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Dear River Advocates,
As the ice continues to melt and our rivers, streams and riparian lands show increasing signs of life after what has seemed to be a particularly long winter season, it seems especially appropriate for this issue of News Notes to feature Living Waters, the recently released report by Massachusetts’ Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) on the biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems of the Commonwealth
(http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhaqua.htm).
Often referred to as the aquatic counterpart to the NHESP’sBioMapreport on terrestrial ecosystems
(http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhbiomap.htm),
Living Waters is the first comprehensive statewide plan for protecting Massachusetts’ freshwater species and habitats. Living Watersidentifies key lake, pond, river, and stream habitats that together support a tremendous diversity of life across the state. Biologists at NHESP reviewed more than 600 site-specific records of rare plants, fish, and invertebrates,and then utilized computer models to help identify the areas of land crucial to the continued existence and health of these species. This innovative approach focuses conservation on the most immediate portion of the watershed where it is likely to provide the greatest benefit to the survival and conservation of freshwater species.
We are grateful to Living Waters’s Project Manager, Chloe Stuart, for her help in preparing the lead article for this edition of News Notes. As the article indicates, however, as notable an achievement as the completion o fLivingWaters is, the important information contained in the report attains its true value only to the extent it is followed up upon through protective action, such as land and CR acquisition, local wetlands bylaws and the protection/restoration of high water quality and natural streamflow regimes. Watershed associations, Stream Teams, land trusts, conservation commissions, sporting groups and others are all strongly encouraged to obtain a copy o fLiving Waters, find out the locations of any “core habitats” or “critical supporting watersheds” in your area, and then take action to safeguard these areas before they are harmed. Free printed copies of the Living Water sreport, the Living Waters poster, and (to a limited extent) the Living Waters Technical Report supplement, are available from the NHESP. The Living Waterswebsite (see URL above) provides an on-line version of this information as well as an excellent short slide presentation describing the reasons for and methodology used in the report.
The NHESP plans to assist the implementation of the findings and recommendations of its Living Waters and BioMap reports through a variety of means, including the development of customized Biodiversity Protection Maps and Descriptive Core Habitat Summaries at the town scale to inform conservation priorities at the local level.
Riverways staff have met with Chloe and are interested in working with you to implement protective strategies for the ecologically significant riverine resources identified in the Living Watersreport. If you have any interest in this effort and want technical assistance from a Riverways staff person, consider applying for one of the Adopt-A-Stream Technical Assistance awards, or just contact any of us to discuss your ideas. For funding ideas and sources of technical assistance for these and many types of projects, see our Resources and Grantssection at the end of the Living Waters article.
See you on the rivers -
Joan Kimball
P.S.The NHESP’s ability to docontinue its work to safeguard the Commonwealth’s aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems hinges to a great extent on the availability of adequate funding. In FY2004, NHESP was fortunate to be able to underwrite much of the cost of producing LivingWaters through “state wildlife grant” funds made available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see
http://www.massaudubon.org/News_&_Action/PDFs/2005StateWildlifeGrants.pdf
for more information on the effort to secure state wildlife grant funds for FY05). In addition, as state funding for NHESP is currently considerably less than in the past, it is even more dependent on private contributions to carry out its important conservation work. You can help NHESP through voluntary contributions to ‘endangered wildlife conservation’ on Massachusetts income tax forms (i.e., the “checkoff” on Box 32B on Form 1),or through direct donations to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund (see
http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhmissn.htm).
P.P.S:If these e-mail News Notes were forwarded to you by someone else and you would like to receive them directly, please let us know. Additionally (or alternatively), if the format of the e-mail version of these NewsNotesis in an incompatible format to your computer’s e-mail program, we encourage you to read theon-line versionofRiverways NewsNotesposted (soon if not already) on our web page (
www.massriverways.org
). All previous News Notes are also available on-line. Highlight articles of past News Notes include: Assessing Dams for Environmental Risks, River Continuity, River Instream Flow Stewards (RIFLS), Fishway Stewardship, Nonpoint Source projects, Adopt-A-Stream Technical Assistance Awardsand River Restore’s Neponset Project.
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A New Conservation Plan for Massachusetts’ “LIVING WATERS”
Water is a basic resource and provides us with a connection to the natural world, but we don’t often think about the diversity of life below the water’s surface. The inland waters of Massachusetts are home to an impressive variety of species, from fish and aquatic plants, to freshwater mussels, crayfish, snails, aquatic insects, and more. Unfortunately, these freshwater plants and animals are vulnerable to changes in water flow, degradation of water quality, and the invasion of exotic species.
To guide the strategic protection of the Commonwealth’s freshwater biodiversity, theNatural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP), part of the Mass.Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, developed the Living Waters conservation plan. Living Waters highlights Core Habitats, which are the lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams identified as the most important for the protection of the state’s biodiversity based on our current state of knowledge. The Core Habitats were identified from more than 600 records of rare freshwater species compiled by Natural Heritage over the last 25 years and updated through recent field work. Living Waters also maps Core Habitats for some of our best freshwater habitats identified from other current data on fish, aquatic insect, and aquatic plant communities in Massachusetts.
For each Core Habitat, Living Waters outlines a Critical Supporting Watershed to highlight the upland and upstream areas that have the greatest potential to influence, either positively or negatively, the species living in Core Habitats. This innovative approach focuses land protection and watershed management on the portion of the watershed where it can provide the greatest benefit to the survival and conservation of freshwater species. Statewide,the Living Waters report identifies Core Habitats in over 1000 miles of rivers and streams, and 247 lakes and ponds,as priorities for freshwater biodiversity. The report also provides detailed watershed-based maps with species highlights from each region.
In a ceremony held at the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refugeheadquarters in Sudbury last Dec. 11, moderated by Dave Peters, Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game, state officials and representatives of conservation groups, including The Nature Conservancy and the Massachusetts Audubon Society, praised NHESP’s Living Waters as a critical guide to land protection and watershed management where it will have the most impact.
"Smart growth has to go hand in hand with smart conservation and this report is the epitome of smart conservation," said Environmental Affairs Secretary Ellen Roy Herzfelderat the Dec. 11 ceremony. "We need to know more about our waters and what lives in them so we can protect them at the same time we grow our economy." Citing science as the foundation of environmental protection, Herzfelder called the report "an important science-based tool that will be invaluable to towns as they implement smart growth strategies. Even in these tight fiscal times, these are the projects that we must continue to fund to protect our natural heritage."
Chloe Stuart of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and project manager forLiving Waters, added that "our freshwater species overall are greatly at risk,both in Massachusetts and the whole country. Protecting freshwater habitats [often achieves multiple objectives, as it] helps protect drinking water resources as well as waters we use for recreational purposes."
Individuals also can (and should) look for opportunities where they can help reduce impacts to sensitive aquatic organisms and habitats, especially where Living Waters indicates a nearby core habitat or critical supporting watershed. To get started, contact the NHESP to find out what management actions are recommended for that particular freshwater habitat. Work with Riverways to raise awareness about the area within your community. Contact local conservation commissions, land trusts, town planners, and open space committees to work toward long-term protection or to appropriately manage development in the area. For example, special attention should be paid to minimizing (if not eliminating) direct storm water runoff into core habitats, as it is likely to cause such adverse impacts as pollutant or thermal loading, excessive sediment deposition or scouring, even the forcible removal or death of sensitive aquatic organisms.
At the individual level, you can help freshwater species by considering your impact on the freshwater habitat. Are you doing your part to reduce water consumption? Do you landscape with native plants, and preserve natural shorelines and riparian vegetation? Do you maintain your septic tank and remove aquatic plants whenmoving your boat from one waterway to another? These are just a few ways that you can protect aquatic plants and animals.
Th eLiving Watersreport is one of the first times (if not the first time) a state has prepared acomprehensive statewide plan for protecting freshwater species and habitats. Yet this report is of little more than academic interest unless it is put to use and followed up upon through protective action such as land and CR acquisition, local wetlands bylaws and the protection/restoration of high water quality and natural streamflow regimes. Watershed associations, Stream Teams, land trusts, conservation commissions, sporting groups and others are all strongly encouraged to obtain a copy of Living Waters, find out the locations of any “core habitats” or “critical supporting watersheds” in your area, and then take action to safeguard these areas before they are harmed. At the very least, the Living Waters report may provide additional evidence of the ecological value and sensitivity of an area that has already been identified as worthy and/or needful of protection, or it should help to bring favorable attention to a water body that had heretofore not been known for its ecological significance.
Some conservation-minded people and organizations may be disappointed when they learn that their stream or pond is not identified in this statewide conservation plan. While it may not have been identified as a critical site for aquatic biodiversity conservation from the statewide perspective based on our current knowledge, the site may still be important for recreation, drinking water, and/or local biodiversity.
The final Living Waters report is a 50-page, full color report that contains beautiful photographs of some of our rarely seen underwater species, and complements Natural Heritage’s BioMap, published in 2001, which focuses on important terrestrial biodiversity in the state. An attractive poster of the Living Waters conservation plan (i.e., the statewide map of core habitats and critical supporting watersheds) and a Technical Report that details the science behind Living Waters are also available from Natural Heritage; call ( 508)792-7270,x200 or e-mail Natural.Heritage@state.ma.us to obtain a copy. The Living Waters conservation map andslidepresentation are available for viewing on-line at ( http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhaqua.htm ). For more information aboutLiving Waters, contact Chloe Stuart, Project Manager,at (508)792-7270,x301, (508)792-7821 or Chloe.Stuart@state.ma.us.
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Resources and Grants
Grants (see alsoPublicationsbelow)
UMass. Public Service Endowment Grant Program(PSEG)
http://www.umass.edu/oed/pseg.html
Community projects that can benefit from university expertise are the focus of a unique small grant program at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. PSEG was created to encourage outreach and public service activities at each of the UMASS campuses. Faculty outreach grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 are available for projects that address regional needsrelating to economic developmentas defined by community leaders. To be considered, UMASS faculty and staff applicants need to identify a collaborative partner organization in Franklin, Hampshire or Hampden Counties. Community organizations are encouraged to suggest suitable projects and seek UMASS faculty who wish to collaborate. Forms, guidelines and regional priorities are all on-line at the web address above. The due date for proposals isFriday, March 12, 2004. For additional information,contact Michael Wright of the UMASS Office of Industry Liaison and Economic Development at 413-545-1334 or via email atmichael.wright@admin.umass.edu.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS)’sPartners for Fish and Wildlife Program
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/DOI/FWS/FHC/Partners-04/Grant.html
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides technical and financial assistance (up to $25,000) to private landowners (includes land trust and other non-state or federally-owned public landowners) for habitat restoration on their lands. A variety of habitats can be restored to benefit Federal“trust”species (for example, migratory birds and fish,and threatened and endangered species.) Normally the cost share rate is 50% (the USFWS and the landowner each pay half of the project costs), but the percentage is flexible. Services or labor can qualify for cost-sharing. Eligible applicants include just about everyone but state or federal agencies: municipalities, public and private colleges and universities, nonprofits, businesses and individuals. More info is available on-line at
http://partners.fws.gov,http://partners.fws.gov/pdfs/pMA.pdf
, or by contacting USFWS’ Partners’ regional coordinatorSteve Hillin Hadley, MA [ (413) 253-8614, (413) 253-8482 (fax) ].
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS)’sNational Fish Passage Program
http://fisheries.fws.gov/FWSMA/FishPassage/FPPDF/guidance.pdf
Millions of culverts, dikes, waterdiversions, dams, and other artificial barriers have been constructed nation wide to impound and redirect water — all changing natural features of rivers and streams.
Many dams are obsolete and no longerserve their original purpose. Culverts that funnel water beneath roads and train tracks often pose insurmountable barriers to fish. Barriers prevent natural fish migrations, keeping them from important habitats for spawning and growth. As a result, some populations of native fish are gone and others arein serious decline. The USFWS’s National Fish Passage Program is a voluntary, non-regulatory programthat provides funding and technical assistance toward removing or bypassing barriers to fish movement .A fish passage project can be any activity that directly improves the ability of fish or other aquatic speciesto move byreconnecting habitat tha thas been fragmented by barriers. This grant program providesup to $50,000 toward the “on the ground” (i.e., actual construction) costs of fish passage facilities. No officiallocal match is required, buta 50% match (can be “in-kind”) is encouraged. Decisions are made for projects in August, although there areno application deadlines. Informational calls/e-mailsare invited the USFWS contact for this region is David Perkins [ (413) 253-8405, (413) 253-8488 (fax), David_Perkins@fws.gov ]. Note that unlike some other grant programs (see below), this one applies to inland as well as coastal fisheries, and resident as well as diadromous fish species.
American Rivers-NOAA River Restoration Grants
http://www.amrivers.org/feature/restorationgrants.htm
The American Rivers-NOAA Community -Based Restoration Program Partnership is now accepting proposals for community-based river restoration grants as part of its partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Community-Based Restoration Program. These grants are designed to provide support for local communities that are utilizing dam removal or fish passage to restore and protect the ecological integrity of their rivers and improve freshwater habitats important to migratory (anadromous) fish. Grants will be limited to projects in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and California. Applications for projects need to be postmarked by the deadline for consideration for the next funding cycle. In fiscal year 2004, the deadline for the second cycle is April 1, 2004. Applicants should contact American Rivers to discuss potential projects prior to submitting an application. For more information contact: Peter Raabe at American Rivers [ rivergrants@amrivers.org or (202) 347-7550 ].
The Sudbury Foundation's Environmental Program
http://www.sudburyfoundation.org/environmental.html
One of the Sudbury Foundation's Environmental Program’s two focus areas is the fisheries and coastal communities of the Gulf of Maine(which includes coastal Massachusetts from Provincetown to Newburyport). The Program supports projects that conserve and restore the productive capacity of thisecosystem while helping to build a better future for the people who depend on them. Because solutions developed with local input are often the most effective and enduring, the Foundation favors community-based efforts to conserve resources and enhance quality of life. Proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis; the next deadline is (postmarked) April 1, 2004. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their needs with Foundation staff prior to submitting a full proposal. Telephone inquiries and concept papers are welcome. Multi-year grant requests are accepted. For more information, call (978) 443-0849 or e-mail contact@sudburyfoundation.org.
Massachusetts Recreational Trails 2004 Grants Program
http://www.state.ma.us/dem/programs/trails/grants.htm (2004info will be posted soon)
TheMass. Department of Conservation and Recreation(DCR) recently announced the availability of grant monies under its 2004 Recreational Trails Grants Program. This programhelps funda variety of trail protection, construction and stewardship projects throughout Massachusetts. Thisstate allocation of federal transportation funds (see “STPP” item inOn-line Resourcesbelow)makes funds available to states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses.Eligible applicants includenon-profit organizations, government agencies, and municipalities. At least20% of the total project value must come from other sources(acash matchand/or"soft match" in the form of materials, labor, and in-kind services).Project funding, not including the match, may range from $2000 to $50,000. Requests for amounts greater than $50,000 will be considered for larger projects with statewide or regional significance.The deadline for applications isApril 14, 2004; funding awards will be announced late spring 2004. All funds must be expended, and project work completed by June 30, 2005. Applicants may request a closing date of December 31, 2005 for larger projects. For more information,please contactJennifer Howardat(413) 586-8706 ext. 18orjennifer.howard@state.ma.us
Prospect Hill Foundation
http://fdncenter.org/grantmaker/prospecthill/index.html
The Prospect Hill Foundation’s environmental grantmaking concentrates on habitat and water protection in the northeastern region of the United States. Proposals are encouraged from organizations exhibiting leadership that: offer strategies and policies for the conservation of significant private and public lands and/or strengthen policies and initiate means of improving water quality and protecting coastal areas. Applicants may submit grant requests to the Executive Director atany time of yearin the form of a letter (three pages maximum) that summarizes the applicant organization's history and goals; the project for which funding is sought; and the contribution of the project to other work in the field and/or to the organization's own development. Response is generally provided within four weeks. For more info, contact the Foundation at 99 Park Avenue, Suite 2220, New York, New York 10016-1601, (212) 370-1165.
Northwest Consortium for Wildlife Conservation Research’s Funding Page
http://www.nwwildlife.org/nwwildlife.org.news.htm#funding
Although intended for an audience in a different part of the country, this page contains a wealth of grant opportunities in the nonprofit and corporate sectors (sorted alphabetically) for wildlife and habitat conservation projects, most of which are equally applicable to projects in this region.Phone numbers, mailing addresses and (in some cases) web links are provided for each funder listed.
Norcross Wildlife Foundation Land Protection Loan Fund
http://www.massland.org/pages/info/norcross.htm
In an effort to facilitate the land conservation work of grassroots organizations across the country, The Norcross Wildlife Foundation is offering a rare source of financial support, a No-Interest Loan Fund for Land Protection. Norcross provides financial support to local land trusts, nature centers, and wildlife conservation organizations across the country. Applicants must be private, non-profit organizations (NGOs) as determined by the Internal Revenue Service. Loans of up to $250,000 may be made for the purpose of acquiring interests in land that possesses priority wildlife habitat. In accepting a loan, the borrower agrees to apply the full amount to the purchase of acreage (i.e. none may be used for acquisition expenses or set aside for stewardship). No interest is charged for these loans, although in some cases a small fee (e.g. $500-$1,000) may be required to cover legal or paperwork expenses. Loan security is required and may take the form of a personal or institutional guarantee (preferred) or collateral (i.e. first mortgage equity). Loans are for a term of one year, with extension at Norcross' discretion. In the event an extension is granted by Norcross, interest of 5.0% per annum may commence beginning on the date of extension. There is no submission deadline; you can apply anytime. To learn more about the Norcross Wildlife Foundation and its No-Interest Loan Fund contact Dan Donahue, Director of Land Protection & Stewardship, 30 Peck Road, Monson, MA 01057; phone & fax: (413) 267-9306 or on-line athttp://www.norcrossws.org.
The USDA’sNatural Resources and Conservation Service(NRCS) is encouraging farmers and other eligible parties to apply for nearly$12.5 million in federal Farm Bill fundsfor conservation programs allocated to Massachusetts this fiscal year (a 65 percent increase in funding over last year). Five financial and technical aid programs are available: theEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program(EQIP), which provides funds to farmers for help with structural and management conservation programs on agricultural land; theFarms and Ranch Lands Protection Program, which makes available money to purchase the development rights to farm land in conjunction with the state's Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program; TheGrassland Reserve Program; theWetlands Reserve Program, which offers farmersandother landowners an opportunity to voluntarily protect, restore and enhance wetlands on their property; and theWildlife Habitat Incentives Program(WHIP), a voluntary program of technical and financial assistance to farmersandother landowners who want to improve fish and wildlife habitat or restore natural ecosystems on their land. Although the official deadline for FY04 funding wasMarch 1, interested applicants should contact the NRCS anyway as additional money may be available. For more information, go on-line tohttp://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/products.html,http://www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov, or contact Rick Devergilio at (413) 253-4379 orrichard.devergilio@ma.usda.gov.
On-line Resources
Beavers in Massachusetts
http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/dfw_beaver_law.htm
Compiled by theMass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife(http://www.masswildlife.org), this web page provides in-depth and comprehensive information about beavers and their capacity for shaping the landscape in a positive or negative way (depending upon your perspective), including advice for how to live harmoniously with beavers as well as the various regulations and policies applicable to beaver trapping, relocation and dam breaching and/or dewatering.
Center forConservation Incentives
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/cci.cfm?page=main
An initiative ofEnvironmental Defense,recentlylaunched with major supportfrom the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, theCenter’soverarching objectiveis to conserve biodiversity on private lands by improving and expanding existing incentive programs and by creating new ones.The Center will (1) design and implement model projects that demonstrate how incentive-based strategies can benefit biodiversity and foster private lands stewardship; (2) improve federal and state conservation incentives policies to make them more effective both in protecting ecosystems and in rewarding landowners who do so; (3) undertake research and analyses to help shape both conservation incentive policies and the allocation of incentive funds; and (4) build broad public awareness and support for private land conservation and incentive programs.Resources at this web page include an extensive electronicConservation Incentives Libraryof information on incentives for landowners to conserve endangered species.
Earth911.org
http://massachusetts.earth911.org
Protecting our nation’s environment is of paramount concern to all Americans, as reflected in national polling results that consistently rank the environment as one of the top three priorities among consumers. In the past, most environmental programs have focused on either repairing damage that has already been sustained, or attempting to return the environment to its original state prior to the advancement of industrialized societies. While these retroactive concepts of environmental protection are critical to cleaning up existing problems, the proactive solution of Earth 911 is to empower the public with community-specific resources to improve their quality of life. Once you type in your local zip code, you will be linked to a panoply of pollution prevention, recycling and related environmental programs available near your home and/or workplace.Through a single toll-free phone call to 1-800-CLEANUP or the use of this Web site, you can access several sections of community-specific environmental information at no cost toyou or your community.
Massachusetts Buffer Manual: Using Vegetated Buffers to Protect Our Lakes and Rivers
http://berkshireplanning.org/4/1/index.php3#buf
Compiled by Lauren Gaherty of theBerkshire Regional Planning Commission(BRPC), with assistance from Russ Cohen at Riverways and many others, and funded by a DEP/EPA §319 nonpoint source grant, this publication seeks to promote the widespread planting and/or retention ofvegetated buffersalong waterfrontsasaneffective and attractivestrategyforminimizingnonpoint source pollution and providingwildlife habitat. Besides publishing the user-friendlyManual, grantfunds were also used toinstall five vegetated buffer demonstration projects and conduct an extensive outreach program to highlight and promote buffer success stories(including a popular workshop co-taught by Lauren and Russ at the annualMass. Assoc. of ConservationCommissionsconference in Worcester).
[Cartoonist Nick Anderson’s depiction of a fanciful Martian discovery of water on Earth a slide excerpted from Lauren and Russ’ presentation at this year’s MACC conference.]
A hard copy of theManualis availablefor purchase from theBRPC, or you can downloadall or a portion ofit for freeat the URL listed above.For more information on the project,contact Lauren at(413)442-1521 orlgaherty@berkshireplanning.org.
Massachusetts Interbasin Transfer Act and Regulations
http://www.state.ma.us/dem/programs/intbasin/download.htm
TheMassachusetts Water Resources Commission(WRC) recently announced that anupdatedversion of thedocument“A Guide to the Interbasin Transfer Act and Regulations”isnow available on-lineat the Interbasin TransferAct (ITA)website. Also at this website are a “frequently asked questions” (FAQ) page and a list of all past applications under the ITA and how they were acted upon.For further info, contact Michele Drury[(617)626-1366ormichele.drury@state.ma.us].
Project Clean
http://www.state.ma.us/mhd/clstate/pclean.htm
Project Clean, a new, innovative program by theMass. Highway Department(MHD), enablesMassachusetts motoriststoserve as roving patrols to letMHDknow where litter and debris are located along the roadway. By calling #321 on a cellular phone or(toll-free)(888)359-9595 on a standard phone, people can keepthe MHDinformed of unsightly litter.As this page says, “Working together, we can ensure that our public roadways are ones of which we can continue to be proud.”
Rachel’s Environment and Health News
http://www.rachel.org/bulletin/index.cfm?St=1
A project of the New Jersey-basedEnvironmental Research Foundation, whose mission is to provide news and resources for environmental justiceandunderstandable scientific information about human health and the environment,Rachel’s Newsis a free, on-line newsletter that presents useful and up-to-date information on environmental health and justice issues. This web page enables you to read, search and browse all past issues to learn more about the topic(s) that interest you. Recent issue #s 782 and 783 are especially recommended, as they are on the subject ofpublic participationin land use decisionmaking(e.g. the proposed location of a polluting facility in your neighborhood). To subscribe toRachel’s News, simplysendan e-mailtolistserv@lists.rachel.orgwith the wordsSUBSCRIBE RACHEL-NEWS[YOUR FULL NAME]in the message.
Riverways’ Low Flow Inventory
http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/RIVER/rivLow_Flow_Inventory/home.html
Compiled by Riverways’ Watershed Ecologist Margaret Kearns, this inventory consists of anecdotal and other evidence derived from a variety of sources (including DEP’s watershed water quality assessment reports and observations by Stream Teams) of stream reaches with unnaturally low-flow conditions we are aware of in each of the Commonwealth’s 27 major watersheds. (If you know of streams with low-flow problems that are not documented in this inventory, please let Margaret know.) This web page also includes a wealth of information about the causes and ecological consequences of low flow problems, as well as effective solutions. Margaret has recently upgraded the “Resources” section of the Inventory web page to include lots of valuable information, not the least of which is a report issued on 6/30/03 and funded by theMassachusetts Watershed Initiativeentitled"Options for Managing the Impact of Private Irrigation Wells and Surface Diversions on Wetlands, Waterways and Public Water Supplies", prepared by theNeponset River Watershed Association & Alexandra Dawson(see bottom of “Resources” page or go tohttp://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/RIVER/rivLow_Flow_Inventory/Westwood_Bylaw_Report.pdf). This report summarizes available data on the extent and environmental impact of private irrigation wells in Westwood, reviews the current regulatory framework surrounding both private irrigation wells and automated irrigation systems, examines regulations adopted by other towns in this area and recommends various strategies that Westwood and other towns might utilize to minimize the impact of these systems.
Surface Policy Transportation Project(STPP)
http://www.stpp.org
STPP is a diverse, nationwide coalition working to ensure safer communities and smarter transportation choices that enhance the economy, improve public health, promote social equity, and protect the environment.A501(c)(3) non-profit organization, STPP serves as the primary advocate and watchdog for environmentally-friendly provisions in federal transportation funding programs. For example, STPP played a major role in securing “enhancements” provisions in ISTEA and TEA-21 that have funneled millions of dollars to states for bike paths, land conservation, stormwater management and other environmentally-beneficial projects nationwide. (Massachusetts has ranked at or near the bottom in the past on federal transportation dollars spent on environmentally-friendly projects, but hopefully that will change now that the “Big Dig” is nearing completion.) Other sources of federal transportation funding for environmentally-friendly projects include theRecreational Trails(see related item inGrantsabove),andCongestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement(CMAQ) programs. STPP is likely to play a major role in the current debate in Congress over the size and contents of the next federal transportation bill, sometimes referred to as “TEA-3” or “SAFETEA” (seehttp://www.tea3.org). [For more info about proposed transportation funding at the state (MA) level, seehttp://www.state.ma.us/mhd/tbb/bondbill.htm.]
Survey Monkey
http://www.surveymonkey.com
Ever wondered what your group’s membership and/or the general public knows and thinks about what you are doing, or whether or not they would support a land and/or water conservation fundraising campaign? Survey Monkey offers a powerful tool for conducting web-based surveys on any topic.SurveyMonkey enablesanyone to create professional on-line surveys quickly and easily.Although a “soup to nuts” version of Survey Monkey’s on-line survey tool is available for a $19.95 monthly subscription fee, a basic subscription for conducting smaller-scale surveys is totally free.
The Trustees of Reservations’ Conservation Buyer Program Web Pagehttp://www.thetrustees.org/pages/47_conservation_buyer_program.cfm
Conservation Buyerprogramshave been used for many years by conservation organizations across the country as a way to protect properties in private ownership. By informing conservation-minded buyers ("conservation buyers") about available properties with scenic, historic, agricultural, or ecological values, organizations like The Trustees of Reservations(TTOR)help conservation buyers acquire such properties and, at the same time, ensure their long-term protection. Properties can find their way to a conservation buyereither through purchasingproperty that has already been protected with a conservation restriction, or through purchasingunencumberedpropertyand thenworkingwith TTOR or another land trust to place a perpetual conservation restriction on the property. TTOR’s conservation buyer website currently features over a half dozen extremely appealing (albeit pricey) properties looking for sympathetic and conservation-minded new owners. Contact Ralph Monticelloatrmonticello@ttor.orgfor more information.Another on-line resource for conservation-minded buyersandsellers worth checking out is the newly-launchedLandbasewebsite (http://www.landbase.org/landbase/index.php).
Tom’s of Maine’s Volunteer for Rivers Database
http://142.167.11.51/_survey/rivers2004_v/dbcontrol.asp
Could you use more volunteers to help you in your efforts? Tom’sof Mainewantsto help!
At the end of year two ofitsNational Rivers Awareness Partnership(http://www.tomsofmaine.com/toms/community/cgp/nrap/default.asp),the companyasked over 3,000 ofits customerswhat they had gained from our program. We found that almost 20% had already taken action based on the information they had found in our materials. An additional 48% indicated they were considering taking action, and almost all of these indicated that would like to join/donate to a river group or volunteer for a river clean-up. In response, Tom’s iscreatingaVolunteer for Rivers Databasewhich will be posted onits website beginning April 2004. Visitors tothe website will be able to search for volunteer opportunities in their area, and be given the contact information for the person they need to contact for further details. To include yourgroup’sopportunities in this database, please follow the link postedabove. Please note that each unique opportunity at your organization requires an individual entry. For more information, contactRob Robinsonat(207) 985-2944 x358.
Townboard.org
http://www.townboard.org
Townboard.org was createdin 1999to help meet the training and information needs of volunteer land-use board members in Massachusetts (Planning and Appeals Boards, Conservation Commissions, Boards of Health, Sewer Commissions and Water Commissions).One ofTownboard.org’s major features, acalendarof upcoming events relating to resource protection, Smart Growth and other topics of interest to municipal boards, ishosted byUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst Extension, Natural Resources and Environmental Conservationprogram and theLocal Capacity Building Project, is a great way to find out about informative programs in other towns that you otherwise might not have known about. Watershed associations, Land Trusts and others hosting events of interest to municipal boards are encouraged to post them on the Townboard.org calendar; justclick on "Add event" and fill in the relevant boxes.Townboard.org also provides municipal boardswith easy connections to a network of reference and service providers.If you have any questions, please contact Bob Levite atBobLevite@Hotmail.comor(508)831-1223,ext. 247.
What Goes Around
http://www.whatgoesaround.org
Would you like your family and friends to know about a charity you care about, and provide them with a chance to support them in your name in place of a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, bar mitzvah or wedding gift? Now you can with whatgoesaround.org. In less than five minutes you can create a “wish list” of your favorite charities, then let your friends and relatives know that they can go to whatgoesaround.org and make a gift in your name to one of the charities you support. To date,3299 Americanshave registeredand$57,745.18has been directedto non-profits bywhatgoesaround.org. Nonprofit groups take note: you can promote donations to your group through this website as well. Any charitable organization listed inwww.guidestar.orgis eligible to receive donations via whatgoesaround.org
Calendar
Opportunity to comment on proposedfederalpesticide regulations:TheU.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceand theNational Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have proposed new regulations that will for the first time establish a formal, comprehensive multi-agency review process to ensure that pest and rodent control products approved by theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) do not jeopardize threatened and endangered species. These agencies are soliciting public comments on this proposal throughMarch 30. For additional information, including a link to theFederal Registernotice and details on how to comment, seehttp://endangered.fws.gov/consultations/pesticides/.
Comprehensive Environmental, Incorporated (CEI,http://www.ceiengineers.com) is hosting a “Water Supply and Streamflow Allocation Workshop” focusing on Massachusetts onTuesday, March 9th, 2004from 8:30AM-3:00PMin Milford, MA at the Radisson Hotel.The registration fee is$65(there are limited "scholarships" available). The intended audience is anyone involved in water supply or water resources management that may be affected now or in the future by water shortages or problems getting sources online, whether located in MA or elsewhere.Topics include: “stressed” basins, Water Management Act latest issues/problems, how to reduce “unaccounted for”water, Exploding Summer Demands and what you can do about them;Methods to protect recharge; Smart Strategiesfor keeping stream flow impacts down and production up, and more. For more information, contactEileen Pannetieratepannetier@ceiengineers.comor(800) 725-2550x301.
TheMass. Citizen Planner Training Collaborative(www.umass.edu/masscptc) is hosting a conference entitled “Advanced Tools and Procedures for Planning and Zoning” onSaturday, March 20, 2004at College of theHoly CrossinWorcester, MA. Workshop topics include:Village Centers,green subdivisions,40B,getting along withother boards,getting sued(!), stormwaterplanningsoftwareand management using natural systems,Open Space Residential Design Bylaws,How to Collaborate Effectively with ConservationCommissions and Boards ofHealth, and much more. Register at CPTC’s website above (click on “upcoming events”); the absolutedeadline for receiving registrations isFriday, March 12th.
Stormwater Symposium: Phase II: How to DO it all (well almost)is the title of a conference to be held onWednesday, March 24, 2004at the Radisson Hotel in Milford, MA from 8:30 A.M. 3:00 P.M.Seehttp://www.ceiengineers.com/workshops/postcards_final_stormwater.pdfor call Ginny Scarlet at(508)482-5557 x355for more information.
Ground water feeds wetlands, rivers and lakes and is a critical aspect of habitat, yet few people understand basic hydrology and its fundamental relationship to aquatic habitat and biodiversity. Stormwater runoff management is a critical factor in the recharge of our ground water resources and the maintenance of instream flow. To help bridge this knowledge gap, the Concord, NH-basedAmerican Ground Water Trust(http://www.agwt.org) is convening a Conservation Issues Conference entitled “Water Policy And Management: Instream Flow, Stormwater and Aquatic Habitats” to be held at theHoliday Inn Hotel and Suitesin Marlboro, MA onFriday April 2, 2004from8:30AM- 4:30PM.The Conference will address important issues surrounding the ground water - surface water - aquatic habitat connection and the management policies required to successfully sustain these resources.Contact the AGWT [(603) 228-5444or(603) 228-6557(fax) to register or for more info, or register on-line athttp://www.agwt.org.
“Toxics Action 2004”is the title of a conference to be held at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston onSaturday, April 3rdfrom 8:00AM to 7:00 PM. Featured speakers include Sheldon Krimsky, author ofScience in the Private Interest, and Denny Larson of the National Refinery Reform Campaign.Krimsky will speak about how corporations often "buy" science to justify their dubious environmental activities. By telling stories about how executives from polluting industries try to prevent the publication of potentially damaging reports and how companies fund research to benefit their own self-interest, Krimsky makes a strong case that science is no longer an objective and unbiased field. This is New England’s largest annual gathering of residents fighting pollution in their communities. The event includes over 40 workshops to learn skills and strategies to effectively fight your local pollution battles. Conference registration is a very affordable $35 (less for preregistrations and conference co-sponsors). For more info go tohttp://www.toxicsaction.org.
Once again, theUMass. Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning(LARP) will be sponsoring an annualNew England GreenwaysSymposium. This spring, as part of the LARP’s year-long Centennial Celebration, the first annual Fábos Landscape Planning and Greenway Symposium will be held at the UMassAmherstCampus Center onApril 16-17, 2004.Keynote speakers include Jon Rodiek, Editor-in-Chief, Landscape and Urban Planning Journal, and a Professor at Texas A&M University;Charles Flink, FASLA, landscape architect and principal of Greenways, Inc.; and Karen Votava, Executive Director of the East Coast Greenway Alliance.For more information, go on-line tohttp://www.umass.edu/greenway/fabos/or contact Dr.Robert L. Ryanatrlryan@larp.umass.edu.
TheCommunity Foundation of Western Massachusettsrecently announced its 2004 series ofTechnical Assistance Fundraising Workshops for Nonprofit Agency Staff and Volunteers. The 2004 workshop series includes five, three-hour programs that span the year; all presented twice in one week (on different days and at different sites) to allow attendance by the most possible number of participants. All programs are free, and materials will be provided at each workshop. Workshop topics are:Components Of A Successful Fundraising Program(April 20 and 22);Understand And Capitalize On The Lifetime Giving Cycle(May 18 and 20);Major Gifts Today & Tomorrow(Sep.14 and 16);Coordinate Development, Marketing, & Programming(Oct.19 and 21) and Volunteer Management (Nov. 16 and 18). To register or for more info, call (413)732-2858, or go on-line tohttp://www.communityfoundation.org/content/worksem/assistance.htm.
TheU.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP)will jointly sponsor with the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, Council of State Governments (CSG), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a three and a half day symposium onIntegrated Monitoring & Assessment for Effective Water Quality Managementat the Hotel Viking in Newport, Rhode Island onMay 3-7, 2004. Information regarding Registration, Program Agenda,etc.can be found on the EMAP Symposium’s Web site[http://www.csg.org(Keyword is "EMAP")]. For furtherinformation,contact Brian D. Melzian, Ph.D. at (401) 782-3188orMelzian.Brian@epa.gov.
Publications
Conserving Open Space: A guide for funding land acquisition and management in southeastern Massachusetts and beyond, published by theManomet Center for Conservation Sciences(http://www.manomet.org),provides information on funding open space acquisition and stewardship, and is intended for conservation commissions, community preservation committees, open space and recreation committees, land trusts, watershed groups, environmental educators, and others working to conserve open space. It describes law-based conservation mechanisms;describes nearly 100 grant opportunities from government agencies, charitable organizations, and corporate philanthropy programs; and provides a list of resources and links for finding additional funding.The guide is available free of charge(as a .pdf file) athttp://www.manomet.org/regional/resources. Also available for free download at this URL is a publication entitledPlanning for Wildlife: Improving Wildlife Conservation Through Better Open Space and Recreation Plans. Lastly,if you haven't already done so, please check outConservationMapper(www.conservationmapper.org),Manomet’sfree, on-line mapping service for southeastern Massachusetts.
TheTrust for Public Land(TPL) recently announced the released of its new white paper entitledParks for People: WhyAmerica Needs More City Parks and Open Space.As the nation's leading conservation group creating parks in and around cities, the TPL has launched itsParks for Peopleinitiative in the belief that every American child should enjoy convenient access to a nearby park or playground.This white paper outlines how desperate the need is for city parks -- especially in inner-city neighborhoods -- and describes the social, environmental, economic, and health benefits parks bring to a city and its people. Parks for Peoplecan be downloaded for free at http://www.tpl.org/download_p4p_paper.cfm.
Island Pressand theLandscape Architecture Foundationrecentlyannounceda new seriesentitledCase Studies in Land and Community Design. The series will provide design and planning professionals with detailed information on innovative projects that provide holistic solutions to complex social, economic, and environmental problems. These visual case studies, featuring four-color photographs throughout the books, offer in-depth analysis of important issues or projects, examine key successes and failures, and document effective approaches to land development and preservation. One of the first books in this series, entitledUrban Open Space: Designing for User Needs,reviews and identifies those critical user needs that must be considered in the planning, design, and management of outdoor spaces, and synthesizes that knowledge into an accessible and useful document. To order, or for more info onUrban Open Space, go on-line tohttp://www.islandpress.org/urbanopenor call (800) 828-1302.
TheDelaware Riverkeeper Network(DRN)recently announced the publication of a new manual entitledAdopt-A-Buffer Toolkit, Monitoring and Maintaining Restoration Projects. This 133-page manual is designed for local watershed groups, restoration practitioners and volunteer monitors who implement stream restoration projects and who are seeking inexpensive, effective,volunteer-based monitoring techniques to assess restoration projects. DRN has field-tested protocols with volunteer monitors and is using this Toolkit for the foundation of their own Adopt-A-Buffer Initiative to help monitor over eighty restoration projects in the Delaware Watershed. The Toolkit includes a menu of monitoring protocols to choose from based on the type of restoration project implemented and the project goalsas well asa series of Maintenance Factsheets to help address common issues that can arise at restoration projects. Monitoring protocols included are a visual assessment, photo-monitoring, macroinvertebrate monitoring, bank pin and stream cross-section monitoring, and a wildlife survey. A limited number of hard copiesof the manualare availableat no costto local watershed groups who are actively implementing restoration projects. Others can obtain a hard copy for $15.00(plus shipping)or a CD for $5.00,by calling(215)369-1188; or download a free.pdf version of the toolkitby going on-line to http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/monitoring/monitoring.htmand thenscrolling down the page to "Adopt-A-Buffer Initiative" and clicking onthe"Adopt-A-Buffer Toolkit".
Riverways Staff: Special Funding:
Russ Cohen, Rivers Advocate Amy Singler, Stream Team Organizer
Joan Kimball, Director Carrie Banks, Stream Team Organizer WesternMA
Rachel Calabro, Adopt-A-Stream Coordinator Brian Graber, River RestoreStaff Scientist
Cindy Delpapa, Urban Rivers Coordinator Margaret Kearns, Watershed Ecologist
Karen Pelto, River Restore Coordinator Eileen Goldberg, Small Grants Administrator
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Mitt Romney, Governor
Kerry Healey, Lieutenant Governor
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs; Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary
Department of Fish and Game; David Peters, Commissioner
Mass. Riverways Programs Riverways News Notes #10 March 3, 2004
251 Causeway St. Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1540
http://www.massriverways.org
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