Fishway Opens for Incoming Herring

Brewster welcomes herring and finds an historic sluice-way

What is happening at the Stony Brook herring run?

04 April, 2025 - BREWSTER, MA - Migratory herring will have an easier time returning home to Brewster's Herring Rive this year, as the town completes work on the herring run. According to the Brewster's Natural Resources Director Chris Miller, the town completed work on four weirs in time for this year's piscine visits. He said the remainder should be completed this fall.

What is the town repairing?

The project's focus lies in enhancing fish passage for the herring, which migrate from the salt water back to their freshwater spawning place to themselves spawn. The infrastructure helps the fish move upstream and return to their ancestral home.

The larger project also shored up a 100-plus year old retaining walls and walks. Miller expects trails and walkways to be open by summer.

What caused a delay?

Along the way, workers uncovered a previously-unknown wooden sluice-way under the pond. It's discovery was shared with the Mass Historical Commission as part of a process triggered by archeological finds. The current historical mill, which still grinds corn, is likey the fourth or fifth mill at Stony Brook.

According the Miller, early European settlers saw the elevation of the site as unique on the Cape and in 1600s had already developed the first of what would be multiple different mills there. The wooden sluice-way was a forgotten artifact of one of these many mills.

When will the project complete?

The town says that the project should be complete by late fall, with walking trailing reopening this summer.

For more information:

Stony Brook Gristmill

Alewife Committee in Brewster