of the at the site. The alternatives currently contamination at the Fireworks Site being considered include removing the on the South Shore located on the Drinkwater and Indian contamination in the waterways, land What a thrill to see bald eagles return Head Rivers in Hanover/Hanson. and groundwater either to targeted lev- to the North River, after a 100+ year The contamination at this site stems els that are protective of public health absence! What brought them back? By from multiple uses including the manu- and the environment or approaching providing protection, habitat, and food, facturing of fireworks and munitions for natural levels. The costs difference we made them welcome. World War II. The main contaminants between the most likely two alternatives Bald eagle populations declined rapidly of concern include mercury, lead and is approximately $5 million. in the 1900’s due to widespread use volatile organics. Since 1995 the Mass- We are concerned that the aging of the pesticide DDT, which disrupted achusetts Department of Health has Factory Pond dam, which holds back reproductive function. DDT was banned issued a health advisory that fish the contaminated sediment now, could in 1972, and the bald eagle was listed caught in waters from Forge Pond dam fail in the future, allowing any remaining as an Endangered Species in 1978, but in Hanover to the Route 3 overpass contamination, if not removed, to move it took decades -- and interlocking layers should not be eaten due to mercury downstream. The alternatives should of action -- to rescue our national symbol contamination. Extensive munitions and review the structural integrity of the from near-extinction. ordinances were also left on the site and dam in larger storm events and the One action was rebuilding population. are currently being removed. clean-up should not prohibit future dam Locally, this began in 1982 with a joint effort The clean-up is expected to cost removal and river restoration efforts. by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife from $78 to $121 million. The costs The proposed plans and our and Mass Audubon. Over time, the number will likely be borne by the responsible concerns can be found at nsrwa.org. of nesting pairs increased from 1 to 38. Another action was conserving their habitat. The 1978 North River Protective Order prevented overdevelopment. This, Eelgrass Blitz Engages Local Boaters combined with acquisitions of conservation In total 1,279 acres of eelgrass any additional eelgrass has been lost. land in the river corridor, assured plenty beds are believed to have been lost in Stay tuned to our e-news for results! of the bald eagle’s preferred territory Duxbury, Kingston, and Plymouth Bays -- forested areas with expansive views, between 1995 and 2017. Eelgrass beds near large bodies of water. are ecologically important to the health A third action was restoring food of estuaries because they trap atmo- sources. As dams were removed and rivers spheric carbon, hold sediment in place, flowed freely, migratory herring and trout and provide critical food and shelter for returned, attracting bald eagles and a variety of marine organisms. other natural predators. Over 5 days in August, as part of our As we consider the impacts of climate partnership with the Massachusetts Bays change, it’s important to remember that National Estuary program, we enlisted our actions absolutely make a difference. 20 volunteers, 2 interns and 5 captains It doesn’t happen overnight. It requires with boats to survey 119 sites in the Bays time, effort, and action from federal, state to document the presence and health of MassBays South Shore Coordinator and NSRWA Watershed Ecologist Sara Grady waits to take and local governments, as well as non- eelgrass. The data will be compared to photos of the estuary bottom with a drop camera profits and individuals like you. previous year’s mapping to determine if thrown by volunteer Nicholas Hudanich.

NSRWA.org October 2019 Page 3 Engaging Our Communities with Art and Music Nature enthusiasts hear our message Peace, Love, and Scitstock loud and clear, but what about those for Music was another vehicle for whom the word “conservation” tends spreading the word. On September 7th, to elicit a yawn? This year -- in an effort the Bergsten family hosted Scitstock to reach different audiences -- we’ve (think “Woodstock”). More than 350 become more creative in our approach, people brought their picnic baskets and engaging people through art and music. lawn chairs and gathered in a grassy meadow to enjoy an evening of live local Fish Out of Water Campaign music. The event organizers very kindly Our Fish Out of Water campaign em- donated all of the proceeds to NSRWA ployed public art to illustrate the impor- and helped us connect with an audi- tance of water conservation. This sum- ence that might not ordinarily be tuned mer we collaborated with 11 area artists in to our cause. to customize fish-themed wall hangings, This kind of exposure is priceless. which were displayed in local libraries, Fish Out of Water by Howie Green, Boston As Executive Director Samantha Woods businesses and community centers. larly irrigating your lawn contributes to explains, “Environmental issues are often Over 850 free raffle tickets were entered, reduced streamflow and drought, which framed by our scientific understanding, with the winners taking home beautiful can trap migratory fish upstream. The but we know that humans are motivated and thought-provoking works of art. Fish Out of Water campaign, sponsored by their emotional responses. Art and Did you know that the water we use by our WaterSmart program, helped music inspire us, foster creativity, and in our homes and yards is the same to spread awareness of the impact help us express our values. Engaging water that feeds our rivers, streams and of household water use on the world people in caring for the environment ponds? Especially in the summer, when around us. through art and music allows us to household water use doubles, regu- emotionally connect them to our work.”

Find Your Next Adventure with the New Guide Map! Whether you enjoy walking local trails, fishing, kayaking, boating, or swimming, you can find your next adventure with the new NSRWA Guide Map! Current NSRWA members will get their Guide Map in the mail. Not a member, no problem – join or renew today! We will send you a free map with Explore South Shore Phase 2 Begins your membership packet. NSRWA has begun work on Phase 2 of our Explore South Shore website. NSRWA’s newly updated Guide Map has Last spring we identified 105 points of interest along the North and South Rivers more than 90 places for you to visit — from and their tributaries, and created web pages with photos, trail maps, tide and salt marshes to tide pools, local woods to parking information, plus lots of details on each property’s history, wildlife, and historic points of interest. Our Guide Map interesting features. This year we will expand Explore South Shore to include shows you where to go for a walk, access many more hiking, boating, fishing, and paddling spots on the South Shore. We points to launch your kayak, and helpful will be focusing on our watershed towns, but also including regional destination information about parking and much more. properties and some of our other favorites. Visit www.ExploreSouthShore.org, Plus, when you pair it with the information and discover new ways to explore the natural world of the South Shore. on ExploreSouthShore.org, you can learn even more about things to do outdoors.

NSRWA.org October 2019 Page 4 Education Expands to Meet Community Needs In addition to continuing the success of familiar programs like Estuary Explorers and Water All Around You, the NSRWA’s environmental educator, Brian Taylor, has ushered in a new era of programming. Now that Brian is about to round-out his first full year with the organization, let’s take a look at what new groups and programs he’s brought to the watershed.

River Adventures Rocks! In past years, NSRWA has partnered with the South Shore YMCA to offer several summer kayaking programs called River Adventures Camp. This year was a big step forward because our educator, who is a lifeguard, wilderness first-responder, and experienced river guide took the lead on the trips. Brian Summer campers from Sunset Point Camp in Hull had fun discovering life in the tide pools during NSRWA’s planned week-long day programs bringing Estuary Explorers. Sunset Point is part of the Catholic Charities of Greater Boston, providing youth with South Shore area youth on outdoor adven- a great overnight summer camp experience. The NSRWA was so excited to bring them out on the North tures that included 5 days of kayaking River for the first time! and swimming. Through this program, the campers experienced the rivers to their fullest by discovering local flora and Pembroke Students Discover Nature fauna, promoting environmental steward- ship, building confidence as paddlers and in Their Own Backyards outdoor adventurers, and having fun exploring nearly 20 miles of our rivers! By developing new programs and reaching more youth, NSRWA has been able to better serve the needs of the public, instill water and environ- ment-based stewardship, and advance our mission forward. One such program reminds us that we don’t need to be “nature people” to have an eye-opening outdoor experience. Our environmental educator, Brian, answered the call New South Shore Guides from a teacher at Pembroke Middle This year we formed a new partnership School looking for a field trip for her Pembroke Middle School students look in amazement as they see river herring during with the Norwell Recreation Department. spring migration through a park in their town. Through this collaboration, the NSRWA “I’ve lived in Pembroke my offered a week long recreation camp whole life, I never knew this and technology to electronically count entitled South Shore Guides. This new amazing migration was hap- the herring as they pass by on their program brought local Norwell youth on pening right here in my town!” migration up stream. outdoor adventures in and around their ~ Pembroke Student Through this program, these future watershed including fishing on the North engineers were able to understand the River, hiking and canoeing around Jacobs seventh grade engineering club. importance of these fish within their Pond, and even a pontoon ride out to the Thanks to the help of the Pembroke ecosystem, as well as discovering how Spit. Through this program, local youth Herring Commission, the students certain engineering practices can be learned about our watershed, and how to were able to discover how the commis- utilized to benefit their environment be responsible outdoor adventurers. We sion uses unique waterway designs and community. are excited to offer more programs like these with other towns in our watershed!

NSRWA.org October 2019 Page 5 Measuring the Health of Our Estuaries

2019 Water Samples Red symbols indicate the geometric mean of samples is above state standards for swimming/shellfishing. Yellow symbols met state standards, however, shell- fish beds are closed from March 1 to November 1 every year.

2019 RiverWatch Monitoring Shows Influence of Stormwater This year, thanks to a MassDEP in the upper tributaries, especially Long- Sampling also showed higher bacteria Watershed Monitoring Grant, we were water Brook in Hanover (not shown). in the closed shellfish growing areas able to test shellfish growing areas Our sampling showed that storm- at the Driftway and Julian St. sites weekly through September. The grant water is still a major contributor of bac- (red shellfish) than the conditionally also funded additional headwaters sam- teria, especially a sampling round on approved areas (yellow) closer to pling that showed high bacterial counts July 24th that occurred after 1.8” of rain. the mouth.

River Herring Runs on the South Shore in 2019 The South Shore has many herring runs, but not all are the same, with population estimates ranging in magnitude from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands. In many cases, the smaller runs have been limited in the past by lack of connectivity due to dams. Places where passage has been improved, like Town Brook in Plymouth and Herring Brook in Pembroke, have seen their populations increase with greater access to habitat and stewardship.

NSRWA.org October 2019 Page 6 2020 is NSRWA’s 50th Anniversary! In 2020 the NSRWA will celebrate its 50th anniversary! We have grown significantly as an organization since our start in 1970. What began as a small group of concerned South Shore citizens has blossomed into a regional force comprised of more than 1,500 individuals, families and businesses. As we plan for the decades ahead, let’s take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments thus far.

In the 1970s, we: In the 1980s, we: In the 1990s, we: In the 2000s, we: In the 2010s, we: • Obtained National • Hired our first • Began our citizen- • Worked with • Removed two dams on Natural Landmark status professional staff led water quality Marshfield to expand Third Herring Brook, the for the North and South • Brought a lawsuit monitoring program its sewer system, culmination of a decade Rivers against the Scituate • Worked with local eliminating sources of work to open 9 miles of • Passed the Scenic Wastewater Treat- agencies to mitigate of contamination in stream for migrating and Protective Order, mak- ment Plant, forcing pollution from storm the South River native fish ing the North River the the town to address drains and septic • Promoted the Com- • Reopened 313 acres of state’s first and only operational problems systems munity Preservation South River shellfish beds scenic protected river that affected water • Reopened 293 Act, preserving over • Expanded our “Water quality acres of North River 1,800 acres of land All Around You” education shellfish beds across the South program, reaching 2,500 Shore students annually in 11 •Tackled water con- towns servation issues with • Broadened our citizen our regional Green- science monitoring efforts scapes program -- to include river herring, • Expanded the horseshoe crabs and salt shellfishing season marshes in both the North and • Increased our outdoor South Rivers recreation offerings NSRWA’s Legacy Circle “We have been supporting the NSRWA for years as it is very important to do Celebrate 50 Years With Us! what we can to help ensure the quality Throughout 2020 we will be hosting 50 Places to Explore will highlight of our watershed and way of life on the a wide variety of special activities 50 of our favorite places to explore South Shore. Becoming a legacy donor and events designed to celebrate across the South Shore, with us or on is just an extension of that continued our history, explore the South Shore, your own — including undiscovered support. It was a simple process of stating and empower you to better under- natural treasures where you can walk, our intentions in our will to include a stand and protect local waters. paddle, picnic, fish or snowshoe! donation to the NSRWA along with other Here’s a sneak peek at a few of next organizations who we want to support.” year’s activities: 50 Actions to Protect Water will ~ Bill and Susanne Bottiggi provide you with simple things to do to New Year’s Day Walk –We will start be a water warrior throughout the year! Protecting our local waters requires our 50th year by going back to where constant vigilance. Please consider leaving it all began – the Driftway Park in 50th Anniversary Party – September a legacy gift to the NSRWA. Scituate. It was at this spot that con- 18, 2020. Don’t miss the biggest cerns over declining wildlife in our party we have ever had! Save the Legacy Circle Members salt marshes inspired our founder, date for next year, there will be more Herb and Pauline Emilson • Jean Foley, to take action to ensure information to come. Betsey and Robert Detwiler • Peter clean water for people and wildlife by and Julie Kelly-Detwiler • Craig and starting the NSRWA. Come find out Stay Connected - Stay tuned for fun Danny Hannafin • Richard and Jackie more about some of the battles, wars pop-up events by signing up for our Leach • Deborah Lenahan • Michael and skirmishes that the NSRWA has e-news at nsrwa.org or follow us on and Susan Wolfe • David DeGhetto fought at this location to stand up for Facebook, on Twitter @nsrwa and • William and Susanne Bottiggi the Herring and North Rivers. Instagram at northsouthrivers.

NSRWA.org October 2019 Page 7 WaterWatch NORTH AND SOUTH RIVERS WATERSHED ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 43, NORWELL, MA 02061 www.nsrwa.org • 781-659-8168

Inside This Issue: • Keeping Fish Out of Hot Water in Norwell and Hanover • Engaging Our Communities with Art and Music • Education Expands to Meet Community Needs • Measuring the Health of Our Estuaries • 2020 is NSRWA’s 50th Anniversary!

Join Us for Fall and Winter Walks in the Watershed

• November 11 - Hobomock Trail, Herring Brook - Pembroke • November 29 (Black Friday) - Forge Pond, Indian Head River - Hanover • December 21 - Solstice Walk at Norris Reservation, North River - Norwell For more information on these walks and more, visit nsrwa.org or sign up for our e-news. Save the Date NSRWA Annual Meeting New Year’s Day Walk WaterWatch Lectures Friday, November 1, 2019 Wednesday, January 1, 2020 Wednesdays, January 15 - South Shore Natural Driftway Conservation Park, March 4, 2020 Science Center Scituate South Shore Natural 7:00 Reception 1:00pm Science Center 7:30pm Meeting 7:00pm

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