HCT Winter Talk: Ridenour shines a light on the natural resources of Harwich

Folks who love the natural resources of Harwich have a great resource in Stephanie Ridenour.

As the town’s Natural Resources Director, Ridenour has a lot on her plate: shellfish propagation, maintaining herring runs, keeping a close eye on water quality and plenty of other stuff. But she is always happy to answer questions from the public and share her considerable knowledge.

That splendid spirit of outreach was on full display when Ridenour took to the stage in the auditorium of the 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building for a Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) Winter Talk.

Ridenour’s program, titled “Shellfish and Herring and Water Quality, Oh My! Adventures with the Harwich Natural Resources Department,” provided fascinating insight into the challenges and rewards of maintaining and enriching the considerable natural assets of the town.

“It’s kind of my dream job,” said Ridenour, who grew up in Harwich. “It’s a one-person department, but we are really fortunate to have a lot of volunteers and a couple of seasonal staff who keep the Shellfish Lab running.”

Growing shellfish

The town’s Shellfish Lab, open from June into October, is where bivalve magic happens. Tiny quahogs and oysters (called seed), are raised to a size that provides them with a better chance to survive in the wild.

The shelled babies obtain nutrients from seawater that is pumped into the lab from Wychmere Harbor, and the numbers are astounding: In 2025, Harwich staff, interns, and volunteers raised over 550,000 shellfish seed.

“Shellfish make the best pets ever,” joked Ridenour. “The oysters grow like weeds.” While the feeding part of the process is relatively convenient, there is still a lot of sorting and cleaning work to keep things running smoothly.

Once the bivalves grow up a bit, they are distributed to watery locations around Harwich to enhance wild shellfish populations throughout the town. Ridenour also reminded the audience about recreational shellfishing opportunities in Harwich, and said she was always available to help folks figure out what equipment they would need, and where and when to go to harvest the delicacies.

Herring on the run

While spring seems like a bit of an abstract concept this year, it will eventually arrive, bringing droves of herring to the waterways of Harwich on a mission to spawn.

Ridenour told the audience that the town holds “one of the longest and most productive” herring runs in the state, and it is her job to keep those runs flowing smoothly. “It takes a lot of people and it sometimes isn’t glamorous,” she said. “But it is necessary.”

Herring runs can be impaired by branches, leaves and low water conditions. HCT volunteers, AmeriCorps members and town and state staff often enter the clogged fray, freeing up these vital waterways.

A robust herring fishery existed for centuries, but in 2005, the state Division of Marine Fisheries implemented a river herring harvest ban due to declining numbers of herring at runs in Massachusetts. In many coastal communities in the state, herring are counted each spring as they swim up runs, to provide important data for future policy decisions.

HCT volunteers are on the front line of this vital citizen science effort. During the spawning season, which typically runs from April to June, volunteers are “on the run,” counting herring and providing valuable data, including water and air temperature. To find out more about HCT volunteer opportunities and to fill out a volunteer interest survey, click here.

A close eye on water quality

“Water quality ties into everything we do,” said Ridenour, and in essence, it takes a village to monitor the numerous water bodies in town. Like many Cape communities, Harwich works with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) for cyanobacteria monitoring in ponds.

The town also has a long legacy of water quality monitoring at various ponds and estuaries. The pond effort is buoyed by volunteers from the Harwich Ponds Coalition. Staff and volunteers from the Natural Resources Department monitor Saquatucket Harbor, Wychmere Harbor, Allen Harbor, and the Herring River.

Ridenour brought along tools of the water quality monitoring trade, including a Niskin bottle, which allows the collection of water samples at specific depths, and a Secchi disk, used to measure transparency and turbidity in the water.

The appreciative audience of more than 100 people gave Ridenour a rousing round of applause at the end of her talk. When it comes to explaining and celebrating the beautiful natural resources of Harwich, Ridenour is a “natural!”

The HCT Winter Talk series has been a lot of fun, and there’s more to come. The series continues on February 28th with another great program:

Saturday, February 28th, 1 to 2 p.m.
A Cape-friendly Landscape: Discovering the Nature Connection
Presenter: Kristin Andres
Location: 204 Cultural Center Auditorium (204 Sisson Road, Harwich)
Admission is $5 per person, payable at the door.

Gardens and yards offer exciting opportunities to support nature, right outside your own door! Find out how plant choices and lawn care practices can make a big difference for local pollinators, birds, and butterflies.

Join Kristin Andres, Director of Education & Outreach for the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), the Cape’s leading science-based environmental advocacy nonprofit, and learn how our landscapes and gardens play a vital role in the health of the Cape’s environment. Wildlife will appreciate your thoughtful approach, and you’ll love the beautiful results — use your green thumb to be a good steward!

—Sign up for HCT eNews, a great way to stay in the loop about exciting HCT events, guided walks and other interesting news.

—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.