The return of the herring is a sure sign of spring for Mystic River communities, and the Mystic River Watershed Association is happy to offer the public an opportunity to view this annual migration. Join us for an open house at the DCR Upper Mystic Lake Dam on Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford to learn more about the Blueback and Alewife Herring. If you would like to coordinate a group visit, please contact the Association at 781-316-3438.
Mystic Lakes fish ladder open house dates:
Monday, May 8, 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 16, 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 20, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
About River Herring:
The Mystic River Watershed supports two species of river herring: Alewife (Alosa psuedoharenous) and Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis). Both fish are anadromous: they spend most of their lives at sea and return to freshwater habitats—like the Mystic River’s upper reaches—to spawn, or lay eggs. In 2016, the total estimated Mystic River herring run was 448,060. More than 80 volunteers documented this migration through the Mystic River Watershed Association’s Herring Monitoring Program.
Read more about the Herring Monitoring Program.
