Celebrating Herring Migration, Anticipating Dam Removal
On May 17, we were joined by hundreds of community members, Rep. Steve Owens, Rep. John Lawn, and members from the Wampanoag Nation to celebrate the annual spring migration of herring into the Charles River to spawn. There was something for everyone: guests enjoyed stamp printing, fly casting demos, fish-hat making, and dancing alongside the Wampanoag Singers and Dancers!
Today, the Watertown Dam serves no purpose for power or flood control, and harms the river ecology by blocking fish passage, trapping sediment, depleting oxygen levels, and fostering invasive plant growth. While there is a fish ladder at the Watertown Dam, it does not work for all species (watch this video of herring attempting to navigate the ladder but failing). Six months ago, a consultant for the dam owner, Mass Dept of Conservation & Recreation (DCR), recommended full removal. We continue to apply pressure on DCR to carry out this recommendation.
