Massachusetts Bay Smelt Spawning Habitat Monitoring Program - Final Report on the Forest River, Salem: 1989-1990
Chase BC and Roderick A. 1994. Massachusetts Bay Smelt Spawning Habitat Monitoring Program - Final Report on the Forest River, Salem: 1989-1990. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Cat Cove Marine Laboratory. Salem, Massachusetts
The Forest 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. Following extensive monitoring during the smelt sampling seasons of 1989 and 1990, it was determined that the Forest River does not support a run of anadromous rainbow smelt. Approximately 75 square meters of potential spawning substrate above the fresh and saltwater interface was monitored for smelt egg deposition. This habitat was found to be ill-suited for smelt spawning due to the following conditions: low freshwater volume and velocity, siltation of substrate, and encroachment of the common reed (phragmites australis). The flow and siltation problems could be a function of the reeds expanding into the stream channel. Subsequent. Visits to the sample location in 1994 found a large increase in the density of reeds and area occupied since 1990. At present, it appears that passage from the brackish marsh region up to the freshwater zone would not be possible for adult smelt. Due to this overall lack of potential of smelt spawning habitat, no recommendations are offered for introducing/restoring smelt to the Forest River.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Chase, Bradford; Roderick, Allison
- Date of Issue
- 1994-10
- Publisher
- Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Cat Cove Marine Laboratory
- Units
- SAMA
- Keywords
- marine fisheries, Osmerus mordax, rainbow smelt, spawning habitat, water quality