April 3
Still waiting for the alewives to arrive at the Walker - Slough Pond passage. Yesterday a small industrious crew cleaned out the passageway of leaf build up and fallen branches which were impeding the flow. The water is running fine and strong and the temperature remains around 50°F/ 10°C. The air temperature yesterday morning was the same, though there was a decided chill to the wind. We may be patiently waiting here, and it is still early, but down at the Stony Brook fish ladder, 404 alewives have been counted since March 18. The temperature in the bay is still cold, at 42°, though warmer in Nantucket Sound, which accounts for the count being over 1,000 at the Harwich ladder.
The passageway is now ready for the alewives arrival, sending its scent out from the head waters to the ponds below. A big thanks to the Alewife Committee and helpers for their efforts and commitment early on a beautiful Sunday morning that could have been spent elsewhere. It is pretty magical out in the woods though so what better place could there be, the spring light full and glowing, and the song of Red-winged Blackbirds echoing across the waters. Being outdoors with friends, in the camaraderie of a shared adventure (which helps wildlife so directly), leaves you with a sense of true contentment.
Still waiting for the alewives to arrive at the Walker - Slough Pond passage. Yesterday a small industrious crew cleaned out the passageway of leaf build up and fallen branches which were impeding the flow. The water is running fine and strong and the temperature remains around 50°F/ 10°C. The air temperature yesterday morning was the same, though there was a decided chill to the wind. We may be patiently waiting here, and it is still early, but down at the Stony Brook fish ladder, 404 alewives have been counted since March 18. The temperature in the bay is still cold, at 42°, though warmer in Nantucket Sound, which accounts for the count being over 1,000 at the Harwich ladder.
The passageway is now ready for the alewives arrival, sending its scent out from the head waters to the ponds below. A big thanks to the Alewife Committee and helpers for their efforts and commitment early on a beautiful Sunday morning that could have been spent elsewhere. It is pretty magical out in the woods though so what better place could there be, the spring light full and glowing, and the song of Red-winged Blackbirds echoing across the waters. Being outdoors with friends, in the camaraderie of a shared adventure (which helps wildlife so directly), leaves you with a sense of true contentment.
Passageway entrance from Walkers Pond to Slough Pond, due East, April.
Passageway due West toward Slough with early pollen.
April 9
Still waiting... over a thousand alewives now down at the ladder.* The water temperature in our passageway has maintained a steady 50° for the past two weeks but the water level is lower than a week ago, though flowing well. This year's clean up did not include digging out the channel of accumulated sand and embedded leaf litter, making the passage shallower from the start. The pond level has gone down three inches in the past three weeks, in fact. This coincides with the draw down from the ponds for adequate flow at the fish ladder, critical water management overseen by the Alewife Wardens. It is complicated work. Baseline water levels are effected by annual precipitation and evaporation, as well as water usage in homes and businesses, all drawing from our water table, the Cape's sole source aquifer. Our data record will include these statistics as we assess the future of the Slough Pond passage. If we know anything about alewives, they can be quite persistent once they set their minds and silvery bodies on getting home.
*(3,371 alewives have been counted as of 4/11; arrivals at seining pool but fewer entering Lower Mill Pond)
Still waiting... over a thousand alewives now down at the ladder.* The water temperature in our passageway has maintained a steady 50° for the past two weeks but the water level is lower than a week ago, though flowing well. This year's clean up did not include digging out the channel of accumulated sand and embedded leaf litter, making the passage shallower from the start. The pond level has gone down three inches in the past three weeks, in fact. This coincides with the draw down from the ponds for adequate flow at the fish ladder, critical water management overseen by the Alewife Wardens. It is complicated work. Baseline water levels are effected by annual precipitation and evaporation, as well as water usage in homes and businesses, all drawing from our water table, the Cape's sole source aquifer. Our data record will include these statistics as we assess the future of the Slough Pond passage. If we know anything about alewives, they can be quite persistent once they set their minds and silvery bodies on getting home.
*(3,371 alewives have been counted as of 4/11; arrivals at seining pool but fewer entering Lower Mill Pond)
News from Dennis...
As of April 9th, there have been no alewives at the Bound Brook or Scargo Lake since the count began on April 1, under the APCC. These are the closest runs to ours in Brewster and also originate in Cape Cod Bay. The two Dennis runs pass through Quivett Creek to the west of Paine's Creek. These are smaller runs, traditionally, though the Town of Dennis has made great improvements in each passageway. They do not have ladders, per se, though Bound Brook has a slight stony incline. Once the alewives make their way through the creek, they pass under Route 6A through a culvert, follow narrow, winding streams through wooded wetlands, rich now with Skunk Cabbage, and continue up until reaching the inland ponds. Both are lovely quiet spots to visit but be respectful of the resident swans who guard their nest quite vigorously. Air: 48°; water: 45°F.
April 16
The day we have been waiting for finally arrives. Sometime between 9 and 11 am this morning the first alewives arrived at the Walker/ Slough Pond passage. We could hear them splashing in the stream as we came down through the woods. Mind you, they have travelled approximately 2.25 miles from the top of the fish ladder at Lower Mill Pond to get here and that after an arduous journey in from the sea to Paine's Creek, up Stony Brook, and the ladder's forceful current, to return to their home or natal pond. And for these particular anadromous fish (Alosa pseudoharengus) that is Slough Pond.
Upon entering the passage, some alone but most in pairs, they darted forward, shot back out, then in once again. Further down, they circled cautiously at the dark opening of the culvert pipe, but, once through, moved with more certainty. I followed as they curved through the wooded stream, pale, silvery, and thin, they seemed small, most less than a foot long. As they passed over the stream bed, their scales changed color, mirage-like, as they passed from dark to light; their black spot an unchangeable, inky tattoo or birth mark of their clan. They pushed and swung their way around leaves and sticks and across sandy patches with their sinewy bodies and strong tails, their fins visible above the waterline. They moved with a singular purpose now, seemingly intent on reaching the open water of the pond ahead. I watched each fish or pair flash forward into those glistening depths, in that beautiful moment of arriving home, almost with an audible sigh of relief that was perhaps my own, and they became invisible once more.
The conditions: we had about a half inch of rain last night which did help raise the water level just enough for them. It has been increasingly shallow the past couple of weeks with draw down at the run and little rain. There are accumulations of sand and debris from storm water run off from the dirt path down to the passageway, connected to Seaman's Road. Heavy rains also cause erosion on the banks. Unfortunately, this year's clean up did not include digging to remove these accumulations. But the alewives are persistent creatures.The air temperature was 60° and the water 58° in overcast conditions with slight drizzle and mist. In the hour there, approximately 50 fish were counted. The total at the electronic counter at the Grist Mill is 25,000 today, with 9,538 counted in a 24 hour period on April 22nd, which did get our hopes up this morning. As of April 17, that number doubled to 50,228!
The day we have been waiting for finally arrives. Sometime between 9 and 11 am this morning the first alewives arrived at the Walker/ Slough Pond passage. We could hear them splashing in the stream as we came down through the woods. Mind you, they have travelled approximately 2.25 miles from the top of the fish ladder at Lower Mill Pond to get here and that after an arduous journey in from the sea to Paine's Creek, up Stony Brook, and the ladder's forceful current, to return to their home or natal pond. And for these particular anadromous fish (Alosa pseudoharengus) that is Slough Pond.
Upon entering the passage, some alone but most in pairs, they darted forward, shot back out, then in once again. Further down, they circled cautiously at the dark opening of the culvert pipe, but, once through, moved with more certainty. I followed as they curved through the wooded stream, pale, silvery, and thin, they seemed small, most less than a foot long. As they passed over the stream bed, their scales changed color, mirage-like, as they passed from dark to light; their black spot an unchangeable, inky tattoo or birth mark of their clan. They pushed and swung their way around leaves and sticks and across sandy patches with their sinewy bodies and strong tails, their fins visible above the waterline. They moved with a singular purpose now, seemingly intent on reaching the open water of the pond ahead. I watched each fish or pair flash forward into those glistening depths, in that beautiful moment of arriving home, almost with an audible sigh of relief that was perhaps my own, and they became invisible once more.
The conditions: we had about a half inch of rain last night which did help raise the water level just enough for them. It has been increasingly shallow the past couple of weeks with draw down at the run and little rain. There are accumulations of sand and debris from storm water run off from the dirt path down to the passageway, connected to Seaman's Road. Heavy rains also cause erosion on the banks. Unfortunately, this year's clean up did not include digging to remove these accumulations. But the alewives are persistent creatures.The air temperature was 60° and the water 58° in overcast conditions with slight drizzle and mist. In the hour there, approximately 50 fish were counted. The total at the electronic counter at the Grist Mill is 25,000 today, with 9,538 counted in a 24 hour period on April 22nd, which did get our hopes up this morning. As of April 17, that number doubled to 50,228!
April 19
The number of alewives migrating in doubled in the last 24 hours along our passageway. We can see a disturbance in the waters, silent circular wakes. They enter by the old fallen tree that marks the water path in from Walker's Pond; amidst those weathered roots, the gnarled branches of wild blueberries, the emerald green moss and pale lichen, and the tenderMayflower leaves they travel. Crows and Red-wings call and we hear the slap of powerful tails against the water's surface. Could they be spawning here? At the entrance or in the channel? Why yes, they are. This is typical behavior though some are wary of the sandy shoals in the shallow water ahead and dash in and out quickly. There are footprints of raccoons in the sand, there is a water snake, curious gulls, and tell tale scales glistening along the sandy bottom. The water is lowest at 1.5", the average is 2-3", and the deepest, the short section after the culvert is 12." It is hard work. Down at the ladder, 102, 328 fish have been counted.
The number of alewives migrating in doubled in the last 24 hours along our passageway. We can see a disturbance in the waters, silent circular wakes. They enter by the old fallen tree that marks the water path in from Walker's Pond; amidst those weathered roots, the gnarled branches of wild blueberries, the emerald green moss and pale lichen, and the tenderMayflower leaves they travel. Crows and Red-wings call and we hear the slap of powerful tails against the water's surface. Could they be spawning here? At the entrance or in the channel? Why yes, they are. This is typical behavior though some are wary of the sandy shoals in the shallow water ahead and dash in and out quickly. There are footprints of raccoons in the sand, there is a water snake, curious gulls, and tell tale scales glistening along the sandy bottom. The water is lowest at 1.5", the average is 2-3", and the deepest, the short section after the culvert is 12." It is hard work. Down at the ladder, 102, 328 fish have been counted.
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April Notes:
- Storm water runoff from Seaman's Road and the hillside from occasional downpours flood channel with sand, leaves, and debris.
- The sides of the passageway without vegetation also show erosion and debris falls into channel.
- Sand is deep in passageway this year with sand bars impeding passage; the channel was not dug down only cleared.
- Shallow water levels in April, with low rainfall and draw down, impede fish passage; fins show above water line and tails used for movement forward.
- Some spawning noted in channel and at head, also typical, with some fish passing all the way into Slough Pond.
- The fish hesitate and circle for considerable time at the culvert pipe, some turn back and move in and out, typical behavior.
April 21
Well, another day with no fish in the channel, but meanwhile, far from the treacherous shallows, the other wild heralds of spring are sparking in the woods.
Well, another day with no fish in the channel, but meanwhile, far from the treacherous shallows, the other wild heralds of spring are sparking in the woods.
April 24
Day four with no alewives coming through the channel. Yesterday's rain provided only a half inch rise in the water level. The stream was running well though the shallows will be hard for them to navigate. Clearly, we clearly need more rain. The temperature has been cooler which might account for their absence as well and the water is still chilly. We are early in the season however, with everyone's attention on the ladder some may not realize the migration is staggered over ten weeks or so and it takes time and intention to get up to the head waters of Slough.
Numerous bull frogs appeared today along the mossy hummocks in the channel's deepest sections, about 200 feet long with a natural leafy bottom that is about a foot deep. I could see them leaping in and disappearing, little wilding wizards, masters of camouflage in the muck. Impossible to photograph. Their presence today was heartening with all we have heard about their dwindling population. One did call out with that squeaky warning only frogs can master, meant to surprise us into dropping hold of them.
Further down the channel, I had better fortune, running into two of the alewife wardens out surveying the passage in the company of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries Management biologist and Diadromous Fish Project Leader. It was a lovely day for some company in the woods.
Day four with no alewives coming through the channel. Yesterday's rain provided only a half inch rise in the water level. The stream was running well though the shallows will be hard for them to navigate. Clearly, we clearly need more rain. The temperature has been cooler which might account for their absence as well and the water is still chilly. We are early in the season however, with everyone's attention on the ladder some may not realize the migration is staggered over ten weeks or so and it takes time and intention to get up to the head waters of Slough.
Numerous bull frogs appeared today along the mossy hummocks in the channel's deepest sections, about 200 feet long with a natural leafy bottom that is about a foot deep. I could see them leaping in and disappearing, little wilding wizards, masters of camouflage in the muck. Impossible to photograph. Their presence today was heartening with all we have heard about their dwindling population. One did call out with that squeaky warning only frogs can master, meant to surprise us into dropping hold of them.
Further down the channel, I had better fortune, running into two of the alewife wardens out surveying the passage in the company of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries Management biologist and Diadromous Fish Project Leader. It was a lovely day for some company in the woods.
