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VOLUNTEER MONITORING MANUAL

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Alewife/Mystic River Advocates

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May 5, 1997

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. Volunteer Monitoring Manual

Preface The habitat use and water quality information presented in this document is an aid for volunteer monitoring activities and habitat management. The purpose of this manual is to make it easier for concerned citizens of Massachusetts to get involved in monitoring and protecting of the . ecological health of the Mystic River and of the alewife and blueback herring run within the Mystic River watershed. Recognizing that river and stream corridors are a vital part of the Massachusetts environment, we hope that this manual will serve as an effective tool for citizen stewardship of the Mystic River. . This manual was created by Tufts University graduate students in the Urban and Environmental Policy Department, in gonjunction with the Alewife Mystic River Advocates (AMRA). For more information or comments please contact Lisa Brukilacchio at (617) 776-4160.

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. Introduction The Volunteer Monitoring Manual is designed to help you protect the Mystic River and its local herring run through a series of observation charts on water quality, habitat, and population estimates. Using this manual, volunteers should be able to recognize and document the presence of alewife and blueback herring, as well as the habitat and water quality conditions required for spawning. Participants of the volunteer monitoring program will be an integral part of a larger community effort to develop and implement a water quality monitoring program and to promote education and public river stewardship. The Alewife/Mystic RiverAdvocates (AMRA) is a multi-community advocacy group working to promote public awareness of the Mystic River system. The goals of the AMRA are to I restore ecological integrity and vitality and to enhance recreational opportunities through watershed- based management. AMRA, in conjunction with several other local community organizations, is currently working with the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Law Enforcement to participate in the Adopt-A-Stream Program on behalf of the lower Mystic River. This manual will serve as a working guide to provide a starting point for citizens to get involved with the stewardship of the Mystic River through the monitoring and observation of the annual herring run. The manual is divided into three major sections: • Section I, the background section, describes the specific objectives of the manual; gives a general explanation of the herring run; delineates/maps the study area; and provides a summary of the issues regarding barriers to spawning. • Section II, the survey section, provides two observation charts for recording 1) easily observable physical aspects of the river, and 2) habitat characterization and relative I abundance of herring. • Section III, the resource section, lists resource and reporting information, and other ways to get involved with the protection of the Mystic River.

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. 5 Issues

WaterQuality The Mystic River is regulated by the national and Massachusetts Clean Water Acts, which designate the Mystic as a Class B water body. The Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards define the goal for Class B waters as suitable habitat for both fish and recreational activities. State authorities are responsible for preventative and enforcement measures related to protecting, maintaining, or improving the water quality of the river. Federal and state budgetary pressures however, coupled with community growth and pollution sources, make it difficult to achieve the clean water goals. This makes it all the more important for citizens to get involved in the monitoring process and assume community responsibility for the health of the river. As mentioned above in the explanation of the herring run, the life requirements of herring entail a minimum level of water quality to be maintained for each of its life stages: egg, larvae, juvenile, and adult. Water quality conditions vary daily, seasonally, with the level of stream flow, and between stream segments, thus the survival of a herring in each of its life stages depends on the water quality conditions meeting a general range suitable for herring habitat. There are two types of pollution which can degrade the water quality of a river: point and non-point sources. Point sources are described as pipes from dischargers such as industries or sewage plants, and these sources are regulated under the federal Clean Water Act. Non-point sources are more diffuse sources, resulting from stormwater running over land and picking up different pollutants. Examples of non-point sources are stormwater runoff, oil from roads and parking lots, agricultural fertilizers and pesticides, and eroded soils causing increased sediment loads in the river (Adopt-A-Stream, 1992, p. 63). Most 0 non-point sources are not regulated or monitored because of their indirect nature. Yet both pollution sources are significant contributors to water quality problems, making it necessary to determine the general health of the stream through water quality indicators. These indicators will be listed in tlieStream Walk Survey provided in Section II.

Other Barriers to Spawning There are several other barriers to spawning in addition to poor water quality. These include physical obstructions such as dams, stream blockage, debris in the water, or inadequate spawning habitat. The herring need a suitable passageway to spawning grounds in order to maintain a viable population. While the primary effect of sedimentation and pollution on the herring is the fact that it decreases optimal spawning habitat, the primary effect of dams and physical obstructions is that it keeps the herring from reaching their natal rivers and tributaries. There are two significant physical barriers to herring spawning habitat in the Mystic River: the Amelia Earhart Dam and the Upper Mystic Lake Dam. The Amelia Earhart dam lies near the head 6 of the Mystic, but it is not a completely impassable barrier to the herring migration because the locks are frequently opened to allow passage to the upstream spawning areas. The Upper Mystic Lake dam 0 lies between the Upper and Lower Mystic Lakes, and represents the end of the herring's migration on the Mystic River. This dam is currently without a fish ladder and is impassable. These two dams are the major barriers to migrating herring.

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D 7 Section II--Mystic River Walk Survey*

0 This survey provides a form for easily observable physical characteristics of the Mystic River as an indicator for water quality and general river health. Use a separate copy of the form for each river observation point, as indicated on the attached maps. Because conditions vary temporally and spatially, you may want to sample more than once at each observation point throughout the year.

Observation Point # Date Time of day Temperature Water Temperature pH . Water Appearance: Stream Bed Coating: Odor: 0 scum 0 orange to red coating 0 rotten egg 0 foam 0 yellowish coating 0 musky 0 muddy 0 black coating 0 none 0 clear 0 brown coating 0 milky 0 none 0 colored sheen (oily) 0 brownish 0 other

Covering : Goodcover Faircover Poor cover (70%-100% of bank (30%-70% of bank (< 30% covered soil covered by rocks, soil covered by rocks, by rocks, logs, logs, and plants) logs, and plants) and plants)

I River bank 0 0 0

Top of bank 0 0 0

Stability of river bank: Did the river bank sink beneath your feet in 0 no spots, 0 a few spots, 0 many spots 8 Mystic River Walk Survey--p.2

Approximate Width of River at Observation Point

Land Use Profile Type of development along shore: * 0 urban 0 industrial 0 mixed use 0 suburban 0 commercial 0 rural 0 residential 0 agricultural 0 institutional . Presence of: 0 discharge pipes 0 construction activity 0 lawns 0 park/open space 0 parking lots 0 highways 0 other, please describe

. Draw a simple diagram to identify the land uses and types of pollution relative to your observation point.

* This survey was taken from the Adopt-A-Stream workbook, Massachusetts Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife & Environmental Law Enforcement, 1992 edition, p. 65-66. 9 Description of Mystic River Observation Points in Figures 2,3 and 4.

Point 1*: Amelia Earhart Dam. Easy access to the water and good visibility of the run as itt migrates from Boston Harbor.

Point 2: Torbert MacDonald Park, Mystic River Reservation. Directly off route 16 east, the parking lot is across from Sentry Ford. After parking, turn right onto the footpath and follow the path to the left for access to the river. Point 3 : Torbert MacDonald Park, Mystic River Reservation. Walk farther down the main footpath for a second monitoring site upstream from Point 2. Perform survey along any point of access to the river.

Point 4*: Auburn Street Bridge. At the intersection of Auburn Street and route 16 in Medford. Good visibility of the run from a path on the bridge, as well as easy access to the . riverbank. Park on Auburn St., or at Wild Harvest. Point 5*: Alewife Brook Bridge. Where the Mystic Valley Parkway crosses Alewife Brook. Difficult parking, but a good bridge for viewing the run and easy access to the river.

Point 6*: High Street Bridge. Proceed on Mystic Valley Parkway going north and cross the Mystic River at High St. Park on the north side of the Mystic Valley Parkway, where there is easy access to the water and the bridge.

Point 7: Lower Mystic Lake. Follow the Mystic Valley Parkway heading north along the river for easy access to the lake. Park at the MDC pumping station (a green building on the left side on the road) and survey nearby. Point 8: Upper Mystic L£ike Dam. Follow the Mystic Valley Parkway farther north along the river to the Tufts Boathouse. Parking lot available, with easy places to survey along the shore.

Point 9: Upper Mystic Lake. Follow the Mystic Valley Parkway farther north to the top of the . Upper Mystic Lake. There is a parking lot available at Sandy Beach, with access to the MI)C swimming area. Perform survey nearby.

Alternative Si2hts for Educational Purposes: . Point 10: Bay Education Unit. Boathouse at 32 Shore Drive in Somerville. There is a boat ramp and docks when the unit is open. It is difficult to view the run from here, but it provides good shoreline access. I Point 11 *: Mill Brook. Asit enters the Lower Mystic Lake behind Arlington High School. Point 12*: Alewife Brook. Henderson Bridge off Mystic Valley Parkway in Somerville.

* Sites suitable for both the River Walk Survey and Herring Observation Chart. *......

Figure 1 Mystic River

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High St~*et

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Am¢4[a Emharl Darn i,......

Figure 2 Observation Points 1 through 3

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Revere Beach Parkway el*4 j 4- PoiN* 3

POINT 1 * 4 *......

Street High

POINT 6* Route 16

POINT 4*

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Figure 3 Observation Point hrough 6 *......

4- POI 9 Figure 4 Obse ation Points 7 through 9

r Mystic INT 8 L ke Dam

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1& & *. PO 7 High Street . 10 Possible Explanations for Unusual Colors & Odors in the River* Evidence of Point and Non-point Pollution Sources

Observed Condition Possible Cause Muddy water Erosion of soil in upstream area.

Greenish color Extreme algae growth; algae may exceed normal limits due to excessive amounts of nutrients in the water. Nutrient overload may be as a result of fertilizer, pet waste, grass clippings, leaves, etc. entering the river.

Yellow-brown to dark brown Acids released from decaying plants, naturally occurring in fall water when dead leaves collect in the streams.

Orange to red coating on Results from bacterial action on iron. May indicate river bed high erosion rate or industrial pollution.

Colored sheen on surface May indicate oil.

Foam Natural foaming occurs in few scattered patches, and is cream-colored. Extensive foaming (white-colored) may be due to detergents entering the river. . Rotten egg odor Indicates sewage pollution.

Musky odor May indicate presence of untreated sewage, algae, or animal waste.

White cottony masses on Could be "sewage fungus". The presence of this river bed growth indicates sewage or other organic pollution.

Blue-green algae Could indicate sewage or other pollution if growth is excessive.

* This chart was taken directly from the Adopt-A-Stream workbook, 1992 edition, p. 69. . 11 Herring Habitat/Population Observation Chart*

~ This chart is intended to provide a format in which relative abundance, presence or absence of herring can be recorded at specific observation points along the Mystic River. This information is important in determining the qualitative size and timing of the run. Used in conjunction with the River Walk Survey, the information gathered should indicate the general health of the herring run 0 and whether there are any physical or water quality barriers to spawning. It will also provide a means of comparison for future monitoring results. Use this chart for observation points 1,4,5, and 6 where there is an opportunity to view the herring run from a bridge. Because this survey is concerned with the relative presence/abundance of the herring, it is necessary to use it during the 0 spring migration (mid-May to June).

Observation Point # Date Observation Start (time): Observation Finish: Total Observation Time:

WaterLevel: O High O Medium O Low 0 Number of Fish Observed or Relative Presence/Abundance: 0 Many 0 Few 0 None Age of Fish: 0 Adult O Juvenile O Don't Know Swimming Direction: O Downstream O Upstream O In circles . Comments (i.e.: Was there stream blockage? Debris in the water? Leaves and/or naturally-occurring matter in the water? Unusual conditions?)

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*This chart is modeled after the Neponset River Watershed Association's "Herring Observation Chart for Rainbow Smelt". . 12 Additional Monitoring Efforts Underway The observations made through the use of the River Walk Survey andthe Herring Habitat/Population Chart are in addition to a monitoring effort for storm drains within the Mystic River system. The City of Somerville is working with AMRA and the Massachusetts Riverways Program to develop a monitoring program for stormwater entering the Alewife Brook, a major source of pollutant loading to the Mystic River. Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, together with the Alewife/Mystic River Advocates and the Chelsea Creek Action Group, are to identify six storm drains for monitoring: two each in Alewife Brook, Mystic River, and Chelsea Creek. Volunteers will analyze storm drain discharge for the following: • PH • dissolved Oxygen • nitrates • total dissolved solids • temperature • fecal coliform In addition to the above analyses, volunteers will also test for various pollutants of concern. These combined efforts to monitor the health of the Mystic River and its pollution sources will provide much needed information on the status and progress of the river and its herring run. .

. . 13 Section III--Resources and Reporting Information

Resources 0 There is a complete resource list available in the Adopt-A-Stream workbook, 1992 edition, for further information. To contact the program:

Riverways and Adopt-A-Stream Program (617) 727-1614 ext. 360 DFWELE 100 Cambridge Street, Room 1901 Boston, MA 02202

For State agency information on water pollution:

Department of Environmental Protection (617) 292-6983 Division of Water Pollution Control 1 Winter Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02108

Department of Environmental Management (617) 740-1600 Division of Waterways 349 Lincoln Street, Bldg. 45 Hingham, MA 02043

For Federal agency information on water pollution:

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region I (617) 565-3420 JFK Federal Bldg.--Government Center 1 Congress Street Boston, MA 02203

Water Management Division 565-3480 Nonpoint Source Pollution 565-3513 I Wetlands Protection 565-4429 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 565-3560, 565-3525 Program Operations Section 565-3525 Compliance/Enforcement 565-2489 WaterQuality 565-4420

I For MA Fisheries, Wildlife, and Habitat Information:

Dept. of Marine Fisheries (508) 282-0308

Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife & Environmental Law Enforcement:

Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, Boston (617) 727-3151

Division of Environmental Law Enforcement 1-800-632-8075

Division of Marine Fisheries (617) 727-3193 . 14 Reporting Information

If you are performing a survey and you notice an unusual discharge, pollution ' source, or questionable fishki 11, please report the incident to the appropriate authorities. Contact your local government officials first, including Conservation Commissions, Board of Health, and Town Police. Then proceed to contact the relevant state agency. For sewage, hazardous wastes or Oil . Spills, call the Department of Environmental Protection Regional Office. The Northeast Regional Office is in Woburn at: (617) 935-2160. For fishkills, call the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Law Enforcement Regional Office. The Northeast Regional Office is in Acton at: (508) 263-4347. When contacting people about questionable pollution sources, unanticipated discharges, or fishkills, record the following: • time of observation • time of call . • name of person contacted • whether the agency made a verbal commitment to investigate • all relevant facts or suspicions as to what caused the pollution or fishkill

. Other Ways You Can Help Be a Mystic River Steward*

Reduce Non-Point Source Pollution:

I Remember: Everything that goes into the gutter, goes into the river!

Harmful practices: Alternative solutions:

Pouring oil into street or storm drain kills Return used oil to a service fish when it runs off into the river. station.

Washing lawn clippings into river or gutter Compost the yard waste or put it uses up the oxygen in the river as it decays. out with the bagged trash.

Fertilizing the lawn--runoff into the river Follow instructions on fertilizer causes excessive algae growth. bags and use minimally.

Spraying pesticides--pesticides poison fish Hand picking is a better way to eliminate when they are washed into the river. weeds. Try organic methods to reduce insects.

Allowing pet manure to wash into the gutter spreads Keep pet on a leash, pick up disease, bacteria, and uses up valuable oxygen. after it, and dispose of waste properly. . 15 Reduce Erosion:

. Soil erosion into stormdrains and the river is a significant problem for both water quality and fish health. Sediment muddies up the river, smothering aquatic life needed for the herring to feed, as well as clogging the gills of the herring. Excess buildup of sediments in the river may also create a physical obstacle in the riverway which the herring may not be able to bypass, essentially preventing the herring from returning to their spawning ground in the spring. Natural erosion is exacerbated by land-disturbing activities which change the slope of the riverbank, decrease the amount of protective plant cover, and loosen the soil particles. Pavement and concrete decrease the infiltration ability of the area, which increases runoff of soil particles into the . nearby river systems. Thus, because the surrounding area of the Mystic River is highly developed, the rate of erosion and its effects must be monitored carefully. It is important to record and clear any blockages from the river during your survey period, especially when the herring are returning to spawn. . The following are additional activities you can do to minimize erosion: • Keep people, cars and animals away from the riverbank. • Build steps or a ramp on the riverbank if you need access to the water. • Plant protective plant cover or trees on the slopes of the riverbank and nearby areas. • Ask your local state agencies for advice on controlling erosion. • Monitor possible sources of high erosion, such as construction sites or heavily used areas. • If you are landscaping, keep your piles of dirt under cover.

* These suggestidns are from the Adopt-A-Stream workbook, Massachusetts Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife & Environmental Law Enforcement, 1992 edition, p.67,77. D 16 Get Involved

There are several ways to get involved with your local community organizations to promote stewardship of the Mystic River. In addition to monitoring the Mystic and reducing non-point pollution sources, you can also participate in the Alewife/Mystic River Advocates efforts to bolster the health of the herring run. The following are effective ways to get involved:

Welcome back the river herring run. The adult herring return each year to spawn before they head back to the Atlantic Ocean. By allowing them passage to their spawning grounds and not catching them until after they spawn, we will increase the size and the health of the run. If . you do catch the herring after they spawn, please respect the law: take no more than 25 fish per person. We recommend a much lower take until the run is stronger.

Participate in River Clean-Up Days. The Alewife/Mystic RiverAdvocates help . organize an annual river clean-up day in early May. Several local groups sponsor such events throughout the year. Cleaning up the river and the surrounding areas is an important part of taking pride in our Mystic River.

. Educate those around you. Recruit friends and neighbors to get involved with the Mystic River and its related activities. Many people are not aware that a herring run exists on the Mystic! Spread the word about ways for people to get involved. Support the Mystic River Watershed Association and your local subwatershed group to create a strong voice for the entire basin.

Participate in special events. The Alewife/Mystic River Advocates are developing an annual "Herring Run" road race from the Amelia Earhart Dam to the Mystic Lakes Dam. The first ' race will take place in the spring of 1997. Look for future educational promotions to raise awareness I of the Mystic River herring run. For information call Lisa Brukilacchio at (617)776-4160 or Janey Keogh at (617)393-8132.

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