The river herring have returned for their annual migration up the Mystic River and to Horn Pond in search of spawning habitat! Volunteer in-person monitors spotted the first river herring at the Mystic Lakes Dam on April 20th and at Horn Pond on April 23rd.
Want to witness this incredible migration? Check out these opportunities to follow the fish this month:
Saturday, May 3rd 9AM-1PM | MyRWA staff will be at Woburn Conservation Day to talk about our open space projects with the City, including the new Horn Pond fish passage. Stop by to see these exciting designs and view the herring at Scalley Dam.
Viewing the river herring at Scalley Dam during a past Woburn Conservation Day. Credit: Daria Clark Santollani
Sunday, May 18th 8AM-3PM | Try your hand at being a river herring at our 29th Annual Herring Run & Paddle. Join us to run, walk, roll, or paddle along the herring migration route up the Mystic.
**Special this year! At 10AM, Mystic Artist in Residence Andres Duarte will be hosting a fabulous rollerskating performance by local skaters. Think herring costumes, rollerskating tricks, and lively music. You won't want to miss it!
Design by Kari Percival
Design by Andres Duarte
Thursday, May 22nd 4:30PM-6:30PM | Stop by the Mystic Lakes Dam for our Herring Open House, where you can see the herring run, chat with MyRWA’s Executive Director and MyRWA staff, and meet other engaged community members. Historically, this week in May has yielded the highest herring count (which we know thanks to our herring monitor volunteers)!
Before the fish ladder was constructed in 2012, community members would gather for a bucket brigade to hoist river herring over the Mystic Lakes Dam. Credit: David Mussina
All Season Long | You can view the river herring through our underwater fishcam at the Mystic Lakes Dam. This camera records the fish as they pass the top of the fish ladder into Upper Mystic Lake. You can check it out and help us collect data online at mysticherring.org
A 2018 video from our underwater fishcam with river herring swimming past.
WATCH THEM SWIM. HELP THEM THRIVE!
The Mystic — despite being one of the most urban watersheds in New England — has one of the larger river herring runs in the Commonwealth.
This is a migration that plays an essential role in a healthy oceanic and riverine food web, and it depends on your support!
This May we need to raise $5,000 in honor of the 500,000 fish making this migration! Don't hesitate! Give a gift today to help ensure that these important fish thrive today and for generations to come!
