November 1
If March is "waiting weather," as John Hay wrote in 1959, November is its analogue. We are awaiting the rain and the fall maintenance that will clear the passage for the departing alewife fry, closing the circle of the adults' in-migration in the spring. We don't know if there are any juveniles still circling the pond. As the water level falls and the temperature stratification builds any schools of fry will be farther out than the eye can usually see. There are two meetings of import this month, the monthly Natural Resources Advisory Commission and the next Alewife Committee meeting. We hope to pick up where we left off in October and will continue to bring the subject of Slough Pond to the table.
If March is "waiting weather," as John Hay wrote in 1959, November is its analogue. We are awaiting the rain and the fall maintenance that will clear the passage for the departing alewife fry, closing the circle of the adults' in-migration in the spring. We don't know if there are any juveniles still circling the pond. As the water level falls and the temperature stratification builds any schools of fry will be farther out than the eye can usually see. There are two meetings of import this month, the monthly Natural Resources Advisory Commission and the next Alewife Committee meeting. We hope to pick up where we left off in October and will continue to bring the subject of Slough Pond to the table.
November 4
The APCC wrapped up their data gathering on the pond today, which they began in March. We will look forward to the findings of their Regional Pond Monitoring Program's three-year study and are grateful Slough Pond was selected as part of their 50 pond research model. (As titles can be confusing- the Cape Cod Commission under their Cape Cod Freshwater Initiative created the Regional Pond Monitoring Program in association with the APCC. The APCC's "Cyanobacteria Monitoring" is a separate initiative under their Science Programs with data shared with the Town of Brewster.) Data gathering is primarily focused on water quality, however the concurrent DMF's two-year nursery and habitat study (under Resources page) includes water quality and its influence on herring habitat.
The APCC wrapped up their data gathering on the pond today, which they began in March. We will look forward to the findings of their Regional Pond Monitoring Program's three-year study and are grateful Slough Pond was selected as part of their 50 pond research model. (As titles can be confusing- the Cape Cod Commission under their Cape Cod Freshwater Initiative created the Regional Pond Monitoring Program in association with the APCC. The APCC's "Cyanobacteria Monitoring" is a separate initiative under their Science Programs with data shared with the Town of Brewster.) Data gathering is primarily focused on water quality, however the concurrent DMF's two-year nursery and habitat study (under Resources page) includes water quality and its influence on herring habitat.
November 20
It's been relatively quiet on the pond this month but things have picked up this week...with a little rainfall and maintenance at the passage the class of '24 should be able to head out to sea before winter sets in. Join me at the upcoming Alewife Committee meeting on Monday, November 25th at 5pm to discuss.
Let's all do what we can to help the declining herring population. (River Herring Stock Assessment, 8/'24)
It's been relatively quiet on the pond this month but things have picked up this week...with a little rainfall and maintenance at the passage the class of '24 should be able to head out to sea before winter sets in. Join me at the upcoming Alewife Committee meeting on Monday, November 25th at 5pm to discuss.
Let's all do what we can to help the declining herring population. (River Herring Stock Assessment, 8/'24)
November 24
There have been significant improvements in the passage as of this week thanks to the hard work of the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project, an agency of Barnstable County under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They check the run every spring and fall as their work dovetails that of the herring wardens. Thanks Vern and Sam! We received two inches of rain over the past three days and more is expected. The passageway from Walker's to Slough is filled which is surprising with the drought conditions we have been under. A little leaf and sand removal in certain sections will free the flow for the waiting fry. And they are waiting, just this morning schools were spotted swimming past the sandbag weir which blocks their entrance to the stream for now.
There have been significant improvements in the passage as of this week thanks to the hard work of the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project, an agency of Barnstable County under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They check the run every spring and fall as their work dovetails that of the herring wardens. Thanks Vern and Sam! We received two inches of rain over the past three days and more is expected. The passageway from Walker's to Slough is filled which is surprising with the drought conditions we have been under. A little leaf and sand removal in certain sections will free the flow for the waiting fry. And they are waiting, just this morning schools were spotted swimming past the sandbag weir which blocks their entrance to the stream for now.
November 26
An engaged, transparent, informative, and professional Alewife Committee meeting was held last night under the new leadership of chair Abigail Archer.
Video here. As the committee seeks to chart their course for the future the chair acknowledged the new challenges herring stewardship faces today and how much has changed in the course of its 300 year history. Materials provided include:
An engaged, transparent, informative, and professional Alewife Committee meeting was held last night under the new leadership of chair Abigail Archer.
Video here. As the committee seeks to chart their course for the future the chair acknowledged the new challenges herring stewardship faces today and how much has changed in the course of its 300 year history. Materials provided include:
