Newton, Massachusetts, eDNA Metabarcoding Stream Surveys: Hammond Brook...

The confluence of Hammond Brook (right) and an unnamed tributary (top/center) in Newton Center Playground…

Working under a grant from Newton Conservators, the Massachusetts chapter of NFC recently undertook an eDNA metabarcoding survey on Hammond Brook. Like other Newton streams, Hammond Brook has been moved, straightened, dug down, dredged, and buried.

A rare daylighted, albeit dug down and walled in, section of Hammond Brook in Newton Center Playground…

A higher percentage of Hammond Brook is buried than most other streams we have looked at in the area. This includes the lower half mile which terminates at a large box culvert at the upstream end of a series of three ponds, or lobes, at Newton City Hall. What impact this has on fish is not fully understood…

The termination of Hammond Brook at Newton City Hall…

Hammond Brook originates at a natural pond, Hammond Pond, not a spring or manmade pond like most other Newton streams we have looked at. The pond is home to a number of native fish species, as well as several nonnative fish. Whether these fish utilize the stream was unknown prior to our survey.

As we expected due to its heavily altered condition, high percentage of buried stream, and the lack of fish found in the City Hall ponds, Hammond Brook appears to have very low fish biodiversity. What fish are there appear to be in very low abundance as well.

The exception is American eels which while previously undetected are present in Hammond Brook and in good numbers. In fact, the detection rate was 20-fold higher than that found in the headwaters of Cold Spring Brook, which like Hammond Brook terminates at Newton City Hall.

NFC believes that eels are present in most Newton streams. To date, we have confirmed their presence in Cold Spring Brook in Cold Spring Park and in Newton Cemetery and Arboretum, Laundry Brook at Bullough’s Pond, and Cheesecake Brook upstream and downstream of Albemarle Park.