Friends of Herring River is offering four FREE Autumn Walks in Wellfleet in the coming weeks. All are fun, factual and fascinating. We hope you’ll join us for one – or more!
THE AMAZING JOURNEY OF HERRING FRY FROM POND TO OCEAN
led by Barbara Brennessel
Saturday, November 11, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, 15 people max.
(Rain Date: Sunday, November 12th, 1:00-3:00 pm)
Meet at the Gull Pond parking lot, Wellfleet
This 2-hour walk will trace the beginning of the journey taken by river herring fry as they leave Gull Pond and move down the Herring River towards Wellfleet Harbor, Cape Cod Bay, and eventually the Gulf of Maine. After hatching in the spring, the young fish have spent the summer maturing in the freshwater kettle ponds and are now ready to transition to their adult life in the ocean.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.
THE ECOLOGY OF THE HERRING RIVER: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
led by John Portnoy and Erika Pfammatter
Saturday, November 18, 10:00 am – 11:30 pm, 15 people max.
(Rain Date: Sunday, November 12th, 1:00-2:30 pm)
Meet at the Great Island Trail parking lot, Wellfleet
This is a short walk from the Great Island Trail parking lot to the CNR dike to compare undisturbed salt marsh below the dike with the drained wetland upstream, and to discuss the plan for imminent tidal restoration. How the river has been negatively impacted for the past 114 years since the dike was built will be discussed, as well as how the restoration should dramatically improve the natural salt-marsh functions on which so much coastal life – animal and human – depends.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.
A VIEW OF THE HERRING RIVER AND THE RESTORATION PROJECT
led by Dale Rheault
Saturday, November 25, 10:00 am – 11:30 pm, 10 people max.
(Rain Date: Sunday, November 26, 1:00-2:30 pm)
Meet at the Herring River Overlook parking lot, Wellfleet
A scenic walk to the beautiful Herring River Overlook, a jewel within the Wellfleet Conservation Trust, will accompany a review of the Herring River Restoration Project and discussion of the exciting progress currently underway.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.
WHY WELLFLEET’S ROBUST HERRING INDUSTRY DISAPPEARED
led by Lisbeth Wiley Chapman
Saturday, December 2, 10:00 am – 11:30 pm, 15 people max.
(Rain Date: Sunday, December 3, 1:30-3:00 pm)
Meet at junction of Bound Book Island Road and Pamet Point Road
Learn about Wellfleet’s herring industry Fish Station of the 1800’s, located on the banks of the Herring River near Bound Brook Island. Between 1880 and 1890, proceeds from the sale of the fishing rights were enough to pay the salaries of all elected town officials. It is estimated that the successful bidders for the herring fishery rights took about 250,000 herring from the river annually. This talk will give you an idea of why this robustly productive industry died, why the Herring River was diked at Chequessett Neck Road, and the impact the diking had on the health of the river. Beth has historical photos to share of the area when the commercial fishery was at its peak.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.