MASSACHUSETTS ENVIR THON MASSACHUSETTS Thursday, May 14, 2015 Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown,ENVIR Mass.THON Welcome!The 2015 Envirothon is here! This day is a competition that aims to bring out our best. This day is also a gathering of the Massachusetts environmental community to celebrate the work of the rising generation. And this day is about being outdoors in a beautiful place! We are grateful to Quabbin staff for welcoming us to this jewel of our commonwealth! It’s hard to believe that just five weeks ago, when we met here, the Envirothon steering committee watched a pair of coyotes, specks in the distance, The Quabbin Reservoir racing across the ice toward the Prescott Peninsula. Now the ice is gone, and spring has burst upon this beautiful, wild place. This Year’s Registered Teams Good luck to teams in this morning’s • Acton-Boxborough Regional High School • Seekonk High School competition! Envirothon aims to provide you with challenges the let you • Ashland High School • Shepherd Hill Regional High School demonstrate the knowledge and skill you • David Prouty High School • Somerset Berkley Regional High School have gained. Push yourself to do your best! • Doherty Memorial High School • Southeastern Regional School District And after the competition, please join • Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech High School • Springfield Central High School us for the EnviroTrek Lunch – good food • Greenfield High School • Sutton High School and good stories about the paths you took • Leicester High School • Westford Academy this year, the places you visited, the people you met, and the trees, wildlife, soil, and • Leominster High School • Wilbraham & Monson Academy waters you got to know along the way. • Lexington High School • Wildland Trust/Brockton High School Have a great day! • Marlborough Regional High School • Worcester Technical High School • Millbury Jr./Sr. High School • Narragansett Regional High School Will Snyder, Chair Inside • Newton North High School Mass. Envirothon Steering Committee Schedule ....................................... 2 • Newton South High School Steering Committee ...................... 2 • North Brookfield Jr./Sr. High School Station Coordinators .................... 2 2015 Current Issue • Oliver Ames High School Mass. Envirothon Council ............. 2 Meet Our Host .............................. 3 Climate Crisis: • Pioneer Valley Regional School 2015 Current Issue ........................ 4 • Quabbin Regional High School Current Issue Presentation Judges .. 5 Volunteers .................................... 6 Taking Action in • Reading Memorial High School Site Map ........................................ 7 Massachusetts • SABIS International Charter School EnviroTrek Lunch ......................... 7 Communities • Salem High School What happens at an Ecostation? ... 7 Sponsors & Partners .....................8 2015 Massachusetts Envirothon Schedule Mass. Envirothon Steering Committee Will Snyder Chair, Mass. Envirothon Steering Committee 7:30 - 8:30 Registration for volunteers and UMass Extension, Center for Agriculture, Food & the Environment judges Dan Giza Vice Chair, Mass. Envirothon Steering Committee Registration for teams Alden Research Laboratory, Inc. Teams will confirm their Doris Wood Treasurer Liaison/Co-Secretary, Mass. Envirothon Steering Committee stations and presentation time Justin Gonsor Co-Secretary, Mass. Envirothon Steering Committee Team pictures Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation Kelley Freda Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation – Water Supply Protection 8:00 Orientation for volunteers and judges Joe Perry Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation 8:30 - 8:45 WELCOME and Lisa Trotto Worcester County Conservation District announcements George Zoto Mass. Department of Environmental Protection 9:00 - 10:05 First period Steering Committee Advisory Members 9:00 - 9:30 Current Issue 1.1 Al Averill USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 9:35 - 10:05 Current Issue 1.2 William P. Dunham Belmont Enterprises 10:15 - 11:20 Second period Matthew Goode Suffolk County Conservation District 10:15 - 10:45 Current Issue 2.1 Amie Humphrey Facendola Alden Research Laboratory, Inc. 10:50 - 11:20 Current Issue 2.2 Pam Landry Mass. Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) 11:30 - 12:35 Third period Julie A. Martin Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation 11:30 - 12:00 Current Issue 3.1 Elizabeth McGuire Middlesex Conservation District 12:05 - 12:35 Current Issue 3.2 Dominique Pahlavan Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs Diane Baedeker Petit USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 12:35 - 1:45 EnviroTrek Lunch Clif Read Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation 12:45 - 1:45 Informal team displays and conversations. Visit Judy Reilly Bristol-Myer Squibb exhibits and information Brita Dempsey Mass. Envirothon Coordinator tables including ecostation test information, Student .................................................................. Conservation Association and Station Coordinators/Curriculum Specialists Mass. Envirothon Council. Al Averill USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 1:45 Group photo Kelley Freda Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation, Water Supply Protection Evaluation surveys Pam Landry Mass. Division of Fisheries & Wildlife 2:00 Announcement of Community Dominique Pahlavan Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs Awards Joe Perry Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation Will Snyder UMass Extension, Center for Agriculture, Food & the Environment .................................................................. Massachusetts Envirothon Council Matthew Beaton Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs Mary Bell College of Natural Sciences, UMass Amherst George Buckley Harvard Extension School Deborah Cary MassAudubon Warren Chamberlain Mass. State Grange Meg Colclough Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs Michele Fineblum Mass. Envirothon parent Matthew Goode Suffolk County Conservation District Steve Goodwin Dean, College of Natural Sciences, UMass Amherst Nathan Nesbitt Mass. Envirothon alumnus Jeff LaFleur Mass. Association of Conservation Districts Marion Larson Mass. Div. of Fisheries & Wildlife Joe Smith State Commission for Conservation of Soil, Water & Related Resources Will Snyder UMass Extension, Center for Agriculture, Food & the Environment www.facebook.com/maenvirothon 2 www.maenvirothon.org 2015 Massachusetts Envirothon Meet Our Host Site Quabbin Reservoir uabbin Reservoir is one of the largest the high quality of the water, this area had A healthy, resilient forest cover on Qman-made public water supplies in been considered since 1895 as an excellent watershed lands also contributes to the the United States. Created in the 1930s by spot to build a reservoir. By impounding protection of pure water. A vigorous forest the construction of two huge earthen dams, the Swift River and Beaver Brook where filters incoming precipitation, stabilizes the reservoir is fed by the three branches of they exited the valley, a huge source of soil and mitigates impacts of natural and the Swift River, and seasonally by the Ware fresh water could be created. man-made disturbances. Careful thinning River. Quabbin’s water covers 39 square In 1927, the legislature passed the operations of the wooded land surrounding miles, is 18 miles long and has 181 miles of Swift River Act, appropriating money to the reservoir help to promote a diverse shoreline. When full, Quabbin holds 412 build a reservoir in the valley. In order forest community and benefit both water billion gallons of water. to construct the reservoir, the valley quality and wildlife. For thousands of years this valley was would have to be cleared of all structures, The result of this land management is part of the territory of the Nipmuc Indians, vegetation and people. Construction of the an area often referred to as the “Accidental who referred to the area as Quabbin, or “the reservoir began in 1927. Wilderness.” This sizable area of protected meeting of many waters.” By the 17th century land with a diversity of habitats has their population had declined, decimated The Nipmuc Indians referred resulted in varied and abundant wildlife by war and disease, and the valley was to the area as Quabbin or “the communities. Wild turkey and white-tailed rapidly settled by Europeans drawn by the meeting of many waters.” deer are common, along with smaller abundance of water and rich farmland. species of rodents and birds, which provide food for fox, bobcat, coyote and hawks. Four towns were eventually established The state purchased homes and factories More uncommon wildlife, such as bald in the valley – Dana, Enfield, Prescott and from the townspeople, then razed or eagles, common loons, bear and moose are Greenwich – and by the mid-19th century moved them. Some 25,000 acres was also found at Quabbin. they were thriving communities. With an purchased for the reservoir alone. The land economy based mainly on farming, the which was to be flooded was clearcut and The Mass. Department of Conservation towns were also home to small industries. burned. The state removed 7,613 bodies and Recreation, part of the Executive from the valley’s 34 cemeteries and the Office of Energy and Environmental However, at the beginning of the 20th majority (6,601) were reburied at Quabbin Affairs, is the steward of one of the largest century, increased industrialization drew Park Cemetery. state parks systems in the country. people to cities in search of