DV-17-22 Bagaduce Watershed Monitoring

Bailey Bowden
Town of Penobscot Alewife Committee
Penobscot, ME

There has been a lot of activity in the Bagaduce River watershed, including participation in the SEANET project and two fish passage restoration projects supported by NOAA’s Habitat Blueprint. New fishways at Pierce’s and Wight’s Ponds in Penobscot are part of a focus on restoring alewives and other sea-run fish to local waterways. Local leadership has resulted in town support for restoration as well as a broader view of the Bagaduce ecosystems when considering policies related to aquaculture, shellfish harvesting, and water quality.

Sea Grant funds supported the purchase of monitoring equipment and outreach materials to communicate the results, allowing for continued fish measurements and samples to be shared with Maine DMR and other scientists, as well as with the local community. In 2017, the Town of Penobscot Alewife Committee participated in a regional survey of Atlantic tomcod and beach seining for juvenile fish diversity. Students from George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill assisted with the project, which was also supported by Downeast Salmon Federation, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, NOAA, The Nature Conservancy, Blue Hill Heritage Trust, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, State of Maine Natural Resources Trustees, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, and private supporters. Northern Bay on the Bagaduce River appears to be a highly productive estuary for juvenile fish; continued monitoring is planned for 2018.

Watch videos of

Fish steward Bailey Bowden scooping alewives from the trap on Wight’s Pond
Adult alewives leaving Wight’s Pond
Juvenile alewives leaving Wight’s Pond
Juvenile alewives leaving Pierce’s Pond
Sea Grant funds: $2,000