Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus Mordax) Spawning Habitat on the Gulf of Maine Coast of Massachusetts
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Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report TR-30 Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) spawning habitat on the Gulf of Maine coast of Massachusetts Bradford C. Chase Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station Gloucester, MA December, 2006 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Paul Diodati, Director Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement Dave Peters, Commissioner Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Robert W. Golledge, Jr., Secretary Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, Governor EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) is a pelagic, schooling spawning substrate (Jones River and Ipswich River). fish that is common to the fish community in embayments The Charles, Neponset, Fore, and Mill River were all in and estuaries on the Gulf of Maine coast of Massachusetts. the range of 9,000 – 10,000 m2; and all other locations Similar to other anadromous species, smelt spend a period in the study area were considerably smaller. Although of maturation in marine waters then migrate above tidal no quantitative assessments were conducted on smelt influence to natal freshwater streams on spring spawning populations, monitoring observations indicate that during runs. Smelt populations in Massachusetts have long been the study period only the Neponset River, Fore River and valued for supporting popular sportfisheries, small-scale Back River contained large smelt runs that produced egg commercial fisheries and for the forage they provide to deposition approaching the capacity of available spawning many species of fish and wildlife. Smelt fisheries are a unique habitat (observed only during 1989 and 1994). cultural feature to our coastline as anglers pursue smelt in The typical spawning period was from mid-March the fall and winter when most other fishing opportunities until the mid-May. Egg deposition usually peaked in fade as gamefish migrate away from the coast. Smelt fishing April and was light and intermittent for most of May. The is valued as much for the camaraderie and fine tasting catch total temporal range when smelt eggs were present was as it is for the sport of reeling in this small fish. March 3rd to May 28th. The average water temperature Concerns for the status of smelt populations in at the onset of spawning runs was 5.3 ºC. However, the Massachusetts manifested from the sportfishing water temperature, date at the onset of spawning, and the communities in the 1980s and were supported by duration of the spawning period varied widely with some observations from Massachusetts Division of Marine dependence on the size of spawning habitat and seasonal Fisheries biologists. A common description of the smelt weather. The presence of smelt larvae was detected with resource in the latter half of the 20th century included the ichthyoplankton net sampling at 14 river stations. Smelt scenario of robust fall and winter fisheries and large spring larvae were present in the tidal waters downstream of the smelt runs in the 1960s and most of the 1970s, followed spawning habitat from April 14th through the end of the by sharply declining fisheries and smelt runs in the 1980s. monitoring period (May 31st), with peak catches occurring Throughout these periods, there has been little attention from mid-April to mid-May. given to the assessment of smelt populations and their Water chemistry measurements were made at the 64 spawning habitat. In order to support the management of spawning habitat stations for temperature, dissolved oxygen, this valuable resource a monitoring project was develop in pH, salinity and specific conductivity and compared to the late 1980s to delineate all smelt spawning habitat along Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards. All water the Gulf of Maine Coast in Massachusetts. temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements during During 1988-1995, most freshwater drainages (162) the spawning season were supportive of aquatic life, both from the New Hampshire border to the Cape Cod favorably influenced by the cool air temperature and higher Canal were surveyed for the presence of potential smelt discharge during the spring freshet. Routine violations of spawning habitat. Sixty-four spawning habitat stations Water Quality Standards (<6.5) for pH were observed in were established and monitoring focused on the spatial many rivers. Only two rivers in the South Coastal Drainage and temporal presence of demersal, adhesive smelt eggs. Area maintained spawning season mean pH above 6.5. The monitoring resulted in the designation of smelt runs Most rivers in this region had routine acidification that at 45 specific locations within 30 river systems in the could be a threat to smelt egg survival. following four major drainages: South Coastal Drainage Seven other diadromous fish species were observed Area (12), Boston Harbor Drainage Area (15), North during smelt spawning habitat monitoring. Only river Coastal Drainage Area (12), and Plum Island Sound and herring (both alewife and blueback herring) and American the Merrimack River (6). eel were observed routinely. Adult river herring were In each smelt run except the Charles River, smelt observed making upstream spawning migrations during began spawning at riffle habitat near the interface of salt May in 19 of the 30 river systems. American eel were seen and freshwater. Spawning progressed upstream beyond in 23 of the 30 river systems; typically as glass eels migrating tidal influence for as much as a kilometer. The upstream to freshwater habitats starting in late-March. limits of egg deposition for many rivers were physical The monitoring project raised substantial concerns for impediments that prevented further passage. There was a the health of smelt spawning habitat and status of smelt wide range to the size of smelt spawning habitats in the populations on the Gulf of Maine coast of Massachusetts. study area. More than half were less than 200 m in stream The following nine physical and chemical conditions length and less than 1,000 m2 in substrate area. Only two 2 were identified as clearly degrading the quality of stream specific spawning locations exceeded 10,000 m in available habitat for migrating adult smelt and smelt egg survival: i sedimentation, eutrophication, passage impediments, study. The next practical steps towards the goal of improving channel alterations, stream flow reduction, stormwater, tidal the Commonwealth’s smelt runs involve applying the influence, vegetative buffer loss, and acidification. Qualitative monitoring information to habitat and population scores were applied to rank degradation in all smelt runs, restoration. Better information on smelt population resulting in the highest summed scores for sedimentation status and the cause of habitat degradation is necessary for and eutrophication. The effects of eutrophication in the resource management and to identify restoration strategies form of excessive periphyton growth on substrate where for both smelt spawning habitat and smelt populations. smelt eggs incubate were nearly ubiquitous in the study Specific recommendations are made to achieve these goals. area and may represent the most significant threat to Concerns over smelt populations remain high as this report smelt spawning habitat in Massachusetts. It is likely that is published. In 2004, the National Marine Fisheries Service cumulative affects from all the negative influences are designated rainbow smelt as a “Species of Concern”. This combining to reduce the quantity and quality of spawning status applies to species for which there is concern and habitat and causing lower smelt egg survival and population uncertainty over their biological status and population recruitment. threats, and is a precursor to the designation of “Candidate Species” under Endangered Species Act review. The objective of documenting where smelt spawn on the Gulf of Maine coast of Massachusetts was met by this Rainbow smelt from Parker River spawning run. M.Ayer ii CONTENTS Executive Summary . i List of Contents . iii Acronyms . iv Conversions . iv Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION Study Area . 3 Methods . .3 Chapter 2. SPAWNING HABITAT SYNOPSIS FOR ALL REGIONS Physical Characteristics . .6 Spawning Period . 11 Water Chemistry . 13 Ichthyoplankton . .16 Observations of other Diadromous Fish . 17 Negative Influences on Spawning Habitat . 17 Discussion . .21 Recommendations . 23 Chapter 3. SOUTH SHORE REGION Plymouth Harbor . 29 Jones River . 33 Island Creek . 39 South River . 42 North River . 46 Satuit Brook . 58 Bound Brook . .60 Chapter 4. BOSTON HARBOR REGION Weir River . .66 Hingham Harbor . 70 Back River . .73 Fore River . .78 Town Brook (Quincy) . 85 Furnace Brook . 95 Neponset River . .99 Charles River . 105 Mystic River Basin . 110 Chapter 5. NORTH SHORE REGION Saugus River . 115 Salem Harbor . 121 Danvers River . 124 Manchester Bay . 132 Cape Ann . 139 Essex River . 144 Chapter 6. PLUM ISLAND SOUND AND MERRIMACK RIVER REGION Ipswich River . 149 Rowley River . 153 Parker River . 156 Merrimack River . 162 Acknowledgements . 167 Literature Cited . 168 Appendix A.Water Chemistry Tables . (separate document) B. Ichthyoplankton Tables . (separate document) iii LIST OF ACRONYMS ACOE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cfs cubic feet per second CSO Combined Sewer Overflow CWA Clean Water Act CPUE catch per unit effort MDEP Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection DMF Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries DFW Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife DO dissolved