The Official Website of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
- Department of Fish and Game
- Commissioner Mary B. Griffin
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What's Up (or Down) with Streamflow? Part 2 Dear River Advocates, I hope you all are enjoying the summer and finding some time to be on and in the Commonwealth’s rivers, and streams. It is during the summer that the importance of all of our collective efforts to keep rivers and streams clean and flowing becomes particularly evident, as the hot weather exacerbates the hydrological stress placed on riverine organisms and ecosystems. While our native aquatic and other riverine flora and fauna have evolved a considerable degree of resiliency to “tough it out” during naturally-occurring low-flow periods such as droughts, human activities (such as streamflow-depleting water withdrawals and diversions to meet demands for non-essential water uses like lawn watering) can increase the duration, frequency and/or severity of low-flow conditions beyond natural levels. Placing streams under chronic unnatural low-flow conditions can cause substantial harm to aquatic and other water-dependent organisms and habitats. The primary focus of this year’s Massachusetts Stream Flow Conference was to look at (1) efforts to determine what levels of streamflow are necessary to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems, and (2) actions proposed and implemented to safeguard those streamflow levels and restore our watersheds and riverine ecosystems to hydrological balance and ecological health. The Conference is recapped in the lead articles in this and the previous (#16) edition of NewsNotes . I wanted to let you know about a few streamflow-related news items that have taken place over the last couple months. First, I am happy to report that the River Instream Flow Stewards (RIFLS) website has recently been upgraded to facilitate the ability of RIFLS volunteers to post and retrieve streamflow data. Where available, the new graphs where the data is displayed will include rainfall data and Aquatic Base Flow, a default indicator of "natural" seasonal minimum flows. RIFLS volunteers may also upload photos of their monitoring sites (a photo may convey a more compelling message than a flow number of a stream under hydrological stress). The volunteer-gathered data and photos may be accessed by anyone at RIFLS’ new website address: http://www.rifls.org (it can also be accessed by going to http://www.massriverways.org and clicking on the RIFLS button). Please contact Riverways’ Watershed Ecologist Margaret Kearns at Margaret.Kearns@state.ma.us or (617) 626-1533 if you have any comments or questions about using the new RIFLS website. I also wanted to inform you that Riverways’ and the Weir River Watershed Association’sproposal to add the Weir River watershed to the list of highly-stressed basins (discussed in the previous (#16) issue of NewsNotes), was taken up by the Mass. Water Resources Commission (WRC) at its July meeting, and the WRC voted 5-1 (with one abstention) to add the Weir River to the Stressed Basin list, which requires current and future water supply withdrawals and other actions affecting basin hydrology to be subject to a higher level of scrutiny. Additionally, I wanted to let you know about some recent and upcoming developments relating to state water quality regulations and policy. You may already know that the Mass. DEP is currently in the process of drafting and implementing Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) reports for many of the state’s waterways placed on the “303(d)” (also known as the “integrated waters”) list ( http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/wm/files/2004il2.pdf) for failing to meet state water quality standards for one or more reasons. The purpose of a TMDL is to determine the maximum amount of a particular pollutant can be present in and/or be received by (loaded into) a water body without causing its water quality to drop below its designated classification, and then to recommend actions that will enable the water body to meet its designated water quality classification. The DEP is currently seeking public comment on draft pathogen TMDLs for river systems in the eastern portion of the state, and has prepared an Implementation Guidance Manual for Watershed-Specific Pathogen TMDL Reports which provides assistance to municipalities, watershed groups and others on how to identify and mitigate bacteria and other pathogen loadings to and concentrations in waterways. To access the draft TMDL reports and/or Guidance, go to http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/wm/tmdls.htm and scroll down until you reach the document(s) you’re looking for. [See also http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/wm/projsums.htm for a recent DEP report summarizing a new cost-effective protocol for tracking down sources of bacteria in rivers and streams.] On a similar note: the DEP is expected in the near future to release for public comment the results of a process where the agency reviewed and is proposing modifications to the Massachusetts state water quality standards (http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/wm/wmregpol.htm. The federal Clean Water Act requires each state hold regular public hearings on the adequacy of its water quality standards at least once every three years. This process is often referred to as the “triennial review” http://www.cleanwateract.org/pages/c2g.htm. While changes in EPA protocol and other reasons have delayed Mass.’ triennial review for some time (the last one took place in 1996 – see discussion of water quality standards at http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/epp/sg/sggwhome.htm) - the standards have undergone interagency review earlier this year and are expect to be released soon for public comment. The entire state water quality standards system is up for analysis, debate and revision during the triennial review. This is the public’s best chance to comment on individual pieces of the system, including: the state’s designated uses and classifications; the criteria associated with its classifications; the classifications of specific water bodies and any site-specific criteria; the anti-degradation policy and implementation system; and any other “general policies” (including mixing zone rules). If any of the above terms are unfamiliar to you, you may want to get a “hot off the presses” copy of the newly-revised second edition of River Network’sClean Water Act: An Owner’s Manual. The Manual is an extremely informative and user-friendly guide to how to use the Clean Water Act to improve the water quality of impaired waterways as well as prevent the degradation of waters still in relatively good condition. It turns legalese and scientific terminology into language you can use, and points out how to get involved in regulatory decisions and tells local stories of others who've done so. The Manual may be ordered on-line at or by contacting River Network at (800) 423-6747 or gkillam@rivernetwork.org. Lastly, you may have noticed a new masthead for our NewsNotes electronic newsletter (it may not show up in some e-mail formats). It’s Riverways’ new logo. We are also in the final stages of a redesign of our website, http://www.massriverways.org, and expect to have the new version on-line within the next month. We hope you will find it more visually appealing as well as more user-friendly. See you on (or in) the rivers – Joan Kimball P.S.: Your NewsNotes feedback sought: The response we’ve received so far from Riverways NewsNotes readers in the 29 or so months since we’ve adopted this electronic format for Riverways’ periodic newsletter has been positive, for which we are extremely grateful. One of the constructive criticisms we’ve gotten from a few of you is that the current NewsNotes editions are too lengthy and wordy and that more frequent, shorter and user-friendly editions would be preferable. While we share your desire to have shorter, more frequent NewsNotes, we are challenged by the fact that NewsNotes issues are cobbled together by Riverways staff with many competing demands on our time, such as responding promptly and directly to requests for assistance on river-related issues from citizens and community activists. We have chosen to let our responsiveness to your and your/our rivers’ immediate needs take precedence over putting NewsNotes out more frequently, and we hope you agree with our decision. That said, we could send each NewsNotes out in two separate parts – the letter and lead article in the first part and Resources and Grants in the second -- and send them out separately but at the same time. Readers then might be able to more easily find the sections they wish to read or print out. We could also send NewsNotes out as an e-mail attachment (but some e-mail programs do not accept attachments). [A reminder that if the format of the e-mail version of these NewsNotes is in an incompatible format to your computer’s e-mail program, we encourage you to read the on-line version of this edition of NewsNotes posted (soon if not already) on Riverways’ web page (www.massriverways.org).] If you like/dislike either of these ideas, or have other suggestions for changes to NewsNotes’s length and/or content, please let us know.
What's Up (or Down) with Streamflow: Part 2 This article is a continuation of a recap of this spring’s Massachusetts Stream Flow Conference. Part 1 of this article [the lead article in NewsNotes #16, summarized Conference presentations focusing on the science of streamflow. Part 2 summarizes presentations on the legal aspects of water resources management, allocation and use as well as various solutions proposed and implemented locally and elsewhere to help bring riverine ecosystems and watersheds back to hydrological balance and ecological health. The legal issues session of the Conference was moderated by Northeastern University Environmental Law Professor Lee Breckenridge and included Mass. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner BobGolledge and lawyers Margaret Van Deusen (Deputy Director of the Charles River Watershed Association-CRWA) and Alexandra Dawson (of the Mass. Association of Conservation Commissions -MACC- and the Water Supply Citizens Advisory Committee-WSCAC). Bob spoke on the need for environmental advocates to build a more broad-based public support for streamflow protection and environmental protection in general. He suggested that could be accomplished by speaking in terms that the public can understand and relate to in their daily lives, such as talking about the need to better manage stormwater in terms of flooded basements and overloaded sewer lines spewing pathogens. Widespread public support for keeping rivers naturally clean and flowing is a key prerequisite to the successful acceptance and adoption of efforts to remedy stubborn water quality and/or quality problems, many of which necessitate the substantial expenditure of public funds. To illustrate this point, Bob cited the current effort by DEP and the EPA to reduce phosphorous loadings to the Assabet River , which calls for the expenditure of $60 million in wastewater treatment upgrades that, if successful, are expected to cut algal blooms on the river from the current average of four weeks to two. Since some municipal officials in the affected communities are questioning the wisdom of this expense, and river advocates are responding by rallying public support for the effort as necessary for the well-being of human as well as natural communities along the river. Bob then spoke of DEP’s Water Management Policy adopted in April of 2004 (discussed in NewsNotes #16 – also see http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/wtrm/wtrmregs.htm), that is intended to reduce the adverse impacts on streamflow from public water supply withdrawals. DEP is using the opportunity presented by the five year periodic reviews of Water Management Act (WMA) permits (see examples at http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/wtrm/permits.htm) to ratchet down consumptive water withdrawal and use so that it is consistent with the new Policy. Some water suppliers are complaining about the standards in the new Policy as being unduly harsh and unrealistic and are putting considerable pressure on DEP to weaken the Policy. Bob stated that his agency listens to and is swayed by the feedback it receives on its actions, so that it is important for streamflow advocates to voice their support for protecting/restoring streams and other hydric habitats via DEP’s Policy and other means to DEP itself as well as in the affected communities. Bob closed by asking Conference attendees for their reaction to several possible changes to DEP’s water management: reducing the threshold volume for WMA permits from 100,000 gallons/day to 50,000; establishing a hierarchy of water uses, enabling the agency to give non-essential uses (lawn watering, e.g.) second-class status; and requiring self-supplied water users to get WMA permits. Margaret Van Deusen seconded Commissioner Golledge’s remarks on the critical need for streamflow advocates to speak up in defense of DEP’s and others’ efforts to mitigate the desiccating impact of consumptive water supply withdrawals and use on natural waterways. Margaret reported that water suppliers and others unhappy with DEP and the CRWA’s calls for reducing unnecessary water use (such as for lawn watering) have complained to their Selectmen, who have in turn asked their State Legislators to intervene on their communities’ behalf and force DEP to back off. Municipal and elected officials need to hear from citizens who support keeping adequate flows in streams needed to support aquatic habitat and other instream functions such as fishing, swimming and paddling. Margaret feels that there are a lot of citizens (i.e., customers of public water suppliers) out there who are sincerely interested in lessening their impact on the riverine environment, and the CRWA is leading an effort to rally these folks (see the “Blue Town Campaign” at http://www.crwa.org/index.html?wavestop.html&0). The WMA prohibits DEP from issuing permits that violate “safe yield”, and the WMA statute (Mass. General Laws Chapter 21G, http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-21g-toc.htm) clearly gives the agency the authority to modify WMA permits in hydrologically-stressed basins to achieve balanced water budgets. Margaret would like to see a more widespread use of the “water bank” (a.k.a “offset”) technique, successfully employed in the Town of Weymouth and elsewhere, to help achieve this outcome, and she feels DEP has the authority to require WMA permit holders to establish them. Water banks require folks seeking new or expanded water consumption to compensate for (i.e., offset) that water use by paying for or otherwise ensuring that an equal or greater amount of water will be returned to or retained in the natural environment. For example, a new subdivision seeking to hook up to Town water could be required by a water bank to help pay for modifications to existing infrastructure (like ripping up excess pavement) that reduces imperviousness and enhances replenishment of aquifers and streamflow. A subdivision that employs “state of the art’ techniques for minimizing its adverse hydrological impact, such as low-impact development (LID), minimal lawn sizes, water-efficient appliances, etc., might qualify for a partial or complete waiver of the water bank fee. An important benefit of the water bank technique is its value in broadening the responsibility for restoring hydrological balance beyond the water supplier and its customers to involve other municipal officials and public and private entities that have some say over how land is used. For example, the town Planning Board normally has jurisdiction over the creation of subdivisions and the Department of Public Works oversees the town’s infrastructure; full participation of these and other land use decision-makers in a water bank should considerably enhance its chance of success. Alexandra Dawson discussed the legal authority of towns to regulate private wells. [Alexandra helped write a report on this subject a couple years ago] She acknowledged that, as public water suppliers raise water rates to encourage conservation and/or help pay for improvements to the water supply infrastructure, this action is likely to spur some water users to drill their own wells. Dawson added that while it appears that ground water can be privately-owned in Massachusetts , municipalities nevertheless have the power to regulate the installation and use of private wells, including irrigation wells. Afternoon sessions at the Conference included a presentation by Colin Apse of The Nature Conservancy on the Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (LHA – pronounced “LOHA”) streamflow methodology. The LHA methodology seeks to create adequate conditions for native aquatic and other water-dependent species enough of the time, not optimal conditions for native species all of the time. LHA has three basic steps: 1) classify rivers and streams into hydrological classes (because they don’t all behave the same flow-wise); 2) assign rivers and streams into ecological condition classes; and 3) establish the means to protect instream flows that meet the desired condition, while seeking to restore a more natural flow regime to rivers and streams not meeting the desired condition. This third step can be implemented by a wide variety of means such as water banks, “optimization” of water withdrawal rates and locations to minimize streamflow depletion, and a whole host of other practices to help restore and maintain hydrological balance and ecological health to flowing waters. Todd Callaghan of the Mass. Office of Coastal Zone Management discussed desalination (“desal”), a method for creating or enlarging drinking water supply that is drawing a lot of attention in recent years. Todd reported that 22 states (led by California , Florida and Texas ) have active or proposed desal facilities. Many of these desal plants are located away from the ocean and are treating brackish water to potable quality. Proponents of desal plants in Massachusetts are looking to locate them in tidal rivers where the salinity is lower and less energy (and money) is required to desalinate the water. The “pros” of desal include predictability and diversification of supply and water supply independence (for those suppliers that purchase some or all of their water from others). Although desal may offer the enticing possibility that new water obtained via this technique could enable a water supplier to reduce the desiccating impact of an existing well or reservoir, it is uncertain at this point whether any desal projects in Mass. will in fact result in such an environmentally-beneficial outcome. Mass. Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) Assistant Secretary Jim Stergios stated that Mass.’s recently enacted Water Policy (http://www.mass.gov/envir/wptf/default.htm) calls for better management of the state’s finite water resources to meet the needs of human as well as natural communities. While some new growth in the Commonwealth is inevitable, and perhaps even desirable, for that new growth to be sustainably accommodated, any new water demanded by such new growth must offset that increased use by reducing water use elsewhere. He added that he hopes to see a more widespread adoption of LID techniques in new growth and is encouraging EOEA’s MEPA program to promote LID in projects coming under its jurisdiction. In the meantime, the Policy calls for enhancing the reuse and recharge of treated wastewater (see below) as an important means of replenishing aquifers and streamflow. Jim reported that Governor Romney’s FY06 capital budget will support more funding for stream gaging, an essential source of data from which water resources planning and regulatory decision-making rely upon. George Allaire of the Town of Yarmouth, accompanied by Dave Young of Camp, Dresser and McKee, presented a success story of the Town’s expansion of a nine-hole golf course over a closed landfill and their choice to irrigate the course with reclaimed wastewater because they preferred not use the Town’s limited drinking water supply for that purpose. They reported that the U.S. EPA recently (2004) issued guidelines for water reuse http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/pubs/625r04108/625r04108.htm) that address public health concerns. Lorraine Joubert of the University of Rhode Island’s Cooperative Extension Program mentioned a couple other water reuse examples she was familiar with (the Wrentham Outlet Mall and Gillette Stadium) and then presented a successful example of decentralized wastewater treatment (employed in the mill village of Chepachet, in the RI portion of the Blackstone watershed), a means for “keeping water local” so that it may benefit nearby ground and surface waters. [Go to http://www.uri.edu/ce/wq/mtp/PDFs/chepachet_mar05.pdf for more info on the Chepachet project.] Lorraine emphasized the importance of proper design, construction and (especially) maintenance of decentralized facilities in order to ensure that they have a beneficial impact on the water quality and quantity of the places where they are located. While Lorraine acknowledged that innovative and advanced (i.e., better than conventional septic systems) wastewater treatment systems have the potential for opening up marginal land (e.g., land that doesn’t “perc”) to new development, she reiterated the value of these systems as an alternative to new or expanded sewers in addressing inadequately-sized and/or performing treatment systems serving existing development. Anne Capra of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) presented the story of the City of Chicopee ’s ongoing effort to better manage its stormwater. The fact that stormwater surcharging the City’s sewer system led to raw sewage flowing into people’s basements helped to create the impetus and political will for the city to charge a fee to help fund the City’s efforts to improve stormwater management. The stormwater fee assessed on property owners is based on the square footage of impervious surfaces. The fee raises about $1 million/year, which has enabled the City to hire eight staffpeople and conduct an extremely effective public outreach campaign. Although the City of Chicopee considered but eventually chose not to establish a separate stormwater utility to fund and operate its stormwater management plan, the City and the PVPC put together a “How to Create a Stormwater Utility” kit (see http://www.pvpc.org/docs/landuse/storm_util.pdf) to assist others that might want to go that route. The Massachusetts Legislature also helped out, amending Chapter 83 of the Mass. General Laws in 2004 to facilitate the creation and funding of municipal stormwater management programs (see Sections 135 to 140 of http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw04/sl040149.htm and http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-83-toc.htm). Anne remarked that she has recently gotten a great increase in calls from municipal officials and others asking for help on how to set up a stormwater utility (she thinks the calls are largely triggered by communities subject to the NPDES stormwater Phase II requirements). Lance Van Lenten of Scituate and coordinator of the First Herring Brook Watershed Initiative (FHBWI) showed a short video recounting FHBWI’s efforts to protect the watershed of First Herring Brook, a major source of the Town’s public water supply. While the Town had a watershed protection overlay district in place that restricted development along the mainstem of the brook and the reservoirs it feeds, the FHBWI suspected that some undocumented tributaries to these waterways were inadvertently left out of the protected area. Using Adopt-A-Stream Shoreline Survey protocols and with a SWAP grant from DEP, FHBWI volunteers slogged through swamps and endured biting insects to document the location of all the brook’s tributaries, many of which were absent from local and state maps. FHBWI produced an accurate, detailed map of the watershed that was considered to be of such high quality that the Mass. DEP subsequently amended its own official “Zone A” (surface water supply source) map to include the previously undocumented tributaries FHBWI had discovered. FHBWI is currently working with Riverways’ RIFLS on flow issues and with Adopt-A-Stream on a “social marketing” project to encourage people living within the watershed to take action to prevent nonpoint source pollution getting into local waterways. While the interests of FHBWI volunteers go beyond water supply to seek to protect the watershed, its waterways and wetlands for their ecological, habitat and other natural values, Lance readily admitted that the fact that the brook and its tributaries are a major source of water supply for the Town makes it much easier for his group’s efforts to get attention and support from townspeople and municipal officials. Shep Evans from Stockbridge, a participant in Riverways’ RIFLS (River Instream Flow Stewards) Program,shared his experiences as a citizen volunteer streamflow watchdog. Shep and a local fishing guide noticed unnatural flow fluctuations in the Housatonic River and traced them down to the Glendale hydroelectric generating facility. Shep compiled evidence he gathered from the USGS’s streamgage (most USGS streamgage data is accessible in “real time” over the Web – see http://ma.water.usgs.gov/water/water_s.htm) and presented it to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which regulates hydropower facilities. FERC agreed with Shep that the Glendale facility was causing unnatural flow fluctuations in the Housatonic River at the gage in violation of the “run of river” provision in its license, and the utility subsequently modified its facility to greatly reduce flow fluctuations downstream. Shep also discussed his efforts to mitigate adverse impacts on streamflow caused by lake drawdowns to control nuisance aquatic vegetation. A major problem can occur in the spring when most if not all of the flow to the outlet brook is shut off in order to refill the lake. Shep got the Stockbridge Conservation Commission to assert jurisdiction over a lake drawdown for Stockbridge Bowl and issued an Order of Conditions that regulates the timing and rate of the drawdown and refill in order to minimize adverse impact to the outlet stream (Larrywaug Brook). The final speaker at the Mass. Stream Flow Conference, Kerry Mackin , Executive Directorof the Ipswich River Watershed Association, gave a very informative PowerPoint presentation showing why the Ipswich River has earned the dubious distinction of one of America’ ten most endangered rivers and is the “poster child” for stream flow (i.e., the lack thereof). Kerry reviewed the many factors contributing to the Ipswich ’s chronic low- or no-flow conditions during the summer. Kerry called the flow of cool, clean groundwater (a.k.a. “baseflow”) to the River its “elixir of life”, helping to dilute pollutant concentrations and maintain the water depths and dissolved oxygen levels necessary to support aquatic life. Among the Ipswich ’s biggest problems is a reduction of groundwater discharge into the River and its tributaries, due to its interception by shallow streamside wells, infiltration into sewer lines leaving the basin, and prevention of infiltration into the ground by impervious surfaces. Fortunately, a report commissioned several years ago for the Ipswich and prepared by Horsley-Witten (see http://www.horsleywitten.com/ipswich.html) shows that the Ipswich River watershed can be restored to hydrological balance and ecological health through a multi-faceted approach: reduce unnecessary water consumption and use of streamside wells, especially in the summer (Kerry says that a portion of water supply ratepayer revenue can and should be allocated to promote water conservation); reduce export of water via sewers (treat and discharge water locally to replenish aquifers and streamflow); protect key natural areas in the watershed that benefit water quality and quantity; repair damaged streambeds (through, e.g., dam breaching and removal where feasible); capture water when it is abundant and store for later use (especially small-scale storage such as rain barrels and cisterns); reduce impervious surfaces through LID and other means; treat and reuse water wherever possible (e.g., use reclaimed wastewater instead of well water to irrigate golf courses); and look for alternative sources of water outside the Ipswich watershed (such as the MWRA or desalination). These and other means will enable more water to be retained in the Ipswich River system to sustain healthy aquatic organisms and ecosystems as well as human uses such as fishing, swimming and paddling. Kerry closed by saying that while the Ipswich is perhaps the best known of Massachusetts waterways with unnaturally-low flow problems, it is unfortunately far from unique: there are many other river segments and watersheds elsewhere in the Commonwealth that are (or will soon be, if current trends continue) seriously hydrologically stressed (see, e.g., http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/river/programs/rifls/lowflow_inventory.htm). Many of these river systems face similar challenges and offer similar restoration opportunities to the Ipswich , and she encouraged river and streamflow advocates to collaborate to address streamflow problems and solutions on a statewide basis. The Conference concluded with closing remarks by Riverways’ Director Joan Kimball who thanked the speakers and Conference participants for their interest and involvement in streamflow issues. Feedback at the Conference and afterwards has been overwhelmingly positive, with many people indicating on Conference evaluation form a variety of ways they intend to use what they learned at the Conference to protect and restore streamflow in their own communities. Responses included the following: “As a gardener plugged into two national gardening associations, it’s imperative that we spread the anti-irrigation message & encourage homeowners to redefine the homescape into something other than grass and look into drought tolerant native species”[see, e.g., http://www.mass.gov/envir/mwrc/pdf/More_Than_Just_Yard.pdf]; “Indulge even more in my favorite pastime – stream walking – and start carrying a camera when I do [to document low- or no-flow conditions]”; and “I work at a consulting company and I’m going to do my best to suggest and help design better projects for water conservation. I am also going to live my life better, with more focus on water conservation and educate the people around me”. Sponsored by the Belfast, ME-based Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, the Switzer Leadership Grant Program (http://www.switzernetwork.org/leadership-guidelines.html) is designed to advance the public service careers of Switzer Fellowship alumni and to give non-profit organizations, educational institutions and government agencies addressing issues of environmental quality access to individuals with superior technical and scientific expertise, while working in partnership to address a significant environmental issue. Grants are available to any U.S.-based environmental organizations with 501(c)(3) status or public agencies. One year grants of up to $40,000 are available to organizations for projects which involve Switzer Fellows in a substantive role. Funds may be used to cover direct program costs, including salaries and benefits, consulting fees, travel, materials and equipment. Up to 15% of overhead recovery will be considered. Concept letters are due on September 1, 2005 . For more information, contact Lissa Widoff, Executive Director (lissa@switzernetwork.org), Erin Lloyd, Program Coordinator (erin@switzernetwork.org) or call (207) 338-5654. Applications are due Sept. 2 for the 2005 National Watershed Awards by CF Industries that honor corporate and community excellence in watershed protection. Winners will be announced Oct. 31 at a Water Environment Federation conference in Washington , D.C. The company honors a corporation and three watershed groups every year for their outstanding leadership in protecting America ’s water resources. The awards, administered by The Conservation Fund, focus on innovative, non-regulatory approaches to improving water quality. Community award winners will receive $10,000 to fund their projects. For applications or for more info, go on-line to http://www.cfindustries.com/commrelations/watershed/watershed.htm, contact Beth Koonse [b.koonse@freshwaterinstitute.org, (304) 876-2815] or Jesús Peralta [jperalta@cfindustries.com, (202) 371-9279]. While the primary focus of the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)’s FY 2006 Municipal Waste Reduction Grant Program is on recycling-related programs and equipment, eligible proposals also include healthy lawns and landscape workshops as well as rain barrel discounts and water conservation tools. Go on-line to http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/cities.htm#grants and http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/files/2006gtqa.doc for more info; the application deadline is Thursday, September 8 th. The Mass. Office of Coastal Zone Management (MCZM) is currently offering several grant opportunities. The Coastal Monitoring Grants Program recognizes that sound data and information are vital to the management, protection, and restoration of important coastal habitats and natural resources and funds environmental monitoring and assessment efforts in coastal wetlands and water bodies (“coastal” is interpreted broadly to include any watershed draining to the Mass. coastline). Grants may be used by monitoring groups, organizations, or firms to monitor water quality, track changes in populations of introduced species, and assess impacts to wetlands. For more info, go to http://www.mass.gov/czm/monitoring_grants.htm. To view the RFR, visit the Comm-PASS website at http://www.comm-pass.com/ and search for document number “ENV 06 CZM 01.” MCZM is also seeking applications for its Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Grants Program (Coastal NPS). The program provides funding to Mass. public and non-profit organizations (cities and towns, regional planning agencies, watershed organizations, public schools, etc.) for the assessment and characterization of nonpoint source pollution (NPS), development of transferable management tools for NPS control, and implementation of unique demonstration projects that utilize NPS best management practices (“BMPs”). All applicants are subject to the Commonwealth Capital (ComCap) criteria. For more ComCap information, go to http://www.mass.gov/ocd/comcap/htm. To view the RFR, go to http://www.comm-pass.com/ and search for document number “ENV 06 CZM 02.” Last but not least, MCZM is also seeking applications for its Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grants Program (CPR). The CPR program provides funding to municipalities located in the Greater Massachusetts Coastal Watershed for the assessment and remediation of stormwater pollution from paved surfaces, and the installation of boat pumpout facilities. All CPR applicants are also subject to ComCap criteria. Go to http://www.comm-pass.com/ to view the RFR; search for document number “ENV 06 CZM 03.” Proposals for all three of these MCZM grant programs are due by Friday, September 16. The Mass. Executive Office of Environmental Affairs’ FY06 Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program provides funds to protect and actively maintain key parcels of land believed critical to protecting current and future drinking water supplies. Potential projects may include the protection of land in and around groundwater aquifers and recharge areas, surface water supplies and watershed areas, and surface or underground lands adjacent to those resources. Eligible entities include those recognized by a legislative act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , which were created to provide drinking water infrastructure and services to the public, including Water Districts and Fire Districts. All applicants must have a current Source Water Assessment Report on file with the Mass. DEP to be eligible for grant funding. All parcels for which assistance is provided through this grant must be open to the general public for appropriate recreational use while consistent with 310 CMR 22.00 and must be protected open space under Article 97 of the Mass. Constitution. Drinking Water Supply Protection grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Projects that demonstrate financial or corporative efforts among partners, augment or connect existing conservation lands, or lie within identified priority conservation or recreation land, will receive greater consideration for funding. Requests for grant funding cannot exceed 50% of the total project cost, with a maximum request of $500,000. For the complete RFR, go to http://www.comm-pass.com, click on “Search for Solicitations”, and then enter “ENV 06 POL 02” into the “Search” box. Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 28, 2005. For more info, contact Christy Edwards at Christy.Edwards@state.ma.us or (617) 616-1151. MA EOEA is also offering Conservation Partnership grants for FY06. The goal of the Conservation Partnership Program is to assist not-for-profit corporations in acquiring interests in lands which are suitable for conservation or recreation. Conservation Partnership grants are for the reimbursement of eligible costs for projects approved by EOEA. Each award will have a maximum reimbursement amount of up to $35,000 and the reimbursement amount may not exceed 50% of the total cost of the approved project. The application deadline is Wednesday, October 5, 2005 at 3 p.m. For more info, go on-line to http://www.comm-pass.com, click on “Search for Solicitations”, and then enter “ENV 06 POL 03” into the “Search” box. Programs that work to manage resources (whether of ecological, economic or aesthetic values) are most effective when a broad range of community members and stakeholders are involved in both planning and implementation of the program. Involving local citizens in a hands-on grass-roots approach to stewardship can help to develop a common vision of the future and harness their energies to make that vision come true. Controversial environmental issues can polarize a community, leading to an inability to take action, bitter rifts and loss of trust among community members. Engaging in a collaborative process that works to build consensus instead of confrontation, parties may be able to resolve a conflict and move forward without resorting to litigation. The Laura Jane Musser Fund assists public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects in rural areas to undertake consensus-based activities in environmental stewardship or dispute resolution. The fund is particularly interested in new initiatives (planning and/or implementation); nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, new organizations that are forming if sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization, and units of government at the federal, state or local level are eligible for funding. Grants of up to $35,000 may be made for projects in this program. This year’s application deadline is September 30; no prior letter of intent is necessary; decisions will be made in January 2006. For more info, go on-line to http://www.musserfund.org/environmental.htm or contact Mary Karen Lynn-Klimenko at (651) 224-5209 or musser@visi.com. The William P. Wharton Trust supports conservation, study and appreciation of nature through projects with tangible and lasting results, those that seek partnerships and that leverage funds to gain matching contributions. In order of priority, the Trust specifically supports: 1) acquisition of land for conservation and preservation of natural areas, primarily in MA and NE; 2) management techniques designed to improve environmental quality and species diversity; 3) bird and forestry research & management at the applied level vs. the theoretical or molecular level; and 4) creation of materials or projects designed to foster an appreciation and a concern for wildlife and natural systems. Range of award is usually from $2,500 to $10,000 and usually for the duration of one year. The next application deadline is October 1 st. For more info, contact: Pearl E. Bell, Estate & Trust Administrator, The William P. Wharton Trust, c/o Choate, Hall & Stewart, Exchange Place, Boston, MA 02109-2804, pbell@choate.com or call (617) 248-5253. The Environment Program of the Sudbury Foundation http://www.sudburyfoundation.org focuses on two geographic regions that face significant challenges to ecological integrity and community sustainability: Gulf of ME Fisheries and Coastal Communities and The Northern Forest of NY, VT, NH, and ME. The Program supports projects that conserve and restore the productive capacity of these two ecosystems while helping to build a better future for the people who depend on them. It also favors community-based efforts to conserve resources and enhance quality of life – solutions developed with local input. Grant awards range from $5000- $25,000. The next deadline for submitting proposals is October 1; it is also OK to send a letter of inquiry prior to that date and/or to call and discuss project for feedback. For more information, contact Fredericka Tanner , Executive Director, Marilyn Martino , Program Officer, General Inquiry or write to 278 Old Sudbury Road , Sudbury , MA , 01776 or call (978) 443-0849 or (978) 579-9536 (fax). The objective of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation’s Community-based Restoration Program CRP, is to bring together citizen groups, public and nonprofit organizations, industry, corporations and businesses, youth conservation corps, students, landowners, and local government, state and Federal agencies to restore fishery habitat around the coastal U.S. Through CRP’s Direct Grants Program, funds are provided to implement individual, grass-roots restoration projects to restore marine, anadromous and catadromous fish habitat. Projects funded through the CRP will be expected to have strong on-the-ground habitat restoration components that provide educational and social benefits for people and the communities in addition to long-term ecological habitat improvements for fish and other aquatic resources. For FY06, the total amount of grant funds awarded is expected to be $3,000,000.00, with the average grant size between $50,000 and $200,000. Proposals are due by October 12. For more info, go to the following link to NOAA's Restoration webpage. Each year, the Constitutional Rights Foundation awards Robinson Mini-Grants of up to $500 for K-12 service-learning projects designed to address serious community issues (including environmental issues). Students will develop problem-solving skills which they can use later in life. They will also learn citizenship skills by practicing them. The skills the students gain from doing these projects will not only help their community but also help them in their life as a citizen of a democratic society. This year’s deadline is Oct. 14 th. For more info, go on-line to http://www.crf-usa.org/network/crf_robin.html or contact Katie Moore atkatie@crf-usa.org or (213) 316-2104. The Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust (http://www.hembar.com/selectsrv/jbcox/cox.html) funds projects in New England in the areas of health, education and the environment and is particularly interested in projects that primarily benefit underserved populations and disadvantaged communities in New England, as well as projects that focus on prevention rather than remediation. The Trust is interested in supporting environmental projects which will have a positive impact on: protection of critical natural resources; energy conservation; public awareness of the critical environmental issues facing the region; protection of the public’s health, especially in low income or minority communities. The Trust is also interested in fostering collaborations among nonprofit organizations. Grant awards range from $25,000 - $ 75,000 (average award = $ 35,000). The next deadline for submitting concept papers isOctober 15 . For more information, contact: The Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust, Select Client Services, Hemenway & Barnes, 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109-1899, (617) 227-7940, x 775, scs@hembar.com. Approximately 100 new fellowships will be awarded for research in environmental fields of study through the U.S. EPA’s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program . The STAR program provides educational support for full-time masters and doctoral level students who plan to pursue environmental careers; with a focus on developing future leaders in environmental science, education, assessment, and restoration efforts. Deadline for applications is Oct. 18, 2005 . Awards for this selection process will be made by May 30, 2006 for the fall term. More than 1,300 applicants compete each year for approximately 100 fellowships through a rigorous merit review process. EPA has awarded more than 1,000 fellowships to students in almost every state and the District of Columbia . Examples of project areas undertaken by previous fellows include environmental engineering, environmental health sciences, toxicology, and the ecology of aquatic and terrestrial systems. Fellows will receive up to $37,000 per year, with masters degree candidates eligible for up to two years of support and doctoral candidates for a total of three years. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or be lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Information on STAR fellowships is available at: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/fellow. Detailed application information can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2006/2006_star_fellow.html. The purpose of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education ( Northeast SARE )’s Sustainable Community GrantsProgram (http://www.uvm.edu/~nesare/grants_scomm.htm) is to reconnect rural revitalization and farming. Projects can address diverse issues such as land use, nutrition, employment, markets, education, farm labor, public policy, and environmental quality. SARE seeks proposals that will bring together farmers, local government, citizens, community nonprofits, extension, civic and environmental organizations, and others who contribute to community vitality. Projects should support appropriate growth, improved quality of life, a cleaner environment, and farm diversity and profitability. Eligible recipients include community nonprofits, Cooperative Extension, local governments, educational institutions, planning boards, farming cooperatives, and incorporated citizens’ groups. SARE will award up to $10,000 toward project costs. Grant proposals must be received by 4 p.m. on Friday, November 18 . Contact (802) 656-0471 or nesare@uvm.edu for more info. The Open Space Institute (OSI, http://www.osiny.org) recently announced the creation of a $2 millionrevolving loan fund to facilitate the protection of threatened landscapes in western Massachusetts (i.e., the region west of Worcester ). The fund is being launched with an initial contribution from the Kohlberg Foundation. The fund will provide short-term, low-interest loans to land trusts and other conservation organizations working to permanently protect working farms and forests, as well as other ecologically sensitive landscapes. The loan fund announcement came on the heels of a comprehensive study of conservation opportunities and threats in Massachusetts completed by OSI and funded by the Kohlberg Foundation. The study, “ Western Massachusetts , Assessing the Conservation Opportunities ” (http://www.osiny.org/AnnualReports_List.asp#mass) identifies western Massachusetts as containing some of southern New England ’s best remaining viable working farms and forests. The study states that conservation efforts in the region are hampered by sharply curtailed state acquisition funds and archaic state land use laws that have had the effect of fueling unplanned development. The result is a gap of as much as $30 million in acquisition funding for pending or proposed conservation transactions in the region. Last but not least: the RI DEM Sustainable Watersheds office has put together a “links” page to various public and private environmental grant opportunities (see, e.g., web link- click on other topics in the left column for other funding opportunities). Take particular note of the info for the Bafflin Foundation and the Gilbert and Ildiko Butler Foundation, neither of which apparently have their own web pages. In addition, Grants.gov allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies. Grants.gov is the single access point for over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies. Plan to visit http://www.grants.gov/ from time to time to find out what’s available. Earlier this year, the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) published and placed on-line an official set of Mouth of Coastal River (MOR) Maps (http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/ww/maps/maps.htm). These maps identify the Mouth Of The River (MOR) for coastal rivers in order to provide a clear, consistent, and predictable means of determining where a coastal river (and associated “Riverfront Area” resource area) “ends” and where the coastline begins at all river mouths in the Commonwealth. The MOR lines represent the limit of Riverfront Area jurisdiction under the Wetlands Protection Act. [On a related topic: Some of you may recall that shortly after the Rivers Protection Act passed in 1996, DEP hired regional wetlands circuit riders to help educate local conservation commissions and citizens about the new law (which created the new “Riverfront Area” resource area under the state Wetlands Act) as well as other aspects of state wetlands law and regulations. These circuit riders played a key role in helping to ensure a relatively smooth and effective administration and implementation of the Rivers/Wetlands Protection Acts across the Commonwealth. While the original wetlands circuit riders have since moved on to other endeavors, DEP has recently re-staffed the circuit rider positions. Here are the new people and their contact info: DEP Northeast Region (NERO): DEP Central Region (CERO): DEP Western Region (WERO): DEP Southeast Region (SERO): These people are available to answer questions about state wetlands law, regulations and procedures, and will offer public educational programs on various aspects of this topic from time to time. [If you are unsure which DEP region(s) your community or watershed is in, go to http://www.mass.gov/dep/service.htm.] According to DEP Wetlands Circuit Rider Coordinator Alice Smith [(617) 292-5854, alice.smith@state.ma.us], DEP hopes to hire a second circuit rider for SERO in the near future. For more information, go on-line to http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/ww/rpwwhome.htm and http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/ww/regs.htm.] Hunters, anglers, birders and other wildlife recreation enthusiasts can now enjoy a new version of many of MassWildlife’s Wildlife Management Area (WMA) maps. The new look consists of WMA boundaries drawn over a color topographic map with a map locator inset to orient the map user. A brief write-up on a second page provides information on the terrain, habitats, wildlife and any special regulations that apply to each WMA. To find the WMA maps, go to http://www.masswildlife.org, click on “Outdoor Recreation”, then click on “Wildlife Lands” and lastly the “WMA Maps” link. Across the Commonwealth, MassWildlife owns and/or manages approximately 155,000 acres of WMA’s which are open to hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and other passive wildlife related recreation. These lands are essential to the agency’s effort to protect the biodiversity of the Commonwealth and secure the public’s continued access to enjoy wildland habitat. Funding for acquiring wildlife habitat is derived primarily from open space bond funds and the mandatory purchase of a $5 Wildlands Stamp by each fishing, hunting and trapping license buyer as well as others interested in conserving the Commonwealth’s wildlife resources (see http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfwlnd.htm#HELP). The Center for Stormwater Technology Evaluation and Verification (CSTEV) is a groundbreaking program that provides rigorous scientific field-testing and demonstration of stormwater treatment technologies. Funded by the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), a partnership between NOAA and the University of New Hampshire (UNH), CSTEV offers workshops in support of municipal managers, engineers, and others charged with developing and implementing stormwater management plans. The Center has installed and is testing 12 different best management practices (BMPs) at its nine-acre site at the UNH Durham campus. The multi-year project has been going on for about a year, and has generated extensive data on pollutant removal efficiencies and hydrology of conventional BMPs, Low Impact Development BMPs, and manufactured BMPs. Go to http://www.epa.gov/owow/info/NewsNotes/issue76/76issue.pdf (see article beginning on p.21) or http://www.unh.edu/erg/cstev/ for more info. In the meantime, the Mass. Stormwater Technology Evaluation Project (MASTEP, http://www.mastep.net,) website is a source of verified technical information about stormwater BMPs and provides information on innovative technologies to BMP users. The site, sponsored by UMass/Amherst, includes a searchable database of performance characteristics for innovative stormwater treatment technologies. The U.S. EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW) recently launched a new on-line Watershed Discussion Forum that offers watershed practitioners throughout the U.S. a platform to exchange ideas, so that innovative solutions and ideas can be easily shared in (near) real-time cyberspace. The Forum currently includes seven topic categories: Community Involvement; Invasive Species; Smart Growth/Low Impact Development; Source Water Protection; Stormwater Best Management Practices; Sustainable Financing; and Watershed Planning Tools. Go on-line to http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/forum/forum.html to share your expertise and/or learn from others. Anyone can view the discussion, but one must register to post messages and receive customized updates. Non-government On-line Resources Adopt-A-Waterway™ ConserveOnline EcoLabels and Greener Choices Environmental Media Services (EMS) GreenGuidance Green Map System Historic USGS Maps of New England & NY Land and Water Magazine (L&W) National Fish Habitat Initiative (NFHI) PharmwasteListserv Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) Rail Trails of Massachusetts Shawsheen River Watershed Association Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers The Conservation Campaign: Vote for Land and Water Take Me Fishing™ Water Conserve Watershed-Integrated Science Partnership (WISP) The Trustees of Reservations’ Putnam Conservation Institute is hosting a free workshop entitled ”Identifying Natural Communities” on Thursday, September 8 from 1-4PM at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster. In this workshop you will learn to identify the natural communities of Massachusetts according to the State's standard classification system. The MA Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program has classified and described 105 natural communities in the state. By using this standardized system, scientists, conservationists and others can communicate with common terminology to better determine sound management decisions and conservation efforts. This workshop includes time in the classroom and in the field. Staff from the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences will lead this workshop. To register, contactJackie Allain at jallain@ttor.org or (978) 840-4446 x1923 – please register by September 2. American Rivers has organized a River Lobby Day (see http://www.riverlobbyday.org/) on September 12 th-13 th (Mon.-Tues.), when activists from across the country will descend on Capitol Hill to tell their elected officials the story of a broad movement of people who care deeply about the health of rivers in their communities. This is your chance to keep your elected officials accountable for protecting river health. Contact Jamie Mierau at (202) 347-7550 or jmierau@americanrivers.org for more info. The United Nations launched the “Water for Life Decade” earlier this year, to bring a higher profile to global water issues (see http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade). As part of this effort, river enthusiasts from around the world are coming together to participate in the inaugural “World Rivers Day” on September 25th, 2005 . World Rivers Day is an outgrowth of Canada’s National Rivers Day, which itself was spawned from a provincial (British Columbia) Rivers Day, held each year on the last Saturday of September. For more information, go to http://www.riversday.bcit.ca/update.htm. The Center for Coastal and Watershed Systems at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies is offering a fall short course in river processes. The course is an introduction to the current scientific understanding of how river ecosystems function and how human activities affect that functioning. The course is designed to provide participants with the basic scientific tools and terminology needed to understand and evaluate scientific data relevant to the management of rivers. The course is appropriate for anyone interested in river protection, including conservation and inland wetland commissioners, members of watershed associations, teachers, and municipal planners. The course will be offered as 2 evening classroom sessions and a full day Sunday session that will include both classroom time and field time. Dates (participants should attend all 3 sessions): Thursday, October 6, 6-9:30 PM Sunday, October 9, 9 AM - 5 PM , and Monday, October 10, 6-9 PM . Location: Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, New Haven (and field trip to Quinnipiac River ). Instructors: Prof. Shimon Anisfeld, James MacBroom, P.E., and Roy Schiff, Ph.D. Cost: $60 (includes food and materials) To register, please send name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and check (made out to Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies) to: Martha Smith, Yale Short Course in River Processes, Center for Coastal and Watershed Systems Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies 205 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06511. Contact Martha at (203) 432-3026 or Martha/smith@yale.edu for more info. “Bioneers” is an internationally-acclaimed gathering of scientific and social innovators who have demonstrated visionary and practical models for restoring the Earth and communities. The Marion Institute will host the “Bioneers by the Bay - Connecting for Change” Northeast regional conference from October 14 th -16 th (Fri.-Sun.) at the UMass/Dartmouth campus. The Institute will be linked, via satellite, to the main Bioneersconference in San Rafael , CA (http://www.bioneers.org/conference/). In addition, Bioneers by the Bay organizers will present a regional program of speakers, workshops, panel discussions, exhibitors, food, entertainment, a film festival and related events. Bioneers by the Bay will feature such topics as renewable energy systems, new paradigms in business, native ecology, healthy food, youth leadership, holistic health, sustainable communities, and more. Go-on-line to http://www.connectingforchange.org/content/ or call (508) 748-0816 to register or for more info. On Tuesday, October 18, citizens of the global community will join in World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD, http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/), a worldwide opportunity to positively impact the health of rivers, lakes, estuaries and other waterbodies. Volunteer monitoring groups, water quality agencies, students and the general public are invited to test four key indicators of water quality: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Go to the WWMD website to register your monitoring site; data gathered from 9/18 to 12/18 is eligible for inclusion in the WWMD database and report. America 's Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) is partnering with the U.S. EPA, and the Girl and Boy Scouts to encourage broader participation in WWMD (see., e.g., the Linking Girls to the Land website at http://www.epa.gov/linkinggirls). . The Mass. Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC)’s 2005 Fall Conference, entitled “Designing & Permitting River & Stream Crossings”, will explore the key engineering, regulatory, and environmental issues raised by river and stream crossings for roadways and driveways in the light of dramatically new regulatory requirements. The same program will be offered from 8AM-4PM on two dates and locations: Saturday, October 22 ndat Mass. Bay Community College in Wellesley Hills and Saturday, November 5 th at the Crowne Plaza in Pittsfield . The conference is oriented toward Conservation Commissioners, civil engineers, environmental consultants, and anyone else involved with the design or permitting of river and stream crossings. Topics explored during the full-day conference will include: a review of the new standards imposed on all new river and most stream crossings (including replacement of existing structures with larger ones) by the Army Corps of Engineers Programmatic General Permit (PGP – see http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/reg/InitialPublicNotice.pdf, especially General Condition #21, which incorporates by reference a document entitled “Massachusetts River and Stream Crossing Standards: Technical Guidelines - August 6, 2004”, (see link); an overview of fluvial geomorphology – understanding such terms as “bankfull”, “bed forms”, “head cut”, “entrenchment ratio”, and other terms and concepts necessary for understanding the flow of water in rivers, streams, and through crossing structures such as culverts; design and permitting options for crossing intermittent streams, including an engineering and regulatory exploration of culverts, spans, and other methods; a primer on the PGP requirements for new crossings of perennial rivers, including bottomless arches and bridges; a review of design standards and requirements for replacing existing stream crossings, with an emphasis on the need for good design and site assessment; and a tutorial on how to read maps and plans from the standpoint of river features and design structures, including plan view, cross sectional, profile, vertical exaggeration, and more. Registration Fee: MACC Members $80, Non-members $110. To register, or for more info, go on-line to http://www.maccweb.org/documents/fall_con_2005.pdf, or call the MACC at (617) 489-3930. The Association of State Wetlands Managers (ASWM) is hosting a training workshop entitled “ Integrated Restoration of Riverine Wetlands, Streams, Riparian Areas, And Floodplains In Watershed Contexts ”, to be held from November 15-16 (Tue.-Wed.) at UMass/Amherst. Registration Fees: ASWM Members: $175; Non-members: $185; and Student Fee: $95. This will include all sessions, background materials, CD-ROM, coffee breaks, and two lunches. Go on-line to http://www.aswm.org/calendar/integratingrest/integratedrest.htm or contact Laura Burchill at (207) 892-3399 or laura@aswm.org for more info. Sandra Postel , the keynote speaker at this year’s Massachusetts Stream Flow Conference (see recap ogf her remarks in NewsNotes #16), has recently authored a new and thought-provoking paper, “Liquid Assets,” on the multiple - and essential - benefits of healthy watersheds and freshwater ecosystems. Sandra documents that “By taking advantage of the work that healthy watersheds and freshwater ecosystems perform naturally, cities and rural areas can purify drinking water, alleviate hunger, mitigate flood damages, and meet other societal goals at a fraction of the cost of conventional technological alternatives. But because commercial markets rarely put a price on these ‘ecosystem services,’ and because governments are failing to protect them, they are being lost at a rapid rate.” Liquid Assets is available for download or hard-copy purchase ($7) at http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/paper/170/. (FYI, a related essay by Sandra entitled “Liquidating our Assets” can be read on-line at http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050720/liquidating_our_assets.php. More about Sandra’s other writings, speeches, etc. on this subject can be accessed at http://www.globalwaterpolicy.org In the late Sixties, as the world was waking to a need for Earth Day, a pioneering group founded a small non-profit research and education organization they called the New Alchemy Institute (NAI). Headquartered in Falmouth on Cape Cod , NAI’s aim was to explore the ways a safer and more sustainable world could be created. In the ensuing years, along with scientists, agriculturists, and a host of enthusiastic amateurs and friends, these pioneers set out to discover new ways that basic human needs--in the form of food, shelter, and energy--could be met. A Safe and Sustainable World is the story of that journey, as it was and as it continues to be. The dynamics and the resilience of the living world were NAI’s model and the inspiration for its research. Central to their efforts then and now is, along with science, a spiritual quest for a more harmonious human role in our planet's future. The results of this work have now entered mainstream science through the emerging discipline of ecological design. NAI alumna Nancy Jack Todd relates a fascinating journey from lofty ideals through the hard realities encountered in learning how to actually grow food, harness the energy of the sun and wind, and design green architecture. NAI’s early work culminated in the design and building of two “bioshelters”--large greenhouse-like independent structures called Arks, that provided the setting for much of the research to follow. Nancy and John Todd later founded Ocean Arks International (http://www.oceanarks.org), which applied NAI’s natural systems thinking to restoring polluted waters with the invention and implementation of biologically based living technologies called “Ecomachines” and Pond and Lake Restorers . A Safe and Sustainable World (232pp. $28.95) may be ordered on-line from its publisher, Island Press (http://www.islandpress.org/books/detail.html/SKU/1-55963-778-1) or by calling (800) 621-2736. [Ms. Todd will speak on this topic on Sat. October 22 as part of the 25th Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures, 10 AM-5 PM, First Congregational Church, Main Street, Stockbridge, MA (see http://www.smallisbeautiful.org/events/25th.html#Todd), along with Thomas Linzey, co-founder of and staff attorney for the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (http://www.celdf.org) Last but not least: Riverways has a new “Residential Rain Gardens and Stormwater” Powerpoint presentation about stormwater and installation and design of small residential rain gardens and how to use plants to combat stormwater problems on either residential, municipal or commercial property. Combining roof runoff and other drainage, rain gardens can be a great way to enhance your landscape and help protect your local river or stream. Rain gardens can also provide bird and butterfly habitat and can help solve small drainage issues. The presentation is well suited for garden clubs, neighborhood and environmental groups. Contact Rachel Calabro, Adopt-A-Stream Program Coordinator, at (617) 626-1549 or Rachel.calabro@state.ma.us if your organization would like to schedule a presentation. Does your car have an environmental license plate? Visit the Riverways Staff page |
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The Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET, | Riverways Program, Department of Fish & Game, 251 Causeway St., Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 626-1540 (main line), (617) 626-1505 (fax) Visit the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Visit the Department of Fish & Game |