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VOLUME III, Issue 1
http://www.GreenForNewEngland.org

January 2, 2002
    1 – Low Flow
    2 – Wild and Scenic
    3 – Dedicated Volunteer
    4 – Big MAC(C) Conference
    5 – Group Effort
    6 – It’s EASI

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1 – Low Flow
The Charles River Watershed Association begins the new year by collaborating with the US Geological Society. Thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, CRWA is assessing the quality of aquatic wildlife habitat and determining the minimum stream flow requirements of the watershed. CRWA is examining vegetation, land use, and sediment at several locations along the river. To date they have determined that an area just downriver from Echo Lake, a reservoir in Hopkinton that supplies water to nearby Milford, benefits from its relative seclusion, but suffers from the limited water flow released from the reservoir. CRWA is also assisting the USGS in studying cross-sections and water depths of the shallowest parts of the river. These areas are especially important, as they are the first to experience habitat problems during low flow periods for the river. For more information on this and other CRWA projects, visit www.crwa.org.

 2 – Wild and Scenic
Whether you are a neighbor or just a fan of Maine’s Allagash Wilderness Waterway, one of the most significant wilderness rivers in the East, you should learn more about efforts to change the current access to the waterway. When the federal government first named the Allagash a "Wild and Scenic River," the understanding was that there would be no more than two automobile accesses to the River. Today there are 14. Currently, the state of Maine and the National Park Service are considering an agreement that would cut the number of auto access points to 12 and reconsider the management plan for the area. The National Parks and Conservation Association supports reducing the number of access points and subjecting the Allagash’s overall management plan to public review. The state has agreed to hold interactive television hearings on these proposals on January 10 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information contact NPCA’s regional office at 617-338-0126 or visit www.npca.org.

3 – Dedicated Volunteer
The New Hampshire chapter of The Nature Conservancy recently dedicated the 10,330-acre Vickie Bunnell Preserve, making it the Conservancy's largest nature preserve in the state. Located in Stratford and Columbia, it includes 3,723-foot Bunnell Mountain and 12 other peaks above 3,000 feet, 28 miles of stream frontage, and significant alpine and sub-alpine spruce-fir forest habitat. The preserve, named after one of the Conservancy’s most dedicated volunteers, is a portion of a larger 18,680-acre tract of land. A timber management company will purchase the other 8,350 acres, creating a balance between ecological preservation and sustainable timber management. The preserve is open to the public for hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, and numerous other recreational activities. For more information on The Nature Conservancy’s work in New Hampshire, visit www.nature.org or call 603-224-5853.

4 – Big MAC(C) Conference
The largest environmental conference in New England will take place on Saturday, March 2 in Worcester, MA. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, the conference will include a full day of exhibits, training programs, and workshops. Attendees may take a "Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners" training or participate in workshops addressing four broad issues relevant to conservation commissioners. Workshops include When Does a River Become the Sea, Protecting Natural Resources from Calamity, and Urban and Suburban Wildlife. Environmental businesses, agencies, and organizations are invited to reach out to the environmental community through exhibits and demonstrations. For more information or to register, contact MACC at 617-489-3930 or visit www.maccweb.org.

5 – Group Effort
A four-town effort to conserve the expansive timberlands of the Chateauguay scored a major success recently when Meadowsend Timberlands, Ltd. sold a permanent conservation easement on 2,492 acres of managed timberland in Barnard and Bridgewater to the Vermont Land Trust (VLT). The Meadowsend land contains three separate parcels. The largest, 1,117 acres in Barnard, is between the 4,000 acre Les Newell Wildlife Management Area and 285 acres of private land next to the Barnard Town Forest and already protected by conservation easement. The other two parcels, 1,095 acres and 278 acres, are located in Bridgewater and share nearly three miles of boundary with the Appalachian Trail corridor. VLT now holds conservation easements on 14 private parcels, totaling 3,714 acres, scattered throughout the Chateauguay in the Vermont towns of Bridgewater, Barnard, Killington and Stockbridge. The conservation easements prohibit future residential development, while allowing current and future owners to manage the property for timber production, provided they do so within the framework of an approved forest management plan. For more information, visit VLT’s website at www.vlt.org.

6 – It’s EASI
What is a "Senior Environment Corps" and could it benefit your community? To find out, consult the Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI). Their guide to creating a Senior Environment Corps is a helpful step in the right direction. You will find information on how to solicit input from local organizations, survey and interview interested senior citizens, and promote the program. In the past year, seniors have worked with local environmental groups on water quality monitoring, community gardens, education, and leadership projects. This year, EASI projects that over 100,000 seniors will be involved with environmental activities through their program. To learn more about starting up a program in your community, contact EASI at 540-788-3274 or visit www.easi.org.

Welcome to 2002!
The entire staff at Earth Share of New England wishes you a splendid New Year and we look forward to providing the latest news and events from New England's top environmental organizations. If there is anything that we can do for you to make 2002 a green year, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@GreenForNewEngland.org.

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