The BEAT News
May 24, 2007

Housatonic River Visioning Session a Success 5/11&12

On May 11 a crowd gathered at Pitt Park to share ideas about what could happen along the West Branch of the Housatonic River from Wahconah Park to Clapp Park in Pittsfield. The visioning work continued all day Saturday at the Conte Elementary School. See our report and pictures of the session.

The New England National Scenic Trail Act Moves Forward - from Rep. John Olver

I am very pleased to report that the New England Scenic Trail Designation Act, H.R. 1528, received an official hearing at the House Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands on Tuesday, May 15th.  This legislation would designate portions of the Metacomet, Monadnock, Mattabesett (MMM) Trail System as the New England National Scenic Trail.  This hearing was the first step in the process of bringing this legislation to the floor of the House of Representatives.

As you may know, a large segment of the historic 190-mile MMM Trail passes through Massachusetts ' First District.  The historic MMM Trail System hosts an array of scenic features and historic sites.  Long vistas of rural towns, agrarian lands, extensive un-fragmented forests, and large river valleys, as well as pathways through important Native American and colonial landmarks showcase some of the best examples of classic New England landscapes.  I have personally hiked every mile of the trail through Massachusetts , and it is my goal to protect this majestic natural resource from development encroachment.

The MMM Trail is distinctive because it passes through some of the most densely populated parts of the country.  According to the 2000 Census, the 39 municipalities in Connecticut and Massachusetts in which the trail system is located have a combined population of 775,604 people.  More than one million additional people live within 10 miles of the trail but in communities through which the trail does not pass.  The trail system has long offered a unique recreational opportunity for Massachusetts residents in urban areas.  It is my hope that National Scenic Trail designation would provide an opportunity for long term viability by protecting against increasing pressures from developmental growth and raise the profile of the trail to one of national significance.

Currently, the MMM Trail System is administered by local public and private organizations.  The Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club is the primary steward of the trail system in Massachusetts .  The entire system is predominantly managed and maintained by volunteers, and much of it relies on the generosity and commitment of landowners who voluntarily allow it to cross their lands. 

If the New England Scenic Trail Designation Act is passed, private landowners will continue to own and control the use of their own land.  Every landowner whose property is within the historic trail system can choose not to have it included in the National Scenic Trail designation.  The Federal government will act as a partner in the maintenance and preservation of this resource.  This will provide local communities with funding and management assistance that will greatly enhance their ability to maintain the viability of the trail system for generations to come. 

I am encouraged by the progress this bill has achieved in the House of Representatives.  Senator Kerry has introduced a companion bill, S. 923, in the Senate.  I look forward to hopefully passing this important legislation during the 110th Congress.

Sincerely,

John W. Olver

Member of Congress

RICHARD SULLIVAN APPOINTED DCR COMMISSIONER
Westfield mayor, land trust founder pledges to bolster state parks, beaches, and forests

BOSTON – Wednesday, May 23, 2007 – Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles today named Richard Sullivan, currently mayor of Westfield, to be Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). He takes office June 11.

“Governor Patrick and I are thrilled to have Rick Sullivan taking charge of the state’s parks, beaches, and forests,” said Secretary Bowles. “He has a true passion for parks and recreational facilities of all kinds. And he has the public management experience to deliver a quality product to the public.”

“I am proud to become commissioner of an agency that is responsible for 450,000 acres of parks, beaches, and open space,” said Sullivan, who worked as a state lifeguard at a Westfield pool growing up. “This is a great opportunity to work on something I care deeply about – the quality of life in Massachusetts. Parks, open spaces, and recreational opportunities are central to the quality of life we all want, and they are things that companies look at when they decide whether or not to locate here. The desire for clean beaches and parks is very clear. I will do everything I can to satisfy that desire.”

Sullivan, 48, has been mayor of Westfield since 1994; in that capacity, he also serves as chairman of the Westfield School Committee. He is a past president of the Massachusetts Mayors Association, chairman of the Turnpike Advisory Board, and member of the Governor’s Local Advisory Committee.

“Governor Patrick and Secretary Bowles have made a great choice in appointing a fellow mayor, Richard Sullivan, to lead the Department of Conservation and Recreation,” said Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston. “DCR is responsible for nearly half the open space in the City of Boston, as well as the countless historic parkways and bridges that are critically important to our residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Rick Sullivan uniquely understands the needs of cities and towns and I look forward to working with him to ensure that the tremendous legacy of parks and recreational assets under DCR’s stewardship meet the ever expanding needs of our citizenry.”

“Rick Sullivan has been recognized as a leader throughout the Commonwealth on environmental issues, fiscal management issues, and educational issues,” said Mayor Michael McGlynn of Medford. “He brings with him a strong administrative background and a reputation for working with everyone toward the goal of improving quality of life for all. I am excited about having the opportunity to work with Rick in his new role, as he tries to revitalize our conservation lands, which have been ignored and shortchanged in recent years.”

“Rick Sullivan is an impressive choice for DCR commissioner,” said Bernie McHugh, coordinator of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition. “He has a long background in both parks and land conservation. In Westfield, he has worked well with advocates on urban parks, but also on agricultural land protection. He is the whole package for DCR.”

Sullivan served as founding president of the Winding River Land Conservancy, which has protected 1,700 acres of land in western Hampden County. “The Conservancy wouldn’t have been founded, and couldn’t have been successful, without his support,” said Mark Noonan, a board member and former executive director of the Conservancy, which was established in 1998. In one project, the Conservancy restored a beach that ultimately became part of DCR’s Hampton Ponds State Park.

“You’ve got a good man there, you really do,” said Lynn Boscher, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. “He’s a good financial manager, and he is a leader. He can take an idea and win people over. There are projects here that people have talked about for years. He got them done. Westfield has a Business Improvement District – only the third one in the state. Without his help and support, it would never have come to fruition.”

The Department of Conservation and Recreation is steward of one of the largest state parks systems in the country. Its 450,000 acres are made up of forests, parks, greenways, historic sites and landscapes, seashores, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and watersheds.

Sullivan is a graduate of Westfield High School, Bates College, and Western New England Law School. He is married to Lisa Oleksak Sullivan. They have three children, Courtney, Kick, and Michael.

TURI REQUESTS COMMUNITY GRANT PROPOSALS

Know of any community organizations or municipalities that may be interested in educating people about how to reduce toxic chemical use in their neighborhoods? If so, please encourage them to apply for the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) Community Grant. Non-profit community or environmental organizations, municipal departments, or agencies in Massachusetts are eligible.

New this year--the proposal deadline is June 29, 2007, earlier than in past years, and TURI offers $1,000 grants for smaller toxics use reduction projects as well as up to $15,000 for larger projects. This year’s projects will run from August 2007-June 2008. All grants are contingent on program funding.

Now in its thirteenth year, the goal of the TURI Community Grant Program is to help organizations raise awareness of the hazards of toxic chemical use and introduce safer alternatives within their neighborhoods.

You can download the application package by visiting www.turi.org/community. The request for proposals is attached. For further information, contact Joy Onasch, TURI Community Program Manager, joy@turi.org 978-934-4343.

Please feel free to forward this message on to others that may be interested.

From MassWildlife News

JUNE OUTDOORSWOMAN WEEKEND PLANNED
Calling all women interested in outdoor recreation! The Massachusetts Becoming an Outdoorswoman Program (BOW) is offering the 11th Annual Becoming An Outdoorswoman Weekend at the Eastover Resort in Lenox from June 8-10. This weekend workshop is open to women 18 and older who want to try new outdoor skills in a supportive environment. Learn about new outdoor skills and recreation opportunities right here in Massachusetts including archery, kayaking, wild edible plants, nature photography, fly fishing, shooting and more. This experience makes a wonderful gift to a special woman in your life! Registration is open to 100 women. Registration materials are posted on the MassWildlife website and can also be faxed. Call Sue Fritze at 508/389-6311.

LOOK OUT FOR LOONS!
The haunting wail of the common loon (Gavia immer) evokes a sense of wild and remote areas which may be why some people are surprised to learn Massachusetts is home to a small, but growing number of nesting loons. MassWildlife Biologist Bridgett McAlice recently compiled common loon nesting activity for 2006 and will be working with other cooperators this spring to document loon nesting sites across the state. In 2006, 19 territorial pairs on 9 waterbodies were documented. A total of 8 chicks were produced and presumed fledged. In 2005, 19 loon chicks were produced by 27 territorial pairs loons on 12 waterbodies. "The Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs are home to the majority of Massachusetts' nesting loons," said McAlice. "Other nests have been documented in relatively quiet water supplies and private ponds in Worcester County, but it's entirely possible there are nests in other parts of the state which haven't been reported to us." McAlice noted that cooperators and volunteers play a vital role in gathering field data for MassWildlife. Unfortunately, due to personnel shortages in 2006, fewer waterbodies were checked thoroughly for loon activity and the 2006 report may not accurately summarize loon activity within Massachusetts. Loons in their striking black and white breeding plumage have returned to their territorial waters and are actively courting. Egg laying begins at the end of May. Boaters are reminded to keep a respectful distance from loons and nesting areas. McAlice encourages anyone to report sightings of loons, specifically pairs of birds. Be sure to include the name of the town, location and name of waterbody by email at Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us or call her at the Central District Wildlife Office in West Boylston at 508/835-3607.

REPORT AQUATIC INVASIVES!
Anglers, boaters, naturalists and other waterway users are encouraged not only to keep an eye out for aquatic invasive plants or animals but to report sightings of new species to a recently launched website designed just for this purpose. The Aquatic Invasives Program website, http://www.mass.gov/czm/invasives/index.htm , is an online resource for identifying and reporting new non-indigenous species introduction in Massachusetts. Hosted by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management as part of a collaborative inter-agency effort to facilitate early detection and reporting of invasives, the website is the best mechanism for citizens, field monitors, fishermen, or anyone else to identify and report invasive freshwater, marine, plant or animal species. “In many cases, once an aquatic invasive species becomes established, eradication is impossible or cost-prohibitive,” says Richard Hartley, MassWildlife Fisheries Biologist. “We want anyone who thinks they have identified a new aquatic invasive species to take a picture, try to identify and report it by using this website. Links to resources for identification, prevention and control of aquatic invasives are some of the website’s most useful features.” Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are known by many names—nuisance species, exotic species, non-indigenous species, or just pests. Aquatic invasive plants and animals, such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and the European green crab (Carcinus maenas) have forever changed the ecology and economy of Massachusetts. To address these threats, a variety of state and federal agencies and nonprofit organizations including MassWildlife have formed the Massachusetts AIS Working Group. This group works to prevent new introductions and manage the impact of aquatic invasives already established in the Commonwealth. To achieve this goal, the AIS Working Group is focusing on: prevention and education, early detection, species identification and montoring, rapid response and control.

Although the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) put out a notice, "Wet trail conditions in the Berkshires will delay the opening of motorized trails there for about a week. Heavy April snow in the region has only recently melted so trails are still wet and vulnerable to damage in Beartown State Forest, October Mt. State Forest, Pittsfield State Forest and Tolland State Forest. These trails are now scheduled to open on Wednesday, May 9th." It didn't stop ATVs from riding on the trails before that date.

On May 4th, a volunteer guided BEAT to seven vernal pools, six of which were in Skyline Trail at Pittsfield State Forest. All of these pools had signs that ATVs had been riding through them. In fact, while we were photographing the pools, two ATVs rode through the ones we hadn't reached yet. We informed them that they were riding illegally. They were very apologetic. They thought the trails opened May 1st.

BEAT contacted the MA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP), the MA Department of Environmental Protection, and DCR. We feel very strongly that DCR must check in spring all the trails that they are allowing, or considering allowing, ATVs to ride on for vernal pools. If they find evidence of vernal pools or rare species, they must send that to NHESP, and they must take action to prevent ATVs from riding through the pools. BEAT does not believe re-routing the trail will help. After all, if the amphibians are using the pools, they are using the surrounding area as well. Vernal pools in trails should be an indication to close that trail to ATV sue. Re-routing would only work if the trail could be moved out of suitable habitat for these amphibians.

This brings up a larger issue that DCR must start certifying vernal pools and rare species wherever and when ever they find them. DCR can not claim they are protecting these habitats and animals, if they are not acknowledging they have them on their lands. Waiting for volunteers to find them is not an acceptable answer. DCR has been inventorying their forests. When doing this they should be doing an inventory for more than just the trees. They need to look for and document rare species and vernal pools as well.

Dairy Farmers get some Relief

Dairy farmers will receive $3.6 million in emergency funding across the state to stay in business, if a proposal by Gov. Deval L. Patrick is put into effect.

The proposal would also put aside money to study the problem and initiate long-term solutions.

Twenty dairy farms have been lost since January 2007, leaving only 167 farms struggling to keep up with rising electricity and feed costs.

Some of the Berkshire's most beautiful vistas are kept open by dairy farms. This land is protected from development as long as the farmers are using it to feed their cows.

The money is part of an $88.9 million supplemental budget filed by Patrick that also puts $15 million toward anti-crime initiatives and $35 million in unanticipated costs such as snow and ice removal and rising county corrections costs.

1st Berkshire District Representative Dan Bosley, sent Patrick a letter last month requesting the emergency funding.

Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire District Senator Ben Downing said the dairy funding is money well spent. "I think it's a good step by the governor. It reflects what has been a long negotiation between the administration, the local dairy farms and legislators throughout Massachusetts, but especially members of the western delegation," Downing said.

The federal government sets milk prices, which have been kept low because of a glut of milk production in the Midwest. Dairy farmers received $1.14 per gallon for production in 2006 and $1.18 per gallon in 1981.

Hancock may limit tower height

Hancock is considering limiting tower height - be it communications or wind turbines. AT the town meeting on May 11, Article 15 asks voters to amend a zoning bylaw to limit towers used for "commercial telecommunications or the commercial generation of electricity" to no more than 150 feet. The wind turbines planned for Jiminy Peak and Brodie Mountain are more than 300 feet tall, but they are grandfathered because they already have their permits.

If Article 15 passes, developers of towers would have to go before the Hancock Zoning Board of Appeals which then could seek a plan for the financing for taking the tower down after its useful life, before issuing a permit.

Mary Griffin named Commissioner of Fish & Game
- Press Release from Energy & Environmental Affairs

BOSTON - Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles today named Mary Griffin to be Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game. An experienced administrator and environmental attorney at multiple state agencies, she will be the first woman to hold that post.

“Governor Patrick and I are thrilled to have Mary Griffin heading our key sporting, wildlife, fisheries, and habitat protection agency,” said Secretary Bowles. “She is an outdoor enthusiast, as well as a seasoned environmental lawyer. She will be a spokesperson for all the natural resources under the stewardship of the Department of Fish and Game, and a key player in all our efforts to preserve the environment for commerce, pleasure, and posterity.”

Griffin is currently Acting Deputy Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). Prior to this role, she served as Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Resource Protection at MassDEP, which is responsible for protecting critical inland and coastal water resources, including wetlands. She previously served as General Counsel to the Secretary of Environmental Affairs, and Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator at the Office of Coastal Zone Management.

She has also been Chief of Legal Services for the state parks system, for which she previously managed land acquisition programs. Griffin served as Assistant Attorney General in the Environmental Protection Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office under Scott Harshbarger.

She has also practiced environmental law in the private sector at the firm of WilmerHale in Boston.

The Department of Fish and Game exercises stewardship responsibility over the Commonwealth’s marine and freshwater fisheries, wildlife species, plants, and natural communities, as well as the habitats required to support these resources.

The department also works to conserve and restore the state’s rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wild lands, and coastal waters, in addition to ensuring the responsible practice of hunting, trapping, and fishing both inland and marine.

“I’m excited about taking on the challenge of protecting our natural resources under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fish and Game,” said Griffin. “I want to connect the public to those resources through hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities. And I am committed to both conserving our natural resources and preserving the communities that depend on them.”

Griffin is a graduate of Cornell Law School and Davidson College. She lives in Hingham with her husband, David Brown, and their two sons. She enjoys hiking, recreational boating, fishing and swimming, and watching her sons play Little League baseball. She also holds a noncommercial license for 10 lobster pots from the Division of Marine Fisheries.

“This is only my second year with a lobster permit,” said Griffin. “Last year I painted the buoys and put out three traps. This year, I’m hoping to catch some big ones!”

Griffin takes office May 16.