This spring, the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) has been hard at work tracking the health of our river — and the wildlife that calls it home.
Thanks to our community, we successfully recruited three new water quality monitoring volunteers to join the URI Watershed Watch season (May–October). Alongside returning volunteers, they’re collecting vital data at key points along the river, including Rising Sun Mills, Greystone Mill Pond, Waterplace Park, and Whipple Field. Together, these sites paint a detailed picture of the Woonasquatucket’s water health from headwaters to tidal zones.
Meanwhile, our spring herring return counts have been underway since April. So far, we’ve seen promising numbers — including one 10-minute count where 27 river herring were spotted! These anadromous fish (which live in the ocean but return to fresh water to spawn) are a symbol of the river’s comeback after more than a century of industrial pollution and dam blockages.
While rangers observed some herring “stacking” at Riverside Park due to the broken dam, RIDEM assessed that organizing a lift wasn’t feasible this season. Still, the counts give us crucial feedback on how our fish passage projects are working and how far we’ve come in restoring this critical migratory path.
We’re grateful to all the dedicated volunteers helping us monitor and protect the Woonasquatucket. Every data point and fish count helps build a healthier, more vibrant river for generations to come!