Schools of children gathered to see schools of fish at the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder this month, and excited students from Nobleboro Central School enjoyed the unique experience on May 22.
Children in grades 3-5 learned about the local alewife fishery and visited the historic site. Thousands of fish stream into the fish ladder each spring.
It took 10 years and as much as $1 million to restore the ladder, which is more than 200 years old. An active group of dedicated community members led the effort, with the towns of Nobleboro and Newcastle supporting it, as well as the Nobleboro Historical Society.
Large schools of alewives arrived May 15 this year, alewife enthusiasts reported, and harvesting began two days later.
Each Memorial Day weekend the public flocks to the ladder. While there has been no Alewife Festival for the last couple of years due to weather and other conditions at the festival site, there was a Run With the Alewives 5K road race Saturday, May 25 and a live benefit concert Sunday, May 26 at Lincoln Theater to support the cause. Repairs and renovations are always under way.
For more about the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder, go to damariscottamills.org.
