Restoring the Acushnet River for Herring | New Bedford News

New Bedford News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Sep 9, 2026 · 1m

Marcus Hendricks, a Wampanoag land manager, is spearheading a summer cleanup of the Acushnet River to restore herring migration—recently cutting through a ten-inch tree blocking the waterway. After decades of stalled progress, with herring numbers plateauing at 15,000, this renewed effort brings together volunteers, scientists, and local groups to clear over half a mile of river in just two months. Once teeming with hundreds of thousands of fish, the river now faces restoration challenges from historic dams and pollution—but with community-driven action and hands-on stewardship, the goal is…