HERRING COUNT

HERRING COUNT

Each spring, trained volunteers count river herring swimming up the fish ladder on the Ipswich Mills Dam. Since 1999, IRWA has organized this yearly count in order to estimate the number of river herring returning to the Ipswich River to spawn. Trained volunteers sign up for 10 minute time slots throughout the day.

WHY COUNT HERRING?

River herring begin their lives in freshwater. Juveniles swim downstream in the fall and, using their sense of smell, return to their breeding stream 3 to 4 years later, when they are roughly 10-11 inches long. Adults initiate spawning at 57 degrees F, and cease spawning when water temperatures reach 81 degrees F.

The Ipswich River’s once thriving populations of alewife (a species of river herring) served as a major source of food and income for the early settlers of the watershed. Unfortunately, this fishery has been severely impacted due to dams and other obstructions that keep alewife from reaching their spawning ponds, as well as the use of historic spawning ponds such as Wenham Lake for municipal water supply. The purpose of the count is to document the number of river herring passing through the ladder, and the conditions under which the herring migrate into the Ipswich River to spawn.

FISH CAM

Our underwater video camera, acquired in 2015, operates 24/7 at the top of the fish ladder during the count. It records movement through a specially designed box as the fish pass through the ladder, and helps us to get a more accurate count of the number and types of fish. During the spring, migratory fish including herring, eel and lamprey as well as resident fish like pickerel, trout or sunfish are recorded.

Here is a summary of the video footage from the 2015 herring count season. Keep your eye out for lamprey, brook trout, herring and even river otter and a snapping turtle passing through the Ipswich Mills Dam fish ladder!

Resources for Volunteers

Access the 2023 Herring Count online Sign-Up page using the button below. Thanks for counting and remember that every count counts!

Click to View Volunteer Opportunities on SignUp

HOW CAN I HELP?

Help us count! Fish count season is from April to June, at the Ipswich Mills Dam fish ladder (above). Volunteer training sessions are held in March. You can check out the standard training presentation HERE. If you would like more information or are interested in participating in the count, please contact the Program Coordinator Ryan O’Donnell by filling out the form at the bottom of the page.

Interested in volunteering with the fish count? Fill out our Volunteer Inquiry Form.