Engaging Community Scientists to Project Herring
The more we know about the river herring the better equipped we are to advocate for a clean and healthy Mystic River, and for this unique species and the wildlife it supports. To do this we depend on citizen scientists to help us document the herring run size.
In-Person Monitoring
From April - June, more than 160 volunteers go out weekly to count herring at two sites in the watershed (Horn Pond and Mystic Lakes) in 10 minute blocks. This data is used by the Division of Marine Fisheries to estimate the annual run size. Recruitment begins in February for this program, and you can sign up to volunteer here.
Photo Credit: David Mussina
“Fish-cam” and online platform
To provide even more data about the run size and behavior of herring, the Mystic River Watershed Association installed a “fish cam” at the upper Mystic Lakes and developed an online counting platform in 2017.
The camera is set up to record video clips whenever it detects one or more fish passing through its field of view. These video clips are uploaded to this website in real time so that anyone from anywhere can help count how many fish are migrating up the Mystic River.
In-person Educational Programing
Our educator, Natalia Bayona, can help your students discover the story of river herring on the Mystic River. Learn about their interesting life-cycle and the ecological importance of Alewife and Blueback river herring. Participate in our citizen science initiative that has helped to document this amazing wildlife story and help scientists to better understand fish populations. This spring we are bringing this amazing story to students virtually. Teachers in our watershed should contact our educator to discuss program details.
Students take a field trip to the Mystic Lakes fish ladder to observe herring and American eels.
Resources
Check out our 1-minute river herring migration video!
Use our poster: Can fish climb ladders?
Take a photo tour of the Mystic Lakes Dam and fish ladder.
Find locations to observe the migration here.
Learn what birds are at the dam: eBird.
Watch a webinar outlining the eco-success story for herring on the Mystic River here.
For more Massachusetts fish information: Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
For more information on river herring: Herring Alliance river herring fact sheet.
Thank you to our supporters & PARTNERS
This project is generously funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Drane Family Fund, The Boston Foundation, and ERM Group Foundation, Inc.
Project partners include the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
