The most recent National Geographic magazine has an article on the National Wild & Scenic Rivers system. Some spectacular photos as well. We are lucky the Westfield River is considered to be one of these nationally renowned rivers!
America’s Wild and Scenic Rivers - Photo Gallery - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine.
The Westfield River Wild & Scenic Advisory Committee and Westfield River Environmental Center at Westfield State University have launched a Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Program. Volunteers have received training in the collection of macroinvertebrates and will collect samples once a month until the snowfall and then again next spring to document the changes and recovery time since the high flows from Tropical Storm Irene. Stay tuned for the monitoring findings.
During the Summer of 2011, teenagers Romina Gotzmann and Cavanaugh Wolski embarked on cleaning up a stretch of Depot Brook below is a video and letter documenting their experience.
Crisp and clear, it trickles delicately into a babbling stream or fuming and furious, it has the power to reshape entire continents. Water is poised to become the most expensive commodity in the next fifty years, more valuable than gold, diamonds, or even oil, natural gas, and coal. It is tantamount to any organism’s survival and yet the amount of usable water is rapidly dwindling due to pollution and a rapidly-increasing world population. Humans will face extreme consequences without an increased knowledge and respect for the intrinsic benefits of this resource. Volunteering, in any capacity, to raise awareness about water’s importance and preserve its natural habitats, such as the Westfield Watershed, and the creatures that inhabit them, is an activity unparalleled in magnitude.
The greatest way to effect change is to set the example. A personal desire to maintain the Westfield River has the capacity to ignite others’ desire to do the same. Working with the widely-recognized Westfield River Wild & Scenic Advisory Committee helps inform people how to experience the beauty of the New England Rivers while working to protect both them and their many dependents, such as the stoneflies and mayflies macroinvertebrates, which cannot survive without their ideal surroundings. If bodies of water like the Westfield River are not properly maintained, humans will experience consequences regardless of the amount of usable water because these waters also established every food chain and web, which are the basis for human survival. Safeguarding natural environments of water, like the Westfield provides, is not merely volunteering but also a preemptory strike against a bleak future.
~ Romina Gotzmann
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Last Sat. July 9th community members and volunteers were treated to an off the tailgate Geological power point (complete with dinosaur footprints and mud balls to hold), a walk along the Chesterfield Gorge and a discovery at mile marker #2, on the East Branch Trail, that is sure to be revisited by many budding geologists.
Renowned geologist Richard Little did a little dance when he noticed an outcropping that perfectly displays what he called a contact – a Granite (deep igneous rock) Intrusion. This is when one layer of rock, in this case Goshen stone, is intruded by molten granite, pushing up from below. In this streamside outcrop the light-colored Granite (which is very large grained, with Feldspar crystals the size of hands reflecting sunlight off their cleavage planes) forms a dike – an intrusion that cuts through the surrounding rock, and also a small sill – an intrusion that is parallel to the rock layering, like sliding your hand between the pages of a book.
This Free geology workshop is part of a series offered by The Westfield River Wild & Scenic Advisory committee. Our next workshop will be on August 13th. We will be identifying pesky invasive and learning how to keep them at bay as well as discussing their effect on bird populations.
Sign-up with Meredyth Babcock, Wild & Scenic Volunteer Coordinator
(413) 623-2070 or volunteer@westfieldriverwildscenic.org,
www.westfieldriverwildscenic.org
Members of the Wild & Scenic Committee and Stream Team volunteers soaked up the sun while paddling Littleville Lake yesterday. The day provided an opportunity to network and explore part of the Westfield River.
To kick-off the day, a black bear greeted us at the boat launch. He must have received the memo the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife was about to stock the lake with Trout.
The paddle also offered the
opportunity for Committee Members to see first-hand some of the problems observed by Stream Team volunteers, including this erosion and damage caused by ATVs crossing the river.
All in all, it was an enjoyable day on the river. Hope you will join us in Walkin’ the Watershed and adopting a mile of river to enjoy and explore!
Contact Meredyth Babcock, Volunteer Coordinator, to learn how you can spend the day on the river!
413-623-2070 or volunteer@westfieldriverwildscenic.org
Title: East Branch Trail Workday
Location: Chesterfield Gorge
Link out: Click here
Description: Join us for
Tidying the
EAST BRANCH TRAIL
SUNDAY MAY 22nd
10am. - 2pm. meet at the
CHESTERFIELD GORGE
Get out your gloves, clippers and shovels!!
We will be trimming the branches,
Clearing the bridges and drainage areas
& Installing the new Wild & Scenic Kiosk
Sign up for a crew with Meredyth Babcock
Westfield River Wild & Scenic Stream Team and Project
Volunteer Coordinator
(413) 623-2070
volunteer@westfieldriverwildscenic.org
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2011-05-22
End Time: 14:00
Title: Invasive Plants & Road Maintenance
Location: Chester
Link out: Click here
Description: Invasive plant species are non-native plants that have spread into our native fields, forests, and wetlands, as well as, along our roadsides. These problematic plants can spread rapidly, are difficult to remove or control, can cause costly roadside maintenance issues, and compromise driver safety by impairing visibility.
Come to this workshop to learn how to improve your management results and cut costs. You’ll learn to identify the most common roadside invasive species, see best management practices for both control and prevention, and discuss the issues associated with vegetation management plans on rights-of way.
Following a morning presentation and lunch,a nearby field trip will provide an opportunity to identify several plants firsthand and discuss control techniques (lunch/field trip at Chester location only). The field trip will happen rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. Lunch and Field visit at this location only! Please note that participants attending from towns in the Westfield River Watershed will have the cost of the workshop and lunch covered by a grant obtained by WISP.
Start Time: 8:00
Date: 2011-05-03
Title: Salmon Fry Stocking
Location: Westfield State Commuter Lot
Link out: Click here
Description: WRWA provides volunteers for two of the Saturdays on which the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife stocks salmon fry in the Westfield River and its tributaries. For 2011 those dates will be Saturday, April 9, when stocking will take place along Dickinson and Munn Brooks in Granville and Southwick (meet at the Commuter Parking Lot at Westfield State by 8:15 - turn in at the stoplight on Western Ave!), and Saturday, April 16, when stocking will take place along the Middle Branch of the Westfield River above the Littleville Lake (meet at the Gateway Regional High School by 8:15). Check the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Salmon Fry Stocking Page for the full stocking schedule, which runs from April 9 to May 5, and for details about what to bring if you\’d like to help out. Calling Caleb Slater\’s voicemail the day/evening before the event to confirm that it\’s \”on\” is a good idea: (508) 389-6331.
Start Time: 8:15
Date: 2011-04-09