A strange year for alewife runs in Maine, and to the south. What started as unusually early runs (April 4th in Jefferson) in parts of Maine, has found them somewhat standoff-ish in many other runs in the mid-coast lately. Muscongus Brook in Bremen has always started late; around Memorial Day. During high tides lately the harbor will show a couple of cormorants and sometimes loons, diving with purpose. An osprey and eagle have been reported near the mouth of the brook. A great blue heron well up into the brook may signify a few scout alewife have already explored a bit inland. I see nothing, but I trust the birds.
I plan to install the fish ladder tomorrow morning, Tue the 18th. The water in the brook is running at a trickle today with the recent dry spell. Good conditions for working below the RT 32 culvert.
I hung a few "no taking alewives" signs along the brook recently. I hated doing this, but I have heard some folks are already looking for these alewives as a bait supplement. If any alewives run the brook, they will be at least 5 years old. This makes these fish survivors of previous runs, and therefor their genetics crucially important to the future of Webber Ponds alewife population.
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