March 30, 2007

In this issue:

Welcome Letter
Feature Story
Grants
Calendar
Online Resources
Publications
Last But Not Least

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy and “at risk” Fish and Riverine Species and Habitats

Dear River Advocates,

It's spring!  Well almost—and soon we’ll all be out on the rivers.  It’s time to send us information on your river events taking place from May 11- July 4th for the June Rivers Month Calendar (see notice below – the deadline for sending information is April 23rd). Do invite your town officials, legislators, business partners, neighbors and friends, as well as “the usual suspects”, your members, to attend your river events.  Getting folks out on our beautiful rivers achieves a watershed goal that many groups have mentioned: expanding their river “base.”

Riverways’ 2006 Annual Report is now on-line—and we’re energized as we enter our 20th year!   On the river restoration front, we removed 3 dams this past year (of the 6 since 2000) and finished a pilot culvert project designed to restore connectivity and health to a cold water stream, daylighted a stream, and completed a habitat restoration in the Swift River. Each of the projects have been made possible because of our strong partnerships with nonprofits (including watershed associations and stream teams, Trout Unlimited, The Trustees of Reservations, The Nature Conservancy, and the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Program), municipal, state and federal partners, as well as corporate partners. Congratulations to project managers Tim Purinton, Brian Graber, Erin Higbee, Cindy Delpapa, Rachel Calabro and Carrie Banks.  It is a joy for us to leave a river with tangible, long-term healthy habitat improvements.  With these projects and others, lots of behind-the-scenes work is done by many Riverways staff members and partners—community organizing, forming steering committees, fundraising, permitting, contracts…  We had a successful first year with our Priority Projects Program, with 11 projects in various phases from feasibility studies to permitting and engineering.

Also in 2006, Riverways’ innovative RIFLS (River Instream Flow Stewards) Program’s 100 volunteers made 3,940 stream flow observations while donating 2,200 hours.  RIFLS staff are working with groups to use the data to restore streams. Two examples come to mind.  In the South Coastal watershed, the First Herring Brook Watershed Initiative is using their data to work with town officials to figure how to bring herring back to the brook while providing necessary drinking water for residents.  In western MA, RIFLS groups have been working with lake and pond groups to create “drawdown” protocols for Conservation Commissions to ensure adequate flow is maintained in the stream reaches below the lake and pond outlets. 

Riverways’ Adopt-A-Stream Program added 10 new Stream Teams last year. Adopt-A-Stream staff is currently working with new groups to identify outstanding remarkable characteristics in the Westfield River Wild and Scenic sections, in southeastern Massachusetts on streams with extremely low flows, and in the northeast looking at flooding and habitat issues. Riverways staff continues to provide technical assistance to every watershed in the Commonwealth.  On the policy front, this year we made extensive comments on the proposed regulatory revisions to the MA Surface Water Quality Standards, supported comprehensive water planning (waste water and storm water and drinking water), initiated a wastewater/stormwater task force, sister to the MA Instream Flow Task Force (MIFT), served on interagency policy committees, as well as commenting on permits and providing workshops to help others understand the regulatory process. Finally, we so enjoyed hosting the River Advocates Meeting, a.k.a. “Brown Bag Supper” in December, bringing watershed associations together, seeing the energy, knowledge and dedication of rivers advocates from all across the Commonwealth.  For details on our 2006 work, please see our Annual Report.  Thanks to all of you, our partners, who have supported, led and inspired us every step of the way.

NewsNotes 24’s lead article (by Russ Cohen) describes the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Fisheries Habitat Conservation and Restoration Initiative, incorporated in Massachusetts’ new Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS), which identifies and outlines steps to protect “at risk” fish and riverine species by protecting aquatic communities and habitats. Russ’ article sets out how the CWCS incorporates the Division’s Target Fish Community analysis, the Index of Biotic Integrity and MESOHABSIM (habitat mapping) methodology. We would like to add our voice to the Division’s in its call to all concerned about rivers to incorporate the recommendations contained in the CWCS into our collective work.

This lead article is followed as usual by Resources and Grants, a cornucopia of timely grant opportunities, events and Web resources, also compiled by Russ Cohen. You may want to take a quick look at those listings right away, as some have fast-approaching deadlines.

See you on the rivers !

Joan Kimball, Director

P.S. The Mass. Watershed Coalition (MWC)’s “mwc-list” listserv is a great source of information on river- and watershed-related funding and job opportunities, upcoming events, recent articles and more.  Many of the posted items are time-sensitive and can’t wait until the next edition of NewsNotes.  You can access the mwc-list listserv at http://lists.topica.com/lists/mwc-list@igc.topica.com, where you can subscribe to receive the posted messages to your e-mail address, or simply read them on-line.  Highly recommended!  While there’s some overlap, you might also want to join and/or read prior postings to the “NEWatersheds” listserv maintained by River Network – see http://rapids.rivernetwork.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/newatersheds. 

P.P.S: Congratulations! to Kerry Mackin, of the Ipswich River Watershed Association, for being named a “River Hero” by River Network. Kerry will officially receive her award in May at the River Rally 2007 in Washington State.                                      

Your events wanted for the 2007 Massachusetts Rivers Month Calendar

Hi Folks – it’s that time again.  As you (may) know, Riverways has each spring since 1988 put out an annual Massachusetts Rivers Month Calendar as part of the national celebration of Rivers Month each June.  As many of you also organize great river-related events in May and July as well, we typically expand the “Rivers Month” concept a bit to include river-related events from mid-May to the July 4 th holiday.  So this year we intend to include all river-related events we hear about that will take placefrom Fri. May 11th to Wed. July 4th.  If you haven’t already got one or more events planned for that period, there’s still time to organize something.  Rivers Month is a great opportunity for river and watershed groups, stream teams and all other river enthusiasts to schedule activities that promote public awareness of the importance of clean, flowing rivers and protected riparian lands to the Commonwealth’s environmental and economic well-being.

In order to list the events in the Calendar, we need to know about them, so please send them in (via e-mail, fax, snail mail or the telephone – whichever form is most convenient to you). To include all river-related events (canoe trips, river festivals, river art exhibitions, etc.) taking place in Massachusetts between Fri. May 11th to Wed. July 4th, 2007, we are requesting that all event sponsors submit the necessary information using the event submission form, to see what info we’re seeking for the Rivers Month Calendar) by Monday, April 23rd, 2007. (NOTE:  If you can’t make the 4/23/07 deadline, send the info in to us anyway, and we will try to squeeze your event in to the Calendar – no promises, though.)   Please feel free to circulate this message to anyone you feel is appropriate.  We look forward to learning about and publicizing your events.

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The Massachusetts Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy and “at risk” Fish and Riverine Species and Habitats

By Russ Cohen

As the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW) is the state agency given primary responsibility for the conservation, restoration, and management of the Commonwealth’s fish and wildlife resources, the MDFW was charged with the task of preparing Massachusetts’ Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. While references to riparian species and habitat are sprinkled throughout the document (see text box above), the main section of the CWCS devoted to fisheries and other aquatic species and habitat is presented in Chapter 4 in the form of MDFW’s Fisheries Habitat Conservation and Restoration Initiative. Focusing on protecting fish habitats and communities, rather than on individual sites and species, the Initiative analytically assesses the state’s aquatic resources, identifies those resources that are in the most need of restoration and conservation, and ultimately protects the biological integrity of fish and wildlife habitat at the watershed level.

The MDFW believes that aquatic habitat assessments utilizing biological criteria provide more meaningful data than traditional assessments largely relying upon chemical and physical parameters. Biological indices provide a more accurate picture of the ongoing condition of the habitat and its ability to support a healthy aquatic ecosystem than physical and chemical parameters, which are limited to a “snapshot” assessment of the conditions present at the time the data was collected. Fish and fish communities serve as excellent indicators of environmental conditions for several reasons. Fish are sensitive to a wide array of stresses, integrate the impacts of those stresses in their attempts to survive, reproduce, and grow, and are relatively long-lived.

The MDFW has chosen to use fish community assessments to identify the current status of fish and wildlife resources, implement Target Fish Community (TFC) analyses to set measurable goals for restoration, and rely on habitat mapping and Indexes of Biotic Integrity (IBIs) to set the most efficient course for accomplishing those goals. (Click here for a PowerPoint presentation on MDFW’s use of these tools.) While past fish population surveys typically focused on just a few recreationally important species and smaller streams were sampled more often than larger rivers because of equipment limitations, the MDFW is now systematically conducting watershed-wide fisheries assessments. These began in 1998 with the survey of the mainstem of the Ipswich River and subsequent tributary sampling in 1999, and have since been initiated in 23 of the 26 major watersheds in the Commonwealth.

Watershed-based fish community assessments will allow MDFW to focus restoration and conservation on watershed, reach, and site-specific habitat scales. The data and process will form the foundation for restoration and conservation efforts statewide, including the establishment of Target Fish Communities, fish habitat mapping (MesoHABSIM), Indexes of Biotic Integrity, identification of high quality warmwater and coldwater fishery resources, and other resource management processes. A coldwater fishery resource (CFR) is defined as the occurrence of any of the following: 1) The presence of a reproducing salmonid (brook, brown or rainbow trout) population; or: 2) The presence of one of the following non-salmonid coldwater fish species: Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus); Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus); or 3) The presence of Atlantic salmon (with the exception of the Connecticut and Merrimack River mainstems and waters stocked by MDFW with broodstock Atlantic salmon); or 4) Listing as a water stocked with Atlantic salmon as coordinated by the Atlantic Salmon Restoration Effort; or 5) MDFW Regional biologist’s input indicating a year-round trout fishery that is managed as a coldwater fishery resource; or 6. Water currently designated as “Coldwater” in the Massachusetts Water Quality Survey conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). (Click here for a list of “CFR” streams in the Mass. portion of the Nashua watershed).

Target Fish Community (TFC) Assessments will be used to prioritize watersheds in greatest need of restoration, and also to set baselines for conservation. The TFC methodology was developed to describe a fish community that is appropriate for a natural river when streamflow and biological integrity are maintained. The TFC is used as a benchmark for comparison to existing fish communities in potentially degraded watersheds. Habitat, water quality, and water quantity degradation will result in shifts in fish community structure that can be monitored in the TFC process. Likewise, improvements in these parameters will result in positive shifts in the fish community structure that can also be measured.

Defining a TFC involves assembling fish collections from several rivers that are identified by management agencies as being in a desirable fishery state. These identified rivers are then referred to as “quality rivers”: a surrogate for the more traditional and relatively pristine “reference” river. This is a realistic methodology for New England waters, as true reference conditions rarely, if ever, exist in moderate to large rivers in the region. These data are compiled and summarized to identify the 10 most common fish species that would be expected in a healthy or restored ecosystem. These 10 species then make up the majority of the fish species in the TFC. Fish species are then classified into macrohabitat classes: macrohabitat generalists (also referred to as “pond fish” species), fluvial dependents, and fluvial specialists (also referred to as “river fish” species), based on habitat requirements. The fish species proportions in the TFC are then compared to species proportions from recent fish surveys conducted during the fish community assessment phase of the process.

The TFC methodology employs a readily understandable common-sense approach to fish community assessment and resource monitoring, and provides a measurable goal for restoration. The TFC can be used to evaluate the benefit of resource enhancement or protection methodologies, like instream flow and habitat improvement, once they have occurred. Fish communities, sampled through standardized methodologies in free-flowing reaches of moderate-sized rivers, should consist primarily of fish species adapted to live in lotic (flowing water) conditions.

Rather than relying on a single-species approach to resource protection (i.e. eagles or salmon), which tends to accentuate the value of relatively few charismatic or commercially important species, the TFC highlights fish community characteristics that are easy to understand and interpret, and much more indicative of ecosystem integrity.

The TFC is an excellent tool for developing a measurable goal for fish community restoration and conservation, and should be used to prioritize restoration efforts in each watershed. The TFC conducted for the Ipswich River , for example, documented the presence of a fish community that is dominated by macrohabitat generalist (pond) fish species that tend to be more tolerant of degraded conditions, such as low levels of dissolved oxygen. The degraded habitat in the Ipswich basin is believed to result from streamflow-depleting water withdrawals and dams /impoundments affecting the mainstem and tributaries. Efforts currently underway to restore more natural and free-flowing streamflow patterns and volumes to the Ipswich and its tributary streams are expected to result in improvements in aquatic ecosystem health, which should be confirmed by subsequent TFC analyses showing a significant increase in the proportion of “river” fish in that river system.

Besides the Ipswich , MDFW has generated TFCs for the Quinebaug and Housatonic River watersheds, and TFC work in the Charles and Taunton Rivers is underway or proposed. Considerable work still needs to be done, however, to incorporate this methodology into a statewide concept. The results of the TFC process lead to a restoration (if resources are impaired) or conservation (if resources appear stable) management decision. Monitoring plans keep the focus on watershed management, with the mainstem study reach measuring overall watershed health. Other methodologies will be used to provide monitoring and protection at more local levels.

The results of fish community assessments will also provide valuable information that will lead to the development of Indexes of Biotic Integrity (IBI) for stream and river resources within the state. An IBI is a multi-metric index that incorporates individual and community level attributes for stream fishes. Typically, species richness, composition, trophic and reproductive characteristics, fish health and density parameters are incorporated into an IBI. Once developed, the IBI metrics and indices provide meaningful measures of assemblage quality and response to chemical, physical, and biological influences and perturbations. This has been demonstrated for a wide variety of human impacts including water pollution, habitat and flow alterations, and land use changes. Key in the development of an IBI for Massachusetts will be the inclusion of more streamflow-sensitive metrics that are based on the TFCs.

The MDFW will also utilize “habitat mapping” to establish the most efficient means of achieving physical habitat or flow restoration in each watershed. Fish habitat mapping using the “MesoHABSIM” methodology (described below) will guide restoration efforts in mainstem study reaches toward restoring the TFC. Once fish community assessment has been conducted to determine the current status of each watershed, and TFC analyses are conducted to prioritize the resources in greatest need of restoration and conservation, habitat mapping will be used to develop the most efficient course for restoration and the alternatives at the agency’s disposal.

“Mesohabitat” refers to important biological types of river habitat (e.g. riffles, runs, and pools) and the association of certain fish species with specific mesohabitat types. MesoHABSIM describes the quantity of the habitat available in a river, or portion thereof, at various flows. The results can be used to focus on improving the habitat for fluvial fish species in the TFC. MesoHABSIM allows large river reaches to be fully assessed and can be used in concert with a GIS analysis. In addition to instream flow applications, this method can also be used to predict habitat and fish community responses to other river restoration projects, such as dam removal or channel alterations. The purpose of MesoHABSIM is to develop a baseline habitat description, compare available habitats for the fish species in the TFC, and determine the best way to increase suitable habitat for those species under varying flows. Those habitat improvement methods (dam removal, stream-bank restoration, etc.) that would most efficiently increase the appropriate habitat can be outlined and monitored to produce the best results.

MDFW’s goal for fish community assessment is to continue to sample 180 to 220 locations each year. Sampling locations are selected to correspond with DEP’s 5-year watershed assessment protocol, as well as potential Coldwater Fishery Resource (CFR) waters to allow biological assessments and set management goals for wild salmonids statewide.

MDFW’s Anadromous Fish Restoration Project strongly supports the biodiversity in the Commonwealth by restoring extirpated anadromous fish species to their historic habitat and range, and by enhancing existing diadromous (i.e., species which must migrate between freshwater and the sea to complete their life histories – the term includes anadromous species and catadromous species like the American Eel, which spawns in the ocean) fish populations in the Commonwealth. MDFW has already surveyed and mapped miles of important salmon and coldwater fisheries habitat in the Connecticut Valley. The MDFW surveyed virtually every stream in the Westfield and Deerfield basins and numerous others in the Chicopee and Millers River basins all of which eventually drain to the Connecticut River. An addition to recording the species, size and age of all fish (resident as well as migratory) encountered during each survey, physical descriptions of the habitat and water quality measurements were conducted as well. This important habitat information is in a GIS data layer and will eventually be made available to anyone, including town conservation commissions, nonprofits, watershed associations and conservation organizations. [Contact Caleb Slater at (508) 389-6331 or caleb.slater@state.ma.us for more information.]

Threats to resident and migratory fish species in greatest need of conservation statewide include those posed by existing dams and proposed development and other construction projects. The negative impacts of dams on the natural diversity of aquatic habitat in the Commonwealth cannot be overstated. With more than 3,000 dams, many of which are more than a century old, the result has been a profound alteration of the natural riverine habitat and biodiversity in this state. First and foremost, dams fragment habitat and disrupt natural stream ecosystems. Dams do this by creating physical barriers to natural movements of resident and diadromous fishes, including access to spawning, nursery, feeding, and refuge habitat. Dams also physically change aquatic habitats both upstream and downstream of the barrier. Upstream of dams, once-flowing waters are now impounded and create entirely new ecosystems that now favor pond species to the detriment of native stream fishes. Accumulation of sediments destroy important spawning habitat for riverine fishes and alter water quality, including dissolved oxygen and temperature. Dams that divert water create “bypass reaches” that may be completely devoid of water, eliminating most, if not all aquatic habitat. Dams that store and release water can alter the natural hydrography both daily and seasonally, thereby creating unfavorable habitat conditions for fluvial fish species and negatively impacting fisheries biodiversity. Miles of riverine habitat have been altered as a result of these dams, and consequently impact numerous native fish species in great need of conservation.

Diadromous fish species have been very seriously affected by dams in Massachusetts . Populations of Atlantic salmon in the Commonwealth were driven to extinction during the 19th century, and many local populations of American shad, Blueback herring, Alewife, Sea lamprey and American eel were either extirpated or reduced to remnant status due in part to habitat fragmentation caused by extensive dam construction from the time of colonization through the industrial revolution. Habitat fragmentation and alteration (caused by dams and other factors) have also affected a number resident fish species that find the now impounded river habitat unsuitable. These species include fallfish, common shiner, white sucker, longnose dace, blacknose dace, creek chub, creek chubsucker, slimy sculpin, brook trout, brook lamprey, and tessellated darter.

Each year, MDFW fisheries staff review over 100 proposed development and other construction projects that have the potential to negatively impact fisheries habitat and biodiversity. These projects include road and highway construction, bridge rehabilitation and replacement, pipeline crossings in streams, thermal discharges from cogeneration plants, storm water runoff from parking lots and other impervious surfaces, housing developments adjacent to streams, and culvert replacements. These projects can negatively affect and alter aquatic habitat directly during the construction phase, and indirectly during their long-term use. For example, during the construction of a new residential development, unchecked runoff of sediments can make their way into nearby streams. The sediments are then transported downstream, adversely impacting spawning habitat and subsequent fish production. The long-term use of the newly constructed development can also impact the same streams. If stormwater runoff from the impervious surfaces makes its way into the same streams, it may increase water temperature, negatively impacting abundance and distribution of sensitive coldwater fish species. This is also the case during the operation of fossil fuel, biomass or “waste-to-energy” power plants, which have the potential to increase the temperature of receiving waters through their thermal discharge.

As with new developments, road construction, bridge and culvert replacements and pipeline stream crossings can have impacts during both construction and operation. If best management practices for erosion and sedimentation control are not strictly adhered to during construction, streams can be negatively impacted through sedimentation, releases of petrochemicals and construction debris, destabilization of stream banks, and other changes in riparian habitat. Conversely, if the projects are not designed properly in the first place, new bridges and culvert replacements can act as an impediment to fish movement within the streams, while pipelines buried in the streambed can alter the stream gradient.

While all of our fish species in greatest need of conservation will ultimately be impacted if the quality of a water body is compromised, several have high potential to be negatively affected by various projects through impacts on their habitats. These include swamp darters which require clean, cold, well oxygenated waters for their populations to thrive; alewife and American eel which, during their spawning migrations, require unimpeded passage to and from their spawning grounds; and white suckers which require clean, flowing riffles for optimal spawning habitat.

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Now that the Massachusetts ’ Wildlife Action Plan (CWCS) is completed, its recommendations need to be implemented. The MDFW encourages anyone and everyone concerned about the future of the Commonwealth’s flora, fauna and habitats (land trusts, watershed associations, conservation commissions, anglers, birders, etc.) to look to the CWCS for guidance to help maximize the effectiveness of conservation efforts in protecting and/or restoring “at risk” species and habitats. While future annual federal State Wildlife Grant allocations are expected* to cover some of the costs of implementing the CWCS, those federal monies must be matched on at least a 1:1 basis, plus funding over and above that required to match the federal funds is deemed essential to effectively implement the CWCS’s recommendations. Several national conservation groups, including the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) and the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition(TWW), are working to build a strong constituency amongst hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts and organizations for State Wildlife Grants and other federal funding for state-level species and habitat conservation and restoration initiatives.

*Note that, as State Wildlife Grants require an annual appropriation by Congress, it is critical that citizens and organizations let their elected representatives know of their support for maintaining (if not increasing) State Wildlife Grant funding. One way to do that is to join the Massachusetts Teaming with Wildlife Coalition, which is also working to secure the needed state matching funds for the federal State Wildlife Grant allocation as well as the additional funding and other actions needed to effectively implement the CWCS. Part of that effort is to share success stories of conservation projects in Massachusetts funded in part from federal State Wildlife Grant monies. Another major focus of the Coalition is its call to action (along with the Massachusetts Audubon Society and many other groups) to secure adequate funding in the State Budget for the MDFW’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, which is directly involved with implementing Massachusetts’ Wildlife Action Plan. Please consider joining the Mass. TWW Coalition (and if you already have, thank you.) Contact Marion Larson at (508) 389-6311 or Marion.Larson@state.ma.us or Bernie McHugh at (617) 742-2553 or teaming@environmentalleague.org for questions about TWW, or John O’Leary at (508) 389-6359 John.OLeary@state.ma.us for questions on the CWCS.

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Resources and Grants

Grant Opportunities

The Davis Conservation Foundation’s purpose is to support the wise utilization, protection and advancement of our physical environment and the different natural forms of life that inhabit it, including wildlife, sea life and mankind as they are impacted by the environment. To accomplish this, the foundation is primarily interested in projects in ME, MA, NH and VT related to wildlife, wildlife habitat, environmental protection and outdoor recreation, as well as projects that strengthen volunteer activity and outreach/community involvement in the above-noted areas. Application deadlines are April 10th and October 10; applications must be received in the foundation ' s office by the deadline date. Typical grants range from $5,000 to $20,000; click here for a description of past grantees. To apply or for more info, go to http://www.davisfoundations.org/site/conservation.asp, or contact the foundation at info@davisfoundations.org or (207) 781-5504.

Northeast Utilities (NU)’s Environmental Community Grant Program was created to enable NU to fund local community and grassroots environmental projects that are often overlooked by large grant programs. Grants between $250 and $1,000 are awarded twice a year – in May and November – in Connecticut , Massachusetts and New Hampshire . Applications are reviewed by a team of NU employees.  Eligible projects include improving local wildlife habitat, environmental education, organized cleanup projects (such as cleaning up a park, part of a stream or a vacant lot) or reclaiming and rehabilitating damaged environments. Annual application deadlines are April 15 th and October 15 th. Check out http://www.nu.com/environmental/grant.asp for more info on the grant program. To apply for a grant, contact the NU Environmental Management Department at (860) 665-3951 or view the application, which you fill out and submit on-line, or print out and mail in. 

International Paper, in partnership with The Conservation Fund, annually honors the conservation accomplishments of two individuals. Each International Paper Environmental Excellence Award is accompanied by an unrestricted $10,000 grant. The Conservation Partnership Award recognizes an individual who has achieved significant results in the protection of habitat through a cooperative relationship with a business or corporation. The Environmental Education Award is presented to an educator who has developed an innovative approach to communicating to students an understanding that the relationship between a healthy environment and a healthy economy is not a mutually exclusive one. Nominations are due April 15th; go to http://www.conservationfund.org/?article=1006 for more info.

The Coalition for Recreational Trails (http://www.funoutdoors.com/coalitions/crt is inviting nominations for achievement awards for Outstanding Trail Projects in the categories of: construction and design; maintenance and rehabilitation; education and communication initiatives; accessibility enhancement; multiple-use management or “corridor sharing”; environment/wildlife compatibility; and use of youth conservation/service corps. Nominations are due April 20, 2007 . For a Nomination Form or more info, contact paul.jahnige@state.ma.us or (413) 586-8706.

The Portland, OR-based Fund for Wild Nature (http://www.fundwildnature.org) believes that “healthy ecosystems are too essential to be sacrificed. Increasingly rare, wild areas constitute the main reservoirs of biodiversity. They also provide key spiritual and scientific reference points for understanding the planet ' s wondrous cycles of birth, life, death, and decay.  The Board ' s ideology is rooted in biocentrism and the belief that the human experience has become increasingly distressed because society has disconnected from Nature, and has attempted to control natural systems for short-sighted consumption. We may perceive comfort and convenience, but the waste we leave degrades our quality of life, and inflicts a great deal of suffering on the other life with which we share the Earth. When we realize our kinship with these other life forms, we re-discover our natural, wilder selves”.  The Fund provides small grants to small groups engaging in campaigns to save and restore native species and wild ecosystems, including actions to defend wilderness and biological diversity; the next proposal deadline is Friday, April 27th.  The Fund also solicits charitable donations (see http://www.fundwildnature.org/contribute.html).

The Boulder, CO-based Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes is currently seeking nominations for its 2007 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 that have shown leadership and courage in public service to people and our planet. Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,000 to support their service work or higher education. The nomination deadline is April 30th.

The Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation (http://www.grantsmanagement.com/absguide.html) makes grants of up to $30,000 to environmental organizations in geographic areas supported by the Foundation’s benefactor and for projects that also include other priorities of the Foundation, such as education or community service opportunities for low-income urban youth.  The annual application deadlines are May 1st and November 1st.  Potential applicants are encouraged to contact administrator Amy Shorey at Grants Management Associates [ashorey@grantsmanagement.com or (617) 426-7080] for more information.

The Kodak American Greenways Awards Program, a partnership project of the Eastman Kodak Company, The Conservation Fund, and the National Geographic Society, provides small grants to stimulate the planning and design of greenways in communities throughout America . Grants may be used for activities such as: mapping, ecological assessments, surveying, conferences, and design activities; developing brochures, interpretative displays, audio-visual productions or public opinion surveys; hiring consultants, incorporating land trusts, building a foot bridge, planning a bike path, or other creative projects. In general, grants can be used for all appropriate expenses needed to complete a greenway project including planning, technical assistance, legal and other costs. Awards will primarily go to local, regional, or statewide nonprofit organizations. While the maximum grant award size is $2,500, most grants range from $500 to $1,500. Go http://www.conservationfund.org/?article=2106 to apply (from now until June 1st) or for more info.

Section 319 of the Clean Water Act of 1987 established a national program to control non-point sources of pollution.  Each year the Massachusetts DEP issues a Request for Responses (RFR) for competitive projects to be funded through §319 grants. This year’s RFR will be issued on or about April 2, 2007. Proposals will be due on June 4, 2007.  While responses to the RFR may be submitted by any interested Massachusetts public or private organization, the majority of §319 funding is expected to go to implementation projects which improve impaired waterways. Project evaluation will substantially favor work that is consistent with the Massachusetts Watershed-based Plan (http://host.appgeo.com/MADEPWatershed/ - see more info in On-line Resources below) and that will result in meeting water quality standards and/or restoring beneficial uses (i.e., removing the waterbody from the “303d” impaired waters list). The RFR will be posted at the Commonwealth’s procurement site, http://www.comm-pass.com, under Open Solicitations, Department of Environmental Protection, Professional Services. 

Mass. DEP recently issued a pre-announcement of its FFY 2008 Water Conservation Grant Program(formerly known as the “Water Loss Prevention Grant Program”), which will award funds to municipalities and public water systems to encourage and enhance local drinking water conservation efforts.  This year’s Request for Responses (RFR) will be issued on or about June 8, 2007 and proposals will be due on July 18, 2007.  Up to $800,000 (substantially more than in past years) is expected to be awarded to eligible public water systems during this funding round.  The RFR will be posted at the Commonwealth’s procurement site, http://www.comm-pass.com under Open Solicitations, Department of Environmental Protection, Professional Services. A “ Pre-RFR” meeting will be held at MassDEP’s Central Regional Office, 627 Main Street , Worcester , Massachusetts on Thursday, May 24, 2007 from 10AM to Noon.  As DEP staff are constrained from discussing projects with proponents once the RFR is issued, potential applicants are urged to take advantage of the Pre-RFR meeting and all other opportunities to engage program staff (i.e., Malcolm Harper – see below) in discussion about how to develop eligible, competitive projects prior to the June RFR issuance.  Proposed projects must provide 25% local cash and/or in-kind match of the requested grant amount.  While the direct recipient of the grant must be a public water system or municipality, projects may be developed, carried out, and completed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), regional planning agencies, consultants, etc. on behalf of the public water system. Projects eligible for funding include: Water Conservation Outreach and Education Programs, Water Audits for distribution and metering systems, Leak Detection Survey Programs, Rebates for water conservation devices, water efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances and Bylaw Implementation - specific to water conservation goals; any projects that focus on drinking water conservation, loss identification, resolution, and prevention will be considered. For additional info, contact program coordinator Malcolm Harper at (508) 767-2795 or Malcolm.Harper@state.ma.us.

The New York City-based Nathan Cummings Foundation ’s Environment Program seeks to address the root causes of environmental degradation.  While measures such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act have been effective to a point, they are not comprehensive enough to deal with the overall threats to the environment and their impact on our health. Often specific corporate and other institutional interests, rather than environmental needs, prevail in environmental policies. Without sufficient countervailing forces holding decision-makers accountable for their actions, the increase in such influences on decision-makers and public policy can lead to the undermining of the environment.  The Foundation’s funding priority is given to projects with the potential of having state, multi-state, or national impacts.  To apply, send a 2-3 page letter of inquiry at any time containing the information set out at http://www.nathancummings.org/programs/000016.html , and the Foundation’s staff will respond promptly.   Tax-exempt organizations whose projects fit most closely with the Foundation guidelines will be asked to submit a full application for consideration at the Foundation’s spring or fall board meetings. For more info, contact: Peter Teague, Environmental Programs Director,  The Nathan Cummings Foundation, 475 Tenth Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10018, (212) 787-7300 or (212) 787-7377 (fax).

As a service for wild and scenic rivers and other river and watershed protection advocates, the National Park Service has put together a useful and comprehensive listing of funding opportunities for river/watershed conservation work called the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Funding Database (downloadable via http://www.nps.gov/nero/rivers/riversfunding.htm). While most of these are in the public sector, some private funding sources are included as well.

The Ventura, CA-based outdoor gear company Patagonia makes grants primarily in the range of $3,000 to 8,000 to small, grassroots organizations with strong bases of citizen support for direct action projects as part of multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and protect our environment. The company funds local groups engaged in battles to protect local habitat such as a specific stand of forest, stretch of river or indigenous wild species, which the company feels are the most effective in raising more complicated issues – particularly those of biodiversity and ecosystem protection – in the public mind. The company looks for innovative groups that produce measurable results, and it likes to support efforts that force the government to abide by its own (our own) laws. As a privately-held company, Patagonia has the freedom to fund groups off the beaten track, and that's where it believes its small grants are most effective. Grant proposals to the company are typically submitted through a local Patagonia retail store (such as the one at 346 Newbury Street , Boston , MA 02115 , Phone: (617) 424-1776). Go to http://pro.patagonia.com/web/uspro/patagonia.go?assetid=2942 for more info.

The mission of the Norcross Wildlife Foundation (which shares the same benefactor as the Wales , MA-based Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary) includes the protection of threatened wildlands and wildlife, the protection and restoration of threatened and endangered plants native to New England ; and the support of programs that educate the public in natural and environmental science. The foundation revised both its grantmaking policy and guidelines in 2006; go to http://www.norcrossws.org/Foundation%20Infor/Foundmain.html and click on the relevant topics to see if your project fits the Foundation’s current funding preferences and procedures. Call the Foundation’s NY offices at (212) 362-4831 or (718) 791-2094 or send an e-mail to johnmcmurray@ez2.net if you have any questions.

The Prospect Hill Foundation’s mission is “to advance the human experience while ensuring the well-being of the earth”. While the Foundation (http://www.foundationcenter.org/grantmaker/prospecthill/) makes grants to projects in the U.S. and Latin America, it has a regional focus in NY, NJ, RI and MA. Environmental Conservation, one of the Foundation’s four program areas, makes grants supporting conservation strategies that protect natural systems and that improve air quality for the benefit of human and ecological health. While the Foundation does not normally consider unsolicited requests for support, you could send a brief letter or e-mail of inquiry to Ms. Constance Eiseman to see if the Foundation would consider inviting you to apply for funding. The address to use is: Director of Programs and Administration, The Prospect Hill Foundation, 99 Park Avenue, Suite 2220, New York , New York 10016-1601 and the e-mail is grants@prospect-hill.org. The phone number is (212) 370-1165.

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Calendar

The Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership (MassWWP) is holding a series of free training workshops this spring in conjunction with the recent completion of the Massachusetts Volunteer Coastal Monitoring General Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPPs). A companion document for inland volunteer monitoring is due out soon. These guidebooks are intended to greatly ease the job of writing a QAPP, by providing default information that groups can use or adapt as appropriate to document their own monitoring programs. Click here for more info or contact MassWWP Coordinator Jerry Schoen at jschoen@tei.umass.edu or (413) 545-5532.

“Rain Gardens: Beautiful, Water-Saving Designs” is the title of a course to be offered on Thursdays 4/5 and 4/12 from 6:30–8:30 PM at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. Would you like to help protect our precious water resources while at the same time creating lush, beautiful gardens that attract butterflies? Rain gardens take advantage of our natural abundance of rainfall, rather than wasting it as runoff, by using rainwater flowing off your roof, driveway, or lawn. These gardens can save you watering time and money and may even solve drainage problems such as damp basements, icy driveways or sidewalks, and soggy lawns. Taught by Dori Smith, Ecological Landscape Designer, Gardens for Life, the first session will focus on concepts, designs, and use of native plantings in rain gardens, using case studies for inspiration, while the second session covers practical details for planning and designing your own rain garden. Go to http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/programs/adulted_courses_april.html to register or for more info.

On Monday, April 9th, UMass/Amherst will host the Fourth Annual Water Resources Research Conference—Sustainable Waters in a Changing World: Research to Practice. The conference will feature a distinguished and diverse group of scholars and practitioners from academia, government, and nonprofits, and will attract scientists from the New England region and beyond (click here to read abstracts of speaker presentations). The registration fee is $115 and may be made up to and on the date of the conference (i.e., “walk-in” registrations are OK). Contact Françoise Walk at (413) 545-2842 or wrrc@tei.umass.edu for more info.

“Mapping Massachusetts Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis” is the title of two separate one-day workshops, to be held on April 12th and 13th, from 8:30AM to 4:30 PM, at the Charles River Public Internet Center in downtown Waltham. Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.2 to create community maps expressing various themes, spatial trends, census data and more. While the workshop is suitable for GIS beginners, intermediate experience in Excel is required. Click on http://www.urban-research.info/massachusetts-gis.htm to register or for more info.

National Environmental Education Week is April 15-22, 2007. Go to http://www.eeweek.org for more details, where you can also participate in a Nature Deficit Disorder” survey and an on-line “Nature Bee”, which encourages student identification of wildlife habitats, flora and fauna in their communities.

The 63rd Annual Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference, taking place from Sunday, April 22nd through Wednesday, April 25 th at the Mystic Marriott, Mystic/Groton Connecticut, contains a number of presentations relating to instream flow and anadromous and other riverine fisheries protection and restoration. Single day registrations are available. Go on-line to http://neafwa.org/html/highlights.shtml or contact the conference office at info@delaneymeetingevent.com or (802) 655-7769 to register or for more info.

The Community Preservation Coalition, in conjunction with UMass’ Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning and the Trust for Public Land's Connecticut River Program, is sponsoring the Western Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA) Conference , to be held on Saturday, April 28th at UMass/Amherst. Conference workshops will include topics related to both CPA adoption and CPA implementation. Contact CPC Associate Director Katherine Roth at katherine.roth@communitypreservation.org or (617) 367-8998 for more information.

The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC, http://www.neiwpcc.org) will be hosting (with RI DEM) the 18th Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference at the Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel and Spa, in Newport, Rhode Island from May 21st – 23rd. Call (978) 323-7929 or go to http://www.neiwpcc.org/npsconference/nps_pdfs/nps07agenda.pdf for more info.

Millions of tons of trash wind up in our nation ' s rivers and streams every year, and American Rivers is harnessing the environmental passion and community pride of thousands of people to do something about it. The nation ' s leading river advocacy organization is encouraging citizens to take part in the annual National River Cleanup Week, set for June 2-10, 2007 . If you ' re looking for a hands-on way to help protect the rivers you love, then organize a cleanup, or pitch in at a cleanup near you. Free trash bags and Green Mountain Coffee are supplied to organizers who register their cleanup on-line by April 15th. In addition, all cleanup volunteers will be eligible to participate in contests to win valuable prizes, such as free canoes and kayaks. Contact Heather Hamilton at (202) 347-7550 or hhamilton@AmericanRivers.org for more info.

To celebrate Wetlands Month (May) this year, EPA Region I/New England is partnering with the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership and the Mass. Wetlands Restoration Program (on behalf of the Partnership to Restore Massachusetts’ Aquatic Habitats) to host an event that will be held Wednesday May 30th from 10AM to 12 noon at The Trustees of Reservations’ Crane Estate (Castle Hill) in Ipswich. Contact Hunt Durey at (617) 626-1245 or hunt.durey@state.ma.us for more info.

Join park advocates, state agency personnel and dozens of supporting organizations to celebrate and further invest in Massachusetts ' public lands in Partners in Parks, a statewide working session, to be held at Worcester Technical High School on Saturday, June 9 th. Everyone who wants to see the Commonwealth ' s forests and parks achieve their potential as wonderful places to work, play and be restored are encouraged to attend and participate. Go to http://www.conservationandrecreationcampaign.org/conference.php to register or for more info. [On a related note: the Conservation and Recreation Campaign recently released a report entitled Parks and Beaches: Common Cents for the Common Wealth, which outlines the many ways that our state’s system of public parklands not only contribute to a healthy environment, but to our economy and quality of life.]

Last but not least: Have you heard about “ Green Drinks”? No, it’s not (necessarily) the green-tinted beer served on St. Patrick’s Day – its an informal monthly gathering of people working in the environmental field who meet up for a beer or other beverage at a pre-arranged location. Green Drink gatherings usually include a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. Come along and you' ll be made welcome. Just say, "are you green?" and the organizers will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there. It' s a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network. While these events are very simple and unstructured, many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. Right now there are Green Drink monthly gatherings in Boston, Great Barrington, Northampton, Pittsfield, Somerville-Cambridge and Providence, RI. Go to http://www.greendrinks.org for more details on these gatherings or for advice on how to start up a Green Drink in your area.

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On-line Resources

The U.S. EPA’s Office of Water (OWOW) has released the Water Quality Exchange (WQX) a new on-line data transfer system that makes it easier for states, tribes, and others to submit and share water quality monitoring data over the Internet. WQX facilitates the transfer of chemical and fish tissue data as well as physical parameters such as temperature. With WQX, groups who collect water quality data no longer need to use EPA’s STORET database to submit their information to the National STORET Data Warehouse. Also newly available is a Web-based Watershed Summary tool designed to help water quality managers and the public use the information in the National STORET Data Warehouse. This tool allows users to create a summary of available data for an individual watershed. It shows the types of data available in the Warehouse for that watershed (such as metals, nutrients, or pesticides), who has entered the data, the period of record for the data, and how much data are available. The user can then download the specific data needed for that watershed. Go to http://www.epa.gov/storet/ for more info.

The U.S. EPA has also recently published two guides relating to NPDES stormwater permitting. Operators of large, medium, and regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) require authorization to discharge pollutants under an NPDES permit. Medium and large MS4 operators are required to submit comprehensive permit applications and are issued individual permits. While Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Program Evaluation Guidance is primarily for use by NPDES authorities to evaluate the quality of MS4 programs, it can also be used by MS4 program managers to evaluate their own programs. The agency has also published an interim guidance document entitled Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites(PDF, 1.95 MB), which is intended to assist construction site operators needing NPDES permit coverage for stormwater discharges.

Several years ago, the U.S. EPA issued new guidelines promoting the use of Section 319 funding for developing and implementing “Watershed-Based Plans” (WBPs) to protect unimpaired waters and restore impaired waters. These plans are now required for all projects implemented with §319 funds. The draft Massachusetts WBP, prepared by the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and currently posted at http://host.appgeo.com/MADEPWatershed, is intended to help you identify known and likely causes and sources of nonpoint source pollution (NPS) in your watershed. It should also help you prioritize NPS problems, identify appropriate best management practices (BMPs) and watershed-based strategies for addressing the problems, and develop winning proposals to fund the work using §319 nonpoint source competitive grant funds or similar programs. The WBP exists as an interactive website and is not available in hard copy form. Anyone concerned about water quality in their watershed (which should include just about everyone) is encouraged to check out the WBP website and see what it says about the condition of and threats to your local waterways. Feedback on the format and/or information contained in the WBP should go to Jane Peirce , MassDEP §319 Program Coordinator, at (508) 767-2792 or jane.peirce@state.ma.us.

Last year, an issue (No.1) of the quarterly publication Massachusetts Wildlifeincluded an excellent article by Kathleen Campbell of Trout Unlimited entitled Brook Trout in Massachusetts: A Troubled History, a Hopeful Future. The article details the current status of and threats to brook trout and their habitat and what the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW) and others are doing to assess, protect and restore the brook trout fishery. Massachusetts Wildlife’s editor Peter Mirick has graciously consented to MDFW’s posting this article on-line (click here to access it) to help ensure it reaches a large audience. You are nevertheless warmly invited to subscribe to the print version of Massachusetts Wildlife to read all the other excellent articles the magazine has to offer (it’s only $6/yr or $10/two years). Other on-line documents and web pages relating to brook trout are: the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Ventureweb page, especially the new publication entitled Eastern Brook Trout: Roadmap to Restoration; a January, 2007 memo from the MDFW setting out the agency’s current strategies for brook trout conservation; the Eastern Brook Trout Conservation Initiative and map viewer; and a December, 2005 document entitled Conserving the Eastern Brook Trout: An Overview of Status, Threats, and Trends.

There are two recent additions to the excellent on-line resource materials available on the USDA-CSREES’ Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring National Facilitation Project’s web page. “Volunteer Management and Support” (16pp., 7MB .pdf) acknowledges that successful volunteer management takes a good deal of effort, time and skill, and involves much more than simply training a few folks to collect water samples. It is crucial for program success. This factsheet builds on decades of experiences by program managers in the volunteer monitoring community. It highlights volunteer management and support tools and provides suggestions to help keep your volunteer monitors inspired, motivated and involved. It focuses on the five R's of volunteer monitoring: rights, responsibilities, recruitment, recognition and retention. Considerations for Planning Your Program's Data Management System (14 pp., 6MB .pdf) recognizes that while having a data storage, management, and retrieval system is essential for every monitoring program, there are multiple data management system options to choose from. The authors surveyed a number of volunteer monitoring programs that have developed on-line databases so that they could incorporate their experiences - both good and bad - into the fact sheet.

A free guide for using social marketing to further watershed program goals is now available on-line, courtesy of the Utah Dept. of Agriculture and Food. The book is entitled Getting Your Feet Wet with Social Marketing: A Social Marketing Guide for Watershed Programs; it's available on-line (as a 7.3 MB .pdf file) at http://www.ag.utah.gov/conservation/GettingYourFeetWet1.pdf. Here’s an excerpt from the Introduction: “By successfully implementing awareness and social marketing campaigns in your watershed, municipality or county, individuals and groups will take on and sustain actions that will save water, improve the condition of the watershed and reduce pollution. These measurable results through communications-based approaches will help you achieve your overall watershed protection and restoration goals and increase your ability to raise money for additional efforts. Once enough people within a watershed are using watershed-friendly behaviors, word of mouth and example behaviors by peers will diffuse the behavior with less intensive effort from project sponsors. Therefore, social marketing can be an effective and cost-effective way to improve and restore environmental conditions. [See theMass. Social Marketing Association (MASMA)’s webpage for more info about the use of the social marketing technique locally.]

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Non-government On-line Resources

With the slogan “Changing the World, One Gift at a Time”, Changing the Present.org maintains that “many of us don' t need any more fruitcakes, toasters, or pen & pencil sets. Buying unwanted presents just isn' t a fulfilling way of spending our money or expressing our love…people are discovering that the best way to show you care for someone isn' t giving them something they don' t need, but rather in doing something to make the world a better place, in their name. The Changingthepresent.org website offers to send a personalized greeting card to the recipients of any donations made through the website. In addition, the website enables anyone to indicate the charitable organization or project they wish to benefit in lieu of a traditional present. Visitors to the website can browse by cause to find over a thousand donation opportunities. You can search by name to find and support virtually any nonprofit. Nonprofits seeking to participate in changingthepresent.org should go to the “For nonprofits” page.

The recently-established Children and Nature Network (C&NN, http://www.cnaturenet.org), created to encourage and support people and organizations working to reconnect children with nature, provides a critical link between researchers and individuals, educators and organizations dedicated to children’s health and well-being. C&NN will also promote fundamental institutional change and provide resources for sharing information, strategic initiatives and success stories. C&NN’s news service and portal, cnaturenet.org, offers parents, youth, civic leaders, educators and health-care providers access to the latest news and research in this field as well as practical advice, including ways to apply new-found knowledge at home, at school, in work environments, and in the community. [See http://www.hookedonnature.org/aboutus.html, http://cye.colorado.edu/item.pl?n=16 and http://www.orionmagazine.org/pages/om/07-2om/Louv.html for related info.]

The mission of the New England Chapter of the Congress For The New Urbanism (http://www.cnunewengland.org/index.htm) is to promote the Charter of the New Urbanism within New England; to educate the public and the development community regarding the benefits of New Urbanist planning, design and development; to support the implementation of projects consistent with the principles of New Urbanism at the local, regional and state levels; and to encourage the adoption of alternative form-based codes that promote traditional neighborhood development.

Convio (http://www.Convio.com) provides a suite of software and comprehensive services that help hundreds of nonprofits achieve success on-line every day. With products for fundraising, advocacy, event fundraising, e-commerce, community, Web content management and e-mail communications, Convio software puts integration first. All Convio products share an on-line marketing database, Constituent360, giving you a complete view of each constituent’s on-line interactions with your organization, which helps you communicate with them on a personal level and drive greater response. Convio solutions are based on a methodology called on-line constituent relationship management (eCRM). Convio.com offers a free bi-monthly newsletter and on-line seminar (a.k.a. “webinar”) where you can learn seven techniques for achieving results in on-line fundraising and marketing. [See also“eNonProfit Benchmarks Study: Measuring E-mail Messaging, On-line Fundraising and Internet Advocacy Metrics for Nonprofit Organizations”, a recent study on the effectiveness of major American nonprofit organizations using the Internet to raise money and influence public policy. For more “low-tech” fundraising ideas, click on http://services.juniata.edu/osa/forms/100%20Fundraising%20Ideas.doc.]

Defenders of Wildlife, in collaboration with Resources for the Future and Island Press, recently issued a new report entitled Assessing the Wealth of Nature: Using Economic Studies to Promote Land Conservation Instead of Spraw l. This 8-page report, as well as the longer white paper from which it was derived, are both downloadable for free by going to http://www.biodiversitypartners.org/econ/assessingwealth/index.shtml.

Billed by its designer and builder Little River Research & Design, as “a powerful new tool for river research and education”, Emriver (http://www.emriver.com/emriver.html) uses a portable, moveable bed and 27 gallons of re-circulated water to simulate river processes with remarkable accuracy. The two-meter-long stream table uses a particulate plastic media that is density-scaled, allowing construction of channels with a full compliment of fluvial features, including several meander bends. Based on nearly two decades of experience in portable river models used by Midwestern conservation organizations, Emriver is used by river scientists and managers to demonstrate basic principles of river behavior and subtle channel morphology and sediment transport processes. It is also a powerful tool for river conservation advocates who need to demonstrate non-intuitive processes like incision and headcutting to lay audiences. The Emriver website includes videos (see http://www.emriver.com/emvid.html) of the model in action. Contact the company at info@emriver.com or (618) 529-7423 for more info.

Earlier this year, the citizen advocacy group MASSPIRG spun off its environmental advocacy work to a new organization called Environment Massachusetts. Led by former MASSPIRG staffperson Frank Gorke, Environment Massachusetts (along with its non-lobbying affiliate, the Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center) will build on MASSPIRG ' s legacy of persistent, result-oriented, tough-minded advocacy and activism, as well as its 30-year track record of success in tackling the Commonwealth’s top environmental problems. Environment Massachusetts ’ professional staff will combine independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for Massachusetts ' environment. The organization is one of the chief sponsors for the Partners in Parks Conference on June 9th (see Calendar above).

A project of the Giving Media Network, Fundraisers.com unites people working for the greater good, regardless of the size of their organization, by sharing resources to create a nationwide and worldwide community at the grassroots level. Fundraisers.com’s on-line magazine GIVING and more than half a dozen blogs designed to provide both volunteers and professional fundraisers with fresh ideas, heartwarming success stories, resources for products and services, and strategies for achieving organizational goals. Prominent philanthropists and volunteers are profiled, along with those corporations that are giving back to their local communities.

Mission-Based Massachusetts (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mission-Based-Massachusetts/)is an e-mail distribution list for people who care about nonprofit, philanthropic, educational, community-based, grassroots, socially responsible, and other mission-oriented organizations in the Bay State . It is a moderated, flame-free email distribution list that is open to anyone who is interested in the topic. Contact the list’s moderator, Deborah Elizabeth Finn http://www.cyber-yenta.org, for more info.

Created by Charityfinders.com, which offers a free “e-Strategy for Your Nonprofit” webinar, NonprofitSite123 is an affordable, easy-to-use tool that enables your nonprofit to create a top-notch website loaded with features that help further your mission, not just describe it. It is an innovative tool designed to help you engage everyone who comes to your site, including donors, prospective donors, members, volunteers, employees, and other constituents. The website can help you raise funds (by, e.g. enabling donors to make secure, on-line donations), lower fundraising costs, communicate effectively, attract in-kind donations, recruit needed volunteers and employees, make administration more efficient, and build a greater sense of community. Nonprofit 123 can build and maintain your website, built it for you to maintain, or allow you to both build and maintain your site. The tool also enables you to track website results and campaigns through comprehensive reports. Effectively manage your lists of donors, volunteers and prospects, so you can strategically cultivate them. Nonprofit123 offers a 30-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee along with “24/7” support and customer service via phone, e-mail or on-line.

Released to coincide with the observance of World Water Day (see http://www.worldwaterday.org and http://www.worldwaterday.net) earlier this month, the World Wildlife Fund/UK’s report entitled World’s Top 10 Rivers at Risk highlights rivers around the world that are drying-out or dying as a result of water withdrawals, climate change, pollution and dams. The report concludes that poor planning and inadequate protection of natural areas mean we can no longer assume that water will flow forever. The report is available on-line at http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/worldstop10riversatrisk.pdf (click here for a related news story).

The Zazzle Community Giving Program can put your nonprofit organization’s logo (or just about any other image) on mugs, t-shirts, greeting cards, even U.S. postage stamps (see http://www.zazzle.com/custom/stamps). Your organization can design the stamps or other products, and then you can encourage your members and others to purchase them (as the American Bird Conservancy has done), and your organization keeps at least 20% of the proceeds. Send an e-mail to ZazzleGiving@zazzle.com to suggest a charitable beneficiary or for other info.

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Publications

The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment has released a twelve-page booklet by nature writer and illustrator Ethan Nedeau describing the challenges and methods for restoration of American eels in the Gulf of Maine region. The booklet, American Eels: Restoring a Vanishing Resource in the Gulf of Maine, was produced by the Council's Habitat Restoration Subcommittee and the Gulf of Maine Science Translation Project with support from The Nature Conservancy, Maine Sea Grant, and Maine Coastal Program. The American eel presents challenges to conservation because its range spans political boundaries and habitats traditionally managed by different agencies. Two different versions of the document are available on-line: a high-resolution version (PDF, 2.93 MB) for printing as well as a low-resolution version (PDF, 929 KB) for viewing on screen. To request hard copies, e-mail your name, mailing address, and number of copies desired to Peter Taylor with "Request for eel booklet" as the subject line of your e-mail.

A new illustrated field guide is now available for participants of riparian restoration educational workshops and field tours. An Introduction to Induced Meandering: A Method for Restoring Stability to Incised Stream Channels, is a joint publication from Earth Works Institute, The Quivira Coalition, and Zeedyk Ecological Consulting. The document describes riparian restoration techniques, and includes real examples, such as those used for several demonstration sites in the Galisteo Watershed Restoration Project in New Mexico . The document highlights the use of induced meandering as promoted by Bill Zeedyk. To receive a free copy, visit http://www.earthworksinstitute.org and click on “publications.”

The February, 2007 issue of the highly-respected scientific Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) is largely devoted to the hydrological connectivity of headwater streams and their contributions to the integrity of downstream waters. This is in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s “SWANCC” and “Rapanos” decisions, in which the determination of which waterways and wetlands were deemed “jurisdictional” under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) was arrived at by “what is the extent of the tributary system”, with a focus on headwater, intermittent and ephemeral streams and the connectivity, or “significant nexus”, of these waters to navigable waters. The definition of ‘‘waters of the U.S.’’ affects all CWA programs, not just Section 404, including Section 402 NPDES permits, the Section 401 water quality certification program, the Section 303 water quality standards, and oil and hazardous spill prevention and clean-up under Section 311. [See the Sierra Club’s fact sheet on proposed federal legislation entitled the “Clean Water Authority Restoration Act” intended to resolve this issue.] This JAWRA issue is publicly available at no charge for the next year via this link: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/jawr.

A Guide to Invasive Plants in Massachusetts, authored by State Botanist Paul Somers, Karen Lombard and Rachel Kramer of The Nature Conservancy and Bill Brumback of the New England Wild Flower Society (NEWFS), provides ID tips and other info on 66 non-native species that spread aggressively and have been determined to pose a threat to Massachusetts’ native plants and habitats. Each invasive plant description in the Guide includes a photograph, the plant’s regulatory status, habitats where the plant is likely to be found, type of threat the plant poses to native species and habitats, and its current distribution and place of origin. Copies of the Guide are available for free pick up at MassWildlife’s District Offices and the Westborough Field Headquarters. A shipping/ handling fee will be charged for mail orders; contact the Natural Heritage Program at (508) 389-6360. Copies are also available from the DCR Lakes and Ponds Program in West Boylston (508) 792-7423 x304; the Nature Conservancy in Boston, (617) 227-7017, NEWFS (508) 877-7630 and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association at http://www.mnla.com.

Thirst: Fighting the Corporate Theft of Our Water (286 pages, John Wiley & Sons, $27.95), a new book by Alan Snitow, Deborah Kaufman and Michael Fox, follows a 2004 public television documentary (also called “Thirst”) which exposed corporate efforts worldwide to “ commodify” drinking water. The book Thirst places more emphasis on the domestic front, describing the booming “water business” and how its efforts to privatize and “profitize” water are playing out in cities scattered across the nation. It reveals the extent to which public water supplies are being privatized by corporations that sell bottled water, and recounts fights by communities (including Holyoke) to keep their water in public hands. Thirst also exposes corporate attempts to buy up rights to groundwater in the US , and create and corner the market on bottled water .  It also shows how people in affected communities are fighting back to keep water affordable, accessible, sustainable and public . Click here to read an excellent review of Thirst appearing in the San Francisco Chronicle’s March 18 th, 2007 Sunday Book Review section.  See also the “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign, and read and listen about efforts by “green” restaurants to serve local tap water instead of imported bottled water to their customers.

Visualizing Density, co-authored by landscape architect Julie Campoli and aerial photographer Alex MacLean, is the title of a book recently published by the Cambridge, MA-based Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. It seeks to remove the stigma from the “D” word through the use of (mostly aerial) photographs demonstrating that, with the right (e.g., not ugly, monotonous or pavement-dominated) design and/or a heavy tree canopy, dense residential developments are, or at least ought to be, perceived as acceptable alternatives to low-density sprawl by citizens, planners, developers and other land use decision-makers. Purchasing the book provides a significant bonus in the form of an included CD containing all the images in the book along with permission to use them for non-commercial purposes, such as at a public meeting where a proposed “Smart Growth” zoning ordinance is being debated. In addition, the Lincoln Institute has set up an interactive Visualizing Density web page (which requires a free registration to access) – click here for more info.

Recently published by the Trust for Public Land (TPL), The Health Benefits of Parks: How Parks Help Keep Americans and Their Communities Fit and Healthy draws from the latest research to outline the ways in which parks, open space, greenways, and trails support and promote healthy lifestyles, potentially decreasing health care costs. The 24-page report is intended to help park professionals and volunteers make the case for parks as a wise community investment. The Health Benefit of Parks can be downloaded for free by clicking on http://www.tpl.org/download_health_benefits_parks.cfm.

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Last But Not Least

Does your car have an environmental license plate?

The Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET, http://massenvironmentaltrust.org) provides funding to many river and other water resources protection and restoration projects throughout the Commonwealth. A major source of MET’s funding comes from the sale of environmental license plates. Besides the “whale” plate (often accompanied in print ads by “Bob”, MET’s new marketing icon), sale of the “FW” (“fish and wildlife”) and “BV” (“Blackstone Valley”) plates also help fund MET’s grant-making programs. (By the way, these three are the only Mass. specialty license plates that exclusively fund environmental programs). Getting an environmental plate is easy and can be done on-line at http://www.mass.gov/rmv or at your local Registry of Motor Vehicles office.

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