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In the News
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators) DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire return to top |
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Vernal Pool Guidelines Revised In March, the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife released a revision to the Guidelines for the Certification of Vernal Pool Habitat (“Guidelines”). The NHESP accepts certain biological and physical documentation submitted by outside scientists, resource managers, and other interested parties as the basis for the certification of Vernal Pool Habitat. The recent revision is designed to ensure consistency between the NHESP’s “vernal pool certification criteria” and the biological and physical characteristics of “Vernal Pool Habitat” in the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act regulations. The revised Guidelines reduces the number of facultative (indirect indicator) species acceptable for certification to four amphibians (i.e., Spring Peeper, Gray Treefrog, American Toad, and Fowler’s Toad) and eliminates the “Dry Pool” method for vernal pool certification. In addition, requirements for documenting the physical and biological characteristics of a vernal pool have been enhanced. For example, a greater number of photographs are required of the basin and any inlets or outlets, and the number of egg masses of obligate amphibian (direct indicator) species (e.g., Wood Frogs or salamanders) has been increased from two for each species to a total of five for all species combined. The revised Guidelines document is available at www.nhesp.org at the ‘Vernal Pool’ tab. The NHESP has administered the state’s official vernal pool certification program for over 20 years. Visit the MassWildlife website at www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/vernal_pools/vernal_pools.htm for information about how to certify and protect vernal pools. Despite the seeming lack of spring weather recently, the season for amphibian movements is upon us. Salamanders, Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs, and toads will be ambling and hopping across Bay State roadways on warm wet nights, heading to vernal pools and other wetlands to mate and lay their eggs. The height of spring amphibian activity comes during warm, rainy nights when Spring Peepers are heard calling. Thousands of frogs, salamanders, and toads move across roadways under these conditions and many amphibians are squashed by vehicles traveling after dark. Some local communities and conservation groups host salamander crossings at key places where traffic is slowed to allow for the safe passage of these animals. Other local groups meet at known "Big Night" crossings or look for new road crossings to share this seasonal phenomenon with the public or to document the presence of nearby vernal pools. This month, consider doing your daily errands before dark or during dry evenings as a way to reduce amphibian traffic mortality. Another useful website with information on vernal pools, crossing signs, and additional educational materials can be found at the Vernal Pool Association website, www.vernalpool.org. return to top |
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DCR SELECTS CURATOR FOR BASCOM LODGE IN MT. GREYLOCK STATE RESERVATION The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has chosen a curator for the historic Bascom Lodge at the top of Mt. Greylock in the Berkshires. Under DCR’s Historic Curatorship Program, curators agree to rehabilitate and reuse historic properties in exchange for a long-term lease on the property. The Bascom Lodge Group, made up of Berkshire natives John Dudek, Peter Dudek, and Brad Parsons, was chosen as curator of the lodge in the town of Adams. DCR’s evaluation team unanimously selected the Bascom Lodge Group for its comprehensive approach to the preservation of the property, their appreciation of its historic and social significance, their experience in the food and hospitality industry, and for the public benefits they will provide. The lodge has been closed for the last two seasons, and the new curators hope to reopen it late this summer. “The Bascom Lodge Group brings 25 years of experience in hospitality and restaurant management to this project,” said DCR Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr. “Members of the group plan to be on site, managing the property, hiring local craftsmen to do the restoration, even making breakfast pastries in the lodge. I look forward to following this rehabilitation effort.” Last fall, DCR solicited proposals for the reuse and lease of this lodge, and the curators were selected through an open and competitive process. This new curator group joins three other curators selected earlier this year as the first new group of curators in the Historic Curatorship Program. The other new curators are for the Harlow Farmhouse at Ellisville Harbor State Park in Plymouth, the Lamson House in Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, and the Smith Farmhouse at Borderland State Park in Easton. The Bascom Lodge Group plans to bring back the tradition of providing quality food, lodging, and services to park visitors. Dining, lodging, and other programs will be inspired by the lodge’s unique historical, architectural, and natural themes. For example, the group plans to prepare meals from local materials as often as possible. Public benefits planned by the new curators include sponsoring events and lectures on the natural and cultural history of the park and region, developing interpretive gardens and landscaping to highlight the summit’s unique vegetation, and collaborating with DCR staff on tours and programs. Bascom Lodge was built in the 1930s in the Arts and Crafts style. Approximately 150,000 people – a mix of tourists, hikers passing by along the Appalachian trail, local families, and day visitors – visit the lodge each season. DCR’s Historic Curatorship Program is one of only a handful in the country and is among the most successful. The program requires that reuses of the properties be compatible with the surrounding community and enhance the visitor’s experience of the park. So far, nine properties have been rehabilitated under the Historic Curatorship program, from the mountains of Berkshire County to the urban streets of Dorchester. Current uses for the properties include single-family homes, artist lofts, a nonprofit youth center, and a for-profit events facility. For more information on the Historic Curatorship Program, visit mass.gov/dcr/ stewardship/curator/index.htm, send an email to HCP.Requests@state.ma.us, call 617-626-1361, or write to Historic Curatorship Program, Department of Conservation and Recreation, 7th floor, 251 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02114. return to top |
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Great opportunity for teenagers to work on trails April 20-22 the Appalachian Mountain Club and Berkshire South are hosting three days of trail work for teenagers at Fountain Pond. It may strike you as counter-intuitive to think that teens would want to spend three days of their April Vacation working, but this experience provides opportunities to get outside, to get involved in local stewardship, to start an exciting project to greatly improve the trails at Fountain Pond, and to get some community service hours that will surely make the colleges starry-eyed. Here is a little background: Great Barrington Trails and Greenways has been working towards a more pedestrian friendly community and has worked on River Walk, Lake Mansfield, and other trails in the town. The Appalachian Mountain Club and Berkshire South are collaborators in this coalition, as is Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Fountain Pond State Park's trails have been identified as a crucial connector from local trails to the Appalachian Trail, as well as a lovely short hike. Unfortunately they are incomplete as funding to complete the project fell through. Now it is time for community volunteers to complete the project, and GBTAG has a series of events in collaboration with AMC throughout the summer to start to get the job done. And the first project is for the teens. In three days we could complete a remarkable amount of work, cutting and defining trail and installing drainage and retention structures. The AMC is America's oldest conservation organization with over 125 years of trail work & stewardship experience! During the summer AMC Berkshire hosts 50-60 teenagers for one week long trail work projects on the Appalachian Trail. Berkshire South is a stalwart in the area for providing resources, facilities and programming that actively promote a healthy community. This is an exciting collaboration, and a great opportunity for our county's youth to learn and to give back. Crew will be three day trips, meeting at Berkshire South at 8:30 and returning at 5:00. Pack a lunch, and dress appropriately for a day outdoors in April. Registration is 60$ for a member and 75$ for a guest. For more information contact Matt Moore, AMC, at 413 528 8003, mjmoore@outdoors.org or Jenise Lucey at Berkshire South, jlucey@berkshiresouth.org (413) 528 2810. Please pass the word along! Matthew J Moore
Regional Trails Coordinator
PO Box 131
62 Undermountain Rd.
South Egremont, MA, 01258
(413) 528-8003
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Waste oil paint and used motor oil collection set for Great Barrington
Advance registration with CET is required. The towns in the South Berkshire Household Hazardous Waste Collaborative sponsor this program. The participating towns are Alford, Becket, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham and West Stockbridge. To register or for information about what can be brought to this collection, visit www.cetonline.org or email robt@cetonline.org . Or call Rob at 413-445-4556 ext. 30. Residents from communities that are not participating should call their City or Town Hall for information about hazardous household product collections. return to top |
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PROPOSED NEW GHG REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT To: MassDEP's Regulations List-Serv and Commissioner's Advisory Committee Name & Citation of Regulation(s): Mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reporting Regulation (310 CMR 7.71) Brief Explanation and Rationale for Proposed Changes: MassDEP is proposing amendments to the mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting regulation (310 CMR 7.71) that it issued on an emergency basis in December 2008. The regulation requires reporting of GHG emissions from certain sources and creation of an accurate inventory of statewide GHG emissions that will inform and improve planning, implementation and tracking of state efforts to address climate change. These amendments address additional reporting requirements. Web Link to View Draft Regulations: http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/newregs.htm#771amend Public Hearing Information: Public hearings will be conducted under the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 30A. return to top |
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Beat Presents Vernal Pools - Ecology and Conservation Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009 This workshop will provide an in depth look into the science and policy of vernal pools. It is recommended for conservation commissioners, teachers, city planners, foresters, educators, and anyone else whose profession brings them into contact with these natural wonders. Tom Tyning has been an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College since 1999. Before this he was a field biologist and master naturalist with the Massachusetts Audubon Society for 24 years. He also served as an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at Antioch New England Graduate School (Amphibian Biology, Ornithology, Field Entomology, and Reptile Biology) and at Springfield College (Ornithology). A member of several professional natural history societies, he is currently Managing Editor of the Scientific Journal, Herpetological Review. Tom received both his Bachelor’s (Wildlife Biology) and Master’s degrees (Organismic and Evolutionary Biology) from the University of Massachusetts. Agenda:
Pre-registration is required. To register or to receive more information please contact: |
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Grant funding for Berkshire beaver related flooding - land trust partnership opportunity |
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Housatonic Railroad Herbicide Use Planned |
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) and the Berkshire Bike Path Council (BBPC) are looking for volunteers to count trail users on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail on Saturday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 5. Volunteers will be asked to commit to TWO (2) hour shifts on Saturday, May 2 anytime from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and TWO (2) hour shifts on Tuesday, May 5 between 7:30-9:30 AM and 4:30-6:30 PM. Counts will be taken along the trail at the Berkshire Mall in Lanesborough, Farnam’s Crossing in Cheshire and at Russell Field in Adams. No experience necessary. No survey work required. Info on the 2008 Trail Counts is available at the BRPC website: http://berkshireplanning.org/3/bike/ For more information and to receive count forms and instructions, please contact: |
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Newly Released Estate Tax Planning Guide |
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Electronics Recycling at Best Buy |
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STIMULUS PACKAGE DISCUSSION WITH STATE REP SMITTY PIGNATELLI |
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Berkshire Energy Summit and Showcase The Berkshire Energy Summit and Showcase will take place on Thursday, May 21 at Jiminy Peak Resort. Hosted by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, the event is intended to help participants learn how to offset the cost of energy through efficiences, renewables, and sustainable conservation efforts.Large and small Berkshire businesses, community leaders and consumers are invited.The cost is $50 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch and the conference that begins at 8 a.m. There are also opportunities for exhibitors, while limited sponsorships are also available. |
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GREAT BARRINGTON HOUSATONIC RIVER WALK CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS! To clean-up and restore the riverbanks along the Housatonic River Walk Volunteers are welcome to clean-up and restore the Housatonic Riverbank in Great Barrington and continue the Housatonic River Walk trail. River Walk is a ½ mile public walking trail entering between Rite Aid and Pink Cloud on Main Street . Another section of trail follows the river along Berkshire Corporation and the old Searles Middle School . Workdays take place in one or both places. This year we focus on removing 'invasive exotics' and replanting with native trees, shrubs and plants, including wetland plants in the W.E.B. Du Bois River Garden, our riverside park, and by the new overlook that honors electrical inventor William Stanley. Earthday ‘trail-opening’ workday for the public on Volunteers should assemble at the W. E. B. Du Bois River Garden at Church and River Streets. We will work in light rain, but call coordinator Rachel Fletcher at 528-3391 in case of heavy rain. SAVE THE DATE! Join us on Saturday, June 13 for a Special Event and Announcement. MORE WORKDAYS Volunteers are welcome to join landscaper Heather Cupo and the River Walk crew on other days. Please telephone ahead to make arrangements. We also arrange special work days with schools and other groups. PLEASE wear safe, protective clothing, including shoes with good traction, gloves, and eye protection. Sorry, we cannot allow volunteers less than 10 years of age to work on the riverbank. Contact Rachel Fletcher (528-3391) |
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