Eric Hutchins, NOAA Restoration Center in Gloucester, MA

Soon after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock they began to build dams on Town Brook in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Every dam built impacted the migratory pathway of American eel and river herring which need to reach fresh water streams to complete their lifecycle. This talk will describe efforts by the Town of Plymouth and NOAA to remove or modify dams on Town Brook to restore habitats for migratory fish….and wait until you hear what they found when they tore down those dams!

Resources to access at home:

» Meet Eric Hutchins, Habitat Restoration Biologist Feature Story
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Teaching kids about fish migration. There is a fun lesson, “Designing fish-friendly culverts (and bridges)” lesson for grades 5-8.
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Environmental education resources for teachers, parents, and kids. Activities range from the “ABCs of fishing” coloring book, word searches, migration station, and more.
» NOAA Fisheries article, “You can help scientists count migrating river herring – virtually”
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Teaching kids about fish migration. There is a fun lesson, “Designing fish-friendly culverts (and bridges)” lesson for grades 5-8.
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Environmental education resources for teachers, parents, and kids. Activities range from the “ABCs of fishing” coloring book, word searches, migration station, and more.

» Help count the river herring:
–Mystic River, Massachusetts Herring Counter, https://www.mysticherring.org/video#/
–Town Brook, Plymouth Massachusetts Herring Counter https://www.plymouthriverherring.org/

» Watch Live Fish Cameras:
–Herring Creek on Martha’s Vineyard https://wampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/naturalresourcedepartment
–Town Brook, Plymouth Massachusetts Herring Counter https://www.plymouthriverherring.org/

» Other relevant NOAA Live! Webinars: Swimming Upstream with River Herring OR Leaping for Atlantic Salmon: Protecting endangered species