Letting The Rivers Flow

When the pilgrims first landed here they called it “the paradise of all these parts” because of the abundance of wildlife and productive fisheries. Today river herring are on the verge of being listed as an endangered species. With over 400 years of industrial development involving the construction of mills and dams along the rivers and streams of Massachusetts, it is no wonder that the state has more clogged waterways than most other states in the nation. Conservation efforts are being made to remove blockages and open up systems, connecting miles of rivers to the ocean once again. By telling the story of one small brook, we communicate the larger story of habitat restoration for sea-run species throughout the Commonwealth. The series of dams on the Third Herring Brook was one of the earliest restoration projects of this type in the state.