Charlemont
MA
Headwater streams, the forests that support them, and the animals that live in and near them are vital to our ecosystem. They are critical assets for our water supply and infrastructure security.
Franklin Land Trust, Mass Woodlands Institute and Trout Unlimited will hold a Forests for Fish – Stream Restoration in Action workshop on Rice Brook in Charlemont, MA on June 4th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.
This workshop will explain about the environmental impacts of headwater streams, and how to protect and manage them on your own land.
This work is inspired by collaborations between Franklin Land Trust (FLT), their subsidiary Massachusetts Woodlands Institute (MWI) and Trout Unlimited (TU). These organizations have worked together to facilitate large wood placements and distribute educational materials about riparian management.
This event will include a hike to Rice Brook to see in-stream work and discuss the logistics and long-term effects of this ambitious project.
Our speakers will be Erin Rodgers, the New England Project Coordinator of Trout Unlimited and Emily Boss, Executive Director of MWI and Program Manager of FLT.
Staff from MA DCR Service Forestry, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Municipal Vulnerability Program and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Services will provide information about grant and technical assistance programs for land managers.
Two informational booklets on stream habitat management will be available to take home, the Forests for Fish toolkit:
The Streamer’s Dozen – helps us to learn about the native fish, insects, birds and mammals that thrive in the small headwater streams of our region.
A Riparian Assessment and Management Guide – has information about how to be active managing in and around streams and brooks to protect and restore their ecological functions.
This work is part of MA WoodLots, a pilot initiative to help Massachusetts landowners form coalitions and strategies towards long-term local land conservation. This initiative was funded in part by grant funds from the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts (Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership).
To take part in this workshop, register at Forests for the Fish – Stream Restoration in Action – Franklin Land Trust