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Water rushed over the falls at the Damariscotta Mills fish ladder Monday, creating a cascade too powerful for the alewives to travel. But that didn’t stop veteran alewife watchers and birders from traveling to the midcoast river to see the wildlife in action.
Alewives are river herring that live most of their lives in saltwater but travel to freshwater each year to spawn. Historically they were caught in Maine and canned and smoked, but now, they’re mostly used as lobster bait.
Although the construction of dams blocking rivers dramatically reduced alewife populations in Maine over the past centuries — their numbers in the Penobscot River dropped from tens of millions before the European colonization of Maine to near zero in 2010 — the fish is making a comeback.
Thanks to the restoration of fish ladders and the removal of dams spearheaded by environmental organizations and volunteers, the river herring’s population in the Penobscot River grew to six million by 2023, according to the Nature Conservancy.
The Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration is one example of a group renovating a fish ladder that was first built in 1807.
The annual alewife migration draws visitors from across the state, and even across the country, to witness the fish travel upstream. Birders also flock to alewife migrations to witness the eagles and ospreys feast. One pair of friends, Roger Cole from Kittery Point and Audrey Parsons from Kittery, stopped at the Damariscotta fish ladder on Monday as part of a trip they’re taking to visit four alewife run locations throughout the midcoast.
Parsons said it was the duo’s third year watching the alewives. Though there weren’t any alewives jumping on Monday, Cole said he wasn’t disappointed. He said it was a joy to see the hard work going into the fish ladder restoration.
“As a Maine resident for over 45 years, I’m just so proud of the state and the locals making the effort with the local communities to preserve, to restore this fish population that was really threatened,” Cole said.
For those looking for festivals and locations to see the alewife migrations, here are some coming up this month:
Brunswick Dam fish viewing station
The dam in Brunswick offers a viewing room where visitors can watch the alewives swim. It’s open Wednesdays through Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. until early June.
Benton Alewife Festival, Saturday, May 17
This annual festival will be back for its 13th year to celebrate the return of the alewives to the Sebasticook River. It will be located at Riverfront Park in Benton, and will feature guided trail walks, tours of the dam, children’s activities, food and live music.
Alewife Day at the Maine Forest & Logging Museum, Saturday, May 17
In Bradley, the celebration of the alewives’ return to Blackman Stream will be on May 17 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will be opportunities to learn about the history of the river herrings’ migration, its impact on indigenous civilizations, early settlers’ life, the developing logging industries that built the fishing fleets and modern-day fishing industries. There will also be smoked alewife for sale. Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child ages 3 to 17.
Damariscotta Mills Run with the Alewives, Saturday, May 24
Each year, the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration hosts a 5K run to benefit the restoration of the fish ladder. It’s a great opportunity to visit the ladder and watch the migration in action. The 5K run begins at 9 a.m. May 24, and registration is open now.
Pennamaquan Alewife Festival, Saturday, May 24
The fourth-annual Alewife Festival in Pembroke will be celebrated on May 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be presentations and opportunities to learn about alewives from biologists and fishermen, a free lunch buffet (with smoked alewife, of course), a group bike ride, kids’ activities and live music. The festival is free.
Bagaduce Alewife Celebration, Saturday, May 24
Celebrate the return of the alewives to the Bagaduce River on May 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with presentations on fish passage improvements and restoration efforts, smoked alewife and Japanese fish-printing. Visitors can watch the alewives migrate as well.
Penobscot Nation Running of the Alewives, Saturday, May 31
The Penobscot Nation is hosting its first Running of the Alewives celebration in Bradley this year on May 31. Located at Penobscot Nation Farm, this festival is free to attend (though donations are welcome) and will have live music, food, kids activities, a raffle and more.
Jules Walkup is a Report for America corps member. Additional support for this reporting is provided by BDN readers.
