Samantha Perry
Express correspondent
Pine duBois, Executive Director of the Jones River Watershed Association and President of Jones River Landing Environmental Heritage Center, is rallying the South Shore community in an effort to keep River Herring swimming through our waterways as nature intended.
In 1975, duBois rented a property on Kingston shores and fell in love with the ecosystem surrounding her. She has been an advocate ever since. As previously reported, JRWA posted a petition to “Free the Fish” on change.org. The goal of the petition is to convince decision makers in Brockton to restore Silver Lake’s water level in order for young River Herring to exit the lake and make their way to Cape Cod bay.
As mentioned in the petition, work is being done to find a long term solution, but time is almost up for this years’ population of River Herring and they have not yet met their signature goals. Consider signing in support of JRWA’s efforts to demand immediate action from the city of Brockton to resolve this issue before the cold weather hits.
These efforts are not just for the love of fish, though it may play into the motivation of some supporters, but to correct the far-reaching disruption Silver Lake’s critically low water level causes. When Silver Lake is at appropriate water levels, River Herring can freely migrate to the Jones River, the largest river in Cape Cod Bay, via a fish ladder. The health of Silver Lake and Jones River ecosystems contribute directly to the health of Cape Cod Bay and ultimately the Gulf of Maine fisheries. Right now, these areas are suffering because the River Herring were trapped in Silver Lake during the months that they typically migrate, July through September.
A significant number of South Shore towns were under water restrictions over this period of time, including towns that border Brockton such as Easton, West Bridgewater, and Abington. Brockton was not under any water restrictions, but they have seen success in increasing Silver Lake’s water levels through conservation in the past. During a long drought in 1986, Silver Lake was drained almost entirely. Massachusetts barred new water hookups in Brockton until they found an additional source for drinking water. This forced the city into funding the creation of the Aquaria Desalination plant now located in Dighton, Massachusetts. While this project was underway, Brockton took measures to conserve water and upgrade their pipes and meters which ultimately drove down water use and allowed Silver Lake to sustain the community again.
Present day, Brockton relies on the Silver Lake Reservoir as its primary source of water with the Brockton Reservoir and Aquaria Desalination plant as its second and third sources of water. According to the 2022 Brockton Annual Water Quality Report, the most recent report available on the city’s website, “the Aquaria desalination plant typically provides drinking water to the city during the summer months, when demand is highest.” With multiple sources of water available, the Jones River Watershed Association is calling upon Brockton Mayor, Robert F. Sullivan to direct these resources into Silver Lake to free the fish, and keep the South Shore of Massachusetts connected to the larger ecosystem.
“Fisheries are in major decline. There is no cod for people to catch because there are no juvenile River Herring to feed them. Everything is interconnected,” says duBois, “we want to help Brockton recognize that they need help, and they have options.”
To view the petition, read more about the River Herring migration and find ways to get involved, scan the QR code below.