“Chebacco Lake has, like so many other freshwater lakes and ponds, been impacted by a changing climate. For example, cyanobacteria blooms had not been present in Chebacco before 2018 but the increasing seasonal temperatures and more frequent cycles of drought are known factors that contribute to the ongoing seasonal presence of these dangerous blooms.” -Max Rudzinsky- Marine Science and Education Director @Seaside Sustainability
Project Title: Alewife Brook Sustainable Management Plan
Watershed: Essex River
Municipalities: Essex, Hamilton
Seaside Sustainability is leading a multiple-party effort to address the health of Chebacco Lake and Alewife Brook. These bodies of water are experiencing ecological issues such as sedimentation, siltation, nutrient overload, and decreased water flow. If these issues are not promptly resolved, there will be severe negative implications for herring populations, which rely on the brook and lake for spawning.
May, 2021 Project Update: In the Chebacco Lake Watershed, the Alewife Herring counts are underway! Currently approaching 8,000 herring traveling into the lake, 2020’s total of 4,500 has already been exceeded. The Chebacco Lake Coalition, spearheaded by Seaside Sustainability, is gearing up for another full group meeting in June 2021 to examine progress to date and discuss a management plan proposal for the watershed.
If you want to get involved, you can reach out to rudzinskym@seasidesustainability.org. They are looking for all types of support! This Summer and Fall, work will consist mainly of stream clearing and maintenance as well as spreading public awareness about the problems facing this watershed. However, in the future, they will be addressing more of the issues facing the lake including but not limited to nutrient overloading, cyanobacteria blooms, invasive species, as well as sedimentation.
Who’s Involved: The growing group of Chebacco stakeholders Seaside Sustainability is convening currently includes: the Chebacco Lake Watershed Association, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Ipswich River Watershed Association, Manchester Essex Conservation Trust, Save Chebacco Trails, representatives from the conservation committees and town governments of Essex and Hamilton, Gordon College, Parker-Ipswich-Essex Rivers Restoration Partnership, and representatives from Massachusetts state government. The coalition goal is to ensure Chebacco Lake will be restored as a vital herring spawning ground.
For more information contact rudzinskym@seasidesustainability.org.