Fish Art Raffle
This year, the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration team is excited to announce a fundraiser in collaboration with five artists from our local community. These artists have graciously donated their time and talent to decorate a 30”x10” wooden cut out of an Alewife made of baltic birch plywood.
There will be five Fish Art creations available by raffle. The artwork will be available to view each weekend in May at the Fishladder. Tickets will only be sold at the Fishladder – $5 each (or 6 for $25). You choose which piece you would like a chance to win and place your ticket in the numbered bin. If you purchase more than one ticket, you can try your luck with multiple pieces or put several tickets on a single piece. 100% of ticket sales go directly to the ongoing Fishladder Restoration project.
We will pick the winning ticket for each piece on June 1st and notify winners.
To see the 2025 Artist contributions, visit the Fish Art Raffle page.
A special thank you to all of our artists – their only guidance was to use their talent and creativity. They were certainly successful!
Fish Ladder Events – 2025
April 7, 2025 We have two big events planned for this season: Run with the Alewives 5K, which will be held on Saturday, May 24, at 9am–starting at the train station in Damariscotta Mills, and the Adam Ezra Group Concert, which will be held on Sunday, May 25, at 4pm at the Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta. The concert is a memorial fundraiser in honor of Bobby Whear, longtime fish ladder friend, who passed away on January 17, 2025.
There will also be volunteers at the fish house on weekends throughout the run; they will provide information about the alewives and the fish ladder restoration as well as selling fish ladder goods and gear–hats, t-shirts, mugs, etc.
PURCHASE YOUR QUILT RAFFLE TICKETS NOW
The “Drawing” for the Fish Ladder Restoration Raffle Quilt is just around the corner: It takes place on Saturday August 24 at 11am at the Nobleboro Historical Society, 198 Center Street, at the forefront of the modern Nobleboro Central School. Tickets are available at Skidompha Library in Damariscotta, which is also where the quilt is on display and should be seen because the accompanying photo does not do the border justice. See https://damariscottamills.org/ for out of town ways to purchase raffle tickets. The deadline to buy tickets is 2pm on Friday August 23.
This is the fifth quilt that Betty Lu Brydges has created and donated to the Fish Ladder Restoration. All proceeds from the raffle support the ongoing maintenance of the 69 gradually ascending fish pools, and the walkways that allow visitors to view the pools and the alewives. The pools have been rebuilt over the past 20 years, but improvements are necessary.
The Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration Project is a community-based effort in collaboration with the Towns of Nobleboro, Newcastle, and the Nobleboro Historical Society. For more information contact David Brydges, 832-1790.
Buy a ticket for the Raffle Quilt!
Take a look at the 2024 Fish Ladder Restoration Raffle Quilt which is on display at Skidompha Library and buy a ticket for the raffle!
Congratulations to Silent Auction Winner!
The silent auction winner for the beautiful wall hanging is Margaret Sudrabin from York. Congratulations!
Adam Ezra at the Lincoln Theater May 28, 2023
No Alewife Festival This Year
The Alewife Festival will not return this year. The footbridge that crosses over the pools has seen better days, and a team of great volunteers has been working with an engineering firm to design the replacement, which is now scheduled for this summer. Just in time too, since a large oak fell on the bridge over this past winter! While the current bridge is still fine for casual foot traffic, the festival brings so many people at one time that it would be a safety risk. Of course, replacing the bridge isn’t cheap, and while we are fortunate to be collaborating with both Nobleboro and Newcastle to share the cost, our fundraising efforts are still needed!
Besides holding a festival, there are other ways to directly support the fish ladder!
- Spread the word about the Adam Ezra concert at the Lincoln Theater on May 28! Details are in the poster at this link, and should be shared far and wide! If you have a good location for posting and need a printed copy (or have trouble with the link), please let me know. If planning to attend, tickets are likely to sell out soon, so don’t delay – they can be purchased online now.
- Spread the word about the Run with the Alewives 5K Run/Walk on May 27! Sign-up and information details are available on the Fish Ladder website.
- Volunteer! We need help selling Goods & Gear at the fish house on weekends in May – signup here, and contact David ([email protected]) if you have any trouble with the sign-up sheet.
- Donate! If this is an option for you, it is always appreciated! A link is available on our website here, or checks can be made out to the “Fish Ladder Restoration Project” and mailed to PO Box 122, Nobleboro, 04555.
The fish ladder is really a treasured resource for the alewives and our community, and on behalf of the full Fish Ladder Restoration Committee I thank you for your on-going help and support.
Run with the Alewives!
What better way to celebrate the running alewives than with a 5K run/walk? Please join us for a healthy community run that includes cash prizes, professional timing and a gorgeous course along the Great Salt Bay! Saturday, May 25th, 2024 at 9:00 AM.
The Centuries-Old Fish Ladder That Feeds Maine’s Lobster Industry
Each spring, more than one million alewives navigate to the fresh water of Damariscotta Lake—with a little help
BY ANNIE SHERMAN
APRIL 26, 2022
Run with the Alewives
So many fish!
There are thousands and thousands of fish streaming under the Rt. 215 bridge and in every pool throughout the fish ladder. Wow! What a year!
With the fish ladder closed to the public, it’s been really sad not to share this extraordinary spectacle fully. However, many people have enjoyed watching the fish from the Rt.215 bridge.
That view may also Include eagles. We’ve had at least 7 eagles—several adults and juveniles between 1 and 4 years old—hanging out around the area daily. Wow, what a scene!
We have plenty of fish!
Alewives are in hard and there are times when we have more fish than lobstermen who need them. If you need alewives, come on down! We are open Monday through Friday, 5 am and 3 pm. The harvesters stay until all orders are filled–or for at least 2 hours. They will also harvest midday if that time works best with the tide or if the demand is there. Call or text Mark Becker, Fish Agent for Nobleboro and Newcastle, with any questions—207-380-7996.
Please remember, the fish ladder is closed to the public due to Covid 19. We deeply regret the closure but taking precautions will keep us all safe. Thank you for your understanding!!!
Finally…we really have fish!!
Last evening, for the first time, schools of alewives bunched up in the bay and especially in front of the railroad trestle, getting ready to surge into the fish ladder. And so, finally, morning greeted the harvesters with thousands and thousands of alewives—-most heading toward the fish ladder and the 69 pool climb their spawning grounds in Damariscotta Lake but plenty more making the right turn toward the harvesting gear. The run started slowly as cool water temperatures slowed the fish but it won’t stop now until masses of alewives are spawning in fresh water!!!
Harvesting starts Monday, May 18
We will begin harvesting on Monday (May 18) at 5am. Harvesting will continue weekdays at 5am and 3pm. Depending on the tide, harvesting may also take place midday. Call fish agent Mark Becker at 207-380-7996 for more information. Please note: precautions will be taken for Covid 19. The fish ladder is still closed to the public. Only harvesters and lobstermen are allowed during the harvest.
Alewives are making their way to the top of the fish ladder
Small schools of alewives entered the fish ladder both this morning and yesterday morning and they are now slowly making their way to the top. The water temperature is a cool 48 degrees, not warm enough to energize the fish into a fast run up. When the water temperature is in the high 50s, alewives have been known to pass through the entire fish ladder in 4 hours or less.
Since the fish ladder is closed to the public this year, we are working on ways to bring you the alewife run via video — stay tuned for updates.
Fishladder closed to public viewing due to Covid 19
It is with great sadness that I bring the news that the fishladder will be closed to the public this season. After some discussion, the selectmen of Nobleboro decided that there was no way to meet the State of Maine Guidelines to keep citizens and visitors safe from Covid 19 if the fishladder was open to the public.
For the month of May, the Maine Guidelines for Restarting Maine’s Economy include social distancing of 6 feet, and gathering with a group size of no more than 10 people. If visiting was allowed, the town would need to monitor visitor’s temperatures and manage everyone’s comings and goings. This is not possible so, for safety’s sake and to abide by the State of Maine rules, the fish ladder will be closed.
Please note, the harvesting of alewives will take place with proper precautions.
The Little Fish that Could
During the past two decades, a cast of thousands has collaborated to bring millions of alewives back to Maine’s streams and rivers. Read the feature article by Philip Conkling in the April issue of Maine. magazine.
Help Us “Bridge the Gap!”
This viewing spot over the Fish Ladder never gets old, but the bridge has seen better days. Engineering studies are underway and we are asking you to partner with us to raise the funds needed to build a replacement.
The juvies are here!
The baby alewives made their journey back down the fish ladder in the fall. Here’s a photo.
Special Alewives Festival Screen of Documentary
Dutch World Fish Migration Day founder to screen new film at the Damariscotta Mills Alewife Festival. Love Flows depicts passion for rivers and fish from people around the globe.
Join the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration at the 12th annual Alewife Festival as we host Herman Wanningen, Founder of World Fish Migration Day, and Joshua Royte, Senior Scientist for The Nature Conservancy in Maine (and film narrator), for a special screening of the film Love Flows. The showing will be held at George and Susan Mason’s big yellow church, located at 123 Borland Hill Rd., at 2:30 pm on Saturday, May 25. All are welcome to attend!
For further information about the film, visit worldfishmigrationday.com. For information about the event, contact Deb Wilson at [email protected] or 207-380-6997.
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See Events & Calendar for the Alewive Festival activity schedule. Click here for information about the “Run with the Alewives” 5K Roadrace.
Join us for the festival!
See Events & Calendar for the activity schedule. Click here for information about the “Run with the Alewives” 5K Roadrace
2019 Alewife Festival was a great success
Thanks so much to everyone who helped make it possible—what a great community effort!!
Run with the Alewives Race Results
Thanks to all our runners and walkers – we had another very successful race this year. The results are attached below. Congrats to the 5K & 10K winners and finishers!
Chris Fitz Band plays at the Lincoln Theater for the 10th Alewives Festival
Purchase tickets for the concert from
Bobby Whear – 207.441.2313
Milling Around – 207.563.1210
Alewives Fabrics – 207.563.5002
Info:
Chris Fitz Band Plays at Festival
Adam Ezra Benefit Concert
Join us Sunday night May 29th for a benefit concert by the Adam Ezra Group. For $25 tickets (ADVANCED SALE ONLY), please call or contact Bobby Whear at 207.441.2313 or Alewives Fabrics at 207.563.5002 or Milling Around 207.563.1210 Thanks to First National Bank and Bunker Hill Sound for your sponsor support.
Info:
Adam Ezra Concert
Antique Auto Show at Festival
Whether you own an antique or classic car, or just enjoy looking at them, the 2015 antique car show at the Fish Ladder Festival is the place to be on Sunday May 24. Vintage cars will be on display from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm that day. Festival attendees will be able to vote for their favorite cars in each of two classes: domestic and foreign. People’s Choice Awards will be presented to the first, second and third place vote getters in each category.
Have you ever wanted to ride in an antique car? John Harris will once again be chauffeuring you through Damariscotta Mills in his Ford Model T.
Owners who register a car in the show are asked to consider an optional $5.00 donation to support the ongoing restoration of the historic fish ladder. For further information please contact Marty Welt at [email protected] or 207-563-2739.
Thank our Festival Sponsors
Take a look at the list of festival sponsors – they all help us cover the costs for goods & gear and food for the spring festival. Please support them as they support us!
Files:
Festival Sponsors
We’re a part of World Fish Migration Day
The World Fish Migration Day is on the 24th of May 2014
World Fish Migration Day 2014 (WFMD) is a one day global initiative, with local events worldwide, to create awareness on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish. WFMD is held to improve the publics’ understanding of the importance of open rivers and migratory fish and their needs.
Events will be organized locally to create awareness about open rivers and free fish migration routes. There are now 205 events around the world on WFMD; starting in New Zealand, following the sun and ending as the sun sets on the west coast of North America. The WFMD will bring global attention for the need for open rivers and free routes for fish migration. It will deliver international press coverage and a global petition will also be developed.
Check http://www.worldfishmigrationday.com/ for more info.
