December 1 We are indebted once again the AmeriCorps crew who returned (in full and amiable force) to the Slough fish passage this morning for a second cleanup in 30 days. Although the water level is low, all the leaves, branches, and pine needles have been removed. The crew included some other volunteers: Select Board member and Alewife Committee liaison, Kari Hoffmann, Kimberley Crocker-Pearson, Chair of the Natural Resources Advisory Commission, Alewife Warden Doug Erickson, (his co-worker at the Grist Mill, Scot), Dave Johnson and Ryan Burch of the Natural Resources Department, Steve Spear of NRCS, and yours truly.
Once the debris was removed, a small trench was dug down the center of the channel, through the accumulated sand, in order to create a deeper swimming area for the departing fish (once they depart). The sandbags were kept in place until we have enough rainfall to fill the passageway with adequate depth, so the alewives' departure is indefinitely postponed. Rain dances are in order...
December 4 After a full day of rain, light rain, yesterday there was not enough of an accumulation to warrant removal of the sandbags. There is a good level of water along the entire channel today, just not deep enough in a couple of areas. The passage is still clear from Friday's work and the trench has held.
We were surprised to see that the "bucket" has been reinstalled blocking the culvert pipe. The bucket was last installed for 11 days on May 5th, you may recall, ostensibly to protect the herring due to low water levels in the passage. It did lead to the death of 12 adult herring whose outmigration was obstructed. Not all professionals support the use of these buckets, as I mentioned at that time.
This installation today seemed unnecessarily redundant with the sand bags in place. Upon inquiry to the Town, we learned that the head warden felt there was "seepage" from the pond that would be detrimental to establishing a good water level in the passageway. Installing the bucket was seen as a method of insuring the passage retains water. I am not certain of the logic or the science of this decision as I did not note any seepage myself. The sandbags are well dug in and a berm of sand surrounds them along with leaf litter. Any seepage would be minimal and might actually be beneficial.
After the high note of the collaborative AmeriCorps clearing last week, where there is a will there is a way, this was disheartening. Falling back on the use of the bucket (many questioned the warden's use of it before) seemed a step backwards in the progress we have made. I am not a hydrologist. Maybe, in itself, it will be of some help and the alewives need all the help we can give them; protecting the biodiversity of our environment and the habitat that supports it is our common goal. All that said, it is in place as of today and assures that no water will move from the deepest part of the channel, just ahead of the pipe, into the critical area beyond the culvert pipe that leads to the Walker's Pond outlet.
Time will tell. We will wait, along with the alewives, on the rain.
December 8 It was a welcome sight today to see the water flowing along the entire, now perfectly clear, channel. A good 2" even in our problem areas. I knew right off that the bucket and sand bags had been removed. I have to say that I was surprised though. The pond level is still lower than it should be, at 0.3", according to the data we've kept. Wednesday's rain did not add much. Perhaps the decision was made because it was the last work day of the week? A good downpour is expected on Sunday night and through Monday so it might have been in anticipation of that forecast. Until then, the water level will probably be reduced due to the outflow, reducing the level in the passageway, as well as its steady flow.
Nevertheless, if any of the fry tried to get out today, I believe they would have met with success and will have their chance again next week. I did see a lone fry swimming hurriedly past the opening, apparently separated from his tribe. When I arrived, our resident Great blue heron, two Kingfishers, a mixed flock of Buffleheads and Mergansers, and some Mallards had been fishing in the area he was heading off to. I could only wish him luck.
December 11 The storm last night and this morning brought us about 1.5 inches of rain and has filled the passageway with enough water for the fry to move out. The winds have helped, blowing west/ south westerly across the pond directly toward the passageway mouth, keeping the current flowing. There are still a couple of shallower areas along the passage but the fry are small enough to maneuver them. I saw only three fry in the stream at noon, just after the storm passed, going back and forth as they do, testing the waters of their new freedom. The AmeriCorps's impressive work of ten days ago has held: the passageway is remarkably clear and the small trenches they dug direct the water flow nicely. Keeping the sand bags in place for a week helped with that build up as well. The gauge read 4.25" this morning, reflecting only an additional inch since the reading of 3.25" on the 4th, but that is a good number and it should rise over the next 24 hours.
The fry could be departing at any time of the day or night in the next few days, not just when we happen to be there. If the water level goes down considerably after that the sand bags might need to be replaced. As far as the other sand bags, that protect the culvert from stormwater runoff along the dirt road , they have done their job admirably, protecting the channel from a considerable amount of sand and debris from this storm.
December 12 No fish spotted in the stream today* but we did spot this little Charlie Brown tree out in the woods... * See January 15, 2024 for an important update on the fry in December, a video capturing their departure!.
December 15 This morning the water velocity in the passageway is diminished but still flowing; the water level is diminished but still adequate; the stream is still clear of debris and the modest trenches still holding- nary a fish however. Sightings of diving water fowl have grown rarer this week compared to last which might be a sign of fewer fry in the pond for them to catch or that they, the flocks of Mergansers, Buffleheads, and Ring-necked Ducks, have migrated on also.
December 20 After Monday's storm the passageway is free flowing with adequate depth for the fry's departure (after a few sticks were removed.) It is such a lovely sight so late in December to see the stream so clear and passable, glistening in the sunlight. No fish were seen but I think it is safe to assume that any remaining fry have departed for the open sea over the past twelve days; the sandbags were removed on December 8th followed by two timely rain storms. It is truly a wonderful way to close out the year and celebrate the Winter Solstice tomorrow. Our journey with the alewives that began so darkly in February has had a happy ending, a return of light to our precious herring run through the woods into Slough Pond. May it continue to be so in 2024.