Watershed Rambles By Don Doucette
Herring run enthusiasts should be interested to know that firm confirmation has been established this season that Ten Mile River herring have reached the shoreline of Slater Park in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The falls at Pawtucket Country Club prevent any further advance of herring further upstream.
Since the official establishment of three formal fish ladders during recent years by the shores of Narragansett Bay in the Phillipsdale and Rumford sections of East Providence, speculation has existed as to the extent of spawning herring swimming up river.
This week, several solitary fish spotters representing the Friends of The Ten Mile and Bucklin Brook organization confirmed the existence of herring within the Central Pond/Slater Park area with herring inclined toward attempted entry to several related tributary brooks including Daggett Brook, the outfall of the Slater Park duckpond.
Guarded reasoning suggests, if herring were able to pass the Pawtucket Country Club Falls, the fish might in future reach the lower reaches of the Seven Mile River in Attleboro, Massachusetts and also navigate up the main Ten Mile River trace slightly shy of the Pond Street impoundment in Seekonk, Massachusetts.
Fortunately, herring do not recognize state and municipal boundaries, nor statutes.
Don Doucette
“Ten Mile River Rambles”
Friends of the Ten Mile and Bucklin Brook
Citizens of the Narragansett Basin
4/15/2020
Fish Spotter Run Reports By James Frechette
Confluence
Date: Wed 4/15/2020
Time:1:20pm – 1:55pm
Weather: 53 partly sunny
Fish counted: too many to count
They have arrived en masse. Going up into through the confluence and and beyond. Schools throughout the entire ten mile stretch from the park to the confluence site. Big mass of fish attempting to get into slater park pond via the little stream. Jumping out of water and getting stuck in the shallows trying to make it to that pond. Easily 4-5 dozen observed.
Confluence
Date: Fri 4/10/2020
Time: 2:57pm – 3:25pm
Weather: 48 Degrees, partly cloudy
Fish counted: 7
Observations and best guesses as to type – I sit on the stone arch and observe down.
3 herring ran upstream and 1 minute later ran downstream back into 10 mile. I observed a lot of buildup at the footbridge which seemed to be impeding flow. I lifted one end to let the reeds and weed and sticks flow under and clear some waterway flow.
1 bass ran upstream
2 herring ran upstream
1 trout ran upstream
One river Otter came through the stone arch 3 feet away and scared the bejesus out of me
Another river otter observed on the walk back swimming downstream in the 10 mile in slater park
Lots of trash has been left at this site. I pick up some every couple days.