Massachusetts Bay Smelt Spawning Habitat Monitoring Program - Preliminary Report on the Saugus River System
Chase BC. 1993. Massachusetts Bay Smelt Spawning Habitat Monitoring Program - Preliminary Report on the Saugus River System. STAP Doc. Number: 93-03. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Salem, Massachusetts
The Danvers River report is the result of monitoring conducted by the Massachusetts Bay Smelt Spawning Habitat Monitoring Program, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Sportfisheries Technical Assistance Program. The study was initiated in 1988 to monitor the spawning habitat of the rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) in the river systems along Massachusetts Bay. The decline in smelt numbers is attributed to habitat loss and degradation, such as pollution and waterway obstructions, overfishing, and a natural increase in smelt mortality. The Danvers River is located in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts between Boston Harbor and Cape Ann. Freshwater flow in the Danvers River originates from numerous sources, with the majority of volume flowing from wetlands in Danvers. The Porter, Crane, and Waters Rivers all join the Danvers River in the vicinity of Danversport. The Danvers River then flows for 2.6km to its mouth at Beverly Harbor. Freshwater flow also enters the Danvers River from the Bass River in Beverly and the North River which passes through Peadbody and Salem. The Danvers River is described as a relatively shallow estuary with a large intertidal area and high flushing rate; approximately 70 percent of the total water volume is exchanged with each tidal cycle.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Chase, Bradford
- Date of Issue
- 1993-12-22
- Publisher
- Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
- Units
- SAMA
- Keywords
- Bay, Danvers, Massachusetts, Osmerus mordax, Sportfishing, water quality