To say we have been busy would be an understatement! In face instead of writing this blog entry I should be doing some accounting for the NSRWA but alas I don't like do accounting. SO let me catch you blog readers up on the latest goings on around here....
South River Shellfish Beds Opened for the First time in 20 Years!
April 15th 2011 the Mass Division of Marine Fisheries officially declared the South River's water quality clean enough to shellfish in - which means it is clean enough to eat! The last time these shellfish beds were open to the public was 20 years ago. It has taken two decades of work to clean the river up to reach this milestone. Years of advocating for sewers, upgraded septic systems, better stormwater management have finally paid off. We aren't finished yet - they shellfish beds are open until May 30th - we want them open for the whole season. And only a section of the river nearest the mouth has been opened. The remaining pollution is largely stormwater but also some residual septic system problems in the Kent Park area of Marshfield. We won't stop until it is clean and open year round. To find out more about the South River shellfish beds that have been recently opened visit our website.
Herring Brigade on the Herring River in Pembroke
We called upon our volunteers to help the herring and they responded in force! Approximately 35 volunteers have now moved over 10,000 herring past a broken fish ladder on the Herring Brook in Pembroke. The fish ladder broke originally in 2006 when a downstream dam blew out in heavy rains. The downstream dam was not rebuilt as it was not needed any longer and would have been quite expensive - like $500,000 to rebuild. The Herring Brook reformed itself where that pond was but it left the fish ladder upstream too far above the elevation of the new water level. The Division of Marine Fisheries made a temporary repair to the ladder which lasted until two years ago when more heavy rains destroyed the temporary fish ladder. Meanwhile from 2006 on the state was searching for the $250,000 it will need to fix not only the fish ladder but repair the dam that the fish ladder will sit on. Thankfully there was funding from habitat mitigation for damages due to the installation of the Hub gasline in Boston Harbor. We are not sure if we are happy or sad about that. Anyway it seems like a pretty unsustainable way to run the fishery. The volunteers helped this year class of fish to be able to spawn this year. Here is a video of this amazing feat of nature (and the helpful hands of our volunteers).
Clean Up Day This Saturday - April 30th 10 am - 12 noon
This is our 24th year hosting this annual rite of spring - cleanning up the areas around the rivers before the boating season is really underway. We need your help - and your pick up truck if you got one! Please visit our website and pick a station closest to your home. We will supply you with bags and take away the trash. You then can join us for a great cookout - sponsored by Whole Foods - at the Driftway park in Scituate. You also will have one last chance to buy a kayak raffle ticket before we draw the winner!
