Art, science and technology intersect to make visible the invisible
natural phenomena of fish passage through urban waters to their
natal rivers to spawn. Waves of anadromous smelt, herring and shad,
return from the sea to spawn in their fresh water natal streams,
renewing a cyclical process of life, death and rebirth, unseen
by the general public. Specifically, the natural impacts of water
temperature, lunar and tidal cycles, rainfall, water quality and
light are being measured on a daily basis. The sampling information
is being computerized and will be converted into digital GIS mapping
and published in Web format. When the fish appear, based on DMF
fish counts, the numbers and locations will be computerized and
added to the Web and GIS layers for the Anadromous Awakening. In
future a 3-D model of the Harbor and tidal rivers will show the
animated passage of the fish schools through the urban waters to
their natal streams to spawn based on the information acquired
from the study.
Anadromous Awakening is based on hard science in partnership
with the Division of Marine Fisheries. The installation uses
technology in partnership with UMASS-Boston EEOS Labs. Conservation
and community
input has been solicited to give the work a solid base of
support, from which we can develop a new vocabulary to make
visible the
invisible in nature. The anadromous fish will be celebrated
through public lectures, community outreach, events and installations.
I expect a great deal of public response, publicity and an
ongoing
development of understanding of the natural process because
of this work. The art, science and technology collaborations
initiated with Anadromous Awakening will continue as partnerships
in
the
future to make visible the invisible processes of fish migration
through urban waters to spawn in their freshwater natal streams.
The computerized graphic visualization of the fish passage
through urban waters, based on sampling and charting, will
promote public
understanding of fish migration, habitat loss, degradation
of the water resources, and fish passage and initiate a plan
of action
to correct the impacts to the fishery in MA Bay and her tidal
rivers. The work will also give credence to the development
of one of the
colonial era mills, set over the smelt spawning rapids, to
be used as a small-scale, low cost smelt hatchery and educational
center
for the Neponset River Watershed Association and /or other
agencies. Fish require clean water. The reintroduction and
protection of
the existing spawning runs will require multi-community cooperation
to protect the freshwater streams, estuary, eelgrass beds
and salt marsh of the coast.
Contributing Organizations:
Brad Chase, Marine Fisheries Biologist
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Web Site: Link
Dr. Yong Tian, Director GIT Program
Department of Environmental, Earth and Ocean Sciences
U-MASS Boston
Web Site: Link
Bob Chen, Director of Coastal Environmental Sensing Networks
Department of Environmental, Earth and Ocean Sciences
U-MASS Boston
Web Site: Link
Michael Pollard, The CESN Team - Technical and Logistics Support
Department of Environmental, Earth and Ocean Sciences
U-MASS Boston
Web Site: Link
Ian Cooke, Director
Neponset River Watershed Association
Web Site: Link
Robert Michelson, Photography by Michelson,
Inc.
Web Site: Link
Previous |
