Conservation
across the Commonwealth
Summer 2007
Anatomy of a River
Freshwater Strategies in Action
Fresh water is the lifeblood of our landscapes. Coursing through
the rivers, lakes and wetlands of the world, it sustains every society on
Earth—a fact we are reminded of every time we fill a glass at the sink,
water a vegetable garden or escape the summer heat with a swim.
Great blue heron
“To put
your hands
in a river is to feel
the chords that bind the
earth together.”
- Barry Lopez
(continues on page 4)
in this issue
Anatomy of a River . . . . . . . . . 1
From the Director . . . . . . . . . . 2
Charting a New Course . . . . . . 3
A Sturgeon’s Story . . . . . . . . . . 6
Beyond our Borders . . . . . . . . . 7
Happy Trails, Salmon . . . . . . . . 8
In the Streams & On the Hill10
Events & Field Trips . . . . . . . . 11
From the Director
©Angela Ellis, TNC
Wayne Klockner
Wayne Klockner, Massachusetts State Director
Experiencing a river’s natural
flow, even for a day, links us to an
ancient rhythm and connects us to
the natural world. Recently, I had
the chance to spend a June morning
fly-fishing on the Westfield River,
and while I’ve been fishing for
longer than I care to admit, it
always amazes me that it takes
such an intricate balance of actions
to succeed at a task that looks
so simple. The wrong motion in
the cast, releasing too much line,
even the wrong line on the reel
can prevent the desired effect. A
successful strike by a splashing fish
results from having a multitude of
functions in balance—and so it is
with the well-being of our waters.
In our efforts over time to grow
crops and expand cities, generate
electricity and keep floods from
their floodplains, we have thrown
freshwater systems out of balance.
In Massachusetts, freshwater
species cluster in disparate fragments of habitat, unnecessary
dams obstruct migratory routes
and floodplain forests have
been converted to agriculture or
paved over by poorly planned
development.
Sometimes it is necessary to alter
natural systems to sustain growing
Conservation across the Commonwealth
societies, but in many cases we
have tipped the balance too far,
crippling our waters’ ability to
support life and adapt to change.
And change is inevitable. One
need only to look at the latest
climate change models produced
by the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change and others to
see that the quantity and quality
of freshwater habitats—and the
species that depend on them—will
be tested in the coming years.
The good news is that we know
what it takes to keep our rivers,
lakes and streams healthy and
resilient. It takes a protected swath
of streamside land with native flora
to filter pollutants and capture rain
and melting snow; natural flowing
water—with seasonal highs and
lows—to recharge underground
aquifers and trigger the reproduction of myriad plants and animals;
connected waterways for animals
to travel freely between the places
where they spawn and feed; and
responsible action throughout the
entire watershed since all decisions
on land eventually accumulate
downstream.
One of the Conservancy’s greatest
strengths is our holistic approach to
freshwater conservation. In places
like the Housatonic River, we are
acting on unique opportunities
to undo damage caused by past
practices, restoring landscapes
and waterways that, without
intervention, have no chance of
recovering. In other places, we
are building a more sustainable
future. On the Connecticut River,
for example, we are working with
hydropower dam operators to
determine the flows and fluctuations needed to sustain river and
lake ecosystems—a critical undertaking given the increasing demand
for renewable energy.
Summer 2007
But in all places, we recognize
that we must work at an unprecedented scale and time frame if we
are to keep pace with accelerating
development and a changing
climate. And that is another place
where the Conservancy can and
will play a crucial role: We will
continue to use our resources,
partnerships and expertise to
mobilize action by mobilizing
people on the ground to implement
conservation in their communities
and countries, and we will share
what we learn broadly with others.
I hope you will take time to enjoy
all that Massachusetts’ waters have
to offer this summer: to canoe
through a willowy channel of shade
and bird song, watch a river otter
disappear below the stream surface
or cast a fly to a rising fish. When
you do so, please remember that
your support is what helps us strive
for that perfect balance of actions
that will preserve our lands and
waters and sustain our lives.
New look for TNC
On the cover of this issue
of Conservation across the
Commonwealth, you will
notice a revised logo and
motto. Our iconic oak leaf has
undergone several revisions
over the years and has now
evolved into a new symbol
that speaks to our global
outlook grounded in placebased action. Stay tuned for
the fall edition of Nature
Conservancy magazine for a
full explanation of this and
other exciting changes.
Local
Results
Charting a New Course:
Fresh Water in a Changing Climate
Healthy rivers, lakes and wetlands are the foundation upon which most living things depend. They are also key resources
for recreation and education, and failure to protect them in the face of change will have social and economic costs, as well
as ecological ones.
The international scientific community has come to a consensus:
Climate change is happening now,
and human activity is primarily
responsible. What does this mean
for our freshwater systems?
Global climate change will profoundly affect natural flow in
Massachusetts’ rivers and streams—
even more than humans already
have altered these systems. Higher
temperatures and increased evaporation may lower river flow in the
summer, while intense seasonal
rain brings more inland flooding to
some areas. Higher floodwaters will
carry more silt and pollution into
our waterways and endanger life
and property, while higher water
temperatures weaken the ability of
plants and animals to tolerate such
dramatic changes.
Our Chapter is mobilizing
action to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions while designing strategies
to help plants, animals and natural
communities adapt to changes
already in progress—a two-pronged
approach endorsed by Conservancy
scientists and many others around
the world.
Last year, we partnered with
environmental and energy organizations across the state to encour-
age the Commonwealth to join the
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
(RGGI), the first mandatory,
market-based program in the
United States to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions from large power
plants. Now that the Governor
has signed on to this landmark
agreement, we are working to
ensure that RGGI is implemented
in a way that supports renewable
energy efforts and sustains
biodiversity.
To this end, we are building a
coalition to urge Massachusetts
policy makers to support funding
and initiatives to help our natural
areas adapt. For even if we reduce
emissions to zero today, there are
enough greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere to cause significant
impacts.
For our freshwater systems—as
with all of our landscapes—flexibility is key. Water supply systems
that can respond to changes in
streamflow patterns have built-in
resiliency to floods, droughts and
rising temperatures. This resiliency
secures water supplies both for
people and for the health of our
aquatic ecosystems and the plants
and animals that rely on them.
With your continued support, Conservancy scientists are developing
climate change adaptation strategies that include:
• Protecting lands and waters that allow species to migrate as
temperatures change
• Restoring habitats on which already stressed plants and animals depend
• Identifying and monitoring early effects of climate change on Massachusetts’ natural systems
• Reforesting streamside areas with native trees to shade rivers and keep
water cool for fish
Learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s Global Climate Change
Initiative at nature.org/climatechange.
Conservation across the Commonwealth
Summer 2007
Conservation
Anatomy of a River
The East Branch of the Westfield River, just below Chesterfield Gorge
Perhaps less obvious is the finite
nature of this resource: Less than
one percent of Earth’s water is fresh,
and from this relatively tiny supply
all life on land survives.
A river’s anatomy is complex and
ever changing, and from its headwater streams to its union with the
sea, each component is essential to
the health of the whole.
We cannot live without nature,
nor can we live without changing
it; but we do have a choice as to the
character and scale of our impact.
The Massachusetts Chapter has designed strategies to safeguard each
component of these vital systems,
bolstering their ability to
support wildlife and provide for
communities. The following are
some of our most promising freshwater conservation strategies in the
water and on the ground.
Safeguarding the Source
Rivers are born in our own
backyards. Almost everyone in
the United States has a headwater
stream within a mile or two of
home, and use and development
puts great pressure on these delicate
ecosystems. Headwater streams
Conservation across the Commonwealth
deliver nutrients and organic
material that sustain life all the way
downstream. When these crucial
lifelines are damaged, the rest of
the river suffers as well.
“In a rapidly growing region like
southeast Massachusetts, we have
to work quickly and strategically,”
explains Robb Johnson, Director
of the Chapter’s Southeastern Massachusetts program. “Protecting
land around a river’s headwaters
generates benefits that trickle down
throughout the entire watershed.”
When a leaf drops into a river’s
headwaters, it provides food for
insects that will later feed a fish.
Further downstream, that fish may
make a meal for a hungry river
otter, a black bear or a fisherman’s
family. Protected land benefits the
entire food chain, sustains natural
filtration and allows rainfall to
recharge the groundwater supply.
Working closely with landowners
and other partners, the Massachusetts Chapter aims to give rivers
a healthy start by tripling the
current acreage of headwater areas
protected. This June, with the help
of Water Supply Protection grants
from state agencies and private
Summer 2007
funding from the Sheehan Family
Foundation and the Island Foundation, we helped protect 213 acres of
woodlands and wetlands fronting
Black Brook, an exciting addition
to the 231 acres protected earlier
this year through a partnership
with the Massachusetts Division of
Fisheries and Wildlife. Black Brook
flows into the headwaters of the
Nemasket River, a key tributary of
the Taunton River, and is the primary source of fresh water for the
eastern half of the Assawompset
Ponds Complex. These ponds host
the largest river herring run in New
England, diverse freshwater mussels
and nesting bald eagles, all while
providing clean drinking water for
150,000 people.
Landowner Edward Parks of
Middleboro sold conservation
restrictions on this land at
considerably less than full market
value, allowing the family to
maintain their working forests
and hayfields while protecting an
important area from development.
“Ed Parks shows the very central
role that individuals can play in
sustaining our environment,”
added Johnson. ©jerryandmarcymonkman/ecophotography.com
Freshwater
Land protection is just one of the
Chapter’s strategies for ensuring
“smart growth” in southeast Massachusetts. We are also working
closely with towns to encourage
low-impact development and to
pass statewide zoning reforms to
reduce poorly planned growth.
Restoring Floodplain
Forests
“I was driving back to Boston
from the Berkshires in the midst
of a fierce spring storm,” recalls
Rebecca Bowen, the Massachusetts
Chapter’s Director of Philanthropy.
“Working at TNC, I’ve learned a
lot about the importance of floodplain forests, but I suddenly understood better than ever before. The
widely spaced birches separating
road from river stood tall in about
three feet of water. If it weren’t for
those trees, the water would’ve
easily washed out that road.”
When a river floods its banks, it
seeps into the earth and nurtures
the soil with nutrients and silt.
The trees and plants return the
favor, filtering sediment, fertilizers
and pesticides before they wash
into the river and providing shade
that keeps the water cool for fish.
Unfortunately, the once extensive
floodplain forests of the Northeast
have been fragmented by clearing
for agriculture, road construction
and changes to hydrology.
In the Berkshires, our Chapter
has partnered with the Sheffield
Land Trust, Project Native and the
Nion Robert Thieriot Foundation
to restore some of the best exam-
Because of their high position in the food chain and sensitivity
to pollutants, river otters are a good indicator of the health of
freshwater ecosystems.
ples of these rare natural communities along the Housatonic River
through a three-pronged strategy
of land protection, invasive species
removal and replanting with native
seedlings. And in the Connecticut
River Basin, which hosts more
remaining stands of floodplain
forest than any other New England
watershed, the Conservancy recently completed a project to map and
assess the remaining areas and
identify the best targets for protection and restoration.
Successful restoration will help
these rivers heal themselves and
allow their floodplains to adapt
to a changing climate, expanding
their capacity to absorb rain and
high water and ensuring migration
corridors for animals. The data collected will also guide decision making in the watershed, helping other
organizations set their conservation
priorities and providing dam owners with information on how they
can help sustain these remarkable
natural communities.
Going with the Flow
While a river is defined by the
quality of the land near its source
and the forests at its edges, the
flow of water is its pulse, and its
variability is essential to a river’s
overall health. Seasonal floods trigger spawning migrations in fish and
provide them access to nutrient-rich
floodplains. Wading birds and
waterfowl feed in shallow flooded
areas. Naturally low water levels
enable seeds of wetland plants to
germinate. And the influx of fresh
water at our estuaries—where rivers meet the sea—drives the entire
marine food web, supporting the
most productive waters we know.
However, withdrawals and diversions that interrupt flow can disrupt
critical ecological processes. Our
Chapter is working at all levels to
maintain and restore natural flow
regimes: advocating for comprehensive legislation and increased state
funding to facilitate dam removals and repairs; developing data
to support permanent stream flow
Nature
©jerryandmarcymonkman/ecophotography.com
For People and
Known to Native Americans as Quenticut, “the long tidal river,”
the Connecticut flows from the Canadian border through wild,
rural and urban lands in four states to empty into Long Island
Sound 410 miles later.
standards; restoring estuaries; and
removing unnecessary culverts and
dams that impede river function
and fish passage.
Our goal is to translate scientific
findings into water management
breakthroughs. In southeast
Massachusetts, we have partnered
with the University of Massachusetts and state agencies to develop
an index that will help planners
understand how volume and intensity of river flow affects aquatic life
and set targets for flow restoration.
And on the Connecticut River we
are working with the Army Corps
of Engineers to determine how to
best manage their 14 dams for environmental benefit while maintaining important uses like flood control and hydropower generation.
Such site-based projects, at home
and around the world, provide models for others to put into practice.
By helping to design ways to protect critical ecosystems and divert
or store water for human use while
maintaining healthy flow, the Conservancy is fostering a conservation
movement that works with nature’s
water rhythms rather than against
them. And more and more, we are
designing and implementing these
strategies in tandem with other
states in our region because a river
doesn’t flow in pieces, but as one
body across many landscapes—
sustaining diverse life throughout
its entire reach.
Conservation across the Commonwealth
Summer 2007
The Larger
Landscape
A Sturgeon’s Story
USFWS
Protecting freshwater life at home and abroad
There are two known populations of shortnose sturgeon in the Connecticut River - one above the Holyoke Dam and one
below it. Only the fish above the dam are reproducing successfully.
It was spring and something
about the river told her it was time.
She left the warming waters of the
Long Island Sound where she had
spent most of the winter feeding on
crustaceans and mollusks, and
headed upstream along the Connecticut River. Struggling against the
current, the compass of her own
biology guided her along the same
path her ancestors had traveled
for thousands of years. She was
determined to lay her eggs in the
place where she was born. But
something was different; something
was blocking her way.
To human eyes, the scores of
dams that bisect New England’s
great rivers aren’t particularly
imposing. But to a shortnose
sturgeon or Atlantic salmon each
dam represents a life or death
challenge—a major roadblock to an
essential natural cycle. Those that
manage to climb fish ladders often
emerge battered and exhausted;
those that do not represent
Conservation across the Commonwealth
another lost chance to repopulate
disappearing species once abundant
throughout New England.
Like its close relatives, the pallid
sturgeon and Chinese sturgeon,
the shortnose looks the part of a
living fossil—something between
a stegosaurus and a catfish with
long whiskers and armor-like plates
flanking an olive-yellow body.
Scientists believe these fish have
survived for at least 70 million
years—possibly twice that long. But
they are now teetering on the edge
of existence.
“Sturgeon species the world over
face very similar threats,” explains
Alison Bowden, Aquatic Ecologist
for the Massachusetts Chapter. For
the first time, scientists are looking
not only at the extinction of a single
species, but of an entire order—one
of the oldest and most fascinating
in the world. The sturgeon’s near
disappearance from the Connecticut
to the Penobscot to the Yangtze
signals the need for coordinated
Summer 2007
conservation across borders—
something The Nature Conservancy
is uniquely positioned to facilitate.
Here in Massachusetts, we are
contributing to the effort by working with partners to survey 3,000
culverts, dams and bridges across
the Connecticut River watershed.
Like the Chapter’s Westfield River
survey last year, the goal is to identify structures that pose a significant
threat to wildlife and prioritize
them for removal or repair. Comprised of scientists from the four
states the river touches, the Connecticut River conservation team
works across state lines to understand the river for what it is—the
center of the largest freshwater
ecosystem in New England, which
sustains diverse landscapes and
communities, and provides one of
the last remaining homes for this
and many other threatened species.
The Nature Conservancy is also
turning its attention to fish passage
on Maine’s Penobscot River, where
another population of shortnose
resides. Here, we have joined with
the Penobscot Nation and several
environmental groups to remove
two major dams and build a stateof-the-art fish passage around a
third. As a result, over 500 miles
of fish run habitat will be reopened
while hydropower is maintained
by increasing generation at dams
further up river.
“By restoring rivers and ‘greening’ infrastructure, we can meet
human needs for water in the
present while keeping natural
systems intact and functioning for
the future,” adds Bowden. “It isn’t
just about fish passage; it’s the
whole picture, the entire ecosystem.
It’s about clean water for people,
healthy fisheries and habitat for
wildlife.” And strategies deployed
here are taken to scale around
the globe—a crucial undertaking
given the accelerating pace of
The Larger
The moon bend on the Yangtze River in Deqin of Lijiang in
China. Over 350 million people live within the watershed of the
Yangtze, more than the entire population of the United States.
to extinction. But there is good
news: The Chinese government
recently invited the Conservancy to
develop a “conservation blueprint”
for all of China—an unprecedented
opportunity to help integrate environmental standards into the development plans of one of Earth’s
fastest growing nations.
In New England and around the
world, The Nature Conservancy
is using the most rigorous science,
employing core conservation strategies in innovative ways and forging
new partnerships to help transform
the way large river systems are
managed. Allowed to run its course,
a river can carry out its natural
functions, like water filtration and
flood control. And the fish that
swam with the dinosaurs can travel
freely to spawn and to feed, fulfilling the mission hard-wired into its
bony-plated body.
Beyond our Borders
Across the world, changes to freshwater systems are causing more and
more people to experience poor water quality, water scarcity, increased
flooding and diminished fisheries. From fishing villages along the Mekong
River to irrigated farms in the Colorado delta, The Nature Conservancy is
developing and testing new techniques for conserving vital freshwater
ecosystems and mobilizing our tried and true strategies for larger impact.
In the Tropical Andes, the
Conservancy is charging a nominal
fee to urban water users in Quito,
Ecuador, and using a percentage to
fund watershed conservation. This
novel approach creates a unique selffinancing model that provides water
to citizens while funneling funds back
into the protection of the water source,
demonstrating the market value of a
functional watershed while providing
an essential resource to millions of
people.
From the Mississippi to the Zambezi,
the Conservancy is collaborating
with governments, business leaders
and communities to transform the
way large working river systems are
preserved and protected. Beginning
to systems facing similar pressures.
Scientists from the Partnership
recently hosted a workshop to
explore new ways of modeling the
dynamics of the Mississippi River.
This model could be used to test
“what if” scenarios and help guide
river management decisions around
the world.
In the Dominican Republic, the
Conservancy is collaborating with
local residents to protect the Madre
de las Aguas mountain range, which
preserves the headwaters of 22 rivers
and the source of water for six million
people. In 2006, we helped develop
a conservation plan for the area’s
aquatic systems, and we are helping
several communities implement
©Scott Warren
©Dou Weiyang
development worldwide.
On the great Yangtze River in
China, for example, the environment is paying a heavy price for
the country’s economic boom.
Many factors impact the Yangtze’s
diversity, but scientists have
identified the construction and
management of huge hydropower
dams as the greatest threat. As a
result, the Chinese sturgeon is now
at risk of following another ancient
species, the Yangtze river dolphin,
Landscape
This rare aquatic plant, which locals call “acude,” grows in small freshwater ponds along the Pantanal in
Brazil and helps to purify the water.
with the Mississippi River basin,
Brazil’s Paraguay-Paraná River
system, China’s Yangtze River and
the Zambezi River in Africa, our
Great Rivers Partnership creates
new practices that can be applied
farming practices that reduce harmful
impacts on the environment while
preserving agricultural productivity.
Learn more about The Nature
Conservancy’s freshwater work at
nature.org/freshwater.
Conservation across the Commonwealth
Summer 2007
Friends in the Field
©Paul Shoul
Happy
Trails,
Salmon!
Elementary school students from the Becket Washington School release young salmon into the newly restored Yokum Brook.
Silver and streamlined, Atlantic
salmon have come to symbolize
clean, unspoiled rivers that run
wild to the sea. Here in Massachusetts, they are also a symbol of wild
waters restored. The stock of Atlantic salmon in the Connecticut River
and its tributaries disappeared just
after the turn of the 19th century, a
result of dam building that blocked
access to spawning grounds. Now,
the collaborative efforts of state
agencies, conservation groups,
private donors, corporate sponsors
and even elementary school students are helping to bring the “king
of fish” back to Massachusetts
waters.
This spring, more than 100
community members cheered
Conservation across the Commonwealth
as students from the Becket
Washington School released 300
young salmon into the newly
restored Yokum Brook. Atlantic
salmon usually hatch in freshwater
streams, but these fish were born
and raised in the unlikely location
of a school library as part of Trout
Unlimited’s Atlantic salmon egg
rearing program. The young salmon
“fry” were given a rousing sendoff by their former caregivers who
lined up along the side the river
to sing “Happy Trails” as the fish
adjusted to their new home.
The release was the highlight of
an event celebrating the restoration
of Yokum Brook, a coldwater
tributary to the West Branch of
the Westfield River. Led by the
Summer 2007
Department of Fish and Game’s
Riverways Program and the Town
of Becket, and supported by a wide
diversity of partners including
Lowe’s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and The Nature Conservancy,
the project included the removal of
the Silk Mill Dam in 2003 and the
Ballou Dam in 2006, which opened
up approximately 30 miles of river
downstream.
The two dams were prioritized
for removal through the Massachusetts Chapter’s recently completed
survey of road crossings and dams
throughout 1,000 miles of rivers
and streams in the Westfield River
watershed—a project that has since
been scaled up to include four other
tributaries of the Connecticut River.
Field
©Bill Toomey, TNC
©Tim Purinton, Riverways
Friends in the
Yokum Brook before Ballou Dam removal
these kids and the collaboration
of so many partners, they never
would’ve had the chance.
“Do you see all these grownups
behind you?” Tom French, Acting
Fish and Game Commissioner and
Master of Ceremonies, asked the
students. “Can you believe they all
worked together to get this project
done?”
“This is fantastic,” added Mike
Keegan, manager of Lowe’s Springfield store. “It’s great knowing that
Lowe’s supports conservation, but
it’s even better to come out here
and actually see it happen.”
It takes a village to raise a child
as the saying goes. But sometimes,
it takes a village to raise a
salmon.
For more information, or to support
our freshwater conservation work here
at home or around the world, please
contact Rebecca Bowen at 617-2277017, ext. 328 or [email protected].
William Hartley, USFWS
“Connectivity is essential to a
river’s health,” said Bill Toomey
of The Nature Conservancy’s
Massachusetts Chapter. “Removal
of the Ballou dam is a boost not
only for salmon and brook trout,
but for the whole watershed.”
After spending a few years feeding on aquatic insects in Yokum
Brook, the salmon will embark on
an amazing 3,000-mile roundtrip
journey to North Atlantic feeding
grounds near Greenland and back
to the brook to spawn. But had it
not been for the diligent efforts of
Yokum Brook after Ballou Dam removal
Atlantic salmon
Conservation across the Commonwealth
Summer 2007
While you don’t need hip waders for
the freshwater conservation that
takes place on Beacon Hill, the
Chapter’s actions there are just as
critical as those in the water and along
the banks. In partnership with other
states and organizations in the region,
we are currently working to:
~Encourage the state Legislature to support a bill designed to regulate flow on Massachusetts’
rivers and streams. Statewide ~Expand coverage of the Westfield
River’s Wild and Scenic designa-
tion by working with the National Park Service to achieve “Partnership River” status for the
Westfield, which would provide
$100,000 through a congressional
appropriation for education and outreach to local communities in
the watershed.
~Secure an additional $100,000
through the state operating
budget to implement a new
management plan for the
Plymouth-Carver Aquifer, the
second-largest aquifer in the
state. The result of thousands of years of water filtration through What Does Fresh Water Mean
to You?
The protection of Massachusetts’ freshwater resources is an
urgent priority—and one that our members care about deeply.
Your support helped us raise over $130,000 for our Wild Rivers
Initiative last year, facilitating many of the exciting projects
described in this issue. Now we are interested in hearing from
you about the importance of fresh water in your life. Join the
conversation by sending your thoughts to Pam Winthrop at
[email protected].
10
Conservation across the Commonwealth
Summer 2007
the region’s sandy soil, the 500-
billion gallon aquifer supports water flow in seven rivers and is
the sole source of drinking water
for several area towns.
~Improve the process by which
the state’s more than 3,000 dams
are repaired or removed and
provide a $20 million loan pro gram for dam owners to address aging structures. Most dams in Massachusetts no longer serve their original purpose, and many do not comply with public safety standards. Where appropriate, dam removal eliminates threats to public safety, restores aquatic habitat and enhances fish
passage.
©George Ivey, TNC
A small tributary of the West Branch of the Westfield River
standards would ensure adequate water flow for fish and other
species while allowing water
suppliers to meet the freshwater
needs of communities.
~Secure a $450,000 appropriation for the Connecticut River Water-
shed study, an innovative part nership with the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers that will examine the operation of 14 dams and determine how to manage them
for optimal environmental benefit. The end goal is to help
restore 410 miles of river flow and thousands of acres of
aquatic and floodplain natural communities.
©Paul Shoul
©jerryandmarcymonkman/ecophotography.com
In the Streams and On the Hill
Get out and enjoy summer at one of the places you’ve
helped protect. For a free guide to Nature Conservancy
preserves across Massachusetts, call 617-227-7017 or
e-mail [email protected].
Special
Events
SUMMER Events
Wild Edibles of the ManchesterEssex Woods
Join Russ Cohen, author of Wild Plants I Have Known ...and Eaten,
for a walk in the Manchester-Essex Woods. Russ will identify edible
plants within the local flora and provide hints on recipes and
guidelines for safe and responsible foraging. As we explore the rocky
crags and wetlands of this beautiful forest, we’ll also hear about the
local efforts of our partner, Manchester-Essex Conservation Trust, to
protect the Woods and the headwaters of the Essex River.
When: Friday, August 3
Time: 10:00am — 12:30pm
Difficulty: Mild to moderate with frequent stops and occasionally
difficult terrain. Please wear walking shoes or light hiking boots and
bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and water.
Halfway Pond Island “Open House”
Red-spotted newt, red eft stage
Join TNC staff to learn about the ecology of Plymouth’s great ponds
and visit TNC’s Halfway Pond Island, which is normally closed to the
public. This island has one of the oldest and most unique forests
in Massachusetts, featuring an array of species including Beech,
Hemlock and Tupelo. Please join us for this special opportunity to
view this exceptional place.
©Cheryl Rose
When: Thursday, August 30
Time: 1:00pm — 4:00pm
Difficulty: Participants will travel to the island by canoe or kayak
(bring yours if you have one), and will be invited to traverse short
distances on the island without formal trails. Come prepared to get
wet, with appropriate footwear and sun and insect protection.
Participants are asked to sign up one week prior to the event date.
For directions, information and to register, please contact Venessa
Salvucci at [email protected], or 617-227-7017, ext. 309.
Familiar bluets laying eggs
©Mark Godfrey/TNC
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Conservation across the Commonwealth
Summer 2007
11
Massachusetts Chapter
205 Portland Street, Suite 400
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
(617) 227-7017
nature.org/massachusetts
CONTACT INFORMATION
Berkshire Taconic Landscape Program Office
404 LeGeyt Road
Sheffield, MA 01257
(413) 229-0232
Plymouth Office
204 Long Pond Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
(508) 732-0300
Massachusetts Islands Office
18 Helen Avenue
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
(508) 693-6287
Westfield Office
19 Main Street
Chester, MA 01011
(413) 354-7780
Wayne Klockner, State Director
board of trustees
Robert Ackerman, Chair. . . . . . Boston
Nina McIntyre,
Vice Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winchester
Jeffrey Porter,
Vice Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayland
Paul Bakstran. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berlin
Marcella Boelhouwer. . . . . . . . . . . Weston
Sarah Broughel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Auburndale
Ursula Cliff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . South Egremont
Bob Durand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marlboro
Paul Elias. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cambridge
Richard Forman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Concord
David Foster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Petersham
John Haase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayland
Bobbie Hallig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . South Egremont
Malcolm Henderson . . . . . . . . . . . . Beverly
David Leathers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winchester
Brian Mazar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mendon
Kathy Parsons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manomet
Howard Stevenson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cambridge
Trustees Emeriti
John Alexander. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sheffield
Tess Bramhall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vineyard Haven
Pam Kohlberg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chestnut Hill
George Lovejoy, Jr.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston
Paul Maeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cambridge
NONPROFIT
US POSTAGE
PAID
HUDSON, MA 01749
PERMIT NO. 6