Technical Report. A Survey of Anadromous Fish Passage in Coastal Massachusetts. Part 4. Boston Harbor, North Shore and Merrimack River

Transcription

1 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report TR-18 Technical Report A Survey of Anadromous Fish Passage in Coastal Massachusetts Part 4. Boston Harbor, North Shore and Merrimack River P. D. Brady, K. E. Reback, K. D. McLaughlin, and C. G. Milliken Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Commonwealth of Massachusetts January 2005

2 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report TR-18 A Survey of Anadromous Fish Passage in Coastal Massachusetts Part 4. Boston Harbor, North Shore and Merrimack River Phillips D. Brady, Kenneth E. Reback, Katherine D. McLauglin, and Cheryl G. Milliken Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Southshore Field Station Pocasset, MA January 2005 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Paul Diodati, Director Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement Dave Peters, Commissioner Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary Commonwealth of Massachusetts

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Part 4: Boston Harbor, North Shore, and Merrimack River Watersheds Acknowledgements iii Abstract iv Introduction Materials and Methods Life Histories Management Boston Harbor Watersheds Map of Towns and Streams Stream Survey Boston Harbor Recommendations North Shore Watersheds Map of Towns and Streams Stream Survey North Shore Recommendations Merrimack River Watershed Map of Towns and Streams Stream Survey Merrimack River Recommendations General Recommendations Alphabetical Index of Streams Alphabetical Index of Towns Appendix 1: List of Anadromous Species in MA Appendix 2: State River Herring Regulations Appendix 3: Fishway Designs and Examples Appendix 4: Abbreviations Used ii

4 Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank the following people for their assistance in carrying out this survey and for sharing their knowledge of the anadromous fish resources of the Commonwealth: Brian Creedon, Tracy Curley, Jack Dixon, George Funnell, Steve Kennedy, Paul Montague, Don St. Pierre, Ken Sprankle and Dave Watling. The following Division of Marine Fisheries personnel were invaluable in the preparation of this report: Brad Chase, Rusty Iwanowicz and Greg Skomal. Special thanks to Edward Clark, who participated in much of the field work. We also wish to recognize Tracy Pugh for her work in data compilation and editing. This work was funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Watershed Initiative. iii

5 ABSTRACT Anadromous fish species such as alewife, blueback herring, rainbow smelt, American shad, and white perch are important members of the coastal and freshwater fish faunas of Massachusetts. Providing passage through numerous man-made blockages allowing for the spawning migration of these fishes is essential to maintaining healthy populations. Information on blockages (primarily dams) and fish passage structures (fishways) has not been updated since the early 1970s. In order to update this information, a survey was conducted by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries during The purpose was to provide information on the present state of fish passage in Massachusetts coastal streams and rivers and to provide guidance for future restoration efforts. The results of this survey are presented in this report. All rivers and streams flowing into Massachusetts coastal waters were examined. The presence of anadromous species in a system was determined from a variety of sources including past Division surveys, regional biologists, harbormasters, and local herring and shellfish wardens. If alewives or blueback herring were not specifically identified, the generic term river herring was used in the species present listing. Most rivers and streams were surveyed from mouth to headwaters. General physical characteristics of the water bodies and data of specific importance to anadromous fish were noted. All obstructions and fishways were photographed and their locations were recorded using handheld GPS units. Site specific details were documented for the first impassable obstruction and its impoundment area to assist in the evaluation of future alterations or fish passage possibilities. On some streams, information was gathered on additional impassable obstructions as well. River obstruction type, construction material, and structural and hydraulic heights were recorded. When a fishway was present, the type of design, dimensions, construction materials, and number of baffles, pools and weirs were recorded. Fishways were rated based on their condition and function. Condition (poor, fair, good or excellent) described the physical structure and referred to the level of deterioration of the ladder. Function (not passable, inefficient passage, or passable) described how well the structure passed fish. A brief description of the state of fish passage and the potential for further improvements were provided for each river and stream. The survey included 215 coastal streams. Along these streams, 493 lakes, ponds or reservoirs and 380 obstructions to migratory fish passage were documented. The majority of the obstructions are manmade dams that in many cases have long ceased to perform the functions for which they were originally constructed. About 68% of the dams are six feet or under in height and only 3% were 24 feet tall or greater. The survey identified 175 existing fish passage structures and more than 100 active river herring runs. Weir pool and notched weir pool fishways were by far the most common designs employed in Massachusetts followed by the denil ladder, stream baffles, Alaskan Steeppass, combination designs, vertical slot and fish lifts. About 46% of the existing fishways were judged to be in deteriorated condition and 50% were judged to function inadequately. The survey clearly demonstrates that Massachusetts has a large investment in fish passage along our coastal rivers and streams. The survey and associated recommendations identify numerous projects that should be undertaken over the next several years. These projects include the maintenance, repair, and re-design of failing or inefficient existing fishways, and the construction of new fishways to provide access to additional spawning grounds. The information provided by this survey will guide the planning and implementation of future infrastructure work by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries necessary for the management and improvement of Massachusetts anadromous fish populations. This report is Part 4 in a four part series that covers the coast of Massachusetts. The information provided in this report covers the watersheds within Boston Harbor, the North Shore, and the Merrimack River. The other parts in the series are: Part 1 Southeastern Massachusetts; Part 2 Cape Cod and the Islands; Part 3 South Shore. iv

6 INTRODUCTION Anadromous fishes in Massachusetts coastal waters have undergone a striking decline in abundance over the past 400 years. The combined effects of impassable dams, gross pollution, water diversion and overfishing had drastically reduced or eliminated anadromous fish populations. Twentieth century efforts at restoring depleted stocks through focused care and management led to a significant recovery in the Commonwealth. Today more than 100 coastal rivers and streams are the sites of active herring runs. During the fall of 1967, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) began a survey of coastal streams to determine the existence of anadromous fish resources and the potential for restoration and enhancement. The results of that survey, published as a Federal Aid completion report in 1972, have served as the basis for anadromous fish management in Massachusetts since that time. The recommendations that resulted from the survey have provided a work plan for DMF's anadromous fish project over the last 30 years. In the three decades since the completion of the survey, numerous changes have taken place. Some fishways have deteriorated or their designs have become obsolete. Dams have failed, eliminating spawning or nursery habitats. Impoundments have degraded due to eutrophication, and water withdrawals have raised fish passage issues. Other changes have been positive. Many fishways have been constructed, replaced, or repaired and designs have improved dramatically. Stocking programs have resulted in new populations and the restoration of others. Water quality has improved in many systems. Most of the recommendations made in the 1972 report have been successfully carried out. Because of these changed conditions, continued effective management of coastal anadromous fish resources in Massachusetts required a new survey and report that would generate an updated set of recommendations. This document presents the results of a new anadromous fishway survey conducted in 2001 and The information and recommendations presented are intended to form the basis of an action plan for future DMF anadromous fish work. Recommendations are presented and prioritized for each watershed to enable the DMF to better execute its statutory mandate to develop and manage the anadromous fish resources of the Commonwealth. This is the final report in a four part series that covers the coast of Massachusetts. Findings from the watersheds of Boston Harbor, the Merrimack River, and the North Shore of Massachusetts are presented in this report. The first report in the series is comprised of the Southeastern portion of Massachusetts, including the Taunton River watershed and the drainage areas of Narragansett Bay and Buzzards Bay. The Cape Cod, Martha s Vineyard, and Nantucket watersheds are reported in part 2 of the series, and part 3 includes the watersheds of the South Shore of Massachusetts. MATERIALS AND METHODS All rivers and streams flowing into Massachusetts coastal waters, from the Rhode Island to New Hampshire borders, were considered. Most were surveyed from mouth to headwaters. General physical characteristics were noted and data of specific importance to anadromous fish recorded. All known or encountered obstructions and fishways were photographed using a high resolution digital camera, and their locations were recorded using handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units. Site specific details were documented for the first impassable obstruction and its impoundment area to assist in the evaluation of future alterations or fish passage possibilities. On some streams, information was gathered on additional impassable obstructions as well. River obstruction type, construction material, and structural and hydraulic heights were recorded. When a fishway was present, the type of design, construction materials, number of baffles, pools and weirs as well as operational condition were noted. Measurements including length, inside width (IW) and outside width (OW), baffle height, pool length, steep notch width and pool depth were also recorded for each fishway. 1

7 Total stream length, obstruction river mile, and impoundment acreage were calculated for all systems using Map Tech Terrain Pro Navigator Software, version To calculate impoundment acreage, the impoundment boundary was traced three times and resultant values averaged to achieve a better area estimate. Water ph was tested at one point on each system using either a Horiba U-10 Waterchecker, an Oakton Waterproof ph Testr2 or a LaMotte Wide Range ph kit (model P- 3100). These data should be used with caution since they represent only a single point measurement. Distances and heights were documented via tape measures and telescoping rods or an Opti-Logic 400 LH Hypsometryx Rangefinder, Sonin Combo PRO ultrasonic electronic measurer and a DISTO classic hand-held laser meter. The electronic measuring devices were utilized when the distance was very large or physical obstructions limited access to the object to be measured. The presence of anadromous species in a system was determined from a variety of sources including past Division surveys, regional biologist accounts, and local herring and shellfish wardens and harbormaster accounts. If alewives or blueback herring have not been specifically identified, the generic term river herring is used in the species present listing. For the purposes of this report, an obstruction was defined as any feature, natural or manmade, that negatively effects the upstream or downstream movement of anadromous fish species. While dams were considered most often, the term also applied to natural elevation changes such as those caused by falls and severe rapids or less dramatic gradients that may result in extremely shallow stream depths. Culverts that create elevation changes, cause fish to hesitate due to abrupt lighting changes, restrict stream flow or have submerged outlets were also considered obstructtions and impediments to passage. When present, fishways were rated based on their condition and function. Condition, which was listed as poor, fair, good or excellent, described the physical structure and referred to the level of deterioration of the ladder. Function, rated as not passable, inefficient passage, or passable, described how well the structure can pass fish. A fishway was listed as not passable if fish are unable to utilize it. If there is any room for improvement in the design or placement of the ladder that would enable the structure to better pass fish, it was listed as inefficient passage. If the fishway passes fish at optimum levels and no improvements could be made to it, it was listed as passable. LIFE HISTORIES There are seventeen species of anadromous fish in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (see Appendix 1). Below we discuss the life history of the four species that have been the focus of DMF s restoration efforts through the improvement of fish passage. River Herring: The river herring are actually two closely related members of the family Clupeidae, the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and the blueback (Alosa aestivalis) herring. The two species are very difficult to tell apart and, short of a study of their morphometric characteristics, the best method to distinguish them is the color of the peritoneum, the body cavity lining. In the alewife this tissue is gray or silvery while in the blueback herring it is a sooty black color. Although the alewife tends to be larger, up to about 12 inches, there is much overlap in size. While both species are capable of spawning in riverine or lacustrine environments, there is a decided preference for the latter on the part of alewives while bluebacks generally choose a stream or river type of habitat. In general, most systems contain both species. Alewives tend to spawn 3 to 4 weeks earlier than bluebacks in the same system. Although actual spawning probably occurs much later, alewives have been observed in Massachusetts streams as early as February and, in one instance, January. Alewives begin spawning when water temperatures reach 51 2

8 and bluebacks 57 degrees F. Both species cease spawning when the water warms to 81º F. Blueback eggs are semi-buoyant and tend to drift with the current while alewife eggs will remain in contact with the substrate or current. After utilizing the freshwater habitat for a nursery area for most of the summer, the juvenile herring undertake a massive migration to the ocean in the fall. In the case of alewives, a smaller but significant out migration in late spring/early summer has been documented in some systems. Once in the marine environment, river herring feed on zooplankton such as microcrustaceans, fish eggs and fish larvae. Maturity occurs at 3 to 5 years and the fish return to their natal streams utilizing their olfactory sense to guide them to the home waters. Repeat spawning occurs more often in northern than in southern populations. Mortality during a spawning season in the south may reach up to 90%. Formerly an important local food source, river herring were smoked, salted or pickled. Human consumption is now a minor use and the fish are primarily sought after as bait for commercial and sport fishing. American shad: The American shad (Alosa sapidissima) is also a member of the Clupeidae and, with the exception of its size, closely resembles the river herring. The series of 4 to 6 lateral dark spots on the shad's side, posterior to the gill cover, and the fact that its upper jaw extends beyond the eye serve to distinguish it from alewives and blueback herring. Adult males may weigh up to 6 pounds and females can grow to 8 pounds although larger specimens are occasionally reported. Shad may grow to 2 feet in length although individuals of 30 inches have been recorded. Shad are river spawners, ascending the larger systems such as the Comnnecticut and Merrimack Rivers when spring water temperatures reach approximately 62 degrees F. A few smaller Massachusetts streams, notably the Palmer and Indianhead Rivers, support small but important populations. Males reach sexual maturity at 3 to 5 years old and females from 4 to 6. Eggs are semi-buoyant and tumble along the stream bottom until hatched. Juveniles spend their first summer in the river feeding on microscopic zooplankton and insects until they depart for the marine environment in the fall. New England shad populations overwinter in the mid-atlantic coastal region and migrate northward in the spring, using their olfactory sense to locate natal rivers. Postspawn adults and immature fish congregate in the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy during the summer before moving to their wintering grounds. There is no commercial fishery for American shad in Massachusetts where it is considered a sportfish and is eagerly sought by anglers in rivers where the fish congregate in sufficient numbers. Rainbow smelt: Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) are small fish that rarely exceed 7 to 9 inches as adults and weigh 1 to 6 ounces. Mature females are larger than their male counterparts. The smelt can be distinguished from other small coastal Massachusetts species by its deeply forked tail and adipose fin anterior to the caudal fin. Both sexes mature at about 2 years of age although some precocious one year olds may participate in spawning. Spawning begins in late winter/early spring in Massachusetts when water temperatures reach 40 to 42 degrees F. Spawning takes place just above the head of the tide in fast flowing, often turbulent water usually associated with rocky or boulder substrate. Eggs are broadcast, fertilized and immediately become attached to the substrate or vegetation by means of a stalk-like appendage which protrudes from the egg surface. Spawning occurs at night with the adult smelt retreating to deeper water downstream during the day. Larvae are about 1/4 inch when hatched and are carried downstream to the estuary. The juvenile fish feed on zooplankton, especially microscopic crustaceans. Adults feed on small crustaceans such as shrimp and gammarids as well as crabs, worms and small fish. Adult smelt spend the summer in relatively shallow waters less than a mile from shore and move into bays and estuaries during the fall and winter. Smelt feed actively during the winter and as a result support a small but intense rod 3

9 and reel fishery from docks and piers and, when ice conditions permit, ice shanties. No commercial fishery exists and in order to protect the species during its spawning run, possession of smelt during the spring is illegal according to state law. MANAGEMENT The management of river herring (alewives and blueback herring), American shad and rainbow smelt in coastal waters and streams is delegated to the Division of Marine Fisheries through Chapter 130 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Anadromous salmonids (trout and Atlantic salmon) come under the jurisdiction of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. DMF's management techniques fall into three general categories: regulation, propagation and fishway construction. Regulations Fisheries for anadromous fishes are subject to the General Laws of the Commonwealth. Chapter 130 of the General Laws establishes specific laws for the management of river herring, American shad, and rainbow smelt in coastal waters and empowers the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries to create regulations for the protection of these species. Current state regulations are intended to protect existing populations while allowing reasonable usage of the resource by the public. This is accomplished by the standard fishery management techniques of imposing a no fishing period, daily bag limits, restrictions on methods of catch or some combination of the above. (Specific state regulations for all river herring can be viewed in Appendix 2). In addition to the generic state regulations, Sections 93 and 94 of Chapter 130 allow cities and towns or anyone who creates a fishery to develop their own river herring regulations with the approval of DMF. Autonomous local control of these fisheries, as was established in the past by numerous Special Acts of Legislature, proved for a number of reasons to be ineffective. Conversely, it is not possible for the state to effectively manage the numerous populations in the Commonwealth. Consequently, the repeal of the Special Acts and an emphasis on local control with oversight by DMF has proved to be a satisfactory compromise. Perhaps of greatest importance to the protection of anadromous fish resources is Section 19 of Chapter 130. This statute gives the Director of Marine Fisheries the authority to order removal of an obstruction to fish passage or order construction of passage facilities at the expense of the owner. Section 19 is responsible for the existence of many fishways that may not have been built otherwise. Other laws such as Section 95, which prohibits unauthorized taking of herring from created fisheries, and Section 96, which prevents the taking of herring after June 15, also aid in the management of this species. Other anadromous fish are also protected by state law. According to Section 34, smelt may not be taken or possessed from March 15 to June 15 in order to protect spawning broodstocks. Section 100C prohibits taking of American shad by any means other that hook and line and the daily bag limit is 6 shad. Section 17 enables the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries to set regulations for the management of anadromous fish in coastal waters as well as for other marine species. Propagation Propagation may be the oldest fisheries management technique and has been applied to anadromous fish in Massachusetts since the 17 th century if not earlier. DMF's propagation strategy for river herring has been to collect adult fish from productive populations just prior to spawning and transport them to a new potential spawning ground that has been made accessible, usually through fishway construction. The offspring of the transplanted adults become imprinted on this habitat just prior to their seaward migration and return there to spawn when they mature. This technique has been extremely successful and is also used to restore populations that have been depleted by overfishing, drought, fish kills or other causes. American shad propagation has been carried on by DMF since the late 1960's. Both fertilized eggs and adult shad have been 4

10 transported from home streams to potential habitats. While some limited success has been achieved, the shad stocking programs have not matched river herring propagation as an important management tool. Other states have been more successful in this area and refinement of methods and techniques in the future could result in a productive shad restoration program. Rainbow smelt stocking has been carried on in the Commonwealth for over a hundred years. Early attempts did not take habitat requirements into consideration and accordingly the results were less than satisfactory. Both fertilized eggs and adult brood stock have been used for transplanting in the past, each with success. The current method used by DMF is to collect newly fertilized eggs on trays of sphagnum moss or some other material to which the eggs will attach and survive. Once a sufficient number of eggs have been deposited on the trays they are transported to the host stream on which the larval smelt will become imprinted. Fishway Construction Massachusetts has been a leader in the field of fishway construction. Records indicate that 18 th century colonists recognized the need for fish passage around newly built dams and passed laws requiring access for fish. This tradition has carried into the 21 st century. The Commonwealth has maintained its own fishway construction crew since 1934 and, in 1967, DMF established an Anadromous Fish Project which dealt with fish ladder design as well as all the other aspects of anadromous fish management. The result has been the more than 140 fishways documented by this survey, most of which have been designed and/or constructed by DMF. Typically, funding for materials has been provided by towns, local organizations, or state and federal grants, with design expertise and labor coming from the Division's anadromous fish program. Several fishway types are currently in use on coastal Massachusetts streams. (See Appendix 3 for illustrations and photos of typical fishway designs.) The most common is some variation on the weir-pool design. This style has the advantage of adequate function under low flow regimes and is the favored design when public viewing is desired. Its drawbacks are the need for frequent manual adjustment and its inability to pass species other than river herring with any efficiency. Many of the weir-pool fishways currently in operation have been in place for fifty years or more and are both deteriorated and obsolete in design. In the late 1960's, DMF began to use a Denil design for most of its newly constructed fishways. This type was more effective in passing species other than river herring and could operate with a minimum of flow adjustment. In addition, fish tended to move through the structure more quickly creating less backup than is experienced with the weir-pool ladder. The disadvantage is the need for relatively high flow volumes to insure fish passage. The Denil soon became the preferred design where applicable and is still frequently used. The first installation of a prefabricated, aluminum Alaskan steeppass fishway by DMF took place in Similar to the Denil in function, this style offered the benefit of reduced costs by eliminating the need for large, labor intensive construction projects. Also, impacts to streambeds, wetlands and adjacent uplands were minimized. In addition, the steeppass has been found to be useful in the modification of dilapidated, inefficient weirpool ladders. Its disadvantages are similar to those of the Denil type and its cost becomes a factor when many sections are required to overcome an obstruction. A mechanical fish lift is currently in operation on the Merrimack River. Operated by CHI Energy, the lift at the Essex Dam in Lawrence is primarily designed to pass Atlantic salmon and American shad although other species such as blueback herring utilize it in substantial numbers. Also, a vertical slot or Ice Harbor fishway in addition to a lift is utilized at the Pawtucket Dam in Lowell. 5

11 Boston Harbor Watersheds BOSTON HARBOR WATERSHED 6

12 Boston Harbor Watersheds Boston Harbor Watersheds Weir River Hingham Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 4.9 Third 6.4 River herring, smelt, white perch, tomcod Obstruction # 1 Foundry Pond Dam Hingham 2.7 Dam Concrete and Town of N stone Hingham W Foundry Pond Dam Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete Good weir-pool Passable Fishway at Foundry Pond Dam 7

13 Boston Harbor Watersheds Remarks: Weir River forms a 6 acre impoundment as it flows to Boston Harbor. The 9 foot dam which creates the impoundment has recently been restored and the fishway that provides access was also modified at this time. Juvenile herring out-migration may be negatively impacted by the new rip-rap facing piled at the base of the dam. Efforts should be made to correct some of the detrimental impacts of the dam restoration. The area immediately downstream of the dam has historically supported a strong smelt population and white perch are known to spawn in the lower river. 8

14 Boston Harbor Watersheds Straits Pond Cohasset, Hull Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.0 Second 8.9 River herring Obstruction # 1 Straits Pond Tidegate Cohasset, Hull 1.0 Tide gate Metal Town of N Hull W Remarks: Tidegate at Straits Pond This 95.8 acre salt pond is maintained at low salinities by a tide gate operated by the Town of Hull. River herring enter the pond when the tide gate is properly adjusted. Other than maintaining a flow regulation protocol which would insure maximum fish passage, little can be done to improve the productivity of this system. 9

15 Boston Harbor Watersheds Accord Brook Hingham Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 5.9 First 6.9 River herring Obstruction # 1 Triphammer Pond Dam Hingham 0.6 Dam Concrete and Town of N stone Hingham W Fishway Present Triphammer Pond Dam Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Weir-pool Concrete Varied Good with wooden (1.7, 2.2, 3) Passable baffles Fishway at Triphammer Pond Dam 10

16 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Accord Pond Dam Hingham 5.9 Dam Concrete, , Mass N stone, and replaced American W aluminum since Water Co. Accord Pond Dam Spillway at Accord Pond Remarks: Accord Brook is a tributary to the Weir River and forms two impoundments along its course. The first, Triphammer Pond, is equipped with a weir-pool fishway which allows river herring to access its 17.4 acres of habitat when properly adjusted. The second impoundment, Accord Pond, is 95 acres in area but functions as a public water supply. No outflow was observed at the time of this survey and there is little potential for development here. 11

17 Boston Harbor Watersheds Fulling Mill Brook Hingham Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.1 First 6.8 River herring Obstruction # 1 Fulling Millpond Dam Hingham 1.1 Dam Concrete Hingham 42º N with wooden Water Co. 70º W boards Remarks: Fulling Millpond Dam This stream is also a tributary to the Weir River and forms a 13.4 acre impoundment called Fulling Millpond before joining that stream. The spillway design creates a difficult fishway installation problem and the impoundment is used as a public water supply making this a very low priority for development. 12

18 Boston Harbor Watersheds Crooked Meadow River Hingham Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.0 Second 6.7 Unknown Obstruction # 1 Elevation Change below Cushing Pond Hingham 0.9 Elevation Stone 6.0 ~ Private N change W Elevation change downstream of Cushing Pond Obstruction # 2 Cushing Pond Dam Hingham 1.0 Dam Concrete Private N W Cushing Pond Dam 13

19 Boston Harbor Watersheds Remarks: This stream flows into the Weir River and two obstructions block fish passage before any significant habitat can be reached. The difficulty in providing access to the 18.8 acres available in Cushing Pond reduces potential for development. 14

20 Boston Harbor Watersheds Broad Cove Hingham Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 0.5 First 7.9 None known No Obstructions Broad Cove Remarks: Broad Cove is an inland extension of Hingham Harbor. A small, unnamed stream drains into the cove and smelt have been known to spawn there in the past. No recent spawning has been observed, probably due to degraded habitat, and there is little potential for further development. 15

21 Boston Harbor Watersheds Weymouth Back River Weymouth Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 4.8 Third 6.6 River herring, smelt, white perch Obstruction # 1 Broad Street Dam Weymouth 4.2 Dam Concrete º N 70º W Fishway Present Broad Street Dam and Fishway Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete Good weir-pool Passable 16

22 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Dam at Youth Center Weymouth 4.2 Dam Concrete º N 70º W Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete 21.0 Varied Varied Fair weir-pool ( ) ( ) Passable Fishway and dam at Weymouth Youth Center 17

23 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Jackson Square Dam Weymouth 4.3 Dam Concrete º N 70º W Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete Varied 2.0 Varied Good weir-pool with wooden ( ) (6-7) Passable baffles Jackson Square Dam and fishway 18

24 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 4 Elevation change under Jackson Weymouth Square 4.4 Elevation Concrete N change W Fishway Entrance to Jackson Square elevation change Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Stream Wooden Varied Good baffles baffles (44 and 80 ) Passable Jackson Square elevation change 19

25 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 5 Pleasant Street Dam Weymouth Type Material River Mile Spillway W (ft) Spillway H (ft) Impoundment Acreage Year Built Owner GPS 4.5 Dam Concrete with wooden N W boards Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete Fair weir-pool Passable Fishway and dam at Pleasant Street 20

26 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 6 Iron Hill Dam Weymouth Type Material River Mile Spillway W (ft) Spillway H (ft) Impoundment Acreage Year Built Owner GPS 4.6 Dam Stone and concrete with Town of N Weymouth W wooden boards Fishway Present Iron Hill Dam Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Denil Concrete Good with wooden Passable baffles Fishway sections at Iron Hill Dam 21

27 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 7 Whitman's Pond Dam Weymouth 4.8 Dam Concrete Town of 42º N Weymouth 70º W Fishway Present Whitman s Pond Dam Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Denil Concrete with wooden Good Passable baffles Fish ladder at Whitman s Pond Dam 22

28 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction #8 Washington Street Control Structure Weymouth 5.7 Dam control Concrete and º N structure metal 70º W Control structure at Washington Street Remarks: Despite numerous obstructions and the need for seven fishways to insure access, this system supports one of the largest Massachusetts river herring populations north of Cape Cod. Population estimates based on visual counts by volunteers have ranged from 31,000 in 1978 to 859,000 in 1995, and average 265,000 fish annually. A number of factors impact this resource and may be preventing the population from reaching higher production levels. A bypass channel which is part of a flood control system, designed by the US Army Corps of Engineers and owned by the Town of Weymouth, distracts river herring from the entrance to the first ladder. An attempt to screen this bypass has met with some success but inefficient screen design and deterioration have resulted in the loss of large numbers of fish. The recent installation (Fall, 2004) of a new grate over the entrance to the bypass channel should eliminate the trapping of river herring. Another factor which certainly affects productivity is the blocking of the portion of Whitmans Pond south of Washington Street to spawning river herring. This extension of the pond is used as a water supply and, in order to isolate it from the poorer quality water in the northern section, a sluice gate prevents any back flow. While river herring could conceivably enter this area in spring without risking contamination of the water supply, any young herring produced would have a difficult time exiting the upper system when the levels were drawn down. As a result, it was decided to confine spawning to the main pond and avoid losses of juveniles. A third element which may have some effect on population size is the large concentration of double crested cormorants which frequent the area during the summer. These birds have been reported to feed heavily on juvenile herring throughout this period and could impact juvenile escapement success. In addition to the above mentioned issues, the reliance on seven fishways to provide access to spawning habitat presents another challenge to the management of this resource. The maintenance, regulation, and 23

29 Boston Harbor Watersheds cleaning of this many ladders requires a high level of dedication on the part of those responsible, and the Town of Weymouth has undertaken this task with a great deal of success. Continuation of this effort is necessary to maintaining the current high level of productivity. The section of Weymouth Back River below the first dam is used as a spawning area for rainbow smelt. 24

30 Boston Harbor Watersheds Fore River/Monatiquot River Weymouth, Braintree Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 15.4 Third 6.9 Smelt Obstruction # 1 McCusker Road Culvert Braintree 5.5 Culvert Concrete N W McCusker Road culvert Obstruction # 2 Elevation Change above McCusker Braintree Road 5.5 Elevation Stone ~15 ~ N change W Elevation change upstream of McCusker Road 25

31 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Falls upstream of Railroad tracks Braintree 8.4 Elevation Rock º N change ledge 71º W Natural falls upstream of railroad tracks Obstruction # 4 Ames Pond Dam Braintree 8.5 Dam Concrete º N with wooden 71º W boards Ames Pond Dam 26

32 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 5 Hollingsworth Dam Braintree River Type Material Spillway Spillway Impoundment Year Owner GPS 8.6 Dam Concrete with wooden N W boards Hollingsworth Dam Remarks: The first obstruction on Fore River is a road culvert at McCusker Street. The 1.5 foot drop at the culvert is passable by river herring during spring flows but effectively limits smelt movement. A 3 foot high natural falls a very short distance upstream of McCusker Street is also passable by river herring under ideal flows but would not allow smelt to pass. Altering the culvert to allow smelt passage could increase smelt spawning habitat by 300 square meters. Due to the numerous fishways needed to overcome a third obstruction (6 foot natural falls) and two upstream dams, plus possible seasonal low flow issues, the further development of the river herring resource would be a difficult and expensive project. This river, once above the influence of the tide, is known as the Monatiquot River. 27

33 Boston Harbor Watersheds Smelt Brook Weymouth, Braintree Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.2 First 6.7 Smelt Obstruction # 1 Culverts at abandoned railroad tracks Weymouth.13 Culvert Concrete 4 and 6 4 and º N 70º W Left culvert (6 foot diameter) Right culvert (4 foot diameter) 28

34 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Pond Meadow Lake Dam Braintree 1.2 Dam Concrete Weymouth/ 42º N Braintree 70º W Regional Recreation Conservation District Dam at Pond Meadow Lake Remarks: Smelt Brook is a tributary to the Fore River estuary. Smelt spawn in the stream above the head of the tide. Much of the stream above this point is channelized and runs underground. Providing access for river herring to its 22.9 acre headwater pond is made difficult by the design of the pond s spillway structure. 29

35 Boston Harbor Watersheds Sunset Lake Braintree Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 0.4 First 7.1 None known Obstruction # 1 Sunset Lake Dam Braintree 0.4 Dam Concrete and Town of N granite with Braintree W wooden boards Sunset Lake Dam Remarks: The unnamed tributary which drains 57 acre Sunset Lake enters the Monatiquot River above the fifth obstruction. The high cost associated with overcoming these obstructions makes this system a low priority for river herring restoration. 30

36 Boston Harbor Watersheds Farm River Braintree Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 3.0 Fourth 6.9 None known Obstruction # 1 Great Pond Reservoir Dam Braintree 3.0 Dam Concrete º N with steel 71º W stop logs Great Pond Reservoir Dam Remarks: Farm River also enters the Monatiquot River above the fifth obstruction and so has low development potential due to downstream obstructions despite its 180 acre headwater impoundment. 31

37 Boston Harbor Watersheds Town River Quincy Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 2.0 First 7.1 Smelt Obstruction # 1 Culvert at Monroe Field Quincy Type Material River Mile Spillway W (ft) Spillway H (ft) Impoundment Acreage Year Built Owner GPS 2.0 Culvert Concrete with N W aluminum grate Monroe Field culvert Remarks: This highly altered stream is a spawning habitat for a smelt population. Modifications to the culvert structure at Rt. 3A by the US Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of flood control changed the stream's gradient within the spawning area. These changes have eliminated spawning habitat below Rt. 3A and the flood control project has diverted base flows resulting in degraded spawning habitat upstream of Rt. 3A. 32

38 Boston Harbor Watersheds Furnace Brook Quincy Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.9 First 6.5 Smelt Culverts downstream of Furnace Brook Elementary School No Obstructions Remarks: Furnace Brook is another highly urbanized and altered stream which drains into Boston Harbor. Smelt spawn in the stream at the head of the tide. There is no opportunity for further development of anadromous fish passage. Lack of spawning habitat prohibits alewife restoration. 33

39 Boston Harbor Watersheds Neponset River Quincy, Boston, Milton, Canton, Dedham, Westwood, Norwood, Walpole, Foxborough Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 28.4 Third 6.7 Alewife, blueback, American shad, smelt, white perch Obstruction # 1 Baker Chocolate Factory Dam Milton 4.2 Dam Concrete and Comm.- 42º N steel with of MA- 71º W wooden DCR boards Baker Chocolate Factory Dam 34

40 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Rubble Dam Milton, Mattapan 6.7 Dam Boulder variable not available and rubble Rubble Dam; photo courtesy of Michael Merrill (FWE) 35

41 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Tilestone & Hollingsworth Dam Milton, Mattapan Type Material River Mile Spillway W (ft) Spillway H (ft) Impoundment Acreage Year Built Owner GPS 6.8 Dam Concrete with a steel DCR 42º N 71º W door Remarks: The Tilestone and Hollingsworth Dam The Neponset River and its potential for anadromous fish restoration have been the focus of a great deal of attention in recent years. A survey carried out by DMF in 1995 revealed 15.7 miles of riverine habitat suitable for American shad and river herring spawning. Although river herring, rainbow smelt, and possibly American shad are known to spawn below the first dam, nearly all of the upstream habitat is made inaccessible by the Baker Chocolate Factory dam and the Tilestone-Hollingsworth dam. With the existence of so much potential spawning area documented, the issue of fish passage has been undertaken by an Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) feasibility study, currently underway, to determine the preferred alternative. The options addressed in the study are the installation of two Denil style ladders or complete or partial removal of the dams. In anticipation of renewed fish access to the upper river, DMF has introduced a total of 1,047 adult American shad from the Connecticut River. This stocking has taken place over 7 years from 1995 to

42 Boston Harbor Watersheds Charles River Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, Waltham, Newton, Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Dedham, Westwood, Dover, Natick, Medfield, Sherborn, Millis, Norfolk, etc. Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 79.5 Fourth 6.9 Alewife, blueback, American shad, smelt, white perch, gizzard shad Obstruction # 1 Charles River Locks Boston River Type Material Lock Lock Impoundment Year Owner GPS Mile W (ft) L (ft) Acreage Built 0.9 Locks Concrete and Varied Varied Comm. of N steel (2 at 25 (2 at 200 Mass.-DCR W 1 at 40 ) 1 at 300 ) Fishway Present Charles River Locks Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Slots H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Vertical slot Concrete 170 Varied 29 N/A - Varied Fair (.5-1.0) Not passable Vertical slot fishway at Charles River Locks 37

43 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Watertown Dam Watertown 9.4 Dam Concrete Comm. of N Mass.-DCR W Watertown Dam Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Denil Concrete with plastic Good Passable baffles Fishway entrance at Watertown Dam 38

44 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Bleachery Dam 11.4 Dam Granite blocks Comm. of N (breached) and cement Mass. DCR W Bleachery Dam (breach not shown) 39

45 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 4 Moody Street Dam Waltham 12.2 Dam Granite base & Comm. of N steel with Mass-DCR W wooden boards Moody Street Dam and Fishway Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Denil & Concrete weir-pool with wooden Fair Inefficient passage Denil baffles 40

46 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 5 Finlay (Newton Lower Falls) Dam Wellesley, Newton 17.8 Dam Granite & Comm. of N concrete Mass.-DCR W Fishway Present Finlay Dam (Newton Lower Falls) Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Denil Concrete 93.0 with composite Good Passable baffles and granite block cap Fishway at Finlay Dam 41

47 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 6 Cordingly (Newton Upper Falls) Dam Wellesley, Newton 18.1 Dam Concrete and Comm. of N granite Mass.-DCR W Cordingly Dam (Newton Upper Falls) Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Denil Concrete with wooden Fair Not passable baffles and a granite cap Fishway at Cordingly Dam 42

48 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 7 Metropolitan Circular Dam Wellesley, Newton 20.0 Dam Granite Comm. of N blocks Mass.-DCR W Metropolitan Circular Dam 43

49 Boston Harbor Watersheds Obstruction # 8 Silk Mill Dam Newton/Wellesley 20.2 Bascule Steel & N dam concrete W Remarks: Silk Mill Dam The Charles River is a large system and offers an abundance of riverine habitat to anadromous fishes. Its potential, however, is drastically impacted by the numerous obstructions to passage in its lower reaches. The first of these, the Charles River Dam and Locks, operated by DCR, is near the mouth of the river and has an effect on any fish attempting to enter the system. Although equipped with a fishway in 1978, the facility has never operated effectively due to mechanical failures and insufficient attraction flow and, as a result, migrating fish must rely on opening of the locks for access to the river. A locking protocol has been developed to maximize usage by rainbow smelt, river herring and American shad during their spawning runs. Approximately 8.5 miles above the first obstruction fish encounter the Watertown Dam. While the Denil fishway at this location functions well, the width of the spillway and river make it difficult for river herring and shad to locate the entrance and it is likely that a large percentage of these populations fail to ascend the river beyond this point. The smelt population spawns below this dam and is not affected by the fishway's shortcomings. The partially breached Bleachery Dam at river mile 11.4 still functions as an obstruction due to the river's width and the relative narrowness of the breach. The siting of the breached section adjacent to the south bank of the river also makes it difficult for fish moving along the north bank to locate. Complete removal of the structure or the addition of a second breach on the north side would significantly improve passage at this point. The fourth obstruction, the Moody Street Dam, is at river mile 12.2 and is equipped with a combination Denil and weir-pool fishway. The incorporation of these two designs into one fishway makes proper flow regulation critical to efficient passage. Other problems such as competing spillway flow, which makes entrance to the ladder difficult, and a deteriorated baffle have made this site a problem spot. In order to pass any significant numbers of fish, a conscientious program of flow regulation and maintenance must be applied to this structure. 44

50 Boston Harbor Watersheds The next two obstructions, the Finlay (Newton Lower Falls) and the Cordingly (Newton Upper Falls) Dams, are both equipped with Denil fishways. The wooden Denil baffles in the first ladder had badly deteriorated and have recently been replaced with an experimental design incorporating a recycled plastic material. The upper fishway is currently scheduled for a similar renovation. It should be noted that, to date, there is no documentation of anadromous species reaching the Newton Lower Falls. Two large dams, Metropolitan Circular Dam at river mile 20.0 and the Silk Mill Dam at river mile 20.2, have no fish passage facilities and eliminate any potential for further upstream migration. The Charles River has been the focal point of much anadromous fish restoration work in the past. DMF introduced a total of 9,436,000 fertilized American shad eggs into the river from 1971 to 1977 and from 1978 to 1992 released 2,612 adult shad into the system. While some returning adult shad have been documented, the development of a significant Charles River population never materialized. From 1990 to 2002 a total of 37,950 blueback herring, taken from below the Watertown Dam by DMF, have been moved to above the Moody Street Dam to establish a population imprinted on that section of the river. Due to the fish passage difficulties at Moody Street, the success of that stocking has yet to be evaluated. 45

51 Boston Harbor Watersheds Mystic River Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, Medford, Arlington, Winchester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 7.2 Third 7.8 Alewife, blueback, American shad, white perch Obstruction # 1 Amelia Earhart Dam & Locks Somerville, Everett 1.7 Locks Concrete and - N/A DCR N steel W Amelia Earhart Dam and Locks Obstruction # 2 Mystic Lakes Dam Arlington, Medford Type Material River Mile Spillway W (ft) Spillway H (ft) Impoundment Acreage Year Built Owner GPS 7.2 Dam Granite blocks with DCR N W wooden boards Mystic Lakes Dam 46

52 Boston Harbor Watersheds Remarks: River herring entering the Mystic River encounter the Amelia Earhart Dam and Locks just 1.7 miles from the river's mouth. Although a fishway at the dam is poorly designed and nonfunctional, DCR personnel are able to pass herring through the locks in large numbers. Although no locking protocol exists, as is the case at the Charles River, sufficient numbers reach spawning habitat to maintain a large population. A 5.8 foot dam separates 85 acre Lower Mystic Lake from 165 acre upper Mystic Lake and prevents herring from reaching the larger habitat. Deterioration of the dam has caused DCR to initiate planning for repair or replacement of the structure. A fishway should be included in any future modifications. A locking protocol should also be instituted to insure ongoing passage at the Amelia Earhart Dam. 47

53 Boston Harbor Watersheds Boston Harbor Watershed Recommendations 1. Fish passage at the lower two dams on the Neponset River should be restored either through construction of fishways or removal of the dams. From the perspective of passage for river herring and American shad, complete removal would be the preferred option. 2. A fishway should be installed at Upper Mystic Lake for the passage of river herring. It would be economically beneficial to coordinate such construction with proposed dam improvements. 3..A locking protocol for moving river herring through the Amelia Earhart Dam and Locks on the Mystic River should be developed and adhered to. Although fish are currently locked through the system successfully, a more formal arrangement is needed to insure that this continues in the future. 4. The locking protocol that has been developed for the Charles River Dam and Locks should be evaluated for effectiveness and adjustments made if required for optimal fish passage. Lock operators should strictly adhere to the accepted protocol. 5. A second breach of the Bleachery Dam on the Charles River should be made adjacent to the north bank in order to facilitate passage of fish moving up that side. 6. A conscientious program of flow regulation and ladder maintenance for the Moody Street Dam fishway on the Charles River should be developed and adhered to. 7. American shad should continue to be introduced into the Neponset River in anticipation of restoration of fish passage. The possibility of utilizing shad fry rather than adults should be considered. 48

54 North Shore Watersheds NORTH SHORE WATERSHEDS 49

55 North Shore Watersheds North Shore Watersheds Saugus River Saugus, Lynn, Wakefield, Lynnfield Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 12.2 Third 6.9 Alewife, blueback, smelt Obstruction # 1 Lynn Waterways Dam (Colonial Saugus Country Club Dam) 9.4 Dam Concrete City of Lynn 42º N with metal 71º W stop logs Lynn Waterways Dam at the Colonial Country Club 50

56 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Lake Quannapowitt Dam Wakefield River Type Material Spillway Spillway Impoundment Year Owner GPS 12.2 Dam Concrete with wooden Town of 42º N Wakefield 71º W boards Remarks: Lake Ouannapowitt Dam Since the breaching of the Saugus Iron Works dam, river herring have had access to the Colonial Golf and Country Club dam at river mile 9.4 and have been observed at the base of that dam as well as in Camp Nihan Pond at river mile 6.0. Further development would be costly due to outlet structure design at the first and second dams and is greatly reduced in priority by the fact that stream flows can be very low in summer and fall. Rainbow smelt are known to spawn in the area below the remains of the Saugus Iron Works dam. 51

57 North Shore Watersheds Shute Brook Saugus Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present No Obstructions Remarks: 2.0 First N/A Smelt No photo available Rainbow smelt spawning has been noted in this small tributary to the Saugus River. There is no opportunity for further development. Proctor Brook Salem, Peabody Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 5.6 Second 7.6 None Known No photo available No Obstructions Remarks: This tributary to Beverly Harbor has no potential for development. 52

58 North Shore Watersheds Crane River Danvers Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.8 Second 8.3 River herring, smelt Obstruction # 1 Mill Pond Dam Danvers 1.8 Dam Concrete Town of N with wooden Danvers W boards C/O Select Mill Pond Dam (from above) Downstream of Mill Pond Dam Remarks: Crane River is another small tributary to Beverly Harbor. A 4.6 acre impoundment provides the only potential river herring habitat in the system. Small schools of river herring have been observed in the stream on occasion by DMF biologists. During the period 1995 to 1997 DMF introduced fertilized smelt eggs to this stream and removed a sluice gate, which blocked smelt passage to spawning habitat. In recent years small numbers of smelt eggs have been observed on the substrate and may be a result of this stocking. 53

59 North Shore Watersheds Porter River Danvers Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.7 First 7.2 Smelt No photo available No Obstructions Remarks: Rainbow smelt eggs have been observed in this tributary to Beverly Harbor. There is no opportunity for development of other anadromous species. 54

60 North Shore Watersheds Bass River Beverly Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 3.0 First 6.8 None known Obstruction # 1 Elliot Street Culvert Beverly 1.3 Culvert, Concrete º N Circular 70º W Elliot Street culvert Obstruction # 2 Dam above Elliot Street Parking Beverly 1.6 Dam Concrete º N 70º W Dam above Elliot Street parking 55

61 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Shoe Pond Dam Beverly Type Material River Mile Spillway W (ft) Spillway H (ft) Impoundment Acreage Year Built Owner GPS 1.6 Dam Concrete with wooden Cummings N Properties W boards Remarks: Shoe Pond Dam Although this tributary to Beverly Harbor offers over 15 acres of potential river herring habitat in its two impoundments, the difficulty of providing fish passage at the obstructions gives it a very low priority for development. 56

62 North Shore Watersheds Chubb Creek Beverly, Manchester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.0 First 6.3 Smelt No photo available No Obstructions Remarks: This small tributary to Manchester Bay offers no river herring habitat. Rainbow smelt, however, are known to spawn above the stream's tidal reaches. Clark Pond Manchester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present.12 First N/A None known Looking towards Clark Pond from downstream No Obstructions Remarks: This pond in Manchester drains into Kettle Cove by way of a small stream. There is no river herring potential. 57

63 North Shore Watersheds West Pond Gloucester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 0.3 First 6.5 None known Obstruction # 1 Shore Road Culvert Gloucester 0.0 Elevation ~6'-8' º N change 70º W Remarks: Outlet of Shore Road culvert The stream draining this 7.3 acre pond enters Massachusetts Bay by way of a small corrugated metal culvert. There is no access to the culvert entrance across the rocky beach and no development potential. 58

64 North Shore Watersheds Buswell Pond Gloucester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 0.6 First 4.8 None known Obstruction # 1 Duck Pond Culvert Gloucester 0.1 Culvert Metal 0.9 ~ Private N W Outlet from Duck Pond culvert 59

65 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Duck Pond upstream edge Gloucester 0.1 Elevation Stream bed N change W Ledge at upstream edge of Duck Pond 60

66 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Channel Spillway Gloucester 0.1 Elevation Concrete 5.3 ~ Private N change W Channel leading to Duck Pond 61

67 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 4 Buswell Pond Dam Gloucester 0.2 Dam Stone with Private N concrete cap W Buswell Pond with covered spillway Spillway Remarks: Four obstructions block passage to this 4.3 acre pond, making any anadromous fish development costly and unlikely due to the small potential resource return for the investment.. 62

68 North Shore Watersheds Fernwood Lake Gloucester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 0.6 First 5.7 None known Obstruction # 1 Railroad Tracks at Lower Banjo Pond Gloucester 0.1 Earthen N/A N/A N/A º N berm 70º W Downstream end of Lower Banjo Pond with railroad tracks visible. 63

69 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Upper Banjo Pond Dam Gloucester 0.3 Dam Concrete N/A N/A LePage - 42º N Papercraft 70º W Corp. Dam on Upper Banjo Pond Obstruction # 3 Fernwood Lake Dam Gloucester 0.6 Dam N/A N/A N/A Gloucester 42º N DPW 70º W Remarks: No photo available Fernwood Lake is the uppermost of three impoundments on this unnamed stream. Although the USGS topographic map shows this stream, there is currently no outflow from the impoundments and no apparent outlet structures. There is no potential for development of an anadromous fish population in this system. 64

70 North Shore Watersheds Little River Gloucester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 4.0 First 6.1 Alewife, blueback, smelt Obstruction # 1 West Gloucester Water Treatment Gloucester Facility 1.4 Elevation City of N change Gloucester W Lower portion of fishway Upper portion of fishway at Treatment Facility Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete Varied 27 Varied 1.5 Varied Good weir-pool walls with (4.5 & 5.1) ( ) (2, 7-15) Passable cinder block and plywood weirs 65

71 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Lily Pond Dam Gloucester 1.8 Dam and Concrete and 2.0 ~ City of 42º N elevation stone Gloucester 70º W change Fishway Present (in two sections) Stream baffles and denil ladder at Lily Pond Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Stream baffle Stone ~460 Varied Varied 10 Varied Varied Varied Fair (5-12) (5-12) (0.7,1.2, (1.4, (7, 10, 21) Passable 1.7) 1.7, 2.0) Denil Wood Good Passable 66

72 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Dykes Pond Dam Gloucester 4.0 Dam Concrete City of 42º N Gloucester 70º W Remarks: Lower section of Dykes Pond Dam This stream has its source in Dykes Pond, a 110 acre water supply reservoir. It then flows to 34 acre Lily Pond and subsequently to the Annisquam River estuary. Four obstructions are formed along its course, the first of which is a rapid elevation change at the West Gloucester Water Treatment Facility. This is surmounted by a weir-pool fishway, which passes river herring adequately when properly adjusted. The second obstruction includes an elevation change and the Lily Pond dam. Stone stream baffles allow herring to traverse the elevation change, and a wooden Denil ladder, replaced in 2000, provides passage at Lily Pond Dam. The third obstruction is the dam at Dykes Pond. The lack of consistent outflow due to withdrawals from this impoundment eliminates it as a potential spawning habitat and Lily Pond provides the primary spawning/nursery area for the system. Rainbow smelt spawn in the river near Rt

73 North Shore Watersheds Sleepy Hollow Pond Gloucester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 0.8 First 6.5 None known Obstruction # 1 Atlantic Street culvert Gloucester 0.6 Culvert, Concrete N circular W Upstream view of culvert at Atlantic Street Overgrown channel downstream of Atlantic Street culvert Remarks: This small system has been the focus of some interest by the City of Gloucester since a small culvert in a dyke was enlarged to allow full tidal flow. The elimination of this obstruction made the establishment of a small spawning population of river herring a possibility. Stocking of the pond has not taken place due to lack of access for the transport truck, however, it may be possible to hand carry a sufficient number of adult herring create a run. The small size of the pond makes this a low priority project. 68

74 North Shore Watersheds Sawmill Brook Rockport Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.7 First 6.1 None known Obstruction # 1 Frank Street culvert Rockport 0.5 Elevation Concrete º N change and 70º W culvert Remarks: Culvert and elevation change at Frank Street Both natural and manmade obstructions combined with minimal spawning area make this stream an unlikely candidate for anadromous fish development. 69

75 North Shore Watersheds Mill Brook Rockport Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 0.9 First 6.2 None known Obstruction # 1 Dam off King Street Rockport 0.1 Dam Granite N W Dam off King Street 70

76 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Loop Pond Dam Rockport Type Material River Mile Spillway W (ft) Spillway H (ft) Impoundment Acreage Year Built Owner GPS 0.9 Dam Granite with wooden N W boards Remarks: View looking down on Loop Pond Dam Little potential river herring spawning habitat exists here. On one occasion smelt eggs were observed above the head of the tide but no evidence of spawning has been found since. 71

77 North Shore Watersheds Langsford Pond Gloucester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 0.2 First 5.8 None known Obstruction # 1 Spillway under Route 127 Gloucester 0.1 Elevation Granite 1 ~ º N change culvert 70º W Upstream opening of culvert under Rte

78 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Langsford Pond Dam Gloucester 0.2 Dam Granite Gloucester 42º N blocks DPW 70º W Langsford Pond Dam Remarks: Two obstructions and lack of significant spawning habitat for river herring eliminate this system as a potential anadromous fish development site. 73

79 North Shore Watersheds Goose Cove Gloucester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 0.4 First 5.4 None known Obstruction # 1 Falls above Denniston Street Gloucester 0.0 Elevation Rock rubble N change W Elevation change above Denniston St. Obstruction # 2 Boards in Duck Pond Culvert Gloucester River Type Material Spillway Spillway Impoundment Year Owner GPS 0.1 Dam Concrete with wooden N W boards Culvert at Duck Pond 74

80 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Goose Cove Reservoir Dam Gloucester 0.4 Dam Earthen SubmergedSubmerged City of N berm outlet outlet Gloucester W Gate house on Goose Cove Reservoir Draw site on Goose Cove Reservoir Remarks: The fact that the primary potential habitat is a public water supply and the existence of several difficult obstructions make development of anadromous resources unlikely. 75

81 North Shore Watersheds Alewife Brook Gloucester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 4.6 First 4.9 None known Obstruction # 1 Mill Pond Dam Gloucester 1.0 Dam and Concrete City of 42º N tide gate 1970 Gloucester 70º W Mill Pond Dam 76

82 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Babson Reservoir Dam Gloucester 1.1 Dam Concrete Gloucester 42º N Water 70º W Department Remarks: Babson Reservoir Dam Alewife Brook has its source in Babson Reservoir, a 27 acre water supply for the City of Gloucester. Along its route to the Annisquam River it forms a 17.4 acre impoundment called Mill Pond. Mill Pond is brackish, reducing its suitability for spawning herring. This and the lack of sustained flows from the reservoir make this stream a poor candidate for development. 77

83 North Shore Watersheds Walker Creek Gloucester Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 2.9 First 5.5 None known Obstruction # 1 Unnamed Dam behind Forest Lane Gloucester 2.4 Dam Concrete and Private N stone W Dam at Forest Lane 78

84 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Haskell Pond Dam Gloucester 2.9 Dam Concrete and City of N stone 1903 Gloucester W Upper section of Haskell Pond spillway (no outflow) Lower section of spillway (dry) Remarks: Walkers Creek flows from 50 acre Haskell Pond to Essex Bay. Two obstructions, the dam at Haskell Pond and a smaller privately owned dam prevent anadromous fish access. In spite of the significant potential habitat available in the upper impoundment, the height of the dam and the lack of sustained outflow relegate this stream to a low priority for development. Smelt spawning was reported in the lower river in the past, but none have been observed in recent years. 79

85 North Shore Watersheds Essex River / Alewife Brook Essex, Hamilton Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 7.5 First 6.0 River herring Obstruction # 1 Elevation change off Apple Street Essex 1.0 Elevation º N change 70º W Fishway Present Stream baffles off Apple Street Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Stream baffle Stone Stream Poor edge Inefficient passage Remarks: The Essex River and its main tributary, Alewife Brook, flow from Chebacco Lake to Essex Bay. The only obstruction to fish passage is a natural elevation change at Essex Falls which is overcome by a series of stone stream baffles. While there are no man-made structures to block passage at the Chebacco Lake outlet, encroaching vegetation in the low gradient stream may make it difficult for river herring to reach the 206 acre spawning area. Additionally, beavers have created a dam in recent years that can block fish passage. Habitat in the lower river is favorable for rainbow smelt spawning, although the presence of this species has not been documented. 80

86 North Shore Watersheds Ipswich River Ipswich, Lynnfield Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 33.8 Third 6.5 Alewife, blueback, smelt, lamprey Obstruction # 1 Ipswich Mills Dam Ipswich 3.7 Dam Granite Town of 42º N blocks Ipswich 70º W Fishway Present Ipswich Mills Dam Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Denil Concrete with wooden Good Passable baffles Old (left) and new (right) fishways at Ipswich Mills Dam 81

87 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Willowdale Dam Ipswich 8.5 Dam Concrete Foote 42º N with a Brothers 70º W wooden board Fishway Willowdale Dam Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete Varied 1.6 Varied Poor weir-pool (2.6-5) (4-6.5) Inefficient passage Fishway at Willowdale Dam 82

88 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Bostik Finley Dam Lynnfield, Middleton 25.6 Dam Stone and Bostik 42º N concrete Finley Co. 71º W Remarks: Bostik Finley Dam The Ipswich River appears to offer significant potential for river spawning anadromous fish such as blueback herring and American shad. While no sizeable impoundments or ponds are available, many miles of riverine habitat are potentially available for these species. An inefficient ladder at Ipswich Mills was replaced with a modern Denil design in 1995 and a second obstruction, a dam at Willowdale with an inefficient fishway, is being considered for removal. In addition, DMF has stocked the stream with a total of 31,147 blueback herring from 1990 to Local volunteers have monitored up-running adults at the first fishway and have documented modest returns. In addition to the lack of effective fish passage facilities in the past, the most critical factor in preventing the system from reaching its potential for anadromous fish production is probably the seasonal loss of flow due to withdrawals in the upper watershed. The inability of this stream to function reliably as a nursery area in summer and as a vehicle for out-migration of juveniles in the fall may ultimately be the limiting factor determining the success of restoration efforts in this river. The impact of these withdrawals must be taken into consideration when planning future attempts to develop anadromous fish resources in the system. It would be well advised to assess the results of recent stocking and fish passage improvement efforts before committing additional time and financial resources to this project. Should the numbers of river herring using the Ipswich Mills fishway increase significantly, the next logical step would be removal of the Willowdale dam or installation of a more efficient fish passage facility. 83

89 North Shore Watersheds Howlett Brook Topsfield, Ipswich Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 2.2 First 6.4 None known Obstruction # 1 Howlett Brook Dam Topsfield Type Material River Mile Spillway W (ft) Spillway H (ft) Impoundment Acreage Year Built Owner GPS 0.1 Dam Concrete with wooden N W boards Remarks: Howlett Brook Dam Howlett Brook enters the Ipswich River upstream of the Willowdale dam. It is impounded by a 4.6 foot dam immediately above the confluence and has no significant spawning habitat in its lower reaches, resulting in a low priority for development. 84

90 North Shore Watersheds Martins Brook North Reading, Wilmington Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 4.5 Second 6.1 None known No Obstructions Culverts at Martin s Pond Outlet Remarks: Martins Brook enters the Ipswich River above the Bostik Finley Dam. Its headwaters, 89.3 acre Martins Pond, provide significant potential alewife spawning habitat. The need for efficient passage facilities at Willowdale and Bostik Finley Dams before a population can be developed, however, relegate this stream to a low priority. 85

91 North Shore Watersheds Egypt River Ispwich, Rowley Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 5.5 Second 6.7 River herring, smelt Obstruction # 1 Municipal Electrical Generating Ipswich Plant Site 5.3 Elevation Ipswich 42º N change Hydroelectric 70º W Fishway Stream baffle at Municipal Electrical Generating Plant Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Stream baffle Stone Varied Stream Varied Poor (9-10') edge (21, 20, 20.5) Inefficient passage Remarks: The Egypt River is formed by the confluence of Bull and Dow Brooks and is known as the Rowley River in its estuarine section. River herring and smelt were present in the 1970's, but only limited numbers have been observed in recent years. This may be due to the low stream flows, which were noted during the survey. This factor and the cost of providing fish passage at the impoundments make this stream a low priority area for development. 86

92 North Shore Watersheds Parker River Newbury, Byfield Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 21.3 Third 6.9 Alewife, blueback, smelt, white perch, lamprey Obstruction # 1 Woolen Mill Dam Newbury 9.3 Dam Stone Byfield N Water W District Fishway Present Woolen Mill Dam Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete Varied Varied Varied Fair weir-pool and stone (3-10) (2-3) (5-16.3) Passable Fishway at Woolen Mill Dam 87

93 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 2 Larkin Road Dam Newbury 10.6 Dam Concrete Town of N Newbury W Fishway Larkin Road Dam Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete Varied Varied 14 Varied Fair weir-pool and stone ( ) ( ) ( ) Passable Fishway at Larkin Road Dam 88

94 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 3 Snuff Mill Dam Byfield 11.2 Dam Concrete and Private 42º N stone 70º W Fishway Snuff Mill Dam Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Concrete Varied Varied Varied Fair weir-pool and stone ( ) ( ) ( ) Inefficient passage Fishway at Snuff Mill Dam 89

95 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 4 Blacksmith Shop Dam Byfield 11.4 Dam Concrete Private 42º N 70º W Blacksmith Shop Dam with fishway (left side of photo) Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Alaskan Aluminum Excellent steeppass Passable 90

96 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 5 River Street Dam Byfield River Type Material Spillway Spillway Impoundment Year Owner GPS 11.6 Dam Concrete with wooden Private N W boards Fishway River Street Dam Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Notched Stone and Varied Poor weir-pool concrete (7.1, 8.4, 6.9) Passable Fishway at River Street Dam 91

97 North Shore Watersheds Obstruction # 6 Pentucket Pond Dam Georgetown 16.3 Dam Concrete and 6.7 ~ Rebuilt Town of N aluminum Georgetown W Fishway Remarks: Pentucket Pond Dam and fishway (right side of photo) Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Alaskan Aluminum Excellent steeppass Inefficient passage The Parker River has been the subject of a great deal of interest and anadromous fish restoration work in recent years. Despite the numerous obstructions to passage, the river has managed to sustain a river herring population over the years. There have been numerous improvements to the system due to the efforts of volunteer groups, conservation organizations as well as state and Federal agencies. A number of problems for migrating river herring have occurred at the first dam. The first of these, difficult entrance to the ladder at low tidal stages, was alleviated in 2002 by the addition of stream baffles in the downstream culvert. The propensity for beavers to builds dams inside the fish ladder has also become a problem and current state regulations which protect the beaver make it difficult for managers to deal with this apparently simple problem. Downstream migration of juveniles is also an issue at this site. The rock rubble face of the dam can trap young herring since water tends to flow through rather than over it during low flow periods. The second fishway, at Larkin Street, was improved 1997 by volunteers who modified the entrance to increase attraction flow. The ladder now functions adequately. The next fishway, at the Snuff Mill dam, is inefficient and needs to be redesigned and replaced. The fourth fishway at the Blacksmith Shop dam was replaced in 2001 with an aluminum Alaskan Steepass ladder. A notched weir-pool fishway at River St. is passable but in poor condition and will need repair work in the near future. And finally, a new aluminum steeppass ladder was installed in 2000 at the outlet of Pentucket Pond. Access for cleaning and a screen in the spillway channel of the dam are needed to provide maximum efficiency for this facility. Rainbow smelt are known to utilize the streambed below the Woolen Mill dam for spawning. 92

98 North Shore Watersheds Mill River Rowley Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 11.5 Second 6.7 River herring, smelt, lamprey Obstruction # 1 Jewel Mill Dam Rowley 4.2 Dam Concrete and Private N stone W Remarks: Jewel Mill Dam River herring and rainbow smelt ascend this tributary to the Parker River up to the Jewel Mill Dam. The lack of significant habitat in the impoundments, however, greatly reduces this stream's potential. 93

99 North Shore Watersheds Penn Brook Boxford Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 2.9 First 6.0 None known Obstruction # 1 Baldpate Pond culvert Boxford 2.9 Culvert, Steel º N circular 70º W Remarks: Culvert with screen at Baldpate Pond Penn Brook enters the Parker River below Pentucket Pond. Although a 2 foot diameter culvert may inhibit fish movement, it is passable and fish can access the Baldpate Pond headwater. Stocking of this pond may be considered when passage facilities on the Parker have been improved. 94

100 North Shore Watersheds North Shore Recommendations 1. Continue to monitor adult river herring returns in the Ipswich River at the Ipswich Mills fishway. If significant increases in returns are observed, consider removal of the Willowdale dam with fishway construction as an alternative. 2. Add stream baffles in the culvert below the Woolen Mill dam on the Parker River as described in the existing plan in order to improve access to the fishway entrance at lower tidal stages. 3. Replace the Snuff Mill and River Street ladders on the Parker River with more efficient designs. 4. Provide a low water passage channel for juvenile herring at the Woolen Mill dam on the Parker River. 5. Provide a screen in the spillway channel at the Pentucket Pond dam on the Parker River to prevent fish from bypassing the fishway entrance. 6. A clear channel should be maintained at the outlet of Chebacco Lake to the Essex River to insure that migrating herring will be able to reach the spawning habitat. 95

101 Merrimack River Watershed MERRIMACK RIVER WATERSHED 96

102 Merrimack River Watershed Merrimack River Watershed Merrimack River Newburyport, Amesbury, Merrimack, Haverhill, Groveland, Methuen, Lawrence, N. Andover, Andover, Dracut, Tewksbury, Lowell, Chelmsford, Tyngsboro, cont'd. Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present Fifth 6.6 Alewife, blueback, American shad, smelt, white perch, lamprey, gizzard shad Obstruction # 1 Essex Dam Lawrence 28.8 Dam Stone with Consolidated N plywood Hydro, Inc W Energy Essex Dam Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Fish lift Concrete N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Good and Passable aluminum 97

103 Merrimack River Watershed Obstruction # 2 Pawtucket Dam Lowell Spillway Spillway Impoundment Year W (ft) H (ft) Acreage Built River Mile Type Material Owner GPS 40.2 Dam Stone with splash boards Consolidated N Hydro, Inc W (CHI) Energy Pawtucket lift and powerhouse Pawtucket Dam Fishway Present Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Modified Concrete Varied - 12 Good Ice Harbor ( ) inefficient Fish Lift Concrete, Good aluminum Passable and wood Modified Ice Harbor Fishway at Pawtucket Dam 98

104 Merrimack River Watershed Remarks: The Merrimack River is formed by the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee Rivers in New Hampshire and flows 127 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. The lower 49 miles of the river are within Massachusetts. Anadromous fish, specifically Atlantic salmon, American shad and river herring, are managed by a Merrimack River Anadromous Fish Committee comprised of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and U. S. Forest Service. Management strategies are implemented by the mutual consent of these agencies. The first two obstructions on the river, the Essex Dam in Lawrence and the Pawtucket Dam in Lowell, have been equipped with fish passage facilities since the mid-19 th century. These ladders have been upgraded on several occasions, the latest being in the 1980's when fish lifts were installed at the two dams. The Essex lift is designed specifically to pass 840,000 shad annually. The lift at the Pawtucket Dam is designed for an annual capacity of 720,000 shad. In addition, a modified Ice Harbor fishway at the Pawtucket Dam is functional during high flow periods. River herring counts made through the viewing window at the Lawrence fish lift from 1983 to 2002 have varied widely but reached a high of 379,225 in American shad counts have been more stable and peaked at 76,717 in Numbers counted at the Pawtucket Dam passage facilities in Lowell drop off dramatically for like years. Due to problems with attraction flows at the fish lifts and ladder, which are inherent in fish passage facilities on large rivers as well as behavioral differences of the species, the counts may not be an accurate representation of the numbers or relative abundance of anadromous fish utilizing the system. 99

105 Merrimack River Watershed Powwow River Amesbury, South Hampton Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 7.1 Second 6.5 Blueback, smelt Obstruction # 1 Mill Street Dam Amesbury 1.6 Dam N/A N/A N/A Town of 42º N Amesbury 70º W View of Mill Street Dam through the trees (structure is under the building). 100

106 Merrimack River Watershed Obstruction # 2 Lake Gardiner Dam Amesbury 2.1 Dam Concrete , Town of 42º N rebuilt Amesbury 70º W 2000 Lake Gardiner Dam Remarks: The Powwow River enters the Merrimack River in Amesbury. A dam at Mill Street presents a very difficult fish passage problem and, when combined with the cost of providing passage at the large dam at Lake Gardner, eliminates any development potential here. Bluebacks are known to enter the system in small numbers. 101

107 Merrimack River Watershed Back River Amesbury, South Hampton Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 5.4 Second 6.5 Blueback Obstruction # 1 Clarks Pond Dam Amesbury Type Material River Mile Spillway W (ft) Spillway H (ft) Impoundment Acreage Year Built Owner GPS 0.4 Dam Concrete with wooden Merrimac 42º N Hat Co., Inc. 70º W stop logs Clarks Pond Dam, partial view. Remarks: Back River is a tributary to the Powwow River and joins it below the Mill Street dam. A relatively low head dam blocks passage into the 6.8 acres of potential habitat provided by Clarks Pond. Small numbers of river herring have been observed in the stream and a fishway could be installed at a reasonable cost. The small size of the impoundment, however, relegates the stream to a low priority for development. 102

108 Merrimack River Watershed Artichoke River Newburyport, W. Newbury Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 1.2 First 6.7 None known Obstruction # 1 Emery Lane Dam (Curzon's Mill Dam) Newburyport, W. Newbury 0.1 Dam Concrete Private N W Emory Lane Dam (aka Curzon s Mill Dam) Obstruction # 2 Lower Artichoke Reservoir Dam W. Newbury, Newburyport 0.7 Dam Concrete City of N Newburyport W Lower Artichoke Reservoir Dam 103

109 Merrimack River Watershed Obstruction # 3 Upper Artichoke Reservoir Dam W. Newbury, Newburyport 1.2 Dam Concrete City of 42º N Newburyport 70º W Upper Artichoke Reservoir Dam Fishway Remarks: The Artichoke River is a tributary of the Merrimack River and enters it well downstream of the dam at Lawrence. Although the stream's three impoundments offer a total of 261 acres of potential habitat, the upper two are used as public water supplies resulting in reduced and inconsistent outflow. This and the cost of passage at three large dams severely limits the development potential. 104

110 Merrimack River Watershed Indian River West Newbury Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 2.9 First 7.0 None known Obstruction # 1 Mill Pond Dam West Newbury 1.0 Dam Concrete Town of N with steel West W stop logs Newbury Remarks: Dam at Mill Pond This small stream enters the Merrimack River in West Newbury. It forms a 14.8 acre impoundment called Mill Pond. While the pond offers an attractive habitat, the spillway configuration and its proximity to the Rt. 113 road culvert make fishway installation difficult and lower the site's priority for development. 105

111 Merrimack River Watershed Shawsheen River North Andover, Lawrence, Andover, Wilmington, Billerica, Bedford Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 25.0 Second N/A River herring, American shad Obstruction # 1 Dam at Rt. 133 Andover 3.8 Dam N/A N/A N/A º N 71º W Dam at Route 133, Andover Remarks: The Shawsheen River enters the Merrimack just below the Essex Dam in Lawrence. A culvert under Rt. 495 is passable but may collect debris, which could hinder fish movement. A low head dam at Rt. 133 in Andover presents the first real obstruction. Passage could easily be achieved at this point with a ladder or a partial breach. However, two dams immediately upstream present costly fishway installation issues which reduce the restoration potential of this stream. River herring and American shad have been observed in the lower river. 106

112 Merrimack River Watershed Spickett River Lawrence, Methuen, Salem NH Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 12.7 Second N/A American shad Obstruction # 1 Spickett River Dam Lawrence 0.1 Dam Concrete N/A N/A City of N Lawrence W Spickett River Dam Remarks: Spickett River flows through the City of Lawrence and joins the Merrimack below the Essex Dam. Although American shad have been observed at the mouth, a large dam just upstream of the confluence with the Merrimack River as well as several other obstructions preclude any anadromous fish development. 107

113 Merrimack River Watershed Concord River Lowell, Tewksbury, Billerica, Carlisle, Bedford, Concord Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 16.2 Fourth 6.7 Alewife, blueback, American shad Obstruction # 1 Centennial Island Dam Lowell 1.4 Dam Concrete and Wamesit 42º N rebar with Real Estate 71º W wooden Trust boards Fishway Present Centennial Island Dam Design Material Length Inside Outside # of Baffle Notch Pool Condition/ (ft) W (ft) W (ft) Baffles H (ft) W (ft) L (ft) Function Denil Concrete with Good Passable wooden baffles Fishway at Centennial Island Dam 108

114 Merrimack River Watershed Obstruction # 2 Talbots Mills Dam (Faulkner Mills Billerica Dam) 4.7 Dam Stone and Laggeat 42º N concrete and Platt, 71º W Inc. Remarks: Talbots Mills Dam The Concord River enters the Merrimack River just downstream of the Pawtucket Dam in Lowell. Consequently, fish successfully passed at the Lawrence lift have access to the lower Concord River. A breached dam at river mile 0.37 is passable at normal spring flows and is not considered an obstruction. The first obstruction is equipped with a relatively new Denil fishway but the second, a dam at Talbot Mills, is impassable. A fishway will be considered for this site when substantial numbers of fish have reached the dam on an annual basis. The USFWS has been monitoring returns here. The Division of Marine Fisheries and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have been stocking the Concord River with adult river herring since 2000 in numbers that have ranged from 5600 to 7550 annually. American shad have been observed in the lower river. 109

115 Merrimack River Watershed River Meadow Brook Lowell, Chelmsford Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 6.3 Second N/A Unknown Obstruction # 1 River Meadow Brook dam Lowell 0.6 Dam Concrete ~40 ~ N W River Meadow Brook Dam Remarks: River Meadow Brook is a tributary to the Concord River, which it enters at river mile Fish ascending the Concord are free to enter River Meadow Brook but a dam 0.55 miles from the mouth prevents further access. Development of fish passage facilities on this stream would not contribute substantially to anadromous fish populations of the Concord River watershed due to limited potential spawning habitat. 110

116 Merrimack River Watershed Beaver Brook Lowell, Dracut, Pelham NH Stream Length (mi) Stream Order ph Anadromous Species Present 4.6 Second N/A Unknown Obstruction # 1 Beaver Brook Dam Dracut 0.5 Dam Stone and ~ Gold-Kauf 42º N concrete Realty 71º W Beaver Brook Dam Remarks: Beaver Brook flows into the Merrimack River below the Pawtucket Dam in the city of Lowell. Although it appears to offer substantial potential riverine habitat, a large dam just upstream from the mouth as well as other obstructions on the lower river, diminishes any potential for development of anadromous fish in this system. 111

117 Merrimack River Watershed Merrimack River Watershed Recommendations: 1. Continue to support the development and restoration efforts of the Central New England Anadromous Fish Program. 2. Continue to stock and monitor river herring in the Concord River. If substantial numbers consistently reach Talbot Mills Dam, a fishway should be considered at that site. 112

118 General Recommendations 1. With a small number of exceptions, the important river herring spawning/nursery habitats on coastal streams have been made accessible through the construction of fishways. Many of these structures have become deteriorated and are often of obsolete design. The emphasis of future work should be on the replacement of these fish ladders in order to preserve or augment the populations they serve rather than to create new populations by accessing minor habitats. 2. Most river herring fisheries are under local control through the authority granted by Section 94 of Chapter 130. Many towns having this control, however, are unaware that approval of the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries is required by the statute and often change their regulations without consulting DMF. In order to insure biologically sound and legally valid local management, the Director should inform cities and towns of this condition and request them to submit current regulations and subsequent changes for approval. 3. River herring passage issues have dealt primarily with upstream migration of adults. Downstream passage of adults and more importantly juveniles has been largely ignored and, in some systems, may be an important limiting factor in population productivity. Future work should take this into consideration and place appropriate emphasis on this phase of the life cycle and the problems which are associated with it. 4. Large numbers of juvenile herring are killed each year due to cranberry bog operations. A simple, inexpensive screening system has been developed which will prevent most of these losses. Despite publicizing the availability of this system through industry media, growers have been reluctant to utilize it. Appropriate screening of water withdrawal intakes to prevent stranding, mutilation, entrainment or impingement of young herring should be made a condition of any state permits required for the agricultural operation. 5. Shoaling of pond outlets and encroachment of vegetation has seriously impacted river herring populations in some systems. Deposition of sandy material at the outlets in combination with low late summer/fall water levels has prevented the escapement of large segments of year classes and caused them to be lost to the population either through winter kill or greatly reduced growth rates. Outlet structures which would retain depth, reduce deposition and provide for easier maintenance should be developed and installed at stream outlets where appropriate. 6. The emphasis of anadromous fish management in coastal streams has been on river herring, American shad and rainbow smelt. Consequently little is known about white perch and tomcod populations in the Commonwealth. In the future more attention should be directed toward these species and management strategies which would protect them should be developed. 7. Several large coastal streams, notably the Taunton, Charles and Neponset Rivers, appear to have excellent potential for development of American shad populations. Many years of stocking with adult fish and eggs have yielded negligible results, however. Other states have had success through hatchery egg taking and rearing to fry size before release. This technique should be developed in Massachusetts and applied to the above streams. 8. Removal of dams should be considered as an alternative to fishway construction where appropriate. 113

119 Alphabetical Index of Streams Stream Name Town(s) Page Accord Brook Hingham 10 Alewife Brook Gloucester 76 Artichoke River Newburyport 103 West Newbury Back River Amesbury 102 South Hampton, NH Bass River Beverly 55 Beaver Brook Dracut 111 Lowell Pelham, NH Broad Cove Hingham 15 Buswell Pond Gloucester 59 Charles River Bellingham 37 Boston Cambridge Dedham Dover Franklin Hopkinton Medfield Medway Milford Millis Natick Needham Newton Norfolk Sherborn Waltham Watertown Wellsley Weston Westwood Chubb Creek Beverly 57 Manchester Clark Pond Manchester 57 Concord River Bedford 108 Billerica Carlisle Concord Lowell Tewksbury Crane River Danvers 53 Crooked Meadow River Hingham 13 Egypt River Ipswich 86 Rowley Essex River/ Alewife Brook Essex 80 Hamilton Farm River Braintree 31 Fernwood Lake Gloucester

120 Stream Name Town(s) Page Fore River/ Monatiquot River Braintree 25 Weymouth Fulling Mill Brook Hingham 12 Furnace Brook Quincy 33 Goose Cove Gloucester 74 Howlett Brook Ipswich 84 Topsfield Indian River West Newbury 105 Ipswich River Ipswich 81 Lynnfield Middleton Langsford Pond Gloucester 72 Little River Gloucester 65 Martins Brook North Reading 85 Wilmington Merrimack River Amesbury 97 Andover Chelmsford Dracut Groveland Haverhill Lawrence Lowell Merrimack Methuen Newburyport North Andover Tewksbury Tyngsboro Mill Brook Rockport 70 Mill River Rowley 93 Mystic River Arlington 46 Boston Chelsea Everett Medford Somerville Winchester Neponset River Boston 34 Canton Dedham Foxborough Milton Norwood Quincy Walpole Westwood Parker River Byfield 87 Newbury Penn Brook Boxford 94 Porter River Danvers 54 Powwow River Amesbury

121 Stream Name Town(s) Page Powwow River, cont. South Hampton, NH 100 Proctor Brook Peabody 52 Salem River Meadow Brook Chelmsford 110 Lowell Saugus River Lynn 50 Lynnfield Saugus Wakefield Sawmill Brook Rockport 69 Shawsheen River Andover 106 Bedford Billerica Lawrence North Andover Wilmington Shute Brook Saugus 52 Sleepy Hollow Pond Gloucester 68 Smelt Brook Braintree 28 Weymouth Spickett River Lawrence 107 Methuen Salem, NH Straits Pond Cohasset 9 Hull Sunset Lake Braintree 30 Town River Quincy 32 Walker Creek Gloucester 78 Weir River Hingham 7 West Pond Gloucester 58 Weymouth Back River Weymouth

122 Alphabetical Index of Towns Town Stream Name Page Amesbury Back River 102 Merrimack River 97 Powwow River 100 Andover Merrimack River 97 Shawsheen River 106 Arlington Mystic River 46 Bedford Concord River 108 Shawsheen River 106 Bellingham Charles River 37 Beverly Bass River 55 Chubb Creek 57 Billerica Concord River 108 Shawsheen River 106 Boston Charles River 37 Mystic River 46 Neponset River 34 Boxford Penn Brook 94 Braintree Farm River 31 Fore River/Monatiquot River 25 Smelt Brook 28 Sunset Lake 30 Byfield Parker River 87 Cambridge Charles River 37 Canton Neponset River 34 Carlisle Concord River 108 Chelmsford Merrimack River 97 River Meadow Brook 110 Chelsea Mystic River 46 Cohasset Straits Pond 9 Concord Concord River 108 Danvers Crane River 53 Porter River 54 Dedham Charles River 37 Neponset River 34 Dover Charles River 37 Dracut Beaver Brook 111 Merrimack River 97 Essex Essex River/Alewife Brook 80 Everett Mystic River 46 Foxborough Neponset River 34 Franklin Charles River 37 Gloucester Alewife Brook 76 Buswell Pond 59 Fernwood Lake 63 Goose Cove 74 Langsford Pond 72 Little River 65 Sleepy Hollow Pond 68 Walker Creek 78 West Pond

123 Town(s) Stream Name Page Groveland Merrimack River 97 Hamilton Essex River/Alewife Brook 80 Haverhill Merrimack River 97 Hingham Accord Brook 10 Broad Cove 15 Crooked Meadow River 13 Fulling Mill Brook 12 Weir River 7 Hopkinton Charles River 37 Hull Straits Pond 9 Ipswich Egypt River 86 Howlett Brook 84 Ipswich River 81 Lawrence Merrimack River 97 Shawsheen River 106 Spickett River 107 Lowell Beaver Brook 111 Concord River 108 Merrimack River 97 River Meadow Brook 110 Lynn Saugus River 50 Lynnfield Ipswich River 81 Saugus River 50 Manchester Chubb Creek 57 Clark Pond 57 Medfield Charles River 37 Medford Mystic River 46 Medway Charles River 37 Methuen Merrimack River 97 Spickett River 107 Merrimac Merrimack River 97 Middleton Ipswich River 81 Milford Charles River 37 Millis Charles River 37 Milton Neponset River 34 Natick Charles River 37 Needham Charles River 37 Newbury Parker River 87 Newburyport Artichoke River 103 Merrimack River 97 Newton Charles River 37 North Andover Merrimack River 97 Shawsheen River 106 North Reading Martins Brook 85 Norfolk Charles River 37 Norwood Neponset River 34 Peabody Proctor Brook 52 Quincy Furnace Brook 33 Neponset River 34 Town River 32 Rockport Mill Brook 70 Sawmill Brook

124 Town(s) Stream Name Page Rowley Mill River 93 Rowley River (Egypt River) 86 Salem Proctor Brook 52 Saugus Saugus River 50 Shute Brook 52 Sherborn Charles River 37 Somerville Mystic River 46 Tewksbury Concord River 108 Merrimack River 97 Topsfield Howlett Brook 84 Tyngsboro Merrimack River 97 Wakefield Saugus River 50 Waltham Charles River 37 Walpole Neponset River 34 Watertown Charles River 37 Wellesley Charles River 37 West Newbury Artichoke River 103 Indian River 105 Weston Charles River 37 Westwood Charles River 37 Neponset River 34 Weymouth Fore River/Monatiquot River 25 Smelt Brook 28 Weymouth Back River 16 Wilmington Martins Brook 85 Shawsheen River 106 Winchester Mystic River 46 New Hampshire Towns Stream Names Page Pelham Beaver Brook 111 Salem Spickett River 107 South Hampton Back River 102 Powwow River

125 Appendix 1: Anadromous species of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Alewife (Alosa psuedoharengus) Blueback (Alosa aestivalis) American shad (Alosa sapidissima) Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) White perch (Morone americana) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) Brook trout (aka Salter trout) (Salvelinus fontinalis) Rainbow trout (aka Steelhead trout) (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Brown trout (sea run) (Salmo trutta) Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) Hickory shad (Alosa mediocris) Tomcod (Microgadus tomcod) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) 120

126 Appendix 2: State River Herring Regulations The following regulations affect the catch of river herring (alewives and bluebacks) in cities and towns without local control. These regulations establish catching days, daily catch limits, and gear restrictions and are being promulgated to establish consistent state management of river herring not under the local control of a city or town by operation of M. G. L. c. 130, s.94. These regulations are easily understood, readily enforceable, and will help assure adequate escapement of river herring for spawning. Below is section 6.17 of 322 CMR: 6.17 River Herring 1) Purpose. This regulation is promulgated to establish consistent state management of river herring fisheries not under local control of a city or town by operation of M. G. L. c. 130 s ) Definition. For purpose of this regulation, the term River Herring means those species of fish known as alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) and bluebacks (Alosa aestivalis). 3) Catching Days. It is prohibited and unlawful for any person to catch river herring on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. 4) Daily Catch Limit. It is prohibited and unlawful for any person to catch more than 25 river herring per day. 5) Gear Restrictions. It is prohibited and unlawful to catch river herring with any net other than hand-held dip nets. 6) Exception. These regulations shall not apply to the catching of river herring in cities and towns which have acquired local control by operation of M. G. L. c. 130, section 94, or to the catching of herring authorized by the Director under 322 CMR 4.02 (1)(b) and (1)(c). 121

127 Appendix 3: Fishway Designs and Examples flow Fishway Exit Flow pattern Plain Denil Baffle Plan View flow Profile Fishway Entrance Denil Fishway - Slope: 10-25% - Resting pools are required between long segments - Limited by large water depths - Greater discharge of water than the other fishways, and therefore a greater attraction capability. flow flow Fishway Fishway Exit Exit Typical Typical weir weir sections sections Center Side over- Center overflow weir Center flow Side over- weir and Center orifice overflow weir flow weir and orifice Flow Pattern Center overflow and orifice Center overflow and orifice Plan View Plan View flow Fishway Entrance Fishway Entrance Profile Profile Weir Fishway - Slope usually 10% - Sensitive to water level fluctuations 122

128 flow Fishway Exit Steeppass Baffles flow plan Front elevation Fishway Entrance flow Baffle detail Steeppass Fishway Fishway designs taken from: Fish Passageways and Diversion Structures Section 3 United States Fish & Wildlife Service Presented by: Branch of Aquatic Resources Training National Education and Training Center June 17-21, 1996 Richland, Washington 123

129 Examples of fishways in use: Denil Fishways Denil Newton Lower Falls dam, Newton Denil Ipswich Mills Dam, Ipswich 124

130 Weir pool fishways Notched weir pool fishway Pleasant St. Dam, Weymouth 125

131 Notched weir-pool Broad St. Dam, Weymouth Weir pool Triphammer Pond Dam, Hingham 126

132 Weir pool Benoit s Pond Dam, Bourne Steeppass Fishways Alaskan Steeppass Newfield St. Dam, Plymouth 127

133 Stream Baffles Alaskan Steeppass Elm St. Dam, Kingston Stream baffles Brook St. Culvert, Kingston 128

134 Vertical Slot Fishways Modified Ice Harbor vertical slot fishway Pawtucket Dam, Lowell Fish Lifts Fish lift hopper rising with fish Essex Dam, Lawrence 129