Found at https://onthewater.com/riverherring On The Water 2015-02-20 by OTW Staff

Out there along our coast, just beyond where rivers hit salt water, thousands of river herring are gathering and making ready for an epic voyage inland. The annual runs are just weeks away.

Want to get involved?

Volunteers gather at bridges, fish ladders, dams, and riverbanks to help restore the environment and make contributions to the citizen science that builds the databases needed to help conserve these imperiled fish

The groups listed below are looking for volunteers to count fish, help monitor water quality, and pitch in to clean up rivers. It’s a great way to contribute and do your part to help bring river herring back from the brink.

CONNECTICUT

• Rivers Alliance of Connecticut – Litchfield, CT Event listings for multiple organizations.
• Farmington River Watershed Association – Simsbury, CT River and Water Quality Monitoring Check for volunteer opportunities

MAINE

• Lloyd Davis Anadromous Fish Trust – Waldoboro, ME Alewife Count Contact Jackie Stratton at volmvlt@midcoast.com or (207) 832-5570
• Kennebec Estuary Land Trust – Woolwich, ME Alewife Count on the Nequasset Brook Contact Alicia Heyburn at aheyburn@kennebecestuary.org

MASSACHUSETTS

• Mystic River Watershed Association – Arlington, MA Herring count, water quality monitoring, and watershed cleanup events. Contact Beth MacBlane at beth@mysticriver.org or 781-316-3438 Check for volunteer opportunities here
• Ipswich River Watershed Association – Ipswich, MA Herring count, water quality monitoring and other volunteer opportunities. Contact Ryan O’Donnell at rodonnell@ipswichriver.org or sign up online.
• Jones River Watershed Association – Kingston, MA Herring Count April – May (evenings and weekends) Contact fish@jonesriver.org
• North and South Rivers Watershed Association – Norwell, MA River Herring Counting Program – NSRWA will coordinate counts on four streams this year – Herring Brook in Pembroke, First Herring Brook in Scituate, Third Herring Brook in Norwell/Hanover and South River in Marshfield. Contact Sara Grady at sara@nsrwa.org or 781-659-8168
• Parker River Clean Water Association – Byfield, MA Water Quality Monitoring and Fish Count Contact parker.river@verizon.net 978-462-2551. Check for volunteer opportunities.
• Association to Preserve Cape Cod – Barnstable, MA Herring monitoring opportunities throughout Cape Cod Contact Dr. Jo Ann Muramoto at jmuramoto@apcc.org or (508) 362-4226 ext. 16.
• Harwich Conservation Trust – Harwich, MA Herring count and other volunteer opportunities. Contact Ryan Mann at hctryan@cape.com
• Weymouth Herring Run Committee — Weymouth, MA A river cleanup and more. Call 781-749-0189 or gmloring@verizon.net

NEW JERSEY

• River Herring Watch – Monmouth, NJ Monitor river herring throughout Monmouth County Email HerringWatch@gmail.com for more information.

NEW YORK

• Seatuck Environmental Assoc. – Islip, NY The Long Island Volunteer Alewife Survey is coming up and training sessions are underway. Contact staff@seatuck.org

PENNSYLVANIA

• Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Assoc. – Bethlehem, PA Volunteers help shad get beyond obstacles on the Lehigh River. Email Dave at fisherman_dcarl@yahoo.com

RHODE ISLAND

• Saugatucket River Herring Lift—Wakefield, RI Volunteers lift fish over old mill dams and more. Contact Bill McWha at wmcwha@gmail.com
• Ten Mile River Watershed Council – Providence, RI Watershed cleanups, fish count and more. Email KTGgroup@aol.com for more information.
• Buckeye Brook Coalition – Warwick, RI Watershed cleanup and other volunteer opportunities. Contact Paul Earnshaw at 401-739-6592
• Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone Earth Day cleanup at Valley Falls Heritage Park on Sunday, April 19th.