October 2
We received 1" of rain on Saturday but the gauge did not budge from 0.46" and there was no appreciable difference in flow or depth down at the run. There are still small schools of alewife fry moving back and forth along the channel- the entire channel too, from Walker's to Slough. The depth is low in many places but it is as if they are exploring rather than departing. Their pace is leisurely. However, if the water level drops this week with no rain in the forecast, on top of the sand and leaf debris, they may run into trouble. There was no real current today, only the ripple of a breeze on the surface. There were quite a few fry (they are notoriously difficult to count but in the hundreds) gathered in the deepest area above the culvert pipe, as is usual, and few, though some, do venture forth. Once through, they do not swim out the passage all the way to Walker's, which seems unusual. On observation, all that might impede their passage is vegetation.
We received 1" of rain on Saturday but the gauge did not budge from 0.46" and there was no appreciable difference in flow or depth down at the run. There are still small schools of alewife fry moving back and forth along the channel- the entire channel too, from Walker's to Slough. The depth is low in many places but it is as if they are exploring rather than departing. Their pace is leisurely. However, if the water level drops this week with no rain in the forecast, on top of the sand and leaf debris, they may run into trouble. There was no real current today, only the ripple of a breeze on the surface. There were quite a few fry (they are notoriously difficult to count but in the hundreds) gathered in the deepest area above the culvert pipe, as is usual, and few, though some, do venture forth. Once through, they do not swim out the passage all the way to Walker's, which seems unusual. On observation, all that might impede their passage is vegetation.
The passageway to Slough upon entering from Walker's is a beautiful area.
October 4
During my visit today I observed only 2 alewives swimming along the passage just below the mouth at Slough and about 40 mingling in the deeper area above the culvert. There were none noted beyond the culvert pipe heading toward Walker's. One can assume that some emigration has taken place over the past several days. The water level is lower today but still just about passable. No fish have been observed circling in the pond recently although a neighbor, who lives considerably closer to the mouth of the run, noted activity on Sunday, once again.
During my visit today I observed only 2 alewives swimming along the passage just below the mouth at Slough and about 40 mingling in the deeper area above the culvert. There were none noted beyond the culvert pipe heading toward Walker's. One can assume that some emigration has taken place over the past several days. The water level is lower today but still just about passable. No fish have been observed circling in the pond recently although a neighbor, who lives considerably closer to the mouth of the run, noted activity on Sunday, once again.
If it was quiet in the passageway, the treetops were unusually alive. Countless flocks of American robins were sweeping through the woods like small raptors, their orange breasts flashing, as they foraged for their own migration. Some were seen bathing in the shallow stream. Although there are acorns everywhere there was no sign of any squirrels intent on hoarding them, the gray or, our favorite, the red. There is just a hint of color on most of the deciduous trees in these woods and along the pond, though some, like Tupelo, are showing bare branches. The leaves will fall soon enough and some will settle in the passageway. Once all the fish have departed some clearing work might be done. November 15th is the usual safe date for herring run maintenance.
Fall is in the air. Come evening, there is mist on the pond as the water loses its warmth. Flocks of Canada Geese gather in smaller numbers every twilight and speak to each other over their long night's rest. Roving packs of coyotes can be heard calling out one to the other too as they move through the dark woods. There are still crickets, thankfully, keeping their steady beat, even if Orion is rising now just past midnight behind the tree line in the east.
Fall is in the air. Come evening, there is mist on the pond as the water loses its warmth. Flocks of Canada Geese gather in smaller numbers every twilight and speak to each other over their long night's rest. Roving packs of coyotes can be heard calling out one to the other too as they move through the dark woods. There are still crickets, thankfully, keeping their steady beat, even if Orion is rising now just past midnight behind the tree line in the east.
October 9
The passageway has returned to its impassable conditions of mid-September with sand and leaf accumulations and low water. No alewives observed.
A simple fix to consider... this simple, rustic bridge crosses a small stream in the Eddy Sister's Conservation area in Brewster. Is a culvert pipe even necessary on the Slough Pond fish passage? See how vegetation holds the embankment in place.
The gauge at the Slough Pond landing read approximately 0.4", difficult to be precise with wave action.
October 12
The water level in the passageway is so low it couldn't be more than 1" deep now with heavy leaf litter accumulations and sand bars. No fish could pass through this and none have been seen. We are hoping most of the alewives have already departed. We also hope a crew will clear the passageway out this fall in preparation for the spring. There will be more leaves to come. Sodden leaf litter in the stream is of no benefit and will only add to the obstructions already present in the channel from sand accumulation (from the pond, erosion, and storm water runoff, as we have mentioned before)- though the leaves are rather colorful, we have to admit.
The water level in the passageway is so low it couldn't be more than 1" deep now with heavy leaf litter accumulations and sand bars. No fish could pass through this and none have been seen. We are hoping most of the alewives have already departed. We also hope a crew will clear the passageway out this fall in preparation for the spring. There will be more leaves to come. Sodden leaf litter in the stream is of no benefit and will only add to the obstructions already present in the channel from sand accumulation (from the pond, erosion, and storm water runoff, as we have mentioned before)- though the leaves are rather colorful, we have to admit.
October 18
Pond side, pond lore. October skies and colors frame the entrance to our passageway, just left of center by the stately russet and diminutive orange trees.
Pond side, pond lore. October skies and colors frame the entrance to our passageway, just left of center by the stately russet and diminutive orange trees.
October 19
The passageway is mostly mud and leaf litter now. A minnow could not migrate through it. There have been no signs of alewife activity and we hope most made it out when they could. The area beyond the culvert pipe is the only section that has never been without water. It is a long and narrow section that was dug down very extensively at one time and its bank vegetation is well established. It holds water well, though it has fluctuated from about 15-20" to its present 7". Any crew that clears out the passageway this fall or next spring has quite a bit of work on its hands or shovels. The gauge at the landing read 0.3" today, quite low.
The passageway is mostly mud and leaf litter now. A minnow could not migrate through it. There have been no signs of alewife activity and we hope most made it out when they could. The area beyond the culvert pipe is the only section that has never been without water. It is a long and narrow section that was dug down very extensively at one time and its bank vegetation is well established. It holds water well, though it has fluctuated from about 15-20" to its present 7". Any crew that clears out the passageway this fall or next spring has quite a bit of work on its hands or shovels. The gauge at the landing read 0.3" today, quite low.
This quick video shows how the entrance to the passageway at Slough Pond is blocked within its first foot by leaves. It's probably a good thing since any fish coming in would encounter completely impassable conditions just a yard later where there is no water at all.
I was left to wonder how the schools of fry born in our pond this summer knew where to go when summer ended. Their "parents" were long gone and yet not only did they find their way to the passage but then through Walker's Pond, Upper Mill Pond, and Lower Mill Pond, a distance of approximately 15 miles, on an instinct to go to sea. Add another 1.5 miles to the trip down the ladder and through Stony Brook Valley and out through Paine's Creek and its beach. An amazing journey and a mystery of migration equal to their return in 3 years time to their home pond.
How fortunate they and we are that we are no longer in the time of Factory Village, which did so much damage to the natural environment of this beautiful area, as well as to the alewives (of course there are other concerns now). On a little journey through history, lest we forget, Stony Brook Valley and its watershed encompasses an abandoned cranberry bog west of the brook. Previous to the industrial and agricultural history the brook itself was known as Sauquatuckett River by the local Indians who depended on the alewives's annual migration. Lower Mill Pond at the head of the fish ladder (with Indian Rock at the center) is pictured below, flanked by details from Steve Kemp's masterful ceramic mural depicting the herring migration, which you can find on the grounds of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.
How fortunate they and we are that we are no longer in the time of Factory Village, which did so much damage to the natural environment of this beautiful area, as well as to the alewives (of course there are other concerns now). On a little journey through history, lest we forget, Stony Brook Valley and its watershed encompasses an abandoned cranberry bog west of the brook. Previous to the industrial and agricultural history the brook itself was known as Sauquatuckett River by the local Indians who depended on the alewives's annual migration. Lower Mill Pond at the head of the fish ladder (with Indian Rock at the center) is pictured below, flanked by details from Steve Kemp's masterful ceramic mural depicting the herring migration, which you can find on the grounds of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.
October 26
Large schools of alewife fry were observed circling in Slough Pond this week. The first sighting all month. I had mistakenly believed, or hoped, they had all gotten out in late September when they were last seen. I was wrong. Unfortunately, the passageway is entirely obstructed again with accumulated leaves and sand. The inch of rainfall we received on Monday, as indicated on the gauge, is apparent in the channel but to little effect.
For an ingenious method for counting notorious difficult to count juvenile herring offered this week by colleague and engineer John Kielb- find it under Fact Findings.
Large schools of alewife fry were observed circling in Slough Pond this week. The first sighting all month. I had mistakenly believed, or hoped, they had all gotten out in late September when they were last seen. I was wrong. Unfortunately, the passageway is entirely obstructed again with accumulated leaves and sand. The inch of rainfall we received on Monday, as indicated on the gauge, is apparent in the channel but to little effect.
For an ingenious method for counting notorious difficult to count juvenile herring offered this week by colleague and engineer John Kielb- find it under Fact Findings.
Stopped by the fish ladder at the grist mill again since I heard there were fry observed but I saw only one yesterday, today was a different story- see video below. How large they are now though.
Fry circling beneath the Tupelo trees today on Slough.
Fry heading out to sea at the fish ladder at the grist mill today. Ours from Slough will get there eventually. It is amazing they can survive the torrent. A colleague who happened to be there observed that the water pressure was unnecessarily high and probably drawing the water level down in Slough. I have long observed this and I agree. However, I know little more about water management beyond what I observe as a layperson...
Once the juvenile herring have navigated the ladder, not unlike a birth canal after the womb of their natal pond, they will head down Stony Brook, through the Stony Brook Valley, the freshwater brook becoming Paine's Creek in its intertidal marshlands, and through this route out to sea.
October 30
The month of October comes to a close on a high note (a high water mark) with the arrival of the intrepid AmeriCorps crew this morning clearing out the passageway. Rain was no deterrent.
Schools of alewife fry were spotted circling at the entrance on Friday and again on Sunday. They are ready. Our river herring have been active all across the Cape this week as well as in our pond. Let's hope with the digging out and the rain the remaining schools will be able to emigrate out to sea. Big thanks are in order to this hardworking crew lead by NRD's Dave Johnson and to the Natural Resources Department for acting so quickly this week when they were alerted to the obstructions in the passageway and the massive schools of alewife fry in the pond. Thanks also to the Alewife Committee wardens.
It is gratifying work with all the challenges we are facing in the world today, that can make a person feel powerless- here is something we can do together that really does make an difference.
The month of October comes to a close on a high note (a high water mark) with the arrival of the intrepid AmeriCorps crew this morning clearing out the passageway. Rain was no deterrent.
Schools of alewife fry were spotted circling at the entrance on Friday and again on Sunday. They are ready. Our river herring have been active all across the Cape this week as well as in our pond. Let's hope with the digging out and the rain the remaining schools will be able to emigrate out to sea. Big thanks are in order to this hardworking crew lead by NRD's Dave Johnson and to the Natural Resources Department for acting so quickly this week when they were alerted to the obstructions in the passageway and the massive schools of alewife fry in the pond. Thanks also to the Alewife Committee wardens.
It is gratifying work with all the challenges we are facing in the world today, that can make a person feel powerless- here is something we can do together that really does make an difference.
Once the passageway was cleared, the crew observed, as we did later in the day ourselves, that the water level was too low for the safe departure of the fry. Between initial work done the previous day and today's work the stream was open to the free flow of water again and so it flowed out. It revealed a few areas where long standing sand accumulations have regularly created sandbar obstructions. The crew made a heroic effort removing the sodden leaf accumulations and clearing the pathway, nevertheless (as I am familiar with the passageway) certain critical sections are still problematic. As more leaves will fall I assume the crew will return but, once again, what we need now is rain.
NRD returned later and installed sandbags at the mouth of the passageway in order to build up the water level. The passage is now temporarily closed off until we receive enough rainfall. This is disappointing of course but it is part of the process. The installation of sandbags had been proposed as a measure used on runs in other towns and upon their arrival this morning NRD was planning to use them if necessary. The closure is intended to protect the fry from becoming stranded in the channel. It will require regular monitoring to insure removal of the sandbags at opportune times. The fish may be ready but the passageway isn't. The idea of closure may seem alarming however, even with the full restoration of the run which we support (though as yet undecided), measures such as these would come into play with a modest wooden weir.
NRD returned later and installed sandbags at the mouth of the passageway in order to build up the water level. The passage is now temporarily closed off until we receive enough rainfall. This is disappointing of course but it is part of the process. The installation of sandbags had been proposed as a measure used on runs in other towns and upon their arrival this morning NRD was planning to use them if necessary. The closure is intended to protect the fry from becoming stranded in the channel. It will require regular monitoring to insure removal of the sandbags at opportune times. The fish may be ready but the passageway isn't. The idea of closure may seem alarming however, even with the full restoration of the run which we support (though as yet undecided), measures such as these would come into play with a modest wooden weir.
October 31
Closing the chapter of October on All Hallow's Eve, alewife fry circle at the entrance to the Slough Pond passage, answering the call of the sea.
Closing the chapter of October on All Hallow's Eve, alewife fry circle at the entrance to the Slough Pond passage, answering the call of the sea.
