Herring Festival

Join Charles River Watershed Association at the Watertown Dam on Saturday, June 8th, to celebrate the migration of Alewife, Blueback Herring, and American Shad from the ocean into the Charles River!

Attend to learn about fish migration, dam removal, and climate resilience at stations throughout the festival. Join guided walks around the Watertown Dam, interact with the watershed in a box with X-Cel Education, test your fish trivia at the River of Dreams booth, learn to cast with Trout Unlimited, and more!

Get creative at the community art build led by local artist Kari Percival. Participants can make fish hats, get their faces painted, and screen print their own t-shirts. We hope to see you there! Learn more and register for this free event here.

Each spring, the Charles River becomes a vital spawning ground for diadromous fish species such as the Alewife, Blueback Herring, and American Shad. These fish, beyond their cultural significance, are key players in the ecosystem. However, their migration is hindered by defunct dams, leading to a decline in their populations. The Watertown Dam removal project is a crucial step towards restoring their habitat and supporting biodiversity in the river.

Dam removal is a pressing issue in Massachusetts as aging dams disrupt river ecosystems and hinder fish migration. The 2016 inspection report deemed the Watertown Dam in "poor" condition. CRWA, in collaboration with the Department of Ecological Restoration, conducted the Watertown Dam Removal Feasibility Study, released in June 2021, demonstrating the urgency and feasibility of removing the dam and restoring the river.

For more information on why removing defunct dams is critical to restoring the Charles, explore this StoryMap >

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