Orleans

Name of River (s)

Pilgrim Lake Herring Run

Name of Warden

Scott E. Johnson

Governing Body

Orleans Harbormaster, Dawson Farber

Supported by Orleans Shellfish & Waterways Advisory Committee

Name of Count Organizer

Rich Tyldesley, Judy Scanlon

Name of Watershed Group

Contact Phone Number

Rich: 508-247-8279

Judy: 508-360-4162

Email contact

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Status of Run

The Orleans Run consists of a fish ladder, a short stream and then a water control structure and runs between Lonnies Pond (aka Kescayogansett) and Pilgrim Lake. Lonnies Pond is a salt water pond off The River which is located in the upper reaches of Pleasant Bay in Orleans. The man-made portion of the run was started in 1865 by the Linnell Fish Company, then purchased by the town. The first ladder was made out of wood then replaced in the mid-1940's by the Army Corp. of Engineers.  after running the gauntlet of grey seals at the entrance of Pleasant Bay (Chatham), the herring make their way through Big Pleasant Bay, Little Pleasant Bay, The River, and then into Lonnies Pond.  It's a long journey but the run is active with some herring making it every year.  This run also serves as significant migratory route for the American Eel.

Current Project

The run is on the state's short list of runs to be rebuilt as it is part of the "Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project."  During 2011 the run was surveyed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The next step is to develop the reconstruction plan and then perform the actual reconstruction.  In these financially uncertain times funding is tight but we're hopeful that construction will take place no later than 2013.

Both volunteer herring count and eel count programs receive technical support from groups such as Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF).

Volunteer Opportunities

Initiated in 2008, Orleans has a very active Volunteer Herring Count Program consisting of over 60 counters.  Additional counters are always welcomed and needed though so if you have any interest in being involved with and contributing to our Cape waters contact Rich at 508-247-8279 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  You can count for as little as 10 minutes one day per week or more often if you like.

Publications

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