Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary
Presents:
25%
Discount
for nonprofits!
5th Annual Hands-On Wetland
Restoration Workshop
for Professionals
Part of the Spadefoot Toad
Restoration Project
Hosted by: Mass Audubon
In collaboration with:
Center for Wetlands and Stream Restoration
Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy (ARC)
Grassroots Wildlife Conservation
Dates: June 23-24, 2015
Location: Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, Barnstable, MA
About the Workshop: Isolated wetlands provide vital habitat to many
species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Unfortunately, a majority
of these ecosystems have been lost or degraded due to draining and filling
throughout New England. These landscape modifications are now affecting
recovery efforts for endangered species, reducing water quality, increasing
flooding, and reducing ground water supplies. Fortunately, it’s now possible to
restore these altered and degraded wetlands, re-establishing the hydroperiods, aquatic vegetation, and animal life that once existed.
This hands-on workshop is designed for individuals interested in learning how
to use practical, low cost techniques for restoring naturally appearing and
functioning wetlands. Participants will see how wetland projects can be
planned in land trust properties, private conserved lands, public land, and even
on school grounds to benefit plants, animals, and people. Through field
exercises and direct participation in an actual wetland restoration project at
Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary in Falmouth, attendees will discover how to
identify degraded wetlands, test soils, choose construction techniques, work
with heavy equipment operators, and establish native plants. Participants will
learn about active wetland restoration projects involving rare wetland species
including Mass Audubon’s Eastern Spadefoot Toad Restoration Project on Cape
Cod.
Who Should Attend: Biologists, city planners, land managers, foresters,
hydrologists, engineers, educators, professional wetland scientists, non-profit
and environmental organization professionals and technicians. You do not
need wetland restoration experience to attend.
Cost: $225, ($168 for non-profits) which includes lunches on both days, handout materials, signed copy of the book Wetland Restoration and Construction A Technical Guide by Thomas Biebighauser, and more! Tom Biebighauser’s
book, Wetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair will be available for sale from
the author at $39.99/copy, signed.
Instructors:
Tom Biebighauser has restored over 1,700 wetlands in 21-States, in Canada and across New Zealand.
He has studied drainage for 32-years, learning from contractors who spent their lives destroying
wetlands. Tom teaches practical, hands-on workshops where participants learn how to restore wetlands
by becoming involved in the design and construction of naturally appearing and functioning wetlands.
He has written 3-books about wetland restoration, and instructs online college and field courses on the
topic. Please visit www.wetlandrestorationandtraining.com to see photos of the wetlands he has
restored, and for information on the techniques he is using.
Ian Ives is the Director of Mass Audubon’s Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary. Ian leads the Mid and
Upper Cape Sanctuaries conservation projects aimed at protecting our local biodiversity and rare natural
communities. Through a combination of conservation, education and advocacy, these programs connect
people and nature and inspire action. Ian is currently leading the pioneering Eastern Spadefoot Toad
(Scaphiopus holbrooki) and Wetland Restoration Project at Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary. Now in its
5th year, this project involves spadefoot headstarting and translocation, comprehensive field monitoring,
educational outreach, and habitat restoration.
Bryan Windmiller holds a PhD in biology and a Master's degree in Environmental Policy, both from
Tufts University. He has worked as a consulting wildlife ecologist since 1987 and was the founder of an
independent ecological consulting firm, Hyla Ecological Services, Inc. In 2006 – 2007, Bryan was a visiting
scholar at James Cook University in Australia, where he studied the epidemiology of a fungal disease that
has caused the extinction of amphibian species worldwide. Since then, he has work as an independent
consulting ecologist, specializing in rare species conservation management and is currently the President
of Grassroots Wildlife Conservation, a non-profit environmental and educational organization engaging
citizens of New England in hands-on efforts to monitor, enhance, and protect rare or threatened
populations of wild animal and plant species.
Guest Speaker:
Eric Hutchins is the Gulf of Maine Habitat Restoration Coordinator for the NOAA Restoration Center
located in Gloucester Massachusetts. In this capacity he has provided technical and financial assistance
to over 300 habitat restoration projects throughout the Gulf of Maine including dozens of dam removals
and fish ladders. He has been employed by the National Marine Fisheries Service since 1993. Eric has a
Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and Masters degree in Marine Affairs from
the University of Rhode Island.
AGENDA
HANDS-ON WETLAND CREATION WORKSHOP
June 23 and 24, 2015
Tuesday, June 23
8:30 a.m. Registration opens
Meet at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary Visitor Center, 345 Bone Hill Road
Cummaquid, MA 02637.
9:00 a.m. Welcome, Ian Ives (light refreshments served)
9:15 a.m. Wetland Drainage Practices and How to Identify Drained Wetlands. Presentation by
Tom Biebighauser
There are many signs of historic drainage that remain evident today, and some can be seen
while driving 70MPH. This presentation examines numerous drained wetlands so you can
learn how to identify their ghosts on forested and open landscapes.
10:30 a.m. Wetland Restoration Techniques. Presentation by Tom Biebighauser
Springs and wetlands have been altered by farmers across the Northeast for generations.
This presentation shows the steps necessary for restoring naturally appearing and
functioning groundwater wetlands at a reasonable cost.
12:00 p.m. Lunch Provided
1:00 p.m. Oak Island Salt Marsh Restoration: 101 Reasons to Think Twice about Tide Gates?
Presentation by Eric Hutchins
This presentation will focus on lessons learned over 15 years of working on restoring the
Oak Island Salt Marsh in Revere, MA. The project has numerous lessons learned that can
be applied to salt marsh restoration and flood control projects that rely on tide gates.
2:30 p.m. Field trip at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary: Lead by Ian Ives, Tom Biebighauser and
Bryan Windmiller
- Examination of six newly restored groundwater and surface water wetlands.
- Reading the landscape: How drained wetlands appear in the outdoors.
5:30 p.m. Supper on your own
7:00 p.m. Field trip to visit four wetlands constructed for the eastern spadefoot using aquaticsafe liners. Meet in the parking lot for the Mass Audubon’s Ashumet Holly Wildlife
Sanctuary, opposite the home at 285 Ashumet Road, Falmouth, MA.
AGENDA
HANDS-ON WETLAND CREATION WORKSHOP
June 23 and 24, 2015
Wednesday, June 24
Wetland Restoration Using an Excavator. Meet at Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary, East
Falmouth MA opposite the home at 285 Ashumet Road, Falmouth, MA.
Participants will work with the heavy equipment operator to restore a filled and non
functioning groundwater wetland at the Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary.
7:30 a.m. Wetland Construction Begins
-Safety discussion
-Discuss project with heavy equipment operator
-Salvage trees and shrubs
-Save topsoil
-Construct groundwater dam
12:00 p.m. Lunch provided
1:00 p.m. Wetland construction Continues
-Restore basin to specification and loosen compacted soil
-Replace topsoil
-Seed and mulch
- Selectively replace vegetation/woody debris
While construction is taking place participants will complete exercises in the field that
explain the groundwater, surface water, and liner techniques for building wetlands. Handson activities will focus on practical ways for determining slope, soil texture, and
groundwater elevation. Participants will also run a design exercise for additional wetland
restoration projects at Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary..
6 p.m. Adjourn
Lodging: Accommodations close to Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary
(*) Discounts are available from these accommodations. Please call accommodation
for details and reference Long Pasture’s Wetland Workshop.
*Holiday Inn Hotel Cape Cod –Hyannis
1127 Rt 132, Hyannis MA 02601
Tel (508) 775-1153
Hyannis Days Inn Hotel
867 Iyannough Road, Hyannis MA
Tel (508) 771-6100 ‎(mention rate code L20)
*Colonial House Inn Bed and Breakfast
277 Main St (Rt 6a) Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
Tel (508) 362-4348
Courtyard Cape Cod
707 Iyannough Road, Hyannis, MA
Tel (508) 775-6600
*Lamb and Lion Inn
2504 Main St, Barnstable, MA
Tel (508) 362-6823 ‎
Ashley Manor
3660 Main St (Rt 6a) Barnstable, MA 02630
Tel (508) 362-8044
*Crook Jaw Inn
186 Main St (Rt 6a), Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
(508) 362-6111
REGISTRATION FORM
HANDS-ON WETLAND CREATION WORKSHOP
June 23 and 24, 2015
25%
Discount
for nonprofits!
Note: One form per person please
Name:
Address:
Please email me a receipt (circle one):
Email:
Yes
Phone Number:
No
Affiliation:
Registration Fee = $225 U.S./person. $168 U.S./person for non-profits
Register Online at: www.massaudubon.org/longpasture
For those needing to pay by Check: Send registration form and payment to: Long Pasture
Wildlife Sanctuary, P.O. Box 235, Cummaquid MA 02637. Make checks out to Mass
Audubon or credit card payment
*Include name and address*
For your safety, we will not accept faxed or e-mailed credit card information.
For more information: Ian Ives, (508) 362-7475 Ext 9350. E-mail: [email protected]
Cancellation Policy
The registration fee is non-refundable and the written materials will be sent to registrants
who cannot attend. If cancellation becomes necessary, substitution in lieu of cancellation is
recommended. For cancellation, please contact Ian Ives.
**Please Hurry- Registration Capped at 30 participants **