Join us to enjoy rivers at these in-person and virtual gatherings. Engage with CRC’s efforts to restore, protect, and enhance our waterways! Events are added throughout the year and revised as needed.
Sea Lamprey Rescue at Turners Falls Canal
September 8, 2023 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm EDT
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Join USFWS, CRC, and volunteers at the annual drawdown of the Turners Falls Canal to help us rescue stranded lamprey!
RSVP HERE: Sea Lamprey Juvenile Rescue in Turners Falls | VOMO
About this event
We are looking for volunteers to join us on Friday, September 8th at 8am in Turners Falls, MA. Can you join us?
Every year in Turners Falls, MA Cabot Station drains their canal for maintenance purposes. Unfortunately, this process leaves thousands of juvenile lampreys stranded and exposed to harsh elements. We only have a few hours to find and rescue as many of them as we can before it’s too late. Because of this tight timeline and the size of the canal, we need your help!
Sea lamprey are an important native, migratory fish of the Connecticut River. Unlike the species we find in the North American Great Lakes, our local sea lamprey are not invasive. You will find adults migrating up river form the ocean every year to spawn (reproduce). Once they’ve reached the ideal habitat for their lamprey babies, their lifecycle comes to an end, leaving a carcass full of rich nutrients our ecosystem thrives on. The lamprey babies, called ammocoetes grow in our freshwater systems and take 4 to 5 years to migrate to the ocean and grow into adults. Please help us protect them.
You will need:
- Two 1-2 gallon buckets
- Pen/pencil
- Rubber boots (waders or knee-high boots ideal)
- Raincoat
- Hat
- Water Bottle
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- Change of clothes for later (you will get dirty)
To access the canal, we will have to walk through a thick layer of mud and silt. Please bring appropriate footwear and expect to get dirty! We cannot guarantee the safety of your personal belongings so please don’t bring valuables.
Accessibility:
- The car park is located less than 800ft away from the entry point of the canal.
- This is not a wheelchair accessible activity.
- There are benches and a walking path (wheelchair accessible) at the entry point of the canal for those who wish to stay out of the canal but watch their family/friends from above.
- Dogs are welcome as long as they are well behaved and not a hazard to other pets and kids. We reserve the right to ask pet owners to leave if their pet is a danger to other volunteers or the success of the project.
- Kids of all ages accompanied by their guardian are welcome. This is an appropriate activity for kids 4 and up who are comfortable walking in mud.
For other questions, please contact us at 413.772.2020 x207.