April 1, 2022 Submitted by the Hingham Land Conservation Trust
It is pleasant to have been to a place the way a river went. — Henry David Thoreau
Please join the Hingham Land Conservation Trust for its Spring Walk on Saturday, April 9 at 10:00 AM. We will gather at the far parking lot of Hingham High School, and proceed into the Conservation Land at Shultz’s Farm and Triphammer Pond. The walk will follow the earthen dam path at Triphammer Pond and arrive at the spillway bridge before heading back. The walk is anticipated to conclude by noon, and will take place rain or shine. Walkers should be prepared to travel over uneven and possibly muddy terrain.
This scenic area, part of the Weir River Watershed, is vitally important to Hingham residents and to area wildlife. A focus of our walk is the once-plentiful herring in the Weir River which helped to attract Native Americans and then European settlers to the place we now call home. We will be guided by four speakers who will share their expertise and experience in two presentation stops along the way.
Tom Bell, a hydrogeologist (now retired) has served as the president of the Straits Pond Watershed Association for over three years and is knowledgeable about the vitality of the Weir River watershed. Tom and Dan Wells, HLCT Board Member and lifetime fly fisherman, will discuss their prodigious efforts and plans to keep the local herring runs and fish ladders clear and healthy.
Brad Chase, is the Diadromous Fish Project Leader for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. (Diadromous fish are those, like the herring, American eel, and rainbow smelt, which migrate between saltwater and freshwater.) He has worked with DMF for over 30 years on population restoration, monitoring, and management. Brad will discuss DMF’s mission, and how his department works with local towns.
Samantha Woods, the Executive Director of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association and Chair of the Weir River Watershed Association, has worked to protect water for over twenty years. She will discuss the health of the Weir River, and how to get involved with the annual herring count.
The Hingham Land Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring, preserving and maintaining exceptional landscapes and natural areas in Hingham. More about the mission and activities of the HLCT is available at www.hinghamlandtrust.org.
The walk leads back into the woods and beautiful views of Triphammer Pond – great for a spring day
Looking forward to what is shaping up to be a fascinating early spring walk-along-the-Weir. Hope to see many of you there. Remember to dress for the possibly muddy terrain and, as always when walking in nature, take tick precautions.