Thanks to all who are interested in counting fish this spring!
KELT and our partners at the Bath Water District and Woolwich Fish Commission are thrilled to have your help with the counts. If you have any questions or concerns about the count this year, please feel free to be in touch. Contact KELT at (207) 442-8400 or email KELT’s fish count coordinator at rindrick@kennebecestuary.org.
Here are a few ground-rules for counting at the fish ladder
Please do not try to touch the fish.
Bath Water District personnel and fish counters have priority for using the area at the top of the dam past the chain link fence. A sign will be posted at the ladder with this information. If the top of the dam is busy, as a fish counter, you have the authority to politely let others know that you need access to the top of the ladder to accurately count fish entering the lake.
Please be aware that there is an active commercial alewife harvest on Thursdays-Sundays at the harvest area below the dam. The harvest area by the red fish house building is overseen by the Woolwich Fish Commission and managed by the fisherman who the town contracts with for the harvest. Please don’t access the concrete section of the harvest area when the alewife harvest is open without permission. None of the fish count materials will be in the fish house.
On Thursdays through Sundays when the alewife harvest is open, the parking at the ladder can be busy with vehicles for people working the harvest and lobstermen buying fish. On those days, it is best if you park along George Wright Road or at Nequasset Park and walk down the drive to the fish ladder. If you have any physical challenges or young children that would make it difficult to walk along the road to the site, you are welcome to drive to park at the ladder. On Mondays through Wednesdays, there is usually space for anyone to drive right to the ladder.
Helpful supplies to have when you come to counT
To record the information you collect:
Low-Tech: Paper and pencil
Please bring along a piece of paper and a pencil and record all the relevant fish count information while you are at the site. There will be a sign posted at the ladder listing all of the information you need to collect, as a reminder. After your count, email your results to rindrick@kennebecestuary.org or submit them using the 2024 data form.
High-Tech: Phone
Access the 2024 data form from your phone while you are at the site. Fill it out and submit the data from your phone.
To track your fish counts:
Low-Tech: Paper and pencil
Please bring along a piece of paper and a pencil and put a tally mark on the paper for each fish that goes by.
High-Tech: Phone or tally counter
You can use a counting app on your phone to keep track of the number of fish. Just tap on the plus sign in the app each time a fish goes by. The KELT staff have tried out a couple apps, and some suggested options are outlined below
To time your fish counts:
Phone, watch, stopwatch, kitchen timer
Please use a timer on your phone or on your watch to track the time for your 10 minute count.