Commonwealth Conversations: The Great Outdoors

Rapids are always changing

Tim Purinton

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

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At last spring showers are falling and rivers are back on the rise. Rising water is often the trigger for our migratory fish to start swimming upstream in search of spawning grounds. It is also the trigger for many paddlers to start paddling downstream through the rapids.

Massachusetts offers a bounty of paddling opportunities. Though it is the whitewater paddlers who will don a drysuit or wetsuit, life jacket and helmet this early in the season when water temperatures may be hovering just above freezing. Fortunately, there are opportunities in Massachusetts to enjoy a whitewater paddling excursions throughout the summer and fall.

Regardless of whether you explore rivers in the company of a professionally trained raft guide, as part of a fishing and boating tour, by renting a canoe or inflatable raft or simply grabbing your kayak and paddle in your garage, there are several things you should keep in mind.

River recreation has certain risks that can be minimized with proper judgment and equipment. Safety is an attitude and awareness, as much as a set of rules. Have an honest knowledge of your skills and experience, and only attempt activities within your ability.

RIVER SAFETY:

• Because whitewater releases from the hydropower dams can raise water levels quickly, visitors are advised to be alert to changing conditions. River flow forecasts and water level reports for several river segments in Massachusetts may be obtained by phone and online at www.H2OLINE.com.
• Practice extra caution above and below dams. Do not paddle close to the tops of dams, or approach the outfall below the dam. Despite a seemingly benign appearance, the hydraulic created by the outflowing water can create a deadly trap.
• Brush, fallen logs, bridge pilings or anything else which allows the river current to sweep through but pins you or your boat against it can be dangerous. This is especially true due to recent storm events and fallen trees. Keep in mind, fallen trees provide many benefits to fish and wildlife. Check out DER’s and Appalachian Mountain Club’s Trees, Paddlers and Wildlife: Safeguarding Ecological and Recreational Values on the River brochure and video for guidance on ways to assess and ways to address obstacles in the river created by woody vegetation.
• Do not stand up in fast water if deeper than mid-calf. Your feet and legs could be trapped, allowing the current to push you under. Instead, float on your back with your feet on the surface “in front of you” or “downstream of you.”  Hold your boat downstream of you so you do not become trapped between your boat and a rock or barrier. Wait to stand up until the current slows or the water becomes shallow.
• If you hear thunder and see lightning, get off the water. Take shelter in a thick stand of trees if lightning strikes nearby.
• Know without a doubt what poison ivy looks like. In some areas of the river it is plentiful as some of us outdoor enthusiasts have come to know all too well.

Be a well-prepared paddler:

• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD), especially if you are in rapid current, are a weak swimmer, or the water is cold. By law children are required to wear a properly fitting PFD, and each adult is required to have one in the boat. Think of it as a seatbelt—it only works when you are wearing it.
• Wear footgear to protect against sharp rocks or other hazards, and sunscreen and a hat to protect from the sun.
• In case the boat tips over (mishaps do happen), stow your items neatly in a waterproof bag, so they can be retrieved easily. A duffel or backpack lined with plastic bags that is secured to the boat works well.
• Be aware of the signs of hypothermia. Symptoms include: uncontrollable shivering, mental confusion, physical sluggishness, pale complexion, and an inability to get warm. Hypothermia can occur even during the summer if you’re not equipped properly.
• Don’t drink any surface water unless it has been chemically treated or physically filtered.

Now that you are well-prepared (or, if you prefer, being a spectator), then you might want to check out some river events happening this spring listed in the DER’s Rivers and Wetlands Month calendar.

Safe Boaters are Happy Boaters

Colonel Aaron Gross

Director, Massachusetts Environmental Police

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May 19-26 is Safe Boating Week and with Memorial Day approaching, we at the Massachusetts Environmental Police are urging boaters to make this a safe boating season.

A personal floatation device, or lifejacket, may be the most important piece of safety equipment for any boater. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were 672 boating fatalities nationwide in 2010, and nearly 75 percent of those fatalities were due to drowning. Of those who drowned, 88 percent were not wearing a lifejacket.

Click here for more information about national accident statistics.

Last year, there were 67 reported boating accidents in Massachusetts resulting in ten fatalities, up from 60 reported boating accidents in Massachusetts resulting in 16 fatalities in 2010. Drowning was the number one cause of fatalities in both years, and none of those victims wore lifejackets.

While lifejackets are important, that won’t do it alone. Always travel at reasonable speeds and always avoid operating boats under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Environmental police officers will be patrolling rivers, lakes and coastal waters across the Commonwealth throughout the season to enforce state and federal recreational boating laws.

We also encourage boaters of all ages and experience to take a safe boating course. Click here for registration information and links to nationally approved course providers.

For more information on safe boating courses, contact the Environmental Police Boat and Recreational Vehicle Safety Bureau at (508)759-0002 and to report accidents, call (800) 632-8075.

Remember when you’re out on the water, safety first. I hope everyone has a safe and pleasant boating season.

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!

Cold weather safety tips

Reginald Zimmerman

Assistant Press Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

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Soon, winter jackets and snow boots will begin to reappear and it’s important to remember that your clothing is not the only thing that needs to be adjusted with a change of season.  Here are a few cold weather safety tips to keep you safe, warm, and healthy heading into the New Year.

Whether you’re hiking, kayaking, ice fishing, or bird watching, always tell someone where you are going and what you are doing. Everyone needs a little alone time, but don’t forget to mention the details of your planned excursion  so that your friends and family know when to expect you back or where to look for you in the event of an accident.

As always, be prepared with plenty of water and first aid items to prevent any small incidents from becoming an emergency. Flashlights, maps, and snacks are also good additions to the safety pack. As with any activity outdoors, know what you are and are not capable of before heading out.

If operating recreational vehicles, such as snow mobiles or dirt bikes (Note: DCR trails are closed for the season to dirt bikes and other off-highway vehicles, other than snow mobiles), remember to wear a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Also, take caution during bad weather and at night, making sure to stay aware of your speed and surroundings. For ice fishers, check that ponds and rivers are completely frozen before venturing out onto the ice.  Exercise more caution when the temperatures are reaching 32 degrees F.

Be prepared for anything. Don’t let New England’s unpredictable weather patterns leave you cold and wet in the middle of the woods. Get updated weather information before you set off and plan accordingly. Be ready to respond to unexpected weather with extra clothing, gloves, and hats. If planning to be outside for a long period of time, bring extra layers to add as the temperature drops. It’s all about layers: rather than wearing one heavy coat, use thermal underwear and undershirts to layer light-weight, warm clothing, and always wear a waterproof outer layer.

For hunters and hikers and everyone in between, wear bright clothing to maintain visibility past 5 pm. The fall and winter seasons bring a lot of activity into the great outdoors, so always be aware and respectful of others. 

As always, officers from the Massachusetts Environmental Police are prepared for the upcoming cold weather months. They'll be patrolling off-road areas, as well as coastal and inland waters, and doing everything they can to protect the state’s residents and visitors. Enjoy all that Massachusetts has to offer with these cold weather safety tips and always use your best judgment.

Massachusetts Floodplains in the Aftermath of Hurricane Irene

Tim Purinton

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

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Staff from the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration have been out in the field over the past several weeks documenting the effects of Tropical Storm Irene on floodplain corridors in Western Massachusetts. Breached dams, blown-out culverts, and eroded roads remind us of the power of rivers in full flood. Yet, floods are natural part of the river’s ecosystem, building and shifting habitat for aquatic species. Documenting geomorphic changes from floods helps us plan for storms and eliminate unsafe infrastructure. It also helps us build more ecologically beneficial infrastructure that allow rivers and streams to flex their muscles during extreme weather conditions without harming our safety and ecosystem health.Take a look…

 

Preparing for Irene’s arrival

Tim Purinton

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

View Tim's Bio

Hurricane Irene is bearing down on Massachusetts and may pack 12 inches of rain, a coastal storm surge and plenty of ferocious winds. Depending how these threats develop in the next 48 hours you might be pulling in your boat, putting up the storm windows and battening down the proverbial hatches.

On our list is deploying pressure transducers.

This week, Franz Ingelfinger and Jeremy Bell, ecologists from the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, will be scattered along the coast at recently completed and soon to be constructed salt marsh restoration sites. They’ll be double checking monitoring equipment and installing new electronic water level gauges (pressure transducers) to see how restoration sites respond to extreme tidal conditions. Data from these types of events reveal how accurate design predictions are in the real world and how recently installed culverts and tide gates, intended to increase natural flow, perform under stress.  Large storm events, such as Hurricane Irene, also reveal the threat posed by failing or undersized infrastructure, which can impound water and exacerbate coastal flooding.

A healthy salt marsh is one of your best defenses against a major coastal storm, whether it’s hurricanes from the south or Nor’easters from the Gulf of Maine. Marshes cushion the blow of fierce waves and rip tides – protecting roads, rails and homes. Designing restoration projects that accommodate monster tides and epic events is always an important consideration, especially given that many of our marshes are bounded by essential infrastructure.

Once the last of the storm retreats inland or up the coast of Maine, Jeremy and Franz will crunch the data and see whether culverts, tide gates and proposed restoration actions are doing their job and whether engineers are correct in their assumptions.   

Boating and Swimming Safety Tips

Colonel Aaron Gross

Director, Massachusetts Environmental Police

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With the summer season in full swing, I want to take the time to refresh your memory on boating and water safety. While you’re out enjoying our coastal and inland waters, I want to encourage you to engage in activities such as boating and swimming in a safe and responsible way. 

Here are some boating safety reminders:

• Always check local weather conditions before you leave on a boating trip.  While you’re out on the water, if you notice the clouds getting darker or a sudden drop in temperature, start heading back to land.
• Operate the boat at safe speeds at all time, especially in crowded areas.  Remain alert and avoid large vessels and watercraft that have restricted ability to stop or turn. 
• Make sure more than one person on board is familiar with all aspects of your boat’s handling, operations, and other boating safety tips.
• Always be sure to have a float plan—letting someone know where you’re going and how long you plan to be gone for.
• Make sure there are enough lifejackets onboard for each person accompanying you out on the water.  
• Take a boating safety course to learn more about how to stay safe on the water!

Swim safety reminders:

• Swim in areas with lifeguard supervision.
• Always swim with a buddy.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water.
• Be knowledgeable of the water environment you are in and its potential hazards, such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth charges, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located.
• Use a feet-first entry when entering the water.

Massachusetts Environmental Police offer new boating safety classes

Colonel Aaron Gross

Director, Massachusetts Environmental Police

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Now that it’s officially summer, it’s time to get out on the water! The Massachusetts Environmental Police want to help ensure safe summertime activities by offering free boating safety classes. Boat Massachusetts 2011 will focus on teaching participants about boating equipment, as well as how to operate a boat in a safe and responsible way. The course is available to anyone over 12 years of age and will allow participants to operate a boat legally without adult supervision, and in any state that requires completion of a boating safety course.

The courses total 10 to 12 hours of instruction and locations include Hingham, Williamstown, Falmouth, Dennis, and Marion. There are a total of four classes and all must be attended in order to earn the Basic Boating Safety Certificate. For more information, or to sign up for a course visit http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/courselist.htm

Boating safe

Kate Samp

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

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With Memorial Day coming up this weekend, now is the perfect time to brush up on boating safety. In April, I visited with the Massachusetts Environmental Police to film a boating safety and regulations video. The video explains all the required and recommended equipment that boat operators must keep on their boats while operating on Massachusetts inland waterways or coastline. Officer Tara Carlow demonstrated life jacket safety tips with me on their dock near the U.S.S Constitution in Charlestown.

For more information on boating on the waters of the Commonwealth, why don’t you check out a boat safety class run by the Environmental Police in your area?

In need of quick reference?  Check out the “Boat Massachusetts” handbook provided by the Environmental Police’s online FAQ section about boat safety.

New off-highway vehicle rules

Colonel Aaron Gross

Director, Massachusetts Environmental Police

View Aaron's Bio

Spring is a wonderful time to be outdoors with an abundance of activities to choose from. Whether it be fishing, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, or just taking in the scenery, it can be a fun time of the year.

For your safety, our officers are outdoors each season throughout Massachusetts using four-by-four vehicles, ATVs and snowmobiles to patrol off-road areas, and operating a fleet of more than 50 vessels to patrol coastal and inland waters. MEP officers are empowered to enforce all of Massachusetts’ general laws but focus on laws and regulations related to the protection of the Commonwealth’s natural resources and the safe operation of boats, recreation and snow vehicles.

Year after year, we see tragic boat, snow and recreation vehicle accidents. As Colonel of the Massachusetts Environmental Police – the primary enforcement agency for state recreational vehicles and boating laws – I am urging all operators of these vehicles and vessels to be cautious, obey the law and use common sense while enjoying the warming spring weather.

As recreation vehicles begin to head into the woods and trails, keep in mind the Environmental Police safety guidelines designed to safeguard recreation vehicle users, private property owners, and the state’s natural resources.

Persons under 18 are now required to take an OHV Safety Course and carry the course completion certificate in order to operate a recreation vehicle in Massachusetts.

OHV Safety Course Requirements and Schedule

Here are some safety tips I’d recommend: 

• Wear a U.S. Dept. of Transportation approved helmet.
• Ride at reasonable speeds for existing conditions and be especially cautious when operating at night. 
• Check frozen ponds and rivers before going onto the now thawing ice – be aware of soft spots in places where there are currents or natural springs below the ice, and exercise extra caution when temperatures creep above 32 degrees F. 
• Dress in layers, including waterproof outerwear.

I also recommend joining an organized club to discover local areas where snowmobiles and ATVs are permitted. Remember, it is illegal to operate a boat, snow or recreation vehicle after consuming alcoholic beverages.

According to Massachusetts Law, snow and recreation vehicle operators must be over 14 years of age. Children between the ages of 10 and 14 can operate while being directly supervised by an adult over the age of 18 when training for or participating in certain events or races. Be aware that state law also requires operators to obtain landowners’ permission before riding on private property, and prohibits operation of ATVs and snowmobiles on public roads or within 150 feet of a home.

Like all outdoor enthusiasts, I urge recreational vehicle operators to respect the state’s natural resources by taking care to avoid damaging trees, underbrush and other landscape features.

Again, I encourage you to enjoy the wonders of nature at its best, be safe.