Charles River Watershed Association: Watch for running fish!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Watch for running fish!

Each year at this time, American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) and Blueback (Alosa aestivalis) and Alewive (Alosa pseudoharengus) Herring migrate up the Charles River to spawn. Returning to the their natal rivers after 4-6 years of feeding and growing in the ocean, shad and herring start heading upriver in April and May when rivers reach about 21 to 24*C. Unlike salmon, herring and shad return to the ocean after they spawn and repeat this process again (Loesch and Lund, 1977).

American Shad Alosa sapidissima

river herring, photo courtesy of UMass Amherst

The Charles River Watershed Association wants to learn more about where these species are utilizing the Charles and we need your help.

If you see a herring, please let us know!

Send us a picture via email charles (at) crwa.org

Give us a call (781) 788-0007

or leave us a message on Facebook/Twitter

Thank you!

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Welcome to the Charles River Watershed Association's Intern Blog

CRWA's mission is to use science, advocacy and the law to protect, preserve and enhance the Charles River and its watershed.

One of the country's oldest watershed organizations, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) was formed in 1965 in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles. Since its earliest days of advocacy, CRWA has figured prominently in major clean-up and watershed protection efforts, working with government officials and citizen groups from 35 Massachusetts watershed towns from Hopkinton to Boston. Initiatives over the last four decades have dramatically improved the quality of water in the watershed and fundamentally changed approaches to water resource management.

While CRWA’s mission focuses on the Charles River, the implications and applicability of our science-based work go far beyond the watershed’s boundaries. Much of CRWA’s work is cutting edge and therein lies our unique strength and effectiveness: we use our scientific knowledge of the Charles to develop innovative, workable solutions to watershed problems. This knowledge allows CRWA not only to advocate persuasively for outcomes, but also to partner with government agencies and other environmental groups to protect the natural environment and to promote sustainable ecosystem policies and practices.