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Alewife Spawning sighted
May 25, 2011

After terrible Ma.climate change impact and tragedy this week- some good news

Date: 5/25/11 Time: 13:18-13:28 Weather: sunny, light breeze, 76F Observations: I observed spawning aggregations of river herring at the outlet of the box culvert. Estimating total # of herring observed was difficult due to water clarity and fish behavior these are minimum estimates.
  • 20-30 Large herring (>=12" long, deep bodied) exhibiting clear spawning behavior in groups of 5-6 individuals
  • 30-50 Smaller herring (~8" long) exhibiting schooling and possible spawning behavior in groups of 5-10
  • 1 common carp
  • 1 dead yellow phase American eel

Taken in Belmont (very close to Cambridge) at DCR owned easement off of Brighton Street just before Statler Road after Hill Estates by DCR pier and culvert.
They have spawned here and further west for perhaps a thousand years, according to Alewife characteristics information.

TWO YEARS OF OBSERVATION WITH ABSENT SPAWNING RESULTS
Thanks to Brian Kelder, Alewife specialist living in Belmont for making the observations.