Franklin Conservation District River Access Guidelines Strategies for Managing Public Access to Our Rivers and Streams Report prepared for the Franklin Conservation District by Michael Leff, Executive Director, Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts Funding provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and February 2021 Environmental Affairs Franklin Conservation District River Access Initiative – final report (2/21/2021) Acknowledgements In the summer of 2019, the Franklin Conservation District (FCD) launched its Sustainable Public River Access initiative, thanks to a Land Conservation District Grant awarded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The initiative was led by environmental consultant Michael Leff, FCD Coordinator and now Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts. He can be reached at [email protected] | 413-326-6353. A great many individuals and organizations have participated in the initiative. The content and full scope of this report would not have been possible without their generous contributions of time and attention – and their passionate commitment to the important issue of maintaining sustainable public access to our waterways. A complete list of stakeholders engaged during the preparation of this report appears in the Appendix. Key participants are listed below: Bob Armstrong, Conway Selectboard and Conservation Commission Laurie Booshada, Deerfield resident Emily Boss, Franklin Land Trust Madeleine Charney, UMass Research Librarian Andrea Donlon, Connecticut River Conservancy Wendy Goodman, Greenfield resident Dan Greene, Good Bunch Farm Phillip Herzig, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Steve Libby, Vermont River Conservancy Kimberly Noake MacPhee, Franklin Regional Council of Governments Gina Rege Marzee, Williamsburg resident Carolyn Shores Ness, Deerfield Selectboard and Franklin Conservation District Ryan O’Donnell, Connecticut River Conservancy Michael Pattavina, Green River volunteer Jim Perry, Deerfield River Watershed Association Sgt. Thomas Provost, Massachusetts Environmental Police Erin Rodgers, Trout Unlimited Joe Rogers, Williamsburg resident and former FCD Coordinator Teri Rutherford, Good Bunch Farm Kristen Sykes, Appalachian Mountain Club Eric Twarog, Greenfield Director of Planning & Development Cover photo of tubers courtesy of Jim Perry, Deerfield River Watershed Association. All other photos by Michael Leff. Franklin Conservation District River Access Initiative – final report (2/21/2021) TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and Overview .................................................................................................... 1 Part A: Our Rivers as Public Resource ..................................................................................... 2 Part B: Issues, problems, usage trends .................................................................................... 4 Environmental degradation .............................................................................................. 5 Erosion and sedimentation Impaired water quality Diminished wildlife habitat Trash and dumping Human waste Safety concerns ................................................................................................................ 6 Traffic and parking Hazards and liability [BOX] ‘Free and equal’ access Competing uses ............................................................................................................... 8 Conflicting activities Noise, partying, and illicit behavior Homeless encampments Cultural clashes and social equity Other complications ....................................................................................................... 10 COVID-19 pandemic Limited finances [BOX] Case studies: Tales of Three Towns and a City Part C: Solutions, strategies, resources ................................................................................. 12 Closures: How not to solve the problem ......................................................................... 12 Sustainable river access smorgasbord ............................................................................. 12 Education / Outreach / Volunteers / Stewards Safety / Law enforcement / Emergency services Erosion / Environmental Equity / Social justice Coordination / Collaboration Study / Assess Model initiatives / Organizations/ Offers Money, the common denominator ................................................................................. 16 [BOX] Finding funding for the long haul State legislators State agencies Local / Regional actions Part D: Call to Action ............................................................................................................ 18 [BOX] ‘A Guide to Sustainable River Recreation Management Planning’ Appendix ............................................................................................................................. 20 Participants and other stakeholders River access sites studied Source plans and reports Funding resources World Café transcripts Franklin Conservation District River Access Initiative – final report (2/21/2021) Introduction and Overview Our rivers and streams are a cherished feature of the New England landscape, and nowhere more so than in Western Massachusetts. Clean water, scenic surroundings, and abundant recreational opportunities create a natural resource that has been enjoyed by generations of residents and visitors alike. These waterways are an important part of the region’s appeal – and that appeal has increasingly beckoned not only to local folk but to people in nearby population centers and beyond who are seeking rural relief from urban environments. So much so in recent years that heavy use of accessible rivers and streams poses a danger of their being “loved to death.” It’s critically important to address the issues caused by that trend in order to keep this precious resource truly accessible to would-be users, including local residents and out-of-town visitors. The situation has become all the more pressing in light of ongoing climate change, increasing the need for respite from higher temperatures everywhere and especially in cities. On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic has both heightened the need for an outdoor escape and exacerbated the risks. All of that poses serious challenges since many popular sites are ill-equipped to handle the impacts of more people seeking relief from pressures and pursuing pleasurable outlets. And the impacts are numerous, ranging from streambank erosion to blocked roadways to cross-cultural clashes. Private landowners – whether individuals, municipalities, environmental agencies, or commercial entities – that may have welcomed neighbors and other local residents over the years are understandably concerned about the damage, noise, hazards, and other issues resulting from increased traffic. This has led to numerous popular sites being closed to the public – which has often just shifted the pressure to other spots up- or downstream. And there are no easy solutions. Nevertheless, the need for public access to our rivers and streams demands attention and exploration of possible strategies for creating – and maintaining – sustainable access. To that end, the Franklin Conservation District launched its Public River Access initiative during the summer of 2019, with grant funding from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. We set out to examine the issues, identify needs, and seek long-range solutions. We did that by researching experiences elsewhere, visiting numerous sites along several rivers in the region (focused particularly on the Deerfield River Watershed), meeting with a wide range of stakeholders – including landowners, nearby residents, municipal and state agency representatives, environmental organizations, and river users. This culminated in a special “World Café” forum, convened online in the spring of 2020. While we did not find ultimate solutions – nor did we expect to – we did compile numerous tips and strategies that we believe can help ease the problem. We documented the need for financial investment in ongoing oversight. Finally, we charted a way forward – a Call to Action – involving broad stakeholder involvement and creative coalitions. Our findings are presented in the pages that follow. 1 Franklin Conservation District River Access Initiative – final report (2/21/2021) Part A: Our Rivers as Public Resource “Clean, healthy rivers are the lifeblood of our communities and are vital to our health, safety, and quality of life. Most Americans live within a mile of river or stream, and much of our drinking water comes directly or indirectly from rivers and streams. Beyond providing all these useful services, rivers are also just plain fun. Rivers, streams, and their surrounding lands offer endless opportunities for swimming, fishing and boating, hiking, wildlife watching, and picnicking. Whether one is seeking exhilaration, solitude, or a much-needed break from the daily grind, there is a river our there beckoning us to come out and play.” – A Guide to Sustainable River Recreation Management Planning, American Rivers According to the “A Framework for Resilience: Responding to Climate Change in the Deerfield River Watershed” (Franklin Regional Council of Governments, 2019), “The Deerfield River Watershed covers an area of 665 square miles, and is home to one of the coldest and cleanest rivers in Massachusetts. It originates in the