December 1
The Walker's to Slough Pond fish passage can hardly be called a "dried up ditch" now, as I have often heard it called by some. A warden came by today to continue the good work of the State clearing the passage for the awaiting alewife fry to emigrate (see November). Two additional sandbags were added after a bit of leaf clearing, which will be repeated. Thanks to the State's substantial digging, there is water all the way from one end of the channel/flume to the other- remarkable after this prolonged period of drought. (It is a matter of water table levels between the ponds.) All we need is a little rain- and little is the operative word- to fill in certain areas still clogged with leaf litter.
The work accomplished by the State, through Barnstable County's Mosquito Control project, will also provide safe passage in the spring for the returning adult herring- as a good migration in any fishway is predicated upon a good fall clearing. As well, this opening prevents standing water from collecting and allowing mosquitos to breed. The water needs to flow along the stream through the wetland. (Recalling that this flume may have originated 175 years ago to serve an established, now defunct, small cranberry bog there and established a herring passage possibly since its inception.) Although I asked for fall maintenance to be done by the Town at the passageway, as they are obligated to do, there was no response. It was last December 1st that the second clearing was done by the AmeriCorps crew with assistance by members of the Alewife Committee, the Natural Resources Department, the Natural Resources Advisory Commission, the Select Board liaison, and volunteers. The maintenance done last October and December ('23) allowed remaining fry to emigrate as late as mid-December and cleared the way for a remarkable spring migration of adults in 2024. As we close out the year, I feel hopeful this recent good faith work by the Commonwealth will be another example of how partnership works to the benefit of all.
The Walker's to Slough Pond fish passage can hardly be called a "dried up ditch" now, as I have often heard it called by some. A warden came by today to continue the good work of the State clearing the passage for the awaiting alewife fry to emigrate (see November). Two additional sandbags were added after a bit of leaf clearing, which will be repeated. Thanks to the State's substantial digging, there is water all the way from one end of the channel/flume to the other- remarkable after this prolonged period of drought. (It is a matter of water table levels between the ponds.) All we need is a little rain- and little is the operative word- to fill in certain areas still clogged with leaf litter.
The work accomplished by the State, through Barnstable County's Mosquito Control project, will also provide safe passage in the spring for the returning adult herring- as a good migration in any fishway is predicated upon a good fall clearing. As well, this opening prevents standing water from collecting and allowing mosquitos to breed. The water needs to flow along the stream through the wetland. (Recalling that this flume may have originated 175 years ago to serve an established, now defunct, small cranberry bog there and established a herring passage possibly since its inception.) Although I asked for fall maintenance to be done by the Town at the passageway, as they are obligated to do, there was no response. It was last December 1st that the second clearing was done by the AmeriCorps crew with assistance by members of the Alewife Committee, the Natural Resources Department, the Natural Resources Advisory Commission, the Select Board liaison, and volunteers. The maintenance done last October and December ('23) allowed remaining fry to emigrate as late as mid-December and cleared the way for a remarkable spring migration of adults in 2024. As we close out the year, I feel hopeful this recent good faith work by the Commonwealth will be another example of how partnership works to the benefit of all.
December 7
There is ice forming on Walker's Pond, which is considerably shallower than Slough. These images are from the wooded bank just to the northeast side of the herring run- whose entrance is at the little knob at the center of the last photo. There is no ice as of yet in Slough. The gauge reads 2.4" this morning. The water has kept its level in the passageway, however, the 50 or so feet the State crew didn't have a chance to get to needs further work, and immediately. Fallen leaves are not the issue, sand accumulation is. More rain will help but we are getting into harsher conditions now for the remaining fry.
It was a banner year in Slough for the returning adult herring (due to intensive clearing by AmeriCorps last fall) therefore a banner year for the juveniles. They will need our help. There has been no real help from the Town this entire year. I will return to this matter in my Year End Review, but, for now, suffice it to say- if it is their intention to offer that the fry would not get trapped in the pond if they weren't allowed in, I'd say if they did the maintenance they were supposed to do we would not be facing this issue once again. (Only a few were able to depart in September after someone cleared a narrow path for them through the leaf litter in the stream following three days of heavy rain.) The neglect we've witnessed this year clearly does not the support the DMF's River Herring Nursery & Habitat Study the wardens committed to support last fall. It is a very disheartening situation.
There is ice forming on Walker's Pond, which is considerably shallower than Slough. These images are from the wooded bank just to the northeast side of the herring run- whose entrance is at the little knob at the center of the last photo. There is no ice as of yet in Slough. The gauge reads 2.4" this morning. The water has kept its level in the passageway, however, the 50 or so feet the State crew didn't have a chance to get to needs further work, and immediately. Fallen leaves are not the issue, sand accumulation is. More rain will help but we are getting into harsher conditions now for the remaining fry.
It was a banner year in Slough for the returning adult herring (due to intensive clearing by AmeriCorps last fall) therefore a banner year for the juveniles. They will need our help. There has been no real help from the Town this entire year. I will return to this matter in my Year End Review, but, for now, suffice it to say- if it is their intention to offer that the fry would not get trapped in the pond if they weren't allowed in, I'd say if they did the maintenance they were supposed to do we would not be facing this issue once again. (Only a few were able to depart in September after someone cleared a narrow path for them through the leaf litter in the stream following three days of heavy rain.) The neglect we've witnessed this year clearly does not the support the DMF's River Herring Nursery & Habitat Study the wardens committed to support last fall. It is a very disheartening situation.
December 12- 15
"The better angels of our Nature..."
"The better angels of our Nature..."
What started the week as a Christmas miracle became a Christmas crisis by week's end. It began with the return of the State agency to clear the entire passageway after the heavy rains. The gauge now reads 4.5." It was and is a beautiful sight to see the passage filled with water in its entirety and having this essential work finally attended to. And such work it was! With the full moon and high tides of this weekend the remaining juveniles can finally make their way out to sea. They have little time left. Restoration work begins down at the fish ladder in the next week or so and their exit will be blocked. I had been assured, after repeatedly asking for the past year, that safe passage would be provided for the fry even during construction. But I heard recently that this will not be the case. Meanwhile, the Town is unhappy with the work the State has accomplished here at our little fish run, work they have neglected after being asked for their own presence here all year. A staffer was sent down to "collect evidence" for the NRD. This is a developing story. I am unequivocally on the side of the alewives and their angels, the angels of our better nature.
Above, you can see, after three days of heavy rain, what the dirt road that leads down to the fish run looks like. Runoff from the road with accompanying sand and debris floods the culvert area. The sandbags were no help this time as they have become buried in sand. The State crew was able to clear the sand, restore the bank, remove broken pieces of the culvert pipe, and snake debris out of it as well. In another area along the passage long prone to shallows several large rocks and cement pieces were dug out.
Below, the sandbags, pictured on the left, as they were left by the Town, after their "evidence gathering" visit, and then repositioned for flow, with permission by a volunteer, sending a signal to the remaining fry born in this pond by the thousands this year to make a run for it, now that the passage was completely clear. I have been told, with intent, they can make it to Stony Brook in a day. Fare thee well.
The only other opportunity the fry had to depart this fall was for a day or two around September 30th, after we received 8" of rain on September 23rd, which filled the passage with water again after the summer drought. Following that, there was little rain, leaves fell and accumulated, and there was no maintenance by the Town. No fry were observed departing in September, nor during this three day period from the 13th -15th.
The only other opportunity the fry had to depart this fall was for a day or two around September 30th, after we received 8" of rain on September 23rd, which filled the passage with water again after the summer drought. Following that, there was little rain, leaves fell and accumulated, and there was no maintenance by the Town. No fry were observed departing in September, nor during this three day period from the 13th -15th.
December 16
And this below is today's sandbag embankment after the return of the Town, thus nullifying the State crew's excellent maintenance work to open the flow of water in the passageway. It looked a bit over the top, a bit retaliatory. Apparently the NRD means business when they say they want to block the alewives' emigration from Slough Pond, for which there is no honest justification; since, from what I have heard, the restoration work at the fish ladder (slated to begin in the next two weeks and funded primarily by the Federal government) requires a two-week waiting period on water flow changes before work begins. One assumes this is to ensure the safety of wildlife before closing off or diverting water during the restoration (which must be completed by March 15th). From what I understand, this "hold" is not presently in place. The engineering firm handling the construction should be doing any of this work not the NRD or AC (see Notice of Intent). The Slough juvenile herring should be allowed to leave their natal pond and head out to sea. That is basic herring management. Again, we were assured that the herring migration would be safeguarded throughout. It should be noted that the Town also removed the landowner's timber footbridge which spans the passage connecting his property on both sides of the stream. We need more facts on the ground and transparency on the situation.
And this below is today's sandbag embankment after the return of the Town, thus nullifying the State crew's excellent maintenance work to open the flow of water in the passageway. It looked a bit over the top, a bit retaliatory. Apparently the NRD means business when they say they want to block the alewives' emigration from Slough Pond, for which there is no honest justification; since, from what I have heard, the restoration work at the fish ladder (slated to begin in the next two weeks and funded primarily by the Federal government) requires a two-week waiting period on water flow changes before work begins. One assumes this is to ensure the safety of wildlife before closing off or diverting water during the restoration (which must be completed by March 15th). From what I understand, this "hold" is not presently in place. The engineering firm handling the construction should be doing any of this work not the NRD or AC (see Notice of Intent). The Slough juvenile herring should be allowed to leave their natal pond and head out to sea. That is basic herring management. Again, we were assured that the herring migration would be safeguarded throughout. It should be noted that the Town also removed the landowner's timber footbridge which spans the passage connecting his property on both sides of the stream. We need more facts on the ground and transparency on the situation.
December 17
The gauge reads 4" today. The fry only need 2.5" and a clear passage to emigrate. The only thing preventing that is the Town's blockade.
The gauge reads 4" today. The fry only need 2.5" and a clear passage to emigrate. The only thing preventing that is the Town's blockade.
These fry... recorded from November 19-24, before the passage was clear enough for them to leave safely December 12 by the Mosquito Control crew.
December 18
The Brewster Conservation Commission was notified of the unacceptable migratory blockage at the Slough Pond passage at their Tuesday meeting last evening. The Conservation Administrator and the Director of the Natural Resources Department had already scheduled a visit to the site this morning (possibly on the matter of the State's maintenance work) but assured us publicly it would be looked into. We were told to call the administrator's cell today. We had hoped the sandbag and boulder blockade would be removed after their visit, but it was not and the administrator did not return our call.
Due to the sandbag structure being in place for the past three days, sand is now accumulating in the upper passage and the water level has gone down considerably, creating sandbars. This already makes it difficult for the alewives to pass through in contrast to the ease of passage available to them previously. Digging may now be required unless the water level rises sufficiently. With only two work days left before the holiday week, we are running out of time to deal with this matter. And, as of tomorrow, work will begin down at the Stony Brook Mill fish ladder with further complications. We will not give up, other steps can be taken, but it is such a shame on this the most peaceful of holidays...
The Brewster Conservation Commission was notified of the unacceptable migratory blockage at the Slough Pond passage at their Tuesday meeting last evening. The Conservation Administrator and the Director of the Natural Resources Department had already scheduled a visit to the site this morning (possibly on the matter of the State's maintenance work) but assured us publicly it would be looked into. We were told to call the administrator's cell today. We had hoped the sandbag and boulder blockade would be removed after their visit, but it was not and the administrator did not return our call.
Due to the sandbag structure being in place for the past three days, sand is now accumulating in the upper passage and the water level has gone down considerably, creating sandbars. This already makes it difficult for the alewives to pass through in contrast to the ease of passage available to them previously. Digging may now be required unless the water level rises sufficiently. With only two work days left before the holiday week, we are running out of time to deal with this matter. And, as of tomorrow, work will begin down at the Stony Brook Mill fish ladder with further complications. We will not give up, other steps can be taken, but it is such a shame on this the most peaceful of holidays...
December 19 - 29
The pond froze nearly completely and then thawed completely over the past week or so. Numerous waterfowl, Mergansers, Buffleheads, Mallards, Kingfishers, a Heron, were gathered in the deepest section of the pond, fishing intently. And the Herring Gulls, seen to arrive daily in increasing numbers, are a good indicator of fresh catch to be had. I had a sense they were feeding on alewives. This morning, alerted by the charge of Mallards sweeping along the shore, I observed small schools of the fry swimming hurriedly past. Too fast for a photograph.
It is hard to imagine how so many left here in the pond will survive the cold and predation. Research tells us that the alewife fry's DNA changes as they mature in these first six months of their lives in preparation for their life in salt water rather than fresh. Those left behind, while still alive, will provide sustenance for others but this is a small consolation for the dark turn of events this month in the passage. The closure of the fish passage from Slough Pond by the Town is now 14 days and counting, holding the fry hostage when there is more than enough water and a clear enough channel for their emigration. Hardly the protection we were assured (by the NRD's Chris Miller) would be provided their outmigration during the fish ladder's restoration- if the plan changed what experts were consulted or stakeholders advised (in writing)? It is heart-wrenching after the back-breaking work of Mosquito Control that opened the way for the vulnerable fry. Building bridges is so much better than building walls; wardens are "custodians, defenders, guardians," according to Merriam Webster and stewardship is defined as "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."
The pond froze nearly completely and then thawed completely over the past week or so. Numerous waterfowl, Mergansers, Buffleheads, Mallards, Kingfishers, a Heron, were gathered in the deepest section of the pond, fishing intently. And the Herring Gulls, seen to arrive daily in increasing numbers, are a good indicator of fresh catch to be had. I had a sense they were feeding on alewives. This morning, alerted by the charge of Mallards sweeping along the shore, I observed small schools of the fry swimming hurriedly past. Too fast for a photograph.
It is hard to imagine how so many left here in the pond will survive the cold and predation. Research tells us that the alewife fry's DNA changes as they mature in these first six months of their lives in preparation for their life in salt water rather than fresh. Those left behind, while still alive, will provide sustenance for others but this is a small consolation for the dark turn of events this month in the passage. The closure of the fish passage from Slough Pond by the Town is now 14 days and counting, holding the fry hostage when there is more than enough water and a clear enough channel for their emigration. Hardly the protection we were assured (by the NRD's Chris Miller) would be provided their outmigration during the fish ladder's restoration- if the plan changed what experts were consulted or stakeholders advised (in writing)? It is heart-wrenching after the back-breaking work of Mosquito Control that opened the way for the vulnerable fry. Building bridges is so much better than building walls; wardens are "custodians, defenders, guardians," according to Merriam Webster and stewardship is defined as "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."
December 30 & 31
for spring and fall timelines of the Slough passage & a stakeholders list see Resources under Brewster Specific.
As another year draws to a close what remains in mind is the very real fact that this year's spring herring migration was strong and bountiful. It was made possible by the hard clearing work of the AmeriCorps crew last December with a bit of spring touch-up by the Mosquito Control Project, independently doing their seasonal wetland maintenance, and one warden, upon request to the AC. We shared our migration data with APCC even though the Slough Pond passage is not on their list for volunteer counting. The numbers were impressive. The APCC has taken a great interest in Slough this year, visiting monthly to gather their own data for their pond/habitat study. We have no had any information shared publicly on the DMF's habitat and nursery study for the Town, only to hear privately that Slough was passing with "flying colors," which was never in doubt to me. Many thousands of fry were born in Slough Pond this year, now their natal pond for their lives, if they survive.
New people were welcomed onto the Alewife Committee this year, as voting members and working wardens, and a new liaison was appointed by the Select Board. We are looking forward to many more public meetings in the coming year and hearing more about their plans to consolidate the committee's responsibilities. Of note this year, the landowner requested the Town's partnership to fully restore the fish passage, making it an official "fishway" under partnership by the Division of Marine Fisheries, but there has been no response to their request.
Although it was called for, and in their agreement with the DMF (see Stream Maintenance Plan, Resources page/noting 2020 was the first written plan between the DMF and the NRD, not the Alewife Committee), there was no clearing at our passage all year by the Town except for a little shifting of the sandbag weir and erecting the final barricade on December 16th, after days of hard work clearing the run by Mosquito Control. It was a sad ending to the year, blocking the fry left in the pond from their outmigration, which would have been easily accomplished otherwise. This is an ongoing situation.
If, as we have heard, water restriction at Slough Pond was instigated by the NRD for the restoration work at the fish ladder- already six weeks behind schedule- it was not part of the permit and seems to have been a unilateral act. The Fishway Construction Permit (see Resources page), including the Water Control Plan for the project, was not finally approved until December 30. This action by the NRD was taken without consultation with herring experts or regulators, nor was there an alternatives analysis. One wonders exactly how much water would have flowed from Slough, through Walker's, Upper Mill, and Lower Mill Ponds down to the ladder over that two-week period? Where is the plan for the "pipe" we were assured would be in place at the ladder for the out-migrating fry during restoration? If the project is meant to improve the fish ladder for the benefit of the migrating herring how is preventing the outmigration justified? Finally, the project plan continues to erroneously list only the three Mill Ponds as the natal freshwater ponds and headwaters for the Stony Brook Watershed fish ladder when there are in fact six ponds.
Our work continues. Our commitment is unwavering, celebrating and protecting the alewives who call this pond their home, as we do. We hope that there will be more progress in 2025, with partnerships, collaboration, and good stewardship. The science we await from the studies will tell us all something but there is still work on the ground week by week that can't wait a year or two for a study's findings to be published. I was recently told that I am biased, and that may be true, but it is my opinion informed by careful study, data gathering, broad research, and asking tough questions of individuals in power. Sometimes exhausting and disappointing work that requires patience and diplomacy and trust, sometimes hard won. I know this, I started this humble citizen science project two years ago- now an ever-expanding archive of critical information- when I attended a meeting called by the Alewife Committee, under the Natural Resources Department, who were meeting to vote on closing the Slough passage (noting that the idea of closure was instigated after Warden Dana Condit's death in 2020). Enough concerned citizens attended and the vote was shifted to a postponement. Nothing has changed as far as I can see this year but I hope I'm wrong. I hope things will change for the better and that means for the herring and this habitat to endure. I may be an optimist, certainly an idealist, but with age and experience that is tempered by realism. The Slough Pond fish passage may not be called an official "fishway" as yet but it has been an established migratory route for 75- 175 years and that's good enough reason to protect it and care for it, in my opinion.
It bears repeating, as we close this chapter in the year of 2024 in the book of pondlore... Brewster on Cape Cod is known as an environmentally conscious town and river herring, alosa pseudoharengus, are a keystone species of our ecosystem. The Stony Brook Grist Mill Fish Ladder is its Jewel in the Crown, along with Wing Island, and perhaps the premiere fish run in Massachusetts, certainly the most picturesque and beloved. It was made forever famous by John Hay in his book, The Run, in which he captured the soul and spirit of the migration as well as its science. He passed his love of these beautiful fish along to me, and so many others, and, as he wrote, "now we are on a run together."
Each of the 12 photographs below represents a month. Thank you for your support this year and for visiting pondlore. Blessings in the new year!
for spring and fall timelines of the Slough passage & a stakeholders list see Resources under Brewster Specific.
As another year draws to a close what remains in mind is the very real fact that this year's spring herring migration was strong and bountiful. It was made possible by the hard clearing work of the AmeriCorps crew last December with a bit of spring touch-up by the Mosquito Control Project, independently doing their seasonal wetland maintenance, and one warden, upon request to the AC. We shared our migration data with APCC even though the Slough Pond passage is not on their list for volunteer counting. The numbers were impressive. The APCC has taken a great interest in Slough this year, visiting monthly to gather their own data for their pond/habitat study. We have no had any information shared publicly on the DMF's habitat and nursery study for the Town, only to hear privately that Slough was passing with "flying colors," which was never in doubt to me. Many thousands of fry were born in Slough Pond this year, now their natal pond for their lives, if they survive.
New people were welcomed onto the Alewife Committee this year, as voting members and working wardens, and a new liaison was appointed by the Select Board. We are looking forward to many more public meetings in the coming year and hearing more about their plans to consolidate the committee's responsibilities. Of note this year, the landowner requested the Town's partnership to fully restore the fish passage, making it an official "fishway" under partnership by the Division of Marine Fisheries, but there has been no response to their request.
Although it was called for, and in their agreement with the DMF (see Stream Maintenance Plan, Resources page/noting 2020 was the first written plan between the DMF and the NRD, not the Alewife Committee), there was no clearing at our passage all year by the Town except for a little shifting of the sandbag weir and erecting the final barricade on December 16th, after days of hard work clearing the run by Mosquito Control. It was a sad ending to the year, blocking the fry left in the pond from their outmigration, which would have been easily accomplished otherwise. This is an ongoing situation.
If, as we have heard, water restriction at Slough Pond was instigated by the NRD for the restoration work at the fish ladder- already six weeks behind schedule- it was not part of the permit and seems to have been a unilateral act. The Fishway Construction Permit (see Resources page), including the Water Control Plan for the project, was not finally approved until December 30. This action by the NRD was taken without consultation with herring experts or regulators, nor was there an alternatives analysis. One wonders exactly how much water would have flowed from Slough, through Walker's, Upper Mill, and Lower Mill Ponds down to the ladder over that two-week period? Where is the plan for the "pipe" we were assured would be in place at the ladder for the out-migrating fry during restoration? If the project is meant to improve the fish ladder for the benefit of the migrating herring how is preventing the outmigration justified? Finally, the project plan continues to erroneously list only the three Mill Ponds as the natal freshwater ponds and headwaters for the Stony Brook Watershed fish ladder when there are in fact six ponds.
Our work continues. Our commitment is unwavering, celebrating and protecting the alewives who call this pond their home, as we do. We hope that there will be more progress in 2025, with partnerships, collaboration, and good stewardship. The science we await from the studies will tell us all something but there is still work on the ground week by week that can't wait a year or two for a study's findings to be published. I was recently told that I am biased, and that may be true, but it is my opinion informed by careful study, data gathering, broad research, and asking tough questions of individuals in power. Sometimes exhausting and disappointing work that requires patience and diplomacy and trust, sometimes hard won. I know this, I started this humble citizen science project two years ago- now an ever-expanding archive of critical information- when I attended a meeting called by the Alewife Committee, under the Natural Resources Department, who were meeting to vote on closing the Slough passage (noting that the idea of closure was instigated after Warden Dana Condit's death in 2020). Enough concerned citizens attended and the vote was shifted to a postponement. Nothing has changed as far as I can see this year but I hope I'm wrong. I hope things will change for the better and that means for the herring and this habitat to endure. I may be an optimist, certainly an idealist, but with age and experience that is tempered by realism. The Slough Pond fish passage may not be called an official "fishway" as yet but it has been an established migratory route for 75- 175 years and that's good enough reason to protect it and care for it, in my opinion.
It bears repeating, as we close this chapter in the year of 2024 in the book of pondlore... Brewster on Cape Cod is known as an environmentally conscious town and river herring, alosa pseudoharengus, are a keystone species of our ecosystem. The Stony Brook Grist Mill Fish Ladder is its Jewel in the Crown, along with Wing Island, and perhaps the premiere fish run in Massachusetts, certainly the most picturesque and beloved. It was made forever famous by John Hay in his book, The Run, in which he captured the soul and spirit of the migration as well as its science. He passed his love of these beautiful fish along to me, and so many others, and, as he wrote, "now we are on a run together."
Each of the 12 photographs below represents a month. Thank you for your support this year and for visiting pondlore. Blessings in the new year!
