Fish Along the Stream
In the cover of night they leave the water to slither up the slope to bypass obstacles in the stream and reenter the waters above the dams, quietly. Interested in the American eel? You are in the right place! Cobbossee watershed is home to this fascinating creature. Maine Department of Marine Resources is conducting a 25 year study of the elvers and eels in the stream to learn more about this catadromous fish. The juvenile eels can be seen in May along the edges of the stream near the dams and the adults during the out migration in the fall.
american_eel_high-res.pdfEnjoy a day exploring the magnificent alewife runs in the state of Maine. Bring a picnic and marvel at the power of migration!
Read all about the Alewife Trail Map and the importance of river restoration here: https://www.pressherald.com/2019/06/02/q-a-with-landis-hudson-executive-director-of-the-nonprofit-maine-rivers/
The Science and History Behind a "Keystone Species"
Maine’s returning alewives represent a plentiful food supply providing meals for all sorts of creatures from osprey to racoons not to mention bait for Maine’s lobster fishery. Today bald eagles flourish throughout Maine in large part because of the abundant alewives. As a keystone species, alewife populations up and down the Maine coast undoubtedly help support a healthy ecosystem but don’t think for a moment they are the only game in town.
As spring unfolds in Maine, returning alewives will be joined by a chorus of other diadromous fishes including, shad, blueback herring, sea lampreys, Atlantic and shortnosed sturgeon and stripers. Maine’s natural resource agencies along with environmental groups have worked tirelessly to restore Maine’s twelve diadromous fish species yet we have so much more to do.
Please check out the link to "An historical perspective of Maine's diadromous fishes" -- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1weC9jgFWpJ-gja_SlClu8iQn6-8E0wGs/view -- Richard Behr, Upstream Board
WaystoHelp_flyer.pdf
In May each spring, alewives returning from 4 years in the Atlantic Ocean hug the bank of Cobbossee Stream in their attempt to swim upstream to reach their natal ponds in Cobbossee watershed to spawn.
Join Maine Master Naturalists, Augusta Bird Club and Upstream for our migration walks on the stream on Saturdays in May as we explore and discover our returning birds and fish to Cobbossee watershed. Check out our Events page for specific days and times.
100 years on the stream.pdf
Maine Department of Marine Resources biologist, Nate Gray speaks to a crowd at Gardiner Area High School on the value and importance of alewives in Cobbossee Stream, Kennebec River, Atlantic Ocean and for the restoration of the Gulf of Maine.
Every two years, on even numbered years Upstream hosts a World Fish Migration Day event in April or May. Check our events calendar or facebook page, facebook.com/alewivesupstreamcobbosseecontee for more information.
Alewife Alosa pseudoharangus
Anadromous and Catadromous Fish of Maine - Steve's draft.docxGardiner Area High School students, under the direction of science teacher, Sharon Gallant participate in a citizen science data collection project for 5 weeks beginning in May, collecting 50 alewives to measure, weigh, sex and obtain scale samples to use for important research on the alewife's life cycle. These two video clips show this dynamic research in action on Cobbossee Stream! Thank you Sharon for your innovative work with students!
VID_20190529_104612.mp4VID_20190529_104354.mp4Read Maine Guide, Richard Behr's fascinating observations of the Sea Lamprey in the Kennebec River here.