On April 20th, 400 alewife, a variety of river herring, were released in the river near Scalzi Park by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Now that the last of the dams that have blocked fish migration since 1641 have been removed Mill River Collaborative is working with DEP, the EPA Long Island Sound Office and others to restore the historic spring herring migrations to freshwater spawning habitat. The alewife were transported from Bride’s Brook near New London where tens of thousands of herring surge through a restored migration route each Spring. Another nearby restored run has been facilitated by a fish ladder on the Mianus River in Greenwich.

DEP Fisheries Biologist, Steve Gephard explained the life cycle of river herring and how they are a key link in the food chain that will eventually bring osprey, minks and otters back to the river. Mayor Pavia congratulated the Cloonan Middle School Science students who have been studying the river and conducting water tests to evaluate the conditions for aquatic life.