TUNE IN TO MASSWILDLIFE AND MARINE FISHERIES ON "OCEAN MYSTERIES"
 
The national TV show "Ocean Mysteries" (ABC Channel 5 in Boston), hosted by Jeff Corwin, visited with MassWildlife and Division Marine Fisheries staff on two ongoing research projects as part of an upcoming episode featuring fisheries management in New England.  This past fall, TV crews filmed MassWildlife’s Southeast District staff documenting salter brook trout research at Red Brook.

They also filmed a striped bass tagging trip off Cape Cod with Division Marine Fisheries staff.  The episode will premier on Saturday, January 26th on ABC at 9AM. More information about Ocean Mysteries is at:  http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/ocean-mysteries/index.aspx#abouttheshow Their Facebook page has info as well.

Here's the teaser


 

© 2012 Photography by Michelson, Inc.

This month photographer/videographer Robert Michelson will present “The Life Cycles and Spawning Behavior of Eastern Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon.” Bob will share his photos and short videos during his presentation.

Photography By Michelson, Inc. is based in Braintree, Massachusetts. Bob is an underwater photographer and videographer who has been diving for 31years. His images and articles have appeared in numerous national publications, and his video footage and programming has aired on numerous broadcast and cable networks. Bob is also working with the MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited to produce a documentary on several river restoration projects that the council is supporting.

Monday April 2, 2012
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation)
7:00 Meeting
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.

Thanks to Dave Williams who sourced this article for us. The full story can be found here. And below is the accompanying video.

The Chapter would again like to thank Russ Cohen for his wonderful talk on cold water habitats and their importance. We'd also like to thank him for the donation of a signed copy of his book Wild plants I have Known. . . and Eaten. Copies of his presentation can be downloaded by clicking here. For those members who missed the meeting or are interested in hearing more of Russ he will be speaking nearby very soon in Salisbury on Monday November 14 at 7:00 PM.

Water - When is Enough Not Enough?
Featured Speaker: Russ Cohen, Division of Ecological Restoration, MA Dept. of Fish and Game (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/der/index.htm)
Massachusetts is blessed with relatively abundant precipitation (an average of 45 inches/year), leading many residents to the erroneous belief that there’s plenty of “surplus” water available for human consumption at any time and for any purpose. Russ’s presentation explains why our water resources can at times be insufficient to support our aquatic ecosystem, how human activities both historically and today adversely affected our river and stream systems, and what potential solutions are available to mitigate these impacts.
The talk is sponsored by the Sea Spray Garden Club and will take place at the East Parish United Methodist Church, 8 Lafayette Road in Salisbury.  The talk is open to all interested people.

"Why We Should Care About Wild Trout Streams and their Inhabitants"


Our Speaker: Russ Cohen, Division of Ecological Restoration, MA Dept. of Fish and Game

Russ’ presentation elaborates on the point that the presence of naturally-reproducing wild trout are an indicator that a stream is in relatively good shape and is likely to support a host of aquatic and other sensitive organisms that share wild trout’s demanding habitat requirements.  While there are more wild trout streams around than many people (even TU members) realize, these high-quality habitats are threatened and could be lost unless they are better recognized and protected.  Russ’ presentation covers the characteristics of healthy wild trout streams (adequate instream flows, cool water temperatures, plentiful streamside vegetation, large woody material in the stream, etc.), the various human activities that can degrade trout habitat (excessive removal of riverine vegetation, water supply withdrawals, impervious surfaces, etc.) and what actions people can take to help protect and restore these valuable resources.  Russ is the co-author of "Ten Ways Conservation Commissions Can Help Protect Coldwater Streams and Their Inhabitants", an important publication that provides tangible ways conservation commissions and others can most effectively protect coldwater resources within their communities.  Besides the obvious appeal trout streams have to Trout Unlimited members, and the fact that many TU members are familiar with cold water conservation efforts, Mr. Cohen's presentation will expose our members and others to new ideas and current approaches to stream management.  

Monday November 7, 2011
6:00 Dinner ($5.00 donation)
7:00 Presentation
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, Mass
Click here for directions.
Dinner will be three bean chili or clam chowder, salad, bread and dessert. Bring your own beverage.

John LeJeune

On Sunday September 18, 2011 Nor'East Chapter members undertook a small but significant project at Longmeadow Brook in Boxford. Longmeadow Brook feeds into Fish Brook. Unfortunately the ideal brook trout habitat offered by Longmeadow Brook had an impassable access point for fish from Fish Brook. Chapter member Greg Murrer brought this to the attention of the chapter while a survey of nearby Crooked Brook was being conducted for a culvert replacement project. It was noted that simply removing boulders at the mouth and providing proper grade for water flow would greatly improve the situation. Greg along with chapter members David Williams, Chett Walsh, Kevin Amaral, Tom Costa, Jack Monaghan, Steven Gross, and Thomas Wooldridge made quick work of the situation and fish passage to Longmeadow Brook is now a reality. Many thanks to all the members who participated and special thanks to Greg for spearheading the project and to Jack Monaghan for taking pictures to document the project. More pictures can be found in the Longmeadow Brook Project Photo Album.

This Saturday, April 16th, we will be gathering for a work day at the Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA). IRWA has been instrumental in helping the chapter grow over the past year. In addition to support and guidance, they have provided the chapter with a wonderful meeting place. To show our gratitude for their generosity, we've pledged to help them with a little spring cleaning. We urge anyone who can spare some time on Saturday to pitch in and help us thank IRWA.
Some of the projects that we will tackle include:

Clearing a foot-trail to the dock
Installing some railroad tie steps in the trail
Installing chains/locks on the canoes
Cleaning the gas grill

We need shovels, a pickaxe, large loppers and grill cleaning brushes, so if you have any of these, please bring them along. If you've never been to the beautiful Riverbend property during the day, this is a great opportunity. I can't over-stress how important our relationship with IRWA is. If you can spare even an hour or two to help, I encourage you to do so. Once we're done with our work, we'll relax with a lunch cooked up by Art Howe. To help us get a headcount, if you plan to attend, please reply to this email to let me know you will be helping out.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for all that you do for the chapter.
Warm regards,
Kevin Correa
President
Nor'East Chapter | Trout Unlimited 

Event Details:
What:
Ipswich River Watershed Association Work Day
When:
Saturday, April 16 at 9 a.m.
Where:
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road
Ipswich, MA
Directions Here
Cookout to follow the cleanup. 

Please join the Nor’East Chapter of Trout Unlimited for a discussion of the restoration of sea run brook trout on the north shore.  Steve Hurley, Southeast District Fisheries Manager for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has overseen Red Brook Restoration.

Meeting Details:
October 4, 2010
7PM
Ipswich River Watershed Association
143 County Road, Ipswich, MA

On July 11th, several chapter members broke out the topographical maps and small stream rods in search of native brook trout. Targeting areas on three north shore brooks, the crew divided into small teams and hit the water. We’re happy to report that brookies were located in two sections not believed to be stocked by the state. In addition to the trout, members documented other fish caught as well as details like water temperatures and the presence of impassable obstructions.
 
This is an ongoing program. While we’re planning a similar group outing for the fall, chapter members are going out on their own and reporting their findings. If you’d like to participate, contact us.
 
The brookies are there. You just need to find them.

In anticipation of our meeting this Tuesday March 9 at First Light Anglers I rounded up a few links to sources about Brook Trout.

Salvelinus_fontinalis

Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture

TU Brook Trout Conservation Success Index

Hope to see you at the meeting!

One week from today, mark your calendars:

First Light Anglers
21 Main Street
Rowley, MA 01969

7:00PM (6:00PM Pizza dinner with a small donation.)

Please join us as Patrick Brown of First Light Anglers talks about First Light’s efforts to revitalize the sea run trout fishery on the north shore.

Public Welcome.

We will also have a bucket raffle and are still looking for more contributions.  Anything that’s in it’s original packaging can be in the raffle and as always flies are welcome.