By LRWP Summer 2024 Research Intern Maya Fenyk

This spring’s eel project has been driven by the incredible support and active participation of our community. With thanks to the NY/NJ Harbor & Estuary Program for Project Support, and thanks to all community members who lent a hand: your engagement and dedication have been crucial to our efforts in supporting and h-EEL-ing the American glass eel population.

The LRWP believes that by combining scientific research and community action we strengthen our Lower Raritan community’s connection to local waterways while also highlighting our links to the broader aquatic ecosystem, even across vast distances. Our Spring 2024 eel story suggests far-reaching implications beyond our watershed’s borders.

Why Now? The Ord-EELs Facing the Anguilla rostrata (American Glass Eel) and Their App-EEL As A Symbol of Cultural and Environmental Harmony 

The eels are coming! The eels are coming! We here in the Lower Raritan Watershed get to play Paul Revere every time a new crop of juvenile anguilla rostrata, or as they are affectionately known “elvers”, navigate from the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic to our local rivers, streams, and estuaries in spring. As one can imagine, an over 1000 mile trek is dangerous for all animals big and small. However, the American glass eels face some unique challenges, or should I say ord-EELs, to get to their (almost) forever home. Unfortunately, the American glass eel is designated as a threatened species by the International Union of Conservation of Nature. This is due to a wide range of problematic issues, including habitat loss, overfishing, pollution, and barriers to migration such as dams and culverts. Although conservation efforts including habitat restoration, regulation of fishing practices, and monitoring of glass eel populations are increasing, there are still significant threats.

The American Glass Eel is particularly vital, serving as both an indicator species and a keystone species across diverse environments, with significant physical and cultural implications. A keystone species is one that boxes outside its weight class, contributing much more to the ecosystem than would be expected. Glass eels specifically regulate prey populations, contribute to nutrient cycling, and serve as indicators of ecosystem health. Though we are familiar with the terminology of a keystone species in an environmental context, we can also use it to refer to species that have integral roles in cultural contexts, specifically within indigenous knowledge systems. 

American glass eels hold an essential place in the cultural heritage of Maine’s Passamaquoddy tribe. Elder Donald Socotomah says: “The eels have been part of our traditions forever. We have them in our legends. We have all kinds of stories, thousands of years old.” The interconnectedness of eels with the wider Passamaquoddy culture showcases a very important narrative of community and intergenerational conveyance. 

Traditionally, the Passamaquoddy people have relied on the abundance of glass eels as a vital source of sustenance, harvesting them using techniques passed down through generations. Elders within the community play a central role in teaching younger members about the importance of glass eels and the traditional methods of harvesting and preparation. During the spring migration season, members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe gather along the rivers and estuaries of Maine, awaiting the arrival of glass eels. The harvesting of eels becomes a communal activity, bringing together families and clans to celebrate the bounty of nature and reaffirm their cultural identity. Once harvested, glass eels are prepared in accordance with traditional recipes and culinary practices unique to the Passamaquoddy culture. The threatened state of American eels has significantly impacted the cultural traditions of the Passamaquoddy people. To help secure the continuance of the eel population and their cultural traditions, the Passamaquoddy people have developed innovative eel aquaculture practices, and were recently awarded a $4.3 million dollar grant by the USDA Rural Development department as a contribution to their efforts. 

However, the interplay of eels within the Passamaquoddy tribe transcends their role as food. Glass eels hold spiritual significance for the Passamaquoddy people, serving as messengers of balance and harmony within the natural world. The health of eel populations is seen as a reflection of the overall well-being of the ecosystem and the interconnectedness of all living beings. This message of harmony and interconnection is not only beautiful but also applicable to the habitat connectedness that our catadromous friends exemplify. 

Eel migrations between freshwater and marine environments facilitate the transfer of energy and nutrients, connecting different habitats and supporting biodiversity. In this context, the concept of swimways becomes particularly relevant. Swimways, akin to avian flyways, are emerging as a crucial concept for the conservation of migratory fish, underscoring a significant aspect of cultural connectivity between humans and wildlife. This idea is exemplified by the innovative “fish doorbell” project in Utrecht, Netherlands, where citizens globally assist fish migration by pressing an online doorbell to open canal locks. This community-driven initiative reflects a broader effort by scientists to map and protect fish migration routes worldwide, similar to bird conservation strategies that have successfully preserved flyways across regions and nations. The first global map of swimways includes routes for 665 migratory fish species, highlighting the necessity of international collaboration in safeguarding these critical ecological pathways. Such efforts are pivotal for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the survival of migratory species, which are increasingly threatened by obstacles like dams, overfishing, and climate change. You can find out more about the multitude of efforts undertaken to develop swimways around the world here: https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/72/2/116/6521755

The swimways initiative fosters a deeper understanding and global awareness of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the cultural responsibility of humans to protect these vital aquatic routes. By supporting the natural migratory patterns of eels and other aquatic organisms, swimways help maintain the intricate web of life that sustains diverse ecosystems. Embracing these pathways not only honors the ecological significance of eels but also aligns with the Passamaquoddy’s and other indigenous tribes’s  profound understanding of interconnectedness and balance within the natural world.

This past spring, our community dedicated itself to understanding the profound ecological and cultural significance of eels, striving to deepen our connection to the broader ecological tapestry they represent. To achieve this, we immersed ourselves in every aspect of their conservation, ensuring we became gracious human hosts for our anguillid friends. Our efforts included constructing eel habitats, installing them, regularly monitoring their condition, and re-installing them whenever nature posed challenges. Through this hands-on involvement, we not only contributed to the well-being of the eels but also fostered a greater appreciation for the delicate balance of our shared environment.

These Mops Are The ‘Eel Deal 

On March 12, twelve  people came and engaged to build artificial eel habitats (a.k.a eel mops). In true citizen science fashion, we assembled these mops entirely out of materials that you could find at your local hardware store! The materials used in our eel mop construction was: 

• Brown polypropylene rope (25 ft length, 5/8 in. diameter)
• Plant Saucer (12 in.)
• Cable ties (15 count, medium sized)
• Eyebolt (5/16”)
• Washer (5/16”)
• Extra rope (cut to desired length)
• Pie Plates
• Cement

Reflecting on the process, the most difficult part was unwinding the polypropylene rope to simulate the grasses. It took a lot of effort but it was sure worth it to make a hospitable home for the eels! After we unfurled the rope, we folded and rubber banded each bundle of rope to create loops. We then marked the saucer with 15 pairs of evenly spaced holes and drilled them, along with a central hole for the eyebolt. After that we attached the rope bundles to the saucer with cable ties, then removed the rubber bands. To secure everything we mixed cement and poured it into a pie tin, placing a plastic-wrapped pencil in the center while it set. After the cement dried (which was a time consuming process too), we attached the cement weight to the saucer with the eyebolt, washer, and bolt. With 12 helping hands, and a process as streamlined as this we were able to construct the eel mop seamlessly and quite quickly. It is important to note however, that despite eel mops being easy to make, in order to deploy the mops you MUST  obtain a scientific collection permit from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, which the LRWP did prior to the collection process. 

Install of the Habitats, Aren’t They Surr-eel?

Many who saw the mops thought they consisted of real river grasses. Who knew it was just an optical eel-lusion! On March 26, seven of the LRWP’s volunteers came out to help us install the eel mop in the Green Brook. The hope was that this Eel BnB looked cozy enough to entice some of the migrating glass eels to make it their pit stop. 

We were very hopeful about finding eels, as their presence is a strong indicator of a healthy stream ecosystem, but we wouldn’t know until we gave the eels time to settle in. 

Having A Hard Time Falling Asleep? Count Eels Instead of Sheep! 

March 30th and April 13th, were our eel counting days. Unfortunately, the anguilla rostrata remained eel-lusive. Over those two days 15 wonderful volunteers checked the eel mop for inhabitants. Though we didn’t find any eels on those days we still found some macroinvertibrate friends, including very exciting dragonfly larvae! Akin to the eels, dragonflies are also an indicator species, and their presence let us know we were doing everything we can to be inviting hosts, the eels were just late to the party. Unfortunately, on our April 13th monitoring day we found out that our eel mop had broken due to damage from a big storm, so we had to remove the eel mop for repairs. 

Big Storms Sure Aren’t Id-eel… 

The damage from the storm certainly put a dent into our springtime monitoring plans, but we did our best to get the eel mop patched up as quickly as possible. On May 18, two of the LRWP’s board members, Heather Fenyk and Anton Getz, reinstalled the mop to see if the renovated home would entice some eels during the tail end of the season. The reinstall went quite smoothly and we looked forward to the last monitoring day of the season. 

Fun Fact: Eels Are Fashionably Late to Gatherings, But We Love to Have Them Anyway! 

On our last day of monitoring May 25, a week after the reinstall of the eel mop, we found a singular juvenile American glass eel. Eleven volunteers squealed in unison at the sight.

We measured our new friend and found that they were about 3.5 inches long and had started developing pigment. Based on research guidelines these characteristics would place this glass eel into the early elver stage of development, and approximately just over a year old. Happy 1st Birthday!  Of course after a lot of oohing and ahhing, picture-taking, and measurements, we put the eel back into the Green Brook for it to continue to grow to adulthood in our streams. We can’t convey how exciting it is to have the American glass eel confirmed as present in the Lower Raritan Watershed. Their arrival truly signals a thriving stream, and we’re so grateful that the health of the Green Brook is being reflected in the biodiversity.

What’s Next? Our Eel Spi-eel. 

Though the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership engages in a variety of habitat assessment, macroinvertebrate, and pathogens monitoring projects, this was the first year that we were able to participate in eel monitoring. We embarked on this specific project in 2024 as a joint effort with installation of the Stormwater Systems Bandalong Bandit Litter Trap just downstream of the eel mop. The Litter Trap was installed in the aquatic nexus of Green Brook Borough, Dunellen Borough, and Plainfield – with the goal of relieving litter flows from this problem area. We are so proud of the work that we have done to both heal and observe the Green Brook, and the community involvement that has made both the projects a reality. 

Our goals for the 2024 Glass Eel monitoring cycle were multifold: 

1. To establish a baseline for eel data for the portion of the Green Brook.
2. Provide insight into the litter reduction project impact on aquatic life in the portion of the Green Brook.
3. Give a voice to the link between litter reduction and environmental health within the context of a high profile and multi-municipality project. 
4.  Engage community members in hands-on civic science environmental education activities, providing data regarding migratory behavior of spring eels in a neglected waterway. 
5. Enhance public perception and usability of recreational areas along the Raritan River. 

Despite some setbacks, we successfully accomplished all of these goals this monitoring cycle. We were able to establish the baseline through successful eel capture, with the timing of our discovery providing valuable insights into seasonal eel observations in our waterway. Additionally, our efforts shed light on a simultaneous litter reduction project, highlighted by the installation of New Jersey’s first litter trap. This milestone speaks volumes about our community’s dedication to the health of the lower Raritan watershed. Continued commitment from the community is propelling biodiversity and environmental health on an upward trajectory. As of 2024, we celebrate the fourth year of multi-site, multi-municipality clean-ups along the Green Brook, building on years of targeted efforts. Since our concentrated community initiatives began, several tons of litter have been removed from the Green Brook, marking significant progress in our shared environmental stewardship. This also speaks volumes towards our goal of highlighting the link between litter reduction and environmental health. Furthermore, throughout the project, the LRWP engaged 40 volunteers in the different stages of the eel mop build, installation, and monitoring. This gave 40 community members hands-on experience in environmental education and civic science. Through this community engagement initiative, we also successfully improved the public perception and usability of recreational areas along the Raritan River.

Our journey through eel monitoring has not only deepened our understanding of ecological interconnectedness but also strengthened community bonds and environmental stewardship. Despite challenges, including storm damage and the eels’ tardy arrival, our perseverance and community spirit prevailed. The successful establishment of an eel baseline and insights into our litter reduction project underscore our commitment to the health of the lower Raritan watershed. As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to fostering biodiversity and enhancing public enjoyment of our precious waterways. This collaborative effort has empowered dozens of volunteers with hands-on environmental education, building a community focused on restoration for the Raritan River and larger watershed. We eagerly anticipate future eel monitoring endeavors, pending securing the necessary funding. This project has exemplified the strength of community collaboration, and we aspire to build upon these achievements with future initiatives.