First Herring Brook Restoration Project

Background

The First Herring Brook is a tributary to the North River and the only "herring brook" in the watershed that currently lacks a spring herring run. It begins in a series of wetlands in north Scituate and runs downstream through Tack Factory Pond and under Route 3A into the town Reservoir. The Reservoir is used as storage for the town water supply and is impounded by a large dam. There is a fish ladder attached the dam, but it is not properly designed and does not function to pass fish. Water then flows downstream (either over the dam or via a lower level outlet controlled by the water department) to Old Oaken Bucket Pond, where there is a water department intake. There is a non-functioning fish ladder at Old Oaken Bucket Pond as well. After leaving Old Oaken Bucket Pond, the First Herring Brook enters the Herring River at the Driftway and from there flows into the North River. 

The First Herring Brook Restoration Project began when the Town of Scituate requested to the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection an increase of their water withdrawal permit. In 2006, during the public comment period the NSRWA and FHBWI jointly commented on concerns over low flows and the need to restore the herring to the brook.  The Town of Scituate stepped up to the task, the Water Resources Study Commitee at the direction of the Scituate Selectmen, and the Water Supply Department, have all been supportive of investigating the potential for restoring streamflows and herring to the brook while balancing their water demands. The DEP issued the town's permit with the stipulation that the town continue to work with the FHBWI and NSRWA to identify ways to restore fish passage and streamflows.  Since that point, the project has gained many supportive partners who are all working to not only restore fish passage and ensure that the brook and its impoundments have suitable habitat, but also that the ecological and municipal water demands can both be met. 

The NSRWA successfully pursued having the First Herring Brook becoming a pilot study through a partnership with the Nature Conservancy, Tufts University and the Stockholm Environment Institute.  These partners brought technical assistance to the group to develop an interactive model to determine the critical issues for restoring the brook to a healthier system.  The group has been meeting since 2007 to help in the model development and review.  In 2009, we hope to have the results of these modeling investigations available to the public to aid in decision making regarding the restoration of the brook.

Map of Project Area

Project Components

Habitat Assessment

One of the primary goals of this project is the restoration of fish passage and, more broadly, habitat that is supporting of aquatic life. During the summers of 2007 and 2008 the NSRWA worked with Mass. Riverways and Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries to conduct habitat assessment surveys in the two impoundments, including measuring temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity, and visually evaluating evidence of eutrophication and benthic sediment quality. The summer of 2007 was marked by a moderately severe drought that resulted in much of the reservoir drying up. Fortunately, conditions were more favorable in 2008. We will be monitoring again through the summer of 2009.

Water Demand Modeling

In an effort to balance municipal and ecological flow needs, the project partners worked with Tufts University, Stockholm Environment Institute, and The Nature Conservancy to model the supply and demand of water within the First Herring Brook system, using the Water Evaluation and Planning System or WEAP Model. The results of this modeling are still being refined, and will be presented to the town in Spring 2009.

Partners

(In alphabetical order, click logos for partner webpages)