Watershed News June 2015
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Watershed News June 2015 President’s Message Watershed awareness and education are valuable on We have worked hard as a community over the past many levels. Our dependence on water resources is 50 years—with considerable success— to clean our so complete that being conscious of our use, conser- rivers, reducing harmful pollutants, sanctioning trans- vation and protection of them is fundamental to the gressors, and remaining vigilant for new sources of resilience of our cities and towns, and to our very pollution. This work continues but it is now joined by survival on this Earth. Ideally, watershed conscious- increasing attention to the patterns of drainage within ness enables us to visualize these connections from the cities, towns, subdivisions and yards of our wa- tiny mountain rivulets and streams, to our faucets and tershed. Designing landscapes that can ‘slow, spread all the way to the sea. and sink’ rainfall using bioswales, retention areas, and The drought in California appears to be so thorough- rain gardens is important work that is expanding to going at this point that the viability of one of our support the natural functions of our wetlands. Keep key food supply chains is being called into question. your eyes out for such features in your own com- Our own recent spring drought, while certainly not munity and consider how you might develop similar unheard of, none-the-less has challenged local farm- processes in your own yard. ers, nurseries and landscapers to think more about Well, summer’s here and we look forward to seeing the systems that support our local economy. What you on the river for the Canoe Cruise! Enjoy! types of land use practices do we need in order to face Brian W. Conz the likely prospect of worsening droughts and more WRWA President intense rainfall events? Upcoming events… Westfield River Canoe/Kayak Cruise – June 20, 2015 by Fran Siska Great River Bridges in Westfield (accessible from The WRWA annual canoe/kayak paddle on the West- Meadow St). After registration canoes & kayaks will field River is scheduled for Saturday June 20, 2015. It be dropped off at the end of Hanover St. where we is of course dependent on the weather and river condi- will arrange a shuttle for participants to park their cars tions, although the recent rains have helped the water at the end of the cruise in Robinson State Park and flow so everything should be fine. be returned to the launch area. Due to the increasing popularity of this event, we’re planning on using a The Cruise runs from downtown Westfield to Rob- larger Bus to improve transportation and reduce wait- inson State Park – in conjunction with Robinson ing times. We will start the cruise at 11:00 am. State Park Day, hosted by the Friends of Robinson State Park. Registration will take place from 10:00 This 6-7 mile paddle is mostly flat water, with a to 11:00 a.m. at the parking area just east of the couple of quick water sections, and usually takes over 3 hours to complete. We will have personnel on the river to help paddlers negotiate difficult ar- The cost is $10.00 per paddler and $20.00 per fam- eas. You may be asked to portage your craft around ily to cover insurance cost and snacks at the end of difficult areas. the cruise. Please call Fran Siska 413-562-4998 for The cruise is always very enjoyable and you will additional information. likely see many birds, fish and wild animals in and around the river. Storm Drain Labeling in Southwick by Mike Young Over the past several years WRWA has labeled several thousand storm drains in Westfield, Russell, Huntington, Worthington, and Chester – with the goal of making sure that people know that the storm drains lead to local streams and rivers, not to the water treat- ment plant; so, ideally only rainwater should be going down those drains! This year we’ve worked with the Southwick Department of Public Works to finalize a labeling program for that town, with the goal of placing 1000 labels this summer. The first ~100 have already been installed along the Rt. 10/202 corridor through the center of town, and the remaining labels will be installed in residential areas throughout town. The labels are attached to curbing or pavement with an asphalt adhesive, which can be messy if you’re Southwick has opted for a slightly different label than not careful, so wear older clothes and bring a rag for the ones we’ve used in the past – reading “No Dump- cleaning off any adhesive that ends up on you. Bring- ing, Drains to Waterways” – and has agreed to allow ing water and sunscreen would also be a good idea. the inclusion of a QR code on the labels that will We’ll provide a map of the area to be labeled, wire direct people to the WRWA website, where they can brushes for cleaning off the site of application, the read about storm water management. labels and adhesive. You can assist with this effort by volunteering some Contact Mike Young (562-8498) the evening before time on the morning of Saturday, July 11 or Saturday, to confirm that the event will be happening – the July 18. We’ll meet at the Gristmill Plaza in South- adhesive can’t be used on wet pavement, so a likeli- wick at the northern intersection of Rt. 10/202 and hood of rain overnight or on the morning of the event Rt. 57 (across from the Mobil station) at 9:00 a.m. will mean a cancellation. Additional dates may be each morning, then we’ll fan out to work in different scheduled as needed – check the WRWA website parts of town until around noon. (westfieldriver.org) for updates. Westfield River Watershed Association News 2 Recent events… Spring River Cleanup by Mark Damon The Westfield group collected over 70 bags of trash, On Saturday April 25, in celebration of Earth Day along with 6 tires and many other large items. earlier that week, 36 volunteers gathered in Westfield As always, Lane Construction sent a big contingent. and fanned out to collect trash from nine different sites Other groups included students from UMass and – seven on the Westfield River itself, and one each on Westfield State, along with several local dedicated the Little River and Powder Mill Brook (both tribu- stewards of the river. Thanks to all who showed up taries of the Westfield). Additional volunteers met at (Our volunteers hailed from 18 different cities and Pynchon Point in Agawam and worked near the mouth towns!). We couldn’t do it without you! of the Westfield, where it flows into the Connecticut. Trout in the Classroom by Mike Young years since the program switched from Atlantic In late May half a dozen third graders at Berkshire salmon to brook trout. The trout, though not as char- Trails Elementary in Cummington gleefully ven- ismatic as the salmon, do have some advantages – for tured out to the East Branch of the Westfield River, starters they grow more quickly and so are as much conveniently located just 100 yards in back of the as 3-4 inches long and much more active at the time school. Their mission was to release several dozen they’re released. young brook trout, which they’d raised in a 30-gal- With Berkshire Trails leaving the program next year, lon aquarium tank in the classroom over the past we’ll likely have a tank and chiller that could be placed several months, and to complete some activities at the in another school – if you know of a school that might site. Volunteers from WRWA and Americorps helped be interested, please have them contact me, prefer- the students measure the flow of water in the river ably via email. Most of the other tanks are currently in (roughly 250 gallons per second) and identify macro- middle schools: Westfield North, Westfield South (2 invertebrates (possible fish food) in the water. tanks), Powder Mill (2 tanks), Gateway Regional, but Sadly, this is the last time (for now) that this will the program can work at the elementary level as well. happen in Cummington as that school is being closed We’ll be helping out with a couple more releases in at the end of the year. WRWA has been providing the early June and continue to see the trout program, like equipment needed to raise fish to a number of schools the earlier salmon project, as a great way to get kids in the watershed over the past 15 years, though the into the outdoors and thinking about the health of our number has dwindled a bit over the past couple of local waterways. Internship by Brian Conz the watershed for presentation on our website. Check The WRWA was pleased to be able to graduate it’s out the maps Kane made on the home page. These first intern from our newly created internship pro- maps will be further developed in the direction of a gram. Kane Hardaker, a Westfield state Regional clearing house for watershed data. Thanks for your Planning and Environmental Science double major, work Kane! assisted the WRWA in our efforts to gather data on Westfield River Watershed Association News 3 “Outdoor Fun in Your Watershed” – WRWA’s 21st Annual River Symposium by Brian Conz, Aaron Reyes, Bill Rose, and birding – which occurred while he was writing a dis- Mike Young sertation on poet William Blake’s “re-creations” of the Our annual symposium was held in Scanlon Banquet Book of Genesis.