Invasive aquatic plants are part of a worldwide problem with invasive species of all kinds and are a threat to recreation and habitat of our lakes, ponds and rivers. Invasive aquatic plants are present in our region, so we want to be part of the effort to track what types might be in our local […]
Volunteers Take Part in Training to Monitor Invasive Aquatic Plants Read More »
We recently received funds from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to set up a bacteria testing program. Bacterial pathogens, such as fecal coliform and E. coli, are one of the main sources of water pollution and can adversely impact recreational use of waterways as well as aquatic life. Possible sources of pathogen contamination
Recent Grant from MassDEP to Create Monitoring Program for Bacterial Pathogens Read More »
Kristen Thiebault has shared her expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a volunteer with us since 2017. Her skills have had a significant impact on how we use and share information for projects and programs through maps. Kristen has spent many hours at the computer, combining and adjusting layers of data in a way
River herring were once abundant in the Ipswich River, supporting both the ecosystem food web and serving as a valuable resource to Native Americans and early colonial settlers. The decline of river herring began as dams were built without fish ladders and by 1900, few herring returned to the Ipswich River on their annual, spring
River herring are native fish that make a remarkable journey each spring, leaving the relative safety of the open ocean to reach inland ponds via coastal rivers and streams. Adult river herring need to make this journey each year to complete their life cycle where they spawn in suitable ponds before returning to the ocean.
Native Fish Missing, Volunteers Help With Solutions Read More »
We are always looking out for threats to the Ipswich River and the neighboring Parker and Essex Rivers. Invasive species are such a threat and are part of a large problem globally, with plants and animals being transported by people from one place to another. Unfortunately, there are many examples of invasive species in in
Thanks to many dedicated volunteers, we are able to maintain a series of monthly monitoring sites along the Ipswich River as part of our monthly water quality testing program. The volunteers test the rivers’ health by measuring dissolved oxygen, water temperature, conductivity, as well as recording characteristics on water color, odor, clarity and other observations.
Mother-Daughter RiverWatchers Monitor a Key Site on the Ipswich River Read More »
River herring are remarkable fish that are overlooked today for the important role they once played in the ecology and history of the Ipswich River. The once thriving herring run of the Ipswich has almost entirely disappeared due to overfishing, dams and low flows. The Ipswich River should be able to support a herring run
