Commonwealth Conversations: The Great Outdoors

Preserving History in the Parks

Edward M. Lambert Jr.

Commissioner, Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR)

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When you think of parks do you envision a wooded trail along a rocky precipice or a long boardwalk to a sandy beach? Well, you should also picture historic farms and farmhouses, stone mansions, a 250 year-old mill village and a Viking tower. Yes, there is history in our parks and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is committed to preserving Massachusetts heritage as part of its mission.

This month we celebrate DCR’s mission as part of national Preservation Month.

The more than 450,000 acres of DCR parkland are also home to a rich collection of cultural resources and historic sites. You may have seen some of the historic buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s when you stayed in a cabin at Mohawk trail, dined at Bascom Lodge, or picnicked at a pavilion at Douglas State Forest. Or maybe you took a tour of the Ames Mansion at Borderland State Park or attended a maple sugaring program at Brookwood Farm at Blue Hills State Reservation. DCR understands that these buildings and landscapes add value to everyday life, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and the people who came before us. Preserving that legacy is one of our goals.

On top of the everyday stewardship carried out by our park personnel, DCR has undertaken special projects over the years to protect and enhance cultural resources. Since 1994 the Historic Curatorship Program has been preserving historic buildings through public/private partnership, with 60 properties rehabilitated for new use. At Maudslay State Park and Borderland State Park, DCR undertook the rehabilitation of historic gardens and landscapes which were integral to the former private estates. A multi-year project at the Ames Mansion included masonry repairs and roof work. This year DCR’s technical bulletin series for landscape preservation Terra Firma is receiving two awards – from the Boston Society for Landscape Architects and the Massachusetts Historical Commission. DCR is proud to be a preservation organization.

This month-long celebration of DCR’s unique historic sites includes special Opening Our Doors events that will give the public access to properties sometimes limited from view. Doors will be open at Curatorship properties in Newburyport, Carlisle and Foxborough, and at the Viking-inspired Norumbega Tower, a nineteenth century oddity in Weston. Take a stroll through the rhododendron stands and mill village at Moore State Park in Paxton on May 19^th or get a behind-the-scenes look backstage at the Hatch Shell on May 24th. For a full program visit the DCR website http://www.mass.gov/dcr/preservation2012.htm.

Get out and see history preserved in your parks!

Preservation Month is promoted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/preservation-month/

Weekly Outdoor Events 5/14/12

Madeleine Barr
Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
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This week, take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Massachusetts Department of Ecological Restoration (DER). DER sponsors weekly events to give you the chance to explore some Massachusetts’s pristine wetlands reserves. Wetlands are home to a large number of diverse wildlife and bird species, and DER guides will point out all the hidden spots where these animals like to nest. Some of the tours take you by foot through the nature paths, and others allow you to paddle in your kayak right down the river. This week alone, DER will be sending experts to lead explorations of the Quinsigamond River, the Ispwich River, the Weweantic River, and the Muddy River in the Charles River Watershed.

Also on Saturday, May 19, the 19th annual EarthFest celebration is taking place at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. EarthFest is a free, family-friendly event to celebrate the earth. The event will showcase national and local music acts, environmentally-friendly products and local non-profit environmental organizations presented by Whole Foods in conjunction with DCR. 

Learn more about EarthFest is available here!

And remember to check out the Great Outdoors interactive calendar for a complete listing of outdoor events in Massachusetts. Bookmark the MassWildlife events page too, for wildlife related talks, events, hikes and more!

Weekly Outdoor Events 5/7/12

Maia Fitzstevens

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

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Opportunities for family friendly fishing continue this week! This is your chance to enjoy the natural resources and beauty of our Commonwealth and to connect with other anglers. Weekend fishing festivities include a Kids Fishing Event on May 12 in Sunderland at the Cronin National Salmon Station, sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (email Bryan for more information) as well as the MassWildlife Fishing Derby at Coes Pond in Worcester (see picture below).

Photo credit: By Michaeldavid54 on Flickr

For those in the Boston area, this weekend is the perfect time to head over to Milton for some fun outdoor events! Give back to the community and join the Friends of the Blue Hills Trail Crew on Saturday morning to help spruce up the trails of the beautiful Blue Hills Reservation. If you’d rather just enjoy the gorgeous view of the Blue Hills, Department of Conservation and Recreation staff will host an Open House and Kite Festival at the Blue Hills Observatory (call 617-696-0562 for more information). Also in Milton this Saturday is Creepy Crawly Days at MassAudobon’s Trailside Museum, where kids of all ages can enjoy live animal exhibits, fun bug hunts, crafts and more!

Photo credit: Blue Hills Reservation http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmch/ 

Check out the Great Outdoors interactive calendar for a complete listing of outdoor events in Massachusetts. Bookmark the MassWildlife events page too, for wildlife related talks, events, hikes and more!

Wait, herring run? I thought fish swam...

Sara Grady

South Shore Coordinator, Massachusetts Bays Program (MassBays)

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In the spring, anadromous fish (those that live in the ocean as adults but return to freshwater to spawn) swim in large numbers up coastal rivers and streams, called fish runs. Their goal is to reach spawning areas in headwater ponds to lay eggs and create the next generation of fish. By monitoring the fish in these fish runs, we can learn a great deal about migratory fish populations in coastal Massachusetts. Herring are just one of the anadromous fish species found in Massachusetts, and this month, herring monitoring programs are getting up and running for the 2012 season all along the coast.

As the Massachusetts Bays Program’s South Shore regional coordinator, I’ll be setting up volunteer monitors at 3 locations: First Herring Brook in Scituate, Herring Brook in Pembroke, and the South River in Marshfield. Monitoring provides a fun and easy way to get outside and learn about the fish in your local waterways. If you’re interested in helping out, please go to our website and sign up or find out if a watershed association near you is engaging in a similar effort.

The Massachusetts Bays Program (MBP) is one of 28 EPA National Estuary Programs (NEP) distributed along the U.S. coastline and is one of two programs in Massachusetts (our sister NEP is the Buzzards Bay Program). Our program has five regions – Upper North Shore, Salem Sound, Metro Boston, South Shore, and Cape Cod. Each region has a regional coordinator hosted by a regional planning agency or non-profit. As the MBP South Shore regional coordinator, I am hosted by the North and South Rivers Watershed Association (NSRWA), and act as their Watershed Ecologist while also serving as the MBP contact in the region. I support the coastal communities from Cohasset to Plymouth through outreach, research, and monitoring on everything from habitat quality to stormwater pollution. Please visit the MBP and NSRWA websites to learn more.

Trees, Paddlers & Wildlife

Tim Purinton

Director, Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration

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I am sure that our recent spate of summer-like weather has prompted many of you to pull out your canoe or kayak and get in some early-season paddling. Early spring is usually a great time to be venturing out on the Commonwealth’s rivers and larger streams, as the higher water levels and vigorous flows enable paddling on many streams that tend to be too rocky in the summer. 

If you have already been out paddling, you may have noticed an increase in the amount of downed trees and branches in and along the river, perhaps resulting from last year’s weather events like Tropical Storm Irene or the pre-Halloween snowstorm.  Working your way through all the wood in the river might have made your paddle feel more like an obstacle course, as you clambered in and out of your boat to avoid numerous fallen logs and overhanging branches.  

Living and dead trees, branches and logs in and along a river confer a myriad of ecological benefits, serving as perching areas for birds, cover for fish to hide from predators and prey, and basking spots for turtles, as well as non-ecological benefits such as attenuating downstream flooding.  The way the river interacts with the downed wood creates undercut banks, side channels and other “nooks and crannies,” contributing to habitat complexity, a key characteristic of a healthy river ecosystem.

That being said, downed wood in rivers can be a possible safety hazard, such as when a fallen tree piles up against a bridge abutment, or lies across a fast-moving section of water where it could act as a “sweeper” or “strainer” that could flip a boat and pin it underwater.  When to remove trees and when to leave them be requires performing a balancing act and to provide clarity the Division of Ecological Restoration’s (DER) Russ Cohen collaborated with Mike Gildesgame of the Appalachian Mountain Club on Trees, Paddlers and Wildlife: Safeguarding Ecological and Recreation Values on the River. 

There has been a  brochure, video and newly-posted PowerPoint presentation Russ delivered at the Mass. Association of Conservation Commission’s 2012 Conference, are all intended to educate paddlers and others about why trees are good for rivers and to encourage their retention except where significant safety hazards exist, and even then to look for the minimum action possible such as judicious pruning or relocation of the vegetation to abate the hazard.

Also, DER compiles an annual Rivers and Wetlands Months Calendar, listing all the public paddling trips and other river- and wetland-related activities taking place in the Commonwealth during May (Wetlands Month) and June (Rivers Month).  The 2012 Calendar will cover the period from Saturday, April 28 to Wednesday, July 4.  So, if you know of an event taking place during that time, please feel free to send an e-mail about it to Russ russ.cohen@state.ma.us.  

Weekly Outdoor Events 4/23/12

Maia Fitzstevens

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

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On Friday, April 27, the Bushnell-Sage Library in Sheffield will host a talk on local wildlife. Learn about the wildlife in your community, from bats and bears, to fish and beaver from MassWildlife District Manager, Andrew Madden. For more information, call the library at (413) 229-7004.

Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of firearms, using a gun, or shooting a bow and arrow? On Saturday, April 28, head over to Hanson for Shooting Sports Day for Outdoors Women and Men, an event for beginners sponsored by MassWildlife and the Hanson Rod and Gun Club. Experts will help you learn the basics. Be sure to make it if you plan on applying for an F.I.D. or an L.T.C. card. Registration materials can be found here.

More Massachusetts outdoor events can be found at the Great Outdoors interactive Google Calendar.

Bird's Eye View of the Great Marsh

Madeleine Barr
Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
View Madeleine's Bio

This is the first post in a series about the Great Marsh. Be sure to check back to learn more about how you can enjoy and protect this wonderful and critical resource on Massachusetts’ North Shore!

Within the network of marsh, estuaries, mud flats and tidal rivers that make up the Great Marsh, the endangered least tern feels safe enough to make its nest along the shore. The least tern is just one of 350 bird species that uses some part of the Great Marsh’s diverse habitats for either breeding or migration purposes. The Great Marsh is the largest salt marsh in New England covering over 20,000 acres and extending from Gloucester to Salisbury. The area is bursting with diverse flora and fauna and for this reason it's recognized as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). In addition to birds, you may also see deer, coyotes, muskrats, beavers, raccoons, snapping turtles, toads and seals. ACEC designations, administered by the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs' Department of Conservation and Recreation, are given to natural places for the uniqueness and significance of their natural and cultural resources. More proof of the wonders of the Great Marsh lie in that the area is designated an Important Bird Area and is home to the federal Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Sanctuary and many other areas protected by local land trusts and non-profits.  

If all this talk has caught your eye and you’re ready to get out and experience the Great Marsh, there are numerous public beaches and parks you can visit. Two of my favorites are DCR's Sandy Point State Reservation on the Southern tip of Plum Island and Salisbury Beach State Reservation. If you are looking for other sites to explore within the Great Marsh, click here for all the best walking trails, paddling launch sites, and beaches. 

Weekly Outdoor Events 4/16/12

Maia Fitzstevens

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

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Make your way to the Hopkinton State Park on April 19, for the Hopkinton Reservoir Family Fishing Festival, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Recreation! Cast a line, and learn about fish in our local waters, as well as water safety and ethics plus fishing equipment. Some fishing equipment and bait will be provided, but bring your equipment along if you have it. Email Jim Lagacy, MassWildlife aquatic resource education coordinator, at jim.lagacy@state.ma.us for more information.

Kids will love the interactive outdoor nature walks being offered throughout the state on April 18. Explore the trails of the Upton State Forest on the “Scents of Place” hike with DCR Search and Rescue K9 Emmit Francis and his handler, ranger Jennifer Stowe. Call (978) 369-7834 ext. 3 for more information.

Enjoy some springtime stories in the Wompatuck State Park in Hingham! Storyteller Andrea Lovett will present engaging stories and activities for children of all ages. Call (508) 866-2580 ext. 164 for more information.  

On April 22, the Springfield Science Museum will host an Earth Day festival from 11am to 4pm. The MassWildlife Angler Education program will run the Kids Casting Program at this event. Other festivities will include a performance by the Boys of the Landfill bluegrass band, a live animal demonstration, and a papermaking activity, plus other displays.

For a full list of Massachusetts outdoor events, visit the Great Outdoors interactive Google calendar.

Weekly Outdoor Events! 3-12-12

Maia Fitzstevens

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Maia's Bio

Maple Month is in full swing! Don’t miss Breakheart Reservation’s annual Pancake Breakfast in Saugus, on March 17, from 9am to noon, where you can enjoy some delicious fresh maple syrup. Come back on Sunday March 18, from 10am-2pm for Maple Sugaring to learn about the history of maple sugaring, participate in tree identification, and even tap your own maple tree.

Interested in learning about local wildlife? Head over to Norwell for a talk on black bears, fishers and beavers in southeastern MA this Wednesday, March 14, from 7-8:30pm, brought to you by the North and South Rivers Watershed Association. Or, make your way to the Dennis Conservation Land Trust for a talk on local wildlife and preventing conflict with your furry neighbors, on Saturday March 17, from 10am-1pm.

If you’re looking to get outside this week, meet at the Harold Parker State Forest headquarters in North Andover to walk the woods at 10am on Wednesday, March 14, or head over to Walden Pond State Reservation on Sunday for a Thoreau Ramble.

Educators and teachers: check out the Growing up WILD Workshops on March 13 in Newburyport, and on March 17 in Norwell, designed to help your students connect to nature.

And for more Massachusetts Outdoor Events, visit The Great Outdoors interactive Google Calendar.

Weekly Outdoor Events! 3/5/12

Maia Fitzstevens

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Maia's Bio

With Massachusetts Maple Month kicking off and spring right around the corner, MassWildlife and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) have a lot of exciting events in store for this week.

Check out Maple Sugar Days this weekend in Milton, where you can make real traditional maple syrup and enjoy the beauty of Brookwood Farm. If you can’t make it to Milton this weekend, be sure to preregister for Maple Sugarin’ on March 18 at 10 a.m. at the Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, where you can enjoy some delicious maple syrup and learn about its production.

History buffs will love learning about the history of ice harvesting at Walden Pond, this Sunday at 1 p.m., on an interactive 1.5 mile hike at the Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord.

Anglers and fish enthusiasts won’t want to miss a talk by Ken Simmons, MassWildlife Hatchery Chief, about Massachusetts trout stocking in Worcester on Wednesday, at 7pm on March 8! This talk is sponsored by the Central Massachusetts Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Click here for directions.

For families this week we have Snakes Alive!, a presentation by Peter Mirick featuring live snakes, hosted by the White Oak Land Conservation Society. It’s in Holden on March 10 at 10:30am.