What is a “fish ladder”? By the numbers... A manmade structure There are 13 diadromous species in Massachusetts, (which often resembles including herring, American eels, and rainbow smelt! a ladder with steps) that allows fish swimming upstream DMF designs and installs eel ramps in coastal to Rainbow Smelt to get past barriers like , Smelt at night in freshwater assist their upstream migrations. 9 have been installed in from early March through May. , and locks. Massachusetts since 2007! Female rainbow smelt can lay VIEWING GUIDE Bafflefishways look just pools are between 5,000 and 80,000 eggs! like ladders! Examples made up of a There are over 100 separate river herring runs in Each , MILLIONS of river herring migrate into Massachusetts waters, returning include Denil and Alaskan series of small pools Massachusetts! to their place of birth to create a new generation! This guide offers information on Steeppass. of regular length to create a long, sloping fifteen of our state’s busiest fish passage locations. for fish to travel upstream. Since 2013, 23,500 river herring have been stocked throughout the region by DMF! Life Cycle of a Herring 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] American Eel Egg laying (spawning) 1. (of fish) migrating between fresh The only catadromous fish in North happens in the same Woolen Mill and Fishway America, meaning it lives mostly in April 15 - May 15 and salt waters. river they hatched! Parker River, Newbury freshwater but returns to the ocean to st This is the 1 of six dams on the Parker River, and each has a fishway to provide passage to reproduce! Young fish stay in Get Involved... Alewife Adults migrate upstream the headwaters in Pentucket Pond. freshwater until they Many areas have dedicated Town Natural Resource Departments and volunteer groups who are Spawn in late March to mid-May, to FRESHWATER are mature enough to when water temperatures reach 51ºF Apple and Pond Street Bridges very knowledgeable about the watershed and the local . These groups make many migrate to April 1 - May 1 Alewife Brook, Essex contributions to the conservation of river herring and other diadromous species by increasing DMF maintains an electronic counting station at Pond Street, with run counts public awareness and education. displayed! Bridges are located just off Western Avenue (Route 22). Brochure Published in 2018 by: Surviving adults migrate Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) downstream to SALTWATER Central Falls Dam and Fishway 251 Causeway Street, Suite 400 May 1 - June 1 Aberjona River, Winchester Boston, MA 02114 Blueback Herring , noun. [es·tu·ary] The ladder (located off Main Street near Mystic Parkway) was installed in Fall of 2016, 617.626.1520 Spawn in late April through June 1. a place where freshwater meets the ocean providing access to previously inaccessible habitat in Wedge and Horn Ponds. Visit our website: www.mass.gov/service-details/diadromous-fisheries-project when water temperatures reach 57ºF _ Travel Information: Mystic Lakes Dam and Fishway Wareham Street Dam and Fishway Public Parking May 1 - June 1 April 1 - May 1 Mystic Lakes, Medford Nemasket River, Middleboro River herring are counted using an underwater video camera operated by the Mystic River Located off the Wareham and Sylvan St. intersection, this large weir-pool ladder was designed and constructed by DMF in 1996. Street Parking Watershed Association (mysticriver.org) Watertown Dam and Fishway Jenny Grist Mill Dam and Fishway Charles River, Watertown May 1 - June 15 Town Brook, Plymouth April 15 - May 15 Limited Parking This is the nd2 of eight dams along the Charles River - Extensive efforts from DMF and other Substantial improvements have been made to the fishway (including the removal of several agencies has provided 20 miles of fish passage access to upstream spawning habitats! dams) to boost access. The Mill is located near the intersection of Summer St. and Spring Ln.

Group Friendly Jackson Square Dam and Fishway Mill Pond Dam and Fishway Back River, Weymouth April 15 - May 15 Agawam River, Wareham April 1 - May 15 The weir-pool fishway (built in the 1990’s by DMF) is one of six total fish ladders, More than 500 acres of spawning and nursery habitat are available in the pond and Ideal Viewing Dates spanning 4.8 miles from Boston Harbor to Whitman’s Pond. impoundments, which is located just off Rt 6/28 West. Parking is available in the Elk Lodge.

Barker Street Dam and Fishway Monument River Fishway Herring Brook, Pembroke April 15 - May 15 Monument River, Bournedale April 15 - May 30 Near the Allen and High St. intersction, Herring Brook has more than 347 acres of spawning DMF has monitored this run for more than 30 years using electronic and visual counts to and nursery habitat. Improved passages have greatly increased fish numbers in the pond! estimate population size, which has ranged from 91,000 fish in 1980 to 672,000 in 2000! Run Size: War Memorial Park Dam and Fishway Lower Mill Pond Dam and Fishway Town River, West Bridgewater April 15 - May 15 Stony Brook, Brewster April 15 - May 15 10,000 - 20,000 fish Town River has 354 acres of spawning and nursery habitat available in Lake Located near the intersection of Stony Brook and Setucket road, this fishway is described in Nippinicket. Run viewing is best seen on Arch street (between River and Bryant streets) great detail by John Hay in his book “The Run”.

20,000 - 50,000 fish Oliver Mills Dam and Fishway Mill Pond Dam and Fishway Nemasket River, Middleboro April 1 - May 1 Marstons Mills River, Barnstable April 15 - May 15 Located on Nemasket street, just off Rt 44, the river has one of the largest spawning areas in Fish passage restoration work led by the Town has improved access to Middle and Hamblin 100,000 + fish eastern Massachusetts, at more than 5000 acres! ponds.