November 1
Rainfall this week has brought the pond level back up to nearly normal conditions although it is still not quite registering on the gauge. We can expect more rain in the next several to weeks to build on this renewal. There is water throughout the passage but the leaf litter, sand, and debris is considerable. There is a bank of fallen leaves preventing the pond water from entering the passage (though nearly close enough) so there is a good stretch at that end which appears to be almost dry due to a thick bed of pine needles and leaves. On yesterday's post (October 31), we shared the "plan" for November and December proffered by the NRD and their agent on the ConCom, which entails monitoring the passage and clearing when conditions are favorable. As I mentioned, there will be considerably more work for them to do now to clear the passage out since it is filled with water. It is quite possible that if the work had been accomplished before the storm this week, in preparation that is, the fry might have had enough water level to out-migrate. All they need is 3." It did look as if someone had brushed aside some leaves and sand at the culvert pipe as if to create an open stream for them but it would have been impossible for any alewives to travel down that far even if some had splashed over the sand bag weir.
Rainfall this week has brought the pond level back up to nearly normal conditions although it is still not quite registering on the gauge. We can expect more rain in the next several to weeks to build on this renewal. There is water throughout the passage but the leaf litter, sand, and debris is considerable. There is a bank of fallen leaves preventing the pond water from entering the passage (though nearly close enough) so there is a good stretch at that end which appears to be almost dry due to a thick bed of pine needles and leaves. On yesterday's post (October 31), we shared the "plan" for November and December proffered by the NRD and their agent on the ConCom, which entails monitoring the passage and clearing when conditions are favorable. As I mentioned, there will be considerably more work for them to do now to clear the passage out since it is filled with water. It is quite possible that if the work had been accomplished before the storm this week, in preparation that is, the fry might have had enough water level to out-migrate. All they need is 3." It did look as if someone had brushed aside some leaves and sand at the culvert pipe as if to create an open stream for them but it would have been impossible for any alewives to travel down that far even if some had splashed over the sand bag weir.
November 3
A joint meeting of the Alewife Committee and the Natural Resources Advisory Commission at 5pm, Brewster Town Hall and virtually. Link
DMF's Brad Chase will share the preliminary findings of his two-year Herring Habitat Study commissioned by the NRAC.
Video will be posted once it is made available* - in the meantime here are some fry passing by this morning...
* Video link here- excellent presentation.
A joint meeting of the Alewife Committee and the Natural Resources Advisory Commission at 5pm, Brewster Town Hall and virtually. Link
DMF's Brad Chase will share the preliminary findings of his two-year Herring Habitat Study commissioned by the NRAC.
Video will be posted once it is made available* - in the meantime here are some fry passing by this morning...
* Video link here- excellent presentation.
November 4
I am honored to be included in a beautiful calendar for 2026 created by the Robert Manz Studio. Robert reached out to me earlier this year after seeing some of my photographs of the alewives of Slough Pond. His studio has created many beautiful calendars over the years featuring Cape artists and towns. In all humility, I'm sharing a link today to the Brewster calendar I am included in with photographers Dennis Weeks and Julia Cumes. Link here.
I am honored to be included in a beautiful calendar for 2026 created by the Robert Manz Studio. Robert reached out to me earlier this year after seeing some of my photographs of the alewives of Slough Pond. His studio has created many beautiful calendars over the years featuring Cape artists and towns. In all humility, I'm sharing a link today to the Brewster calendar I am included in with photographers Dennis Weeks and Julia Cumes. Link here.
November 10
With 1.75" of rain fallen and another .25" pending, the channel is filled with water. There is notable runoff from the dirt road with subsequent sand and debris accumulations by the culvert. Since there has been no digging or side-casting of sand all year, per order of the ConCom agent- though this practice is prescribed in our Stream Maintenance Plan, and others, under the regulatory agency for herring management, the Division of Marine Fisheries- the work ahead to clear the channel for the departing fry is now a monumental task. It has been promised, after the rain and this week is a/the critical window. A model that might be adopted to take on this task is that of the Orleans Conservation Trust with their Volunteer Workday, every 1st & 3rd Thursday.
The rain gauge is now reading over 1"; 3" is considered the optimal water level for juveniles to emigrate, but there just might be enough for the fry in the passageway, once cleared. Fry were spotted departing down at the fish ladder over the weekend. They were not "our" fry, perhaps Elbow Pond opened up or they are the lingerers. Not all fry leave at the first opportunity but linger in the ponds where they were born and are comfortable circling in their schools, feeding and gathering strength and size. Now that the ponds are stratifying with colder temperatures and food is becoming more scarce, it might be a signal for these juveniles to head out to sea. Mid to late November is when most biologists like to see them leave although they do depart into December. This year, and last, were a challenge for them. Low water levels, caused by drought conditions, have kept outlying migratory channels, like here at Slough Pond, dry late into the fall. (Some photos today courtesy Steve Spear.)
With 1.75" of rain fallen and another .25" pending, the channel is filled with water. There is notable runoff from the dirt road with subsequent sand and debris accumulations by the culvert. Since there has been no digging or side-casting of sand all year, per order of the ConCom agent- though this practice is prescribed in our Stream Maintenance Plan, and others, under the regulatory agency for herring management, the Division of Marine Fisheries- the work ahead to clear the channel for the departing fry is now a monumental task. It has been promised, after the rain and this week is a/the critical window. A model that might be adopted to take on this task is that of the Orleans Conservation Trust with their Volunteer Workday, every 1st & 3rd Thursday.
The rain gauge is now reading over 1"; 3" is considered the optimal water level for juveniles to emigrate, but there just might be enough for the fry in the passageway, once cleared. Fry were spotted departing down at the fish ladder over the weekend. They were not "our" fry, perhaps Elbow Pond opened up or they are the lingerers. Not all fry leave at the first opportunity but linger in the ponds where they were born and are comfortable circling in their schools, feeding and gathering strength and size. Now that the ponds are stratifying with colder temperatures and food is becoming more scarce, it might be a signal for these juveniles to head out to sea. Mid to late November is when most biologists like to see them leave although they do depart into December. This year, and last, were a challenge for them. Low water levels, caused by drought conditions, have kept outlying migratory channels, like here at Slough Pond, dry late into the fall. (Some photos today courtesy Steve Spear.)
It should be noted that the herring arrived at the Stony Brook fish ladder in late March. The season was called on May 22 though fish continued to arrive after that date. It was a strong two-month migration. After spawning and hatching, which may take a week or two depending on temperatures, fry mature over three months and then begin to emigrate. It is considered beneficial for them to delay their departures until they are larger and stronger. Emigration may begin in late summer but continues throughout the fall months. Fry in the Mill Ponds would have averaged 3 months in early July.
In contrast, the herring migration did not begin at Slough Pond until late April and then only intermittently for a month due to blockages. Nevertheless a LOT of adults came in and a LOT of fry were born. Fry born in Slough would only average 3 months in August or September, making the ones here now only about 4- 5 months.
There is of course a wide range of activity over any migratory season in any watershed which should be considered in fisheries education and management.
In contrast, the herring migration did not begin at Slough Pond until late April and then only intermittently for a month due to blockages. Nevertheless a LOT of adults came in and a LOT of fry were born. Fry born in Slough would only average 3 months in August or September, making the ones here now only about 4- 5 months.
There is of course a wide range of activity over any migratory season in any watershed which should be considered in fisheries education and management.
November 13
A few visits to the Slough passage today showed clearly that no work has been done so far, as you can see below. We had expected something today. On such a somber November day with its low gray clouds and muted colors, with its own spectral beauty, it was a disappointment. Both yesterday and today we noted a drive-by from a staffer from the Natural Resources Department with no action taken to clear the run. There is always tomorrow... Some of the advantage provided by last weekend's healthy rainfall has been lost; the gauge read a half inch lower in pond level.
November 14
About one third of the passage was cleared and raked today by NRD staff, from the mouth at Slough down to the NRD sign. The sandbag weir was left to block the passage however, the sand and leaves there not removed, ostensibly until all the work is complete. Some rain this weekend may help refill the passage but there is another day or two of work ahead before it will be viable for the fry to emigrate.
About one third of the passage was cleared and raked today by NRD staff, from the mouth at Slough down to the NRD sign. The sandbag weir was left to block the passage however, the sand and leaves there not removed, ostensibly until all the work is complete. Some rain this weekend may help refill the passage but there is another day or two of work ahead before it will be viable for the fry to emigrate.
November 16
The pond regained its lost .5" and gained a few Hooded Mergansers.
The pond regained its lost .5" and gained a few Hooded Mergansers.
November 19
There has been real progress at the fish passage this week. It is now a race against time, as mid-November is the accepted time for the last of the herring fry to emigrate, although some are seen departing as late as December, or even into January. Science tells us that it is beneficial for their health and for their chances of survival to leave early. As we have mentioned before, momentum was lost with last month's rain by waiting so long to get to the clearing- yes leaves keep falling, but the substantial clearing required, as it is every spring and fall, could have been phased. There is water in the passage, just not enough this week. All that being said, once again, we are grateful to see the work being done and it is a lot of work.
There has been real progress at the fish passage this week. It is now a race against time, as mid-November is the accepted time for the last of the herring fry to emigrate, although some are seen departing as late as December, or even into January. Science tells us that it is beneficial for their health and for their chances of survival to leave early. As we have mentioned before, momentum was lost with last month's rain by waiting so long to get to the clearing- yes leaves keep falling, but the substantial clearing required, as it is every spring and fall, could have been phased. There is water in the passage, just not enough this week. All that being said, once again, we are grateful to see the work being done and it is a lot of work.
New sandbags were positioned at two side channels (remnants of historic cranberry bog irrigation) along the passage to prevent water entering the wooded area surrounding the stream no doubt. This could have the effect of lowering the stream level although water in this section is generally high. The canals were cleared rigorously by Mosquito Control last December in a project that created tension with the NRD and its ConCom agent. As there has never been any evidence of this wetland area being a vernal pool these blockages will become a problem in the spring for mosquito control if left in place as they will create standing water, a breeding haven.
What work remains now is only in two areas, critical areas in fact- the sandbags obstructing the entrance at Slough and the culvert. And sand is the issue here. If digging and sand removal is still considered an issue, perhaps sandbags could be filled with the sand accumulated in these shoals and "banked" for later use. One can only surmise that the sandbags were left in place in anticipation of rainfall raising the pond level the additional inch or two it needs; then a good water level could accumulate throughout the entire passage. The culvert accumulates its sand from road runoff during heavy downpours. That sand could be bagged and banked as well
In the meantime, we are waiting for more rainfall and once it comes, hopefully, these two areas will have been cleared in preparation.
What work remains now is only in two areas, critical areas in fact- the sandbags obstructing the entrance at Slough and the culvert. And sand is the issue here. If digging and sand removal is still considered an issue, perhaps sandbags could be filled with the sand accumulated in these shoals and "banked" for later use. One can only surmise that the sandbags were left in place in anticipation of rainfall raising the pond level the additional inch or two it needs; then a good water level could accumulate throughout the entire passage. The culvert accumulates its sand from road runoff during heavy downpours. That sand could be bagged and banked as well
In the meantime, we are waiting for more rainfall and once it comes, hopefully, these two areas will have been cleared in preparation.
November 23
The week finished well with additional, focused work down at the passage carried out by Natural Resources Department staff. Road runoff into the culvert area was taken quite seriously with new well-positioned sandbag barricades. The private dirt road is owned by the same landowner who owns the majority of land surrounding the fish passage, although a small section of the road is owned by Brewster Conservation Trust. It is used, by right, as an access road to the run, as well as, by largess, hikers, dog walkers, fishermen, and by the summer camp staff and kids. The Town is not responsible for maintaining private roads but due to the impact on the herring passage this preventative upkeep is a given.
The area around the culvert was finally cleared of sand and leaves and hopefully the culvert itself was cleared of sand. A catch of leaves was present between the culvert and Walker's Pond but the water level here was fairly decent. Farther up the passage, around the bend that leads to the Slough Pond entrance, was a different story all together- though cleared, the water is so low no fry could ever pass through, for now. The sandbags are still in place with no removal of the sand and leaf buildup blocking the passage. The rain forecast is intermittent so it will take some days or weeks for the passage to become viable for emigration. Nevertheless, the considerable work accomplished is to be commended, if late come to.
The week finished well with additional, focused work down at the passage carried out by Natural Resources Department staff. Road runoff into the culvert area was taken quite seriously with new well-positioned sandbag barricades. The private dirt road is owned by the same landowner who owns the majority of land surrounding the fish passage, although a small section of the road is owned by Brewster Conservation Trust. It is used, by right, as an access road to the run, as well as, by largess, hikers, dog walkers, fishermen, and by the summer camp staff and kids. The Town is not responsible for maintaining private roads but due to the impact on the herring passage this preventative upkeep is a given.
The area around the culvert was finally cleared of sand and leaves and hopefully the culvert itself was cleared of sand. A catch of leaves was present between the culvert and Walker's Pond but the water level here was fairly decent. Farther up the passage, around the bend that leads to the Slough Pond entrance, was a different story all together- though cleared, the water is so low no fry could ever pass through, for now. The sandbags are still in place with no removal of the sand and leaf buildup blocking the passage. The rain forecast is intermittent so it will take some days or weeks for the passage to become viable for emigration. Nevertheless, the considerable work accomplished is to be commended, if late come to.
