NEWS FROM THE WAREHAM LAND TRUST • VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1 • WINTER 2010 NEWSThis issue dedicated to the memory of Brendan McFadden Good News (and some not-so-good news) for the Great Outdoors “Across America, communities are uniting to protect the places they love, and developing new approaches to saving and enjoying the outdoors. They are bringing together farmers, land trusts, recreation and conservation groups, sportsmen, governments and industry.… The Federal Govern- ment, the nation’s largest land manager, has a responsibility to engage with these partners to help develop a conservation agenda worthy of the 21st century.” — President Barak Obama, April 16, 2010 ast spring, President Obama brightest of local ideas by promoting ex- acres of open space, including national L energized land protection ad- isting programs, increasing conservation parks, wildlife refuges, playgrounds, vocates across the land when he and recreation-based job and volunteer greenbelts and seashores even though launched the America’s Great Out- opportunities and encouraging more it has only once in 45 years received its doors initiative. With charitable and larger public-private partnerships. full $900 million annual appropriation. organizations of all kinds hit hard by At this writing, the Senate has yet to a weak economy, federal support of Shortly after the Great Outdoors Initia- consider an energy reform bill but our environmental causes was good news tive announcement, we witnessed per- hope is that it too will include dedi- indeed. On hand for the kick off were haps the worst environmental disaster cated LWCF funding. representatives of conservation organi- in our nation’s history. Heartbreaking zations and land trusts nationwide, coverage of fish kills, oil soaked birds At the state level, the Patrick adminis- including regional partners of the and livelihoods destroyed in the Gulf tration continues to honor its pledge of Wareham Land Trust. The President’s of Mexico dominated the airwaves. at least $50 million annually for open goal is to reconnect Americans, espe- Yet, in the wake of this horror, new space protection. In 2009, that trans- cially children, to our seashores, great hope for the future of the environment lated into 217 conservation projects lakes and rivers, historic landscapes, emerged: On July 30, the U.S. House protecting 18,644 acres through a com- national parks, farms and forests. In of Representatives passed the Con- bination of grants, fee purchases and phase one of the initiative, the Ad- solidated Land, Energy and Aquatic conservation and agricultural preser- ministration held listening sessions Resources Act (CLEAR) which among vation restrictions. An additional 3,029 across the country to explore priorities other things, mandates full funding acres were preserved through 147 and learn about innovative community- of the Land and Water Conservation conservation restrictions. 2010 funding based conservation programs. Next Fund (LWCF).* Since 1965, the LWCF has presented a greater challenge …continued on next page steps are to build on the best and the has protected more than seven million *By way of reminder, the LWCF is funded with a small percentage of revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling leases. Over the years, monies have been diverted elsewhere and funding of the LWCF has risen and fallen with the environmental inclinations of sitting administrations and Capitol Hill. THE WAREHAM LAND TRUST NEWS 1 …Good News continued from page 1 given even tougher economic times, Along the Agawam but is on track to fulfill the administra- tion’s commitment. The River Flora and Fauna The Wareham Land Trust has been the It begins at Halfway Pond in Plymouth The Natural Heritage and Endan- recipient of state grant money for several and wanders south a little more than gered Species Program (NHESP) land acquisition projects in recent times as ten miles through forest, pine barrens, has designated the Agawam River have other conservation groups with proj- long, narrow ponds and marshland corridor a priority water body/criti- ects in our community. In this newsletter, till it joins the Wankinco to form the cal supporting watershed (upstream we spotlight the Agawam River, which has Wareham River and empty into Buz- and upland areas that have positive benefited significantly from the Common- zards Bay. Along the way, it transverses or negative affect on downstream wealth’s current open space commitment. the Plymouth Carver Aquifer, source of habitat) and has identified parts of drinking water for seven communities in the corridor as core habitat for rare In Wareham, despite the lingering Southeastern Massachusetts, including species, including the endangered effects of devastating recession and our own. It hosts plants both rare and American Waterwort (plant), Long’s a painfully slow recovery, the envi- common and wildlife ranging from sun- Bitter-cress (plant) and the Northern ronment is still front and center on bathing box turtles and the most delicate Red-bellied Cooter (reptile). The the local agenda. The state recently of damselflies fluttering about its banks Agawam is also home of one of the approved the Town’s Open Space Plan to rare fresh water mussels and fascinat- most diverse anadromous fish runs which provides a municipal road map ing species of migrating fish. It passes in the Buzzards Bay watershed. for land preservation and will clear cranberry bogs, skirts densely populated Anadromous fish are those that the way for additional environmental neighborhoods and travels beside and each year, like clockwork, migrate grants and greater government fund- under roads and highways. It welcomes from coastal waters to fresh water ing. In addition, last winter, a volun- swimmers, boaters and fishermen. Its to spawn. American Shad, Rain- teer citizens group, with guidance waters sparkle in the sunlight against a bow Smelt, and White Perch spawn from the Coalition for Buzzards Bay, backdrop of early spring buds or bright downstream in the Agawam while embarked on a comprehensive re- autumn leaves. But all is not well with so-called river herring–alewives and view of nitrogen pollution in our bays the Agawam. bluebacks—favor upstream Glen and estuaries and recently released a Charlie and Halfway ponds. multi-year remediation action plan. The Water WLT President John Browning, Vice As it flows, the Agawam absorbs What happened President Mary McFadden and Board fertilizers, septic seepage, fuel and to the herring? member Mack Phinney are contribut- sediment run off. The Wareham Centuries ago, the Agawam’s ing members of this important group. wastewater treatment facility— bountiful fish population nourished though subject in recent years to the Native Americans and early settlers most stringent discharge limits in and the river was the site of one of the Commonwealth—further de- the earliest herring runs in the new grades the river downstream. The world. More than 350 years later, a state of Massachusetts describes fish ladder remains on the same spot the Agawam as impaired, a Town of as that very early one and three other Wareham report called it degraded, ladders are positioned elsewhere and the Coalition for Buzzards Bay, along the river. In recent years, has identified it as one of the more despite the best efforts of the Town eutrophic estuaries in the Buzzards of Wareham and the MA Division of Bay watershed—in other words, Marine Fisheries, populations of nitrogen loaded and oxygen starved. river herring have plummeted along Fortunately, efforts are underway to the Agawam and also in coastal address nitrogen pollution in Ware- rivers up and down the eastern ham, including the Agawam River. seaboard. The decline in fish num- But much work lies ahead. photo by Kathy Pappalardo bers has far-reaching implications for Agawam River Trail a number of species. While river 2 THE WAREHAM LAND TRUST NEWS Agawam River herring are primarily bait fish today, PLYMOUTH they are an important food source for Wareham Land Trust WAREHAM Protected State & Federal Lands osprey and the endangered roseate State Conservation Restriction (CR) Agawam River Pine Barrens Protected Municipal Lands tern. Some scientists attribute their Property falling numbers to environmental Wildlands Trust CR factors while local fisherman point the Other Local Land Trust Properties Cranberry Bogs Glen M Charlie A E finger at offshore industrial fishing H N E Developed Areas (2005 Land Use) R Pond R U A O boats that inadvertently scoop up Other Waterbodies W B river herring in massive nets intended Roads Municipal Boundaries . d to catch mackerel and sea herring. In a o R ie l r Massachusetts, a moratorium on “the a h C n e harvest, possession or sale” of river Whitlock's Gl herring is in effect until at least 2011. Landing ver In the meantime, Wareham herring Ri am w a g agents, in collaboration with the A C ut28 ranb err y Highway Spectacle Pond Coalition for Buzzards Bay, monitor Mill Pond ¨¦§25 Agawam herring populations, record ad Ro ich water temperatures and provide data dw San W Bryant Farm a to help scientists identify factors re ut6 h Conservation a m Restriction ut6 R Agawam River C iv ranb responsible for the slumping fish e erry Hig r Properties hway ut28 populations. Feet 0 1,500 3,000 6,000 Map prepared by: Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program, 2870 Cranberry Highway, East Wareham, MA 02538 www.buzzardsbay.org October 13, 2010 Our Properties Map prepared by: Buzzards Bay National Escuary Program, www.buzzardsbay.org Agawam River Map The Agawam River was already an environmental hotspot when the before Town Meeting for Community restriction on the land. The property Wareham Land Trust was incorporated Preservation Act funding in April of is open to the public for hiking, bird in 2001 and from its earliest days, the 2004. The property lies near the junc- watching, kayaking and canoeing.