Annual Environmental Conference. Celebrating 60 Years of Conservation Commissions

Transcription

1 Annual Environmental Conference March 4, 2017 College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA Celebrating 60 Years of Conservation Commissions Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Protecting Massachusetts natural resources by supporting conservation commissions through education and advocacy Conference Platinum Sponsor

2

3 Annual Environmental Conference March 4, 2017 College of the Holy Cross, Worcester Celebrating 60 Years of Conservation Commissions Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions 1

4 PERMEABLE PAVERS BY IDEAL The Solution to Stormwater Runoff is Right Under Your Feet Aqua-Bric,Eco-Stone and Andover 5511 Permeable Pavement Ideal permeable pavers offer built-in technology - the pavement and base act as a stormwater treatment system that reduces or eliminates runoff to reduce pollutants and improve water quality. SINCE 1923 IDEAL CONCRETE BLOCK CO IDEAL CONTACT US FOR A PERMEABLE PAVEMENT COMPARISON GUIDE OR LUNCH AND LEARN Creating a Balance: Natural Science and Land Use Management Wetland Delineation Wetland Replacement Wildlife Habitat Evaluations Vernal Pool Surveys Rare Species Surveys Shellfish & Eelgrass Surveys Shoreline Protection Construction Monitoring Permitting Peer Review (f) (f) (f) (f) PLYMOUTH, MA WAKEFIELD, MA WORCESTER, MA RINDGE, NH 2

5 Program Book Contents Conference Agenda... 5 President s and Executive Director s Message... 6 MACC Officer, Director and Nominating Committee Election... 8 Annual Business Meeting March 5, 2016 Draft Minutes...10 Annual Environmental Conference Workshop Descriptions and Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioner Units Content Environmental Service Awards Annual Report Fiscal Year MACC Conservation Commissioner Training and Support at a Glance Fiscal Year Annual Environmental Conference 2017 Exhibitors (partial list)...26 Thank you MACC Supporters and Members Fiscal Year MACC is Grateful for our Corporate Members...28 Annual Environmental Conference Poster Presentations...29 About our Keynote Speaker: Richard Primack...30 Raffle...31 Protecting Wetlands and Open Space: MACC s Environmental Handbook for Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners...32 Thank you to our Conference Sponsors PLATINUM SPONSOR Eversource Energy Silver Sponsor National Grid Bronze Sponsors Beals & Thomas Epsilon Associates Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani LEC Environmental Consultants McGregor & Legere Stantec Consulting Services VHB President s Reception Sponsors BSC Group Keolis Commuter Services Fundamentals Sponsors EcoTec Lucas Environmental Conference Supporter Ecosystem Solutions 3

6 We re doing what s right for future generations. 4

7 Annual Environmental Conference 2017 Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions AGENDA 8:00 a.m. Registration Opens; Exhibit Hall Opens; Breakfast Treats, Coffee & Tea Open 8:45-9:45 a.m. Opening Session Welcome and Remarks Annual Business Meeting Minutes of the March 2016 Meeting Financial Report Report of the Nominating Committee Election of Officers, Directors, and Nominating Committee off-board members Close Annual Business Meeting Environmental Service Awards Introduce Keynote Speaker Keynote Address Close Opening Session Jennifer Carlino, President Jennifer Carlino John Goldrosen, Treasurer Kathleen (Kate) Connolly, Chair of the Nominating Committee Jennifer Carlino Kate Connolly, Chair of the Awards Committee Eugene B. Benson, Executive Director Richard Primack, Professor of Biology, Boston University; Editor-in-Chief, Biological Conservation Eugene B. Benson Workshops - Fundamentals Units - Lunch 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Workshop Series A 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners Units 105 and :30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lunch in Kimball Hall (walk or take the shuttle van between Hogan Campus Center and Kimball Hall) 1:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Workshop Series B 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners Units 202 and 204 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Workshop Series C Reception 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. President s Reception - Raffle Drawing Closings 3:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall closes 4:30 p.m. Book sales and raffle ticket sales close 5:30 p.m. Conference closes 5

8 President s and Executive Director s Message Jennifer Carlino Welcome to MACC s Annual Environ - mental Conference 2017! We are delighted you are here and hope you will have a wonderful day. At this special conference we are celebrating sixty years of conservation commissions. The MA Conservation Commission Act of 1957, the first of its kind nationally, is a great example of Massachusetts leadership on natural resources protection. With the later Wetlands Protection Act it has provided the framework for generations of conservation commissioners to take on critical roles protecting wetlands, open space, and biological diversity in their communities. MACC s Board and staff, along with volunteers, have organized a terrific conference with an excellent variety of workshops and training sessions to provide you with information and skills to take home and use. The conference also offers ample opportunities for networking, visiting the conference exhibitors to see what they have to offer, and feeling energized about the work you do for the environment. Please be sure to check out the publications table, where we have resources for conservation commissions as well as offerings sure to please anyone interested in the natural world. And take a chance on the conference raffle to win the terrific prize! Opening Session is a great opportunity to honor the people receiving MACC s Environmental Service Awards. We have presented awards every year since 1981 and every year there are people and groups nominated who are especially deserving of recognition for their work protecting Massachusetts natural resources. The four awardees this year, Al Goetz, Jennifer Hughes, Eve Schluter, and the Massachusetts Keystone Project, have done amazing work. We are happy to celebrate their dedication and successes and raise the visibility of their work to the state-wide conservation community. Our thanks to our Awards Committee of Kate Connolly (chair), Brandon Faneuf, Janice Stone, and Jennifer Carlino for their wise choices for awardees. We are delighted Professor Richard Primack will give the Conference Keynote Address. Be ready to learn about his cutting-edge research on the impact of climate change on the flowering and leafing out times of plants, the spring arrival of birds and the flight times of insects in Massachusetts, and the potential for ecological mismatches among species caused by climate change. The main geographical focus of that research is Concord, 6 Massachusetts, due to the extensive records kept by Henry David Thoreau and later naturalists there. After his talk, you may want to purchase his acclaimed book, Walden Warming: Eugene Benson Climate Change Comes to Thoreau s Woods. This is the inaugural year of our student poster session. Take the time to read the posters and speak with the students, the upcoming generation of environmental thinkers and leaders, about the work they are featuring at the conference. Preparation for this year s conference started soon after last year s conference ended. We reviewed the conference evaluations, formed the conference committee, and began planning. The conference essentials remain the same: workshops on the latest science, technologies, laws, regulations, policies, thinking, and hot topics in wetlands and open space protection; meeting with and hearing from experts and practitioners; and connecting with each other. This is the one time each year when we come together from across the state to learn, exchange ideas and information, greet old friends, make new friends and acquaintances, and be a part of the larger conservation community. In these uncertain times, when it appears the federal government is retreating on environmental protection, our ability to come together as a community for a day of learning and sharing is more important than ever. There are many people to thank for making the conference a success. MACC s Annual Environmental Conference Committee 2017 is comprised of MACC Board members Amy Ball and Matt Schweisberg (co-chairs), Kate Connolly, Lee Curtis, Rebekah Lacey, Gregor McGregor, Nick Nelson, Cynthia O Connell, and E. Heidi Ricci; MACC Associate Director & Education Coordinator Michele Girard; former MACC Board member Sally Zielinski; and Allan Greenberg. Once again, MACC Office Manager/ Newsletter Editor/ Membership Coordinator Lindsay Martucci, MACC Special Projects Intern Joey Wigglesworth, and MACC Finance and Operations Director Candace Domos have been dedicated, inventive, hard-working, and true stewards of the conference. Also essential to the success of the conference are the presenters and moderators of the workshops and training units and the many other volunteers who give their time and expertise. We also thank the conference sponsors, advertisers, and exhibitors, whose support of the conference reflects their belief in the value of our work and the

9 conservation community. Finally, you, the participants, make this conference a success. The energy you bring to the conference, the informed caring community you will create today, and your dedication to your home community and the natural world make this conference shine every year. As we write this in late January (with no snow on the ground in eastern MA!), we are focused on holding the best annual environmental conference we can, building on our years of experience and the preparation that has gone into the conference. We look forward to having the opportunity to meet and speak with you during the day. Your participation makes our day. Enjoy! New England Wetland Plants, Inc. Wholesale Native Plant Nursery Your source for... Trees, Shrubs, Ferns, Flowering Perennials, and Grasses Coastal and Inland Wetland Plants Specialty Seed Mixes Coir Logs, Straw Wattles, Blankets and Mats The conference evaluations this year are digital. Please look for an from us and please take a few minutes to complete the evaluation and give us your input on this year s conference. It will inform next year s conference. Editor s note: When Gene and Jenn wrote the welcome, there was no snow in eastern Massachusetts. Snow abounds as this goes to the printer. 820 West Street, Amherst, MA Phone: (413) Fax: (413) info@newp.com Web: COLLABORATING WITH CLIENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS SINCE 1986 New England Environmental 15 Research Drive Amherst, MA swca.com WILDLIFE HABITAT & RARE SPECIES EVALUATIONS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COMPLIANCE SEDIMENT & EROSION CONTROL PLANS NATURAL RESOURCE PERMITTING VERNAL POOL ASSESSMENTS PEER REVIEW 7

10 Annual Business Meeting - March 4, 2017 MACC OFFICER, DIRECTOR AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE ELECTION MACC s Nominating Committee has voted to present the following slate of officer and board nominees and non-board members of the next Nominating Committee to the membership at the Annual Meeting, to take place at Annual Environmental Conference 2017, on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at 8:45 AM, at the College of the Holy Cross, Hogan Campus Center, Worcester, MA. Officers serving until Annual Meeting 2018: President: First Vice President Vice President for Advocacy Vice President for Education Secretary Treasurer Jennifer Carlino Michael Howard Pamela Harvey Matt Schweisberg Cynthia O Connell John Goldrosen Directors serving until Annual Meeting 2020: Amy Ball, Sandra Brock*, Greg Hochmuth*, Scott Jackson, and Jennifer Steel Directors serving until Annual Meeting 2019: Paul McManus* Nominating Committee Non-Board Members serving until Annual Meeting 2018: Michele Grzenda, Tim Purinton, Kathy Sferra, and Seth Wilkinson *designates a new member of the Board of Directors NEW NOMINEES TO THE BOARD Sandra Brock is the Chief Engineer at Nitsch Engineering, a certified WMBE, where she specializes in stormwater management and sustainable site design. She has over 30 years of experience in civil engineering, is a licensed Professional Engineer, LEED accredited Professional, Title V System Inspector, Certified Floodplain Manager, and Certified Soil Evaluator. In addition to her work for private developers and institutions, Sandy has provided expert witness testimony for civil engineering cases and peer reviews of proposed projects for numerous boards and commissions throughout the Commonwealth. Sandy graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and spent two years designing and constructing rural water supplies in Malawi, Africa, for the Peace Corps. She is the Chair of the Grafton Conservation Commission and has presented workshops on stormwater management at Annual Environmental Conference and other events. Greg Hochmuth has over 15 years of experience in wetland ecology, wetland restoration and replication, wildlife biology, vernal pool assessments, soil evaluation, subsurface sanitary disposal system design, impact statement preparation, peer review, environmental regulatory analysis, expert testimony, environmental permitting and project presentation before local and regional agencies. He is an experienced biologist with extensive experience in wetland delineation and functional assessments using federal and state methodologies. He is employed by Williams & Sparages LLC, Middleton, MA and previously was employed with Hancock Associates, Inc., Danvers, MA and The Neve-Morin Group, Inc. Topsfield, MA. Greg has conducted many training sessions for MACC. In addition to his MACC affiliation, Greg is affiliated with the Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists (AMWS) and Society of Wetlands Scientists (SWS). He is a Professional Wetland Scientist, New Hampshire Certified Wetland Scientist, Registered Sanitarian, 8

11 Certified Soil Evaluator, Certified Title 5 Inspector, a Licensed Designer of Subsurface Sanitary Disposal Systems, and Conservation Commission Member in the Town of Merrimac, MA. Paul McManus is the founder and President of EcoTec, Inc. an Environmental Consulting Services firm in Worcester, MA. Before founding EcoTec in 1990, Paul was employed as the Senior Scientist at Harborline Engineering Inc. of New Bedford, MA, and for several years was a project manager at the Gulf of Maine Research Center Inc. in Salem, MA. He is certified as a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) and a Licensed Site Professional (LSP.) He was President of the New England Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists, representing the Chapter on the International Board of Directors, and currently is Chapter Past President and Treasurer. Paul specializes in wetland assessment and permitting, as well as ecological risk assessment at contaminated wetland sites. He serves as technical wetlands consultant for the Town of Dover Conservation Commission and works regularly for Boylston, Shrewsbury, and other commissions providing peer review expertise for varied projects. He has presented at MACC s Annual Environmental Conference, taught workshops for MACC and several other professional organizations, and teaches MACC s Fundamentals Unit 205: Effective Erosion and Sediment Control. Paul has a M.S. in Ecology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and a B.A. in Biology from the College of the Holy Cross. Paul is a resident of Holden, Massachusetts. Presented by the 2016 Nominating Committee: Board members Kathleen (Kate) Connolly (chair), Rebekah Lacey, and Cynthia O Connell; and non-board members Michele Grzenda, Tim Purinton, Kathy Sferra, and Seth Wilkinson The following members of the Board of Directors are not up for election this year: serving until Annual Meeting 2018: Marc Bergeron, Lee Curtis, Gregor McGregor, Rebekah Lacey, and Nick Nelson; and serving until Annual Meeting 2019: Kathleen (Kate) Connolly, E. Heidi Ricci, Margaret (Peg) Stolfa, and Janice Stone Gordon & Rees is proud to support the MACC Annual Environmental Conference Margaret R. Stolfa, Partner Environmental Law MACC Board Member A national litigation and business transactions firm with more than 700 attorneys in 38 offices throughout the United States. We deliver maximum value to our clients by combining the resources, size, and scale of a full-service national firm with the responsiveness, flexibility, and local knowledge of a regional firm. Alabama Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Maryland Massachusetts Missouri Nevada New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Texas Virginia Washington Washington, D.C. West Virginia 9

12 The meeting was called to order at 8:45 A.M. Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Annual Business Meeting March 5, 2016 DRAFT MINUTES Welcome: Kathleen (Kate) Connolly, President, welcomed the attendees. Kate announced that the meeting would be electing a new President. She mentioned that MACC is in its 55th year, and is one of the oldest environmental organizations in New England. The Annual Business meeting then commenced. Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to accept the Minutes of the February 28, 2015 Annual Business Meeting (pg. 12 of AEC Program Book). The vote to accept the Minutes as drafted was unanimous. Financial Report: Kate Connolly acted on behalf of Treasurer Margaret Carroll who was unable to be present. She summarized and referred to the Financial Report, found on pages in the AEC Program Book. Revenue exceeded expenses in FY Slightly more income came from Membership Dues, followed equally by income from Educational Programs and Grants & Contributions. A motion to accept the Financial Report was made and seconded; the vote was unanimous. Report of the Nominating Committee, Election of Officers, Directors and Nominating Committee: Scott Jackson, Chair of the Nominating Committee, presented the slate of nominees to the membership and referred members to pages of the AEC Program Book. Officers serve for one year, Directors 1, 2, or 3 years on a staggered basis. A motion was made and seconded to elect the entire slate; the motion passed unanimously. The following were elected: Officers Serving until Annual Business Meeting 2017: Jennifer Carlino -P resident; Michael Howard - First Vice President; Amy Ball - Vice-President for Education; Scott Jackson - Vice President for Advocacy; John Goldrosen - Treasurer; Cynthia O Connell - Secretary. Directors (* New nominee): Serving until Annual Business Meeting 2019: Kathleen (Kate) Connolly, E. Heidi Ricci, Janice Stone, Matt Schweisberg, Margaret (Peg) Stolfa Serving until Annual Business Meeting 2018: Lee Curtis*, Nick Nelson* Serving until Annual Business Meeting 2017: Pamela Harvey* Nominating Committee: Non-Board Members serving until Annual Business Meeting 2017: Michele Grzenda, Tim Purinton, Kathy Sferra, and Seth Wilkinson. Environmental Service Awards: Kate Connolly, Chair of the Awards Committee, introduced the 2016 Environmental Service Award recipients, chosen for their long and outstanding service for natural resource protection. The Award Winners were Donald D. Cooper, Conservation Commissioner of the Year (Andover); Mike O Reilly, Conservation Administrator of the Year (Dartmouth); William Keohan, Outstanding Achievements in Open Space Stewardship (Plymouth). Descriptions are on pages of the Program Book. Eugene Benson and Amy Ball presented outgoing President Kate Connolly with gifts as thanks for her serving three terms as President of MACC. Keynote Address: Executive Director Eugene Benson introduced Keynote Speaker Martin Suuberg, Commissioner of the MA Department of Environmental Protection. Mr. Suuberg provided the group with updates on several important topics, including regulatory reform, Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage regulations, mapping and research for vulnerable wetlands, and a special emphasis in 2016 on stormwater. He stated that DEP was looking for new partners and stakeholders to leverage volunteer efforts with water quality monitoring. A motion to adjourn was made and seconded. All voted in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 9:40 A.M. Respectfully submitted, Janice Stone, Secretary. 10

13 SERVICES TO CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS Epsilon s team of scientists, engineers, and planners provides environmental consulting, licensing, and permitting services for a broad range of public and private sector clients. Our highly respected Ecological Sciences group provides conservation commissions with expert assistance when reviewing complex projects under the Wetlands Protection Act regulations or during administrative appeals. THANK YOU EarthShare DONORS! The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) thanks the hundreds of people who support our work each year through payroll contributions in workplace giving campaigns. MACC is a member of EarthShare New England, a federation of New England s most respected environmental and conservation charities. To find out more about how you and your workplace can support MACC through an EarthShare New England campaign, please call Cheron Carlson at or visit EarthShare New England s website at www. earthsharenewengland.org. Please contact Michael Howard, PWS, CWS, Principal and Manager of Ecological Services, at (978) or mhoward@epsilonassociates.com. 3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 250 Maynard, Massachusetts

14 Annual Environmental Conference Workshop Descriptions and Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners Units Content Series A 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 1. Cold Water Fisheries: Protecting, Enhancing, and Regulating a Critical Resource Area In 2016, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife published a data layer that allows users to determine the presence of cold water resources (i.e., habitat for trout and other cold water species). This workshop will provide an overview on: 1) what are cold water resources; 2) how to use the data layer when reviewing projects (e.g., storm water options and project design considerations); 3) how to use the data as a Wetlands Protection Act regulator; and, 4) innovative stormwater, connectivity, and stabilization techniques for cold water fisheries. Speakers: Adam Kautza, Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader, Fisheries Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Misty-Anne Marold, Senior Endangered Species Review Biologist, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Timothy Dexter, Wetlands and Wildlife Biologist, Massachusetts Department of Transportation: Highway Division Environmental Section Annie Bastoni, Stormwater Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Transportation: Highway Division Moderator: Matt Schweisberg, PWS, Wetlands Strategies and Solutions, LLC; MACC Director 2. Proposed Wetlands Protection Act Regulation Amendment for Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage MassDEP is working on regulatory amendments for performance standards for Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage, including a Limited Project that would allow adaptations of existing projects to address sea level rise. This workshop will explain regulatory changes and performance standards under consideration. Speakers: Rebecca Haney, Coastal Geologist and Certified Floodplain Manager, MA Office of Coastal Zone Management Lealdon Langley, Director of the Wetlands and Waterways Program, MA Department of Environmental Protection Moderator: Margaret (Peg) Stolfa, Esq., Gordon and Rees; MACC Director 3. Greening Your Community with LID: Saving Land, Water, and Money Back by popular demand, this workshop gives practical information on low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure (GI) for conservation commissioners and agents. We discuss community and water quality benefits, and also how to collaborate with non-conservation town officials, including reducing infrastructure and maintenance costs for DPW s, and how to work with planners to encourage these practices through local bylaw changes. Speakers: Amandas Loomis, AICP, Planning Board Administrator, Town of Framingham Stefanie Covino, Project Coordinator, Shaping the Future of Your Community Program, Mass Audubon Scott Horsley, Principal, Horsley Witten Group, Inc. Moderator: E. Heidi Ricci, Senior Policy Analyst, Mass Audubon; MACC Director 4. Protecting Massachusetts Vernal Pools Vernal pools are an important component of healthy ecosystems across the state, and they receive a host of legal protection under federal, state, and local wetland regulations. Their ecological functional values are at the root of why we protect them; and their variety, temporary nature, and fluctuations are at the root of much confusion over how we protect them. We will explore and explain both their function and best practices for their protection, and consider some of the implications of the extended drought we ve been experiencing. This workshop will be geared to an audience already familiar with vernal pool certification methodology. Speakers: Matthew R. Burne, Walden Woods Project Leo P. Kenney, Vernal Pool Association Moderator: Marc Bergeron, PWS, CWS, Senior Project Manager/Wetland Scientist, VHB, Inc.; MACC Director 12

15 5. The Habits of Highly Effective Conservation Commissions An effective conservation commission gets its business done, works collegially to engage the strengths of each member, and is respected within its community. This interactive workshop is designed to help you identify and prioritize ways in which you can strengthen the work of your commission. We will address perennially challenging topics such as effective group decision-making, working with dominant and disengaged board members, setting expectations and engaging new members, rotating roles, and developing a proactive annual work plan. We will also talk about what to do when a commission member (or staff) is behaving badly. Depending on the topics brought by participants, we may also touch on developing effective relationships between board and staff, strengthening relationships with other boards and departments (including appointing authorities), and managing agendas to shorten meetings. Participants will come away with practical suggestions for improving the effectiveness of their commissions work. Speakers: Kathy Sferra, Conservation Coordinator, Town of Stow Kathleen (Kate) Connolly, Esq., Louison, Costello, Condon & Pfaff LLP; MACC Director 6. Hands-on Plant ID: Common Woody Plants of Massachusetts Freshwater Wetlands This workshop will present a basic hands-on wetland plant identification session using a brief PowerPoint presentation of the most commonly encountered wetland trees, shrubs, and woody vines of swamps, marshes, and other freshwater wetlands of Massachusetts. The classroom set-up will include both herbarium specimens and winter specimens (given the time of year) for attendees to use in identifying the most prominent features of each plant to help them recognize common freshwater woody wetland plants in the field. This workshop is intended for beginners, and may also serve as a refresher on basic wetland plant identification for others. Speakers: Amy Ball, PWS, CWS, Senior Ecologist, Horsley Witten Group, Inc.; MACC Officer Sally Zielinski, PhD, Botanist/Environmental Journalist; MACC Education Committee Member Moderator: Nick Nelson, Fluvial Geomorphologist, Regional Director, Inter-Fluve, Inc.; MACC Director 7. Wetlands Enforcement Basics Addressing wetlands violations can be a confusing and frustrating task for conservation commissions and staff. It is not easy to sort out what the enforcement options are under the Wetlands Protection Act and local bylaws/ordinances, what procedures are required for each option, and which option will be most effective in achieving compliance. This workshop will explain the options and procedures in a practical way. Speakers: Rebekah Lacey, Esq., Miyares and Harrington, LLP; MACC Director Cynthia O Connell, Conservation Agent, Town of Canton; MACC Officer Moderator: Brandon Faneuf, PWS, Principal, Ecosystem Solutions, Inc.; MACC Director 8. Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool: Inspiring Local Adaptation on the Ground The Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool is designed to inform and inspire local land conservation and management decisions to protect the Commonwealth s natural resources in a changing climate. With this tool, conservation commissioners can: 1) access information on climate change impacts and vulnerabilities of fish and wildlife species and associated habitats; and 2) explore adaptation strategies to maintain resilient natural communities, such as replacing culverts, amending local bylaws, and adapting forestry practices and land protection strategies based on location and interest. Along with improved design and functionality, the tool was recently updated to include information specific to coastal communities issues and ecosystems, as well as how to address climate change adaptation in municipal planning. This workshop will provide an overview of the Climate Action Tool, discuss on the ground uses, and seek input on additional content to include as work continues to improve the Tool. Speakers: Scott Jackson, Extension Associate Professor, UMass Amherst; Conservation Commissioner, Town of Whately; MACC Officer Melissa Ocana, Research and Extension Project Manager, Department of Environmental Conservation, UMass Amherst Moderator: Allan C. Greenberg, MACC Education Committee Member 13

16 Workshop Series B 1:15 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 9. Making Mapping Simple: Three Clicks to Identify Priority Parcels for Conservation This workshop will explore an easy-to-use web-based tool called MAPPR (Mapping and Prioritizing Parcels for Resilience) to identify conservation priorities at the parcel level and identify ownership. The tool was successfully showcased at AEC 2016 and will now allow users to easily identify parcels for conservation, with updated data sets based on biodiversity (BioMap2), climate change resilience (based on The Nature Conservancy s modeling), and wildlife connectivity. New features will be shown and demonstrated, including agricultural land value, drinking water protection value, and enhanced ability to identify large forested blocks to serve as wildlands. MAPPR also allows users to analyze parcel values within a town, county, watershed, or the service areas of regional interests or regional planning agencies. Speaker: Stefanie Covino, Project Coordinator, Shaping the Future of Your Community Program, Mass Audubon Moderator: E. Heidi Ricci, Senior Policy Analyst, Mass Audubon; MACC Director 10. US Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program Updates: Jurisdiction, Mitigation, and the Massachusetts In-Lieu Fee Program This workshop will provide a) a refresher on the regulatory jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, including a review of the differences between state and federal regulatory jurisdictional boundaries; b) an overview of the Corps recently issued update to its New England District Compensatory Mitigation Guidance, including more resource-specific mitigation guidance for streams and vernal pools; and, c) an overview and update on the Massachusetts In-Lieu-Fee (ILF) compensatory mitigation program, including the use of ILF funds disbursed to the MA Department of Fish and Game, sponsor of the state ILF program, for mitigation projects. Speakers: Barbara Newman, Chief of Permits and Enforcement Branch A, Regulatory Division, Army Corps of Engineers Paul Minkin, Senior Wetland Scientist, Army Corps of Engineers Joshua Helms, Project Manager, Biologist, Army Corps of Engineers Moderator: John Goldrosen, Esq., MACC Officer 11. Assessing Deer Impacts at the Town Level Each year, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) receives questions from municipal officials concerning deer population numbers in their town and how might they determine whether deer are having a negative impact on the community s forests and wetlands. Conservation commissioners and other volunteers will learn how their community can work with Mass Wildlife to answer questions about deer impacts and what data can be collected to assist with management efforts. The speakers will provide examples of deer impacts, and cover some quick and easy vegetation assessments and deer browse and impact surveys that conservation commissioners can fill out to help the state better understand the level of impacts deer have on the forest and herbaceous layers of their communities. Speakers: David Stainbrook, State Deer Biologist, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Karro Frost, Conservation Planning Botanist, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Moderator: Paul J. McManus, LSP, PWS, President, EcoTec, Inc. 12. Solar Arrays: Permitting Issues for Commissions Many proposals for solar arrays within wetland resource areas and buffer zones are being presented to conservation commissions and MassDEP. This workshop will provide an overview of the potential impacts on wetlands, regulatory analysis and the MassDEP Wetlands Regulatory Program Policy about this emerging topic. The presentation will include: 1) a general discussion of the components of a solar array project, including installation of related ancillary facilities (e.g., electrical interconnection, temporary and permanent access roads, security fencing, etc.); (2) the avoidance and minimization of impacts to wetland resource areas; (3) quantifying and assessing impacts to wetland resource areas from tree removal that is often necessary to minimize the effects of shading and the resultant loss of energy production generated by the solar arrays; (4) stormwater Best Management Practices; (5) potential mitigation measures for unavoidable impacts to wetland resource areas and (6) an overview of comments on the draft policy that MassDEP received from its stakeholder group. Speakers: Lealdon Langley, Director, Wetlands and Waterways Program, MA Department of Environmental Protection Michael Howard, PWS, CWS, Principal & Manager, Ecological Sciences Group, Epsilon Associates, Inc.; MACC Officer; AMWS President Moderator: Matt Schweisberg, PWS, Wetland Strategies and Solutions, LLC; MACC Director 14

17 13. How to Run an Efficient Conservation Office: Getting More from Your Limited Time Learn about administrative systems, forms, and techniques to simplify the myriad responsibilities that can eat up your time. Discussion will focus on establishing efficient timelines, filing systems, agendas, minutes, and regulatory correspondences. New technologies for information management and sharing will be presented. Come away with a compendium of useful templates and forms to simplify your life in the conservation office. Speaker: Moderator: Jennifer Steel, Senior Environmental Planner, City of Newton; MACC Director Sandra A. Brock, P.E., LEED AP BC + C, Chief Engineer, Nitsch Engineering; Conservation Commissioner, Town of Grafton 14. Supporting River Smart Communities in Massachusetts: Science, Policy, and the Practice for Flood Resilience in Ecological Restoration This workshop will provide conservation commissioners 1) scientific background on fluvial geomorphology, dynamic river processes, and fluvial hazards: 2) take-home lessons for communities on fluvial hazards; 3) specific recommendations for policy change that will help Massachusetts communities improve their flood resilience; and 4) key aspects of culvert replacement design for aquatic organism passage and available technical assistance for communities to improve flood resilience, with a focus on assessments and culvert replacement. Speakers: Nick Nelson, Fluvial Geomorphologist, Regional Director, Inter-Fluve, Inc.; MACC Director Eve Vogel, Associate Professor in Geography, UMass Amherst Tim Chorey, Stream Continuity Specialist, Division of Ecological Restoration, MA Department of Fish and Game Moderator: Nick Nelson, Fluvial Geomorphologist, Regional Director, Inter-Fluve, Inc.; MACC Director 15. Commissions Behaving Badly: Lessons in Legal Liability You re worried and confused about possible civil rights violations, jurisdiction limits, legal violations, conflicts of interest, illegal public meetings, unfair board procedure, trespass on private property, and maybe even risky business by certain members of your commission. This workshop will confirm your worst fears as well as eliminate your unjustified worries by looking at actual cases which commissions have lost in court. Learn some painful lessons from mistakes made by others. When is your enforcement of laws too aggressive? When is your application of regulations too strict? When do your permit conditions go over the line? How much discretion does the law give you to make decisions? What if you rely on motherhood and apple pie instead of science? What if you injure or damage someone by being careless? What if you deprive someone of due process of law? What if a denial constitutes an unconstitutional taking without compensation? How should your commission comport itself to avoid or minimize such liabilities? Speaker: Gregor I. McGregor. Esq., McGregor & Legere, PC; MACC Director Moderator: Pamela D. Harvey, Esq., Conservation Commissioner, Town of Brookline; MACC Director 16. Reviewing Wetland Mitigation Plans Constructing successful mitigation sites, especially small sites, can be tricky; there have been reports that constructed or replicated wetlands are often unsuccessful. However, we ve also seen replication sites flourish. The goal of this workshop is to provide guidance to conservation commissions on reading wetland mitigation plans, both specifications and drawings, and in writing effective and enforceable conditions to yield successful replication areas. Speakers: Dwight R. Dunk, LP.D., PWS, BCES, Principal, Epsilon Associates, Inc. Michael Toohill, PWS, CE, Associate and Senior Project Manager, BSC Group, Inc. Delia Kaye, Director, Division of Natural Resources, Town of Concord Moderator: Allan C. Greenberg, MACC Education Committee Member Workshop Series C 3:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 17. Protecting the Storm Damage Prevention and Flood Control Interests of Coastal Resource Areas The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will present an overview of how conservation commissions can protect the storm damage prevention and flood control interests of coastal resource areas during project review. The workshop will focus on specific technical, regulatory, and policy guidance, including coastal resource delineation methodologies (such as for primary dunes and coastal floodplains), as well as provide important adjudicatory decisions and policy direction to help ensure projects comply with performance standards. Speakers: Rebecca Haney, Coastal Geologist and Certified Floodplain Manager, MA Office of Coastal Zone Management Betsy Rickards, Technical Writer, MA Office of Coastal Zone Management Lealdon Langley, Director, MassDEP Wetlands Program, MA Department of Environmental Protection Moderator: Gregor I. McGregor, Esq., McGregor & Legere, PC; MACC Director 15

18 18. Floodplain Basics for New Commissioners This workshop is geared to new commissioners and their staff. Topics will include a definition and description of floodplains, both National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and local; the use of various online mapping tools to find and examine the floodplain; an understanding of the complete NFIP definition of development and resulting community responsibilities; and the non-construction requirements of the NFIP. Speakers: Joy Duperault, Director, Flood Hazard Management Program, State NFIP Coordinator and Hazard Mitigation Officer, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Water Resources Moderator: Margaret (Peg) Stolfa, Esq., Gordon and Rees; MACC Director 19. Interactive Q & A for all Conservation Commission Issues Bring your difficult questions to a round table discussion with colleagues from across the state for a peer-moderated exploration of issues commissions are facing. This will be a lightly moderated, informal, open discussion for sharing ideas, questions, and answers on all topics conservation commission. This roundtable discussion could include such diverse topics as basic roles and responsibilities, finances, interpersonal relations, record keeping, divisions of labor, and balancing the big picture. Participants are encouraged to suggest a topic or question on the message board at the conference, or simply come to the session with a question or example to discuss. Experienced agents and assistants will help guide the discussion. Speakers: Jennifer Carlino, Conservation Director, Town of Norton; President, Massachusetts Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals; MACC Officer Jennifer Steel, Senior Environmental Planner, City of Newton; MACC Director Jacquie Goring, Conservation Assistant, Town of Stow 20. New Public Records Law in Effect - Are You Compliant - and Updates on the Open Meeting Law On January 1, 2017, a major overhaul of the state Public Records Law went into effect. It imposes many new requirements on municipalities (and state government agencies), including appointment of Records Access Officers, posting of information on how to obtain public records, very tight time periods to fulfill requests, restrictions on what can be charged for search and redaction time, penalties for non-compliance, and much more. This workshop will review the intricacies of the new law, how to comply, and what can happen if you do not. It will also review hot topics under the Open Meeting Law, including important administrative decisions issued by the Attorney General s Office. This workshop will bring you up to speed on best practices for these two laws that conservation commissions must know, understand, and implement. Speakers: Kathleen Connolly, Esq., Principal, Louison, Costello, Condon & Pfaff LLP; MACC Director James B. Lampke, Esq., Principal, Law Offices of Lampke & Lampke Moderator: Pamela D. Harvey, Esq., Conservation Commissioner, Town of Brookline; MACC Director 21. Wildlife Habitat Assessments: How Commissions can Evaluate Potential Impacts to Wildlife Protecting valuable wildlife habitat is critical to maintaining biodiversity, sustainable ecosystems, and rare species recovery. Under the Wetlands Protection Act, conservation commissions have been tasked with evaluating potential impacts of proposed projects on wildlife habitat within resource areas that are of regional or statewide importance. This workshop will provide commissions with the tools necessary to effectively evaluate wildlife habitat assessments, how to mitigate potential impacts to wildlife, and mechanisms to further protect valuable habitat. It will also discuss opportunities commissions may have to protect wildlife habitat located adjacent to Estimated or Priority Habitat, as regulated by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Speakers: P. Chase Bernier, CWB, Project Manager, BSC Group, Inc. Tara Martin, Conservation Agent, City of Attleboro Moderator: Lee Curtis, Senior Associate and Manager of Ecological & GIS Services, BSC Group, Inc.; MACC Director 22. Urban Ecology and the Challenges of the Built Environment Urban communities are now home to over 90% of Massachusetts residents, yet the built environment is rarely discussed in conservation circles. Over the last two decades, the field of urban ecology has come to view cities as a distinct habitat worthy of study and protection. Recognizing the resource areas and protecting the public values identified in the Wetlands Protection Act can be a challenge for conservation commissions in urban communities. This workshop will explore the field of urban ecology, the unique challenges commissions face in cities, and strategies for effective operations, outreach, and advocacy. Speakers: Tennis Lilly, Conservation Commission Chairperson, City of Lawrence Rebecca Vielleux, Biology and Urban Ecology Teacher, Lawrence High School Moderator: Amy Ball, PWS, CWS, Senior Ecologist, Horsley Witten Group, Inc.; MACC Officer 16

19 23. Construction Impacts: What Applicants Won t Tell You about Their Redevelopment Site Thousands of properties proposed for redevelopment across Massachusetts are state-listed disposal sites with documented releases of oil or hazardous materials. When asked, applicants often state the truth that their site has achieved Regulatory Closure under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP), 310 CMR , and is clean. However, clean has a regulatory definition which doesn t necessarily mean the site no longer contains contaminated soil or groundwater, or both. This workshop will show commissioners where to quickly find the information on the MassDEP website to determine if proposed site activities will generate contaminated soil and groundwater and discuss what to ask applicants to get the sufficient information needed to issue an Order of Conditions that will fully protect wetland resource areas and avoid the pitfalls of construction in contaminated areas. Speakers: Marta Nover, Principal, Nover-Armstrong Associates, Inc. Marylou Armstrong, LSP, Principal, Nover-Armstrong Associates, Inc. Moderator: Janice S. Stone, Conservation Agent, Town of South Hadley; MACC Director 24. Creating and Implementing a Private Stormwater Maintenance Inspection Program The Town of Westborough Conservation Commission has developed and implemented a comprehensive private stormwater and maintenance inspection program that includes over 260 commercial, industrial, and high-density residential properties. This workshop will demonstrate how to: 1) collect and assess relevant stormwater data for each property; 2) develop a stormwater inspection worksheet; 3) develop and maintain a database for each property; 4) utilize the Registry of Deeds as a valuable tool in determining ownership and maintenance responsibility; and 5) interact with property owners, property managers, and tenants. Attendees will obtain a detailed understanding of how to develop a similar program in their communities. Speakers: Derek Saari, Conservation Officer, Town of Westborough Sheri Rullie, Conservation Administrative Assistant, Town of Westborough Moderator: Rebekah Lacey, Esq., Miyares and Harrington, LLP, MACC Director Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners 10:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Unit 105: Unit 201: Unit 202: Unit 204: Writing Effective Orders of Conditions Content: Protecting interests of the Act; boilerplate and special conditions, denials and appeals, amendments and extensions, certificates of compliance. Instructor: Michele Grzenda, Conservation Agent, Town of Weston, Massachusetts Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals Officer Assistant: Jennifer Carlino, Conservation Director, Town of Norton, President, Massachusetts Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals; MACC Officer Getting Home Before Midnight: How to Run an Effective Meeting Content: Meeting preparation; participants and their interests; group dynamics; recordkeeping; Public Records Law; communication techniques. Instructor: Nathaniel Stevens, Esq., Senior Associate, McGregor & Legere, P.C.; Conservation Commissioner, Town of Arlington Assistant: John Goldrosen, Esq.; MACC Director 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Protecting Wildlife Habitat Content: Presumption of significance for wildlife habitat; protecting habitat for rare wetlands wildlife; protections for vernal pool habitat; wildlife habitat evaluations; determining if a project will have significant adverse impacts on wildlife habitat. Instructor: Scott Jackson, Extension Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Conservation Commissioner, Town of Whately; MACC Officer Assistant: Marc Bergeron, PWS, CWS, Senior Project Manager/Wetland Scientist, VHB, Inc.; MACC Director Managing Conservation Land: Inventories, Goals and Conflicts Content: Resource evaluations; developing management plans; land management case studies. Instructor: Laura Mattei, Director of Stewardship, Sudbury Valley Trustees Assistant: Brandon Faneuf, PWS, Principal, Ecosystem Solutions, Inc.; MACC Director 17

20 2017 ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE AWARDS Conservation Commissioner and Administrator of the Year Jennifer Hughes Jennifer Hughes is being honored as Conservation Commissioner and Administrator of the Year for her longstanding and dedicated work as the Town of North Andover conservation administrator and as a Town of Ipswich conservation commissioner. Jennifer has served on the Ipswich Conservation Commission since 1998 (Chair since 2012), and as the Conservation Administrator in North Andover since For both those positions, people describe her as always willing to go above and beyond her normal duties when necessary. One of her many admirers wrote to us, First and foremost, Jen is absolutely sincere and passionate about wetlands protection and applying/ interpreting fair and balanced regulations in her duties as conservation administrator and commissioner. She is completely dedicated to her craft. In her role on the Ipswich Conservation Commission, Jennifer is described as focused, a dedicated leader, fair, unbiased and consistent in her decision making, pragmatic, knowledgeable, cool under fire, and a passionate and talented professional. One of the Ipswich Commissioners wrote, As chair of the commission, Jen has provided firm leadership of and guidance to the commission in all matters procedural, technical and scientific, has managed our meetings and the attendant public firmly, sympathetically, politely and with the utmost respect for all participants. She has worked with the commission on a number of challenging development projects, and on management plans for the town s open space. As members of the Ipswich Conservation Commission wrote, Jen Hughes is the type of person anyone would want for the chair of a conservation commission. Her co-workers and commissioners in North Andover likewise describe her in superlative terms including bright, witty, with strong interpersonal skills and an abundance of energy. Jen is not only an extremely competent and knowledgeable professional, but an outstanding person as well. Further, We know that our wetlands are well protected with her as our administrator. In addition, she has reorganized the conservation office so that it runs smoothly and effectively, a benefit to the commission and the public. Jennifer has assisted both Ipswich and North Andover on open space acquisition projects and in updating their wetlands bylaws. She participates in activities to improve her profession and the resources available to conservation commissions. She is a member of the Association of MA Wetland Scientists, a board member on the MA Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals, and a member of MACC. She is currently assisting MACC as a committee member developing our new commissioner orientation program. MACC is delighted to recognize Jennifer for her long and ongoing service and dedication to the environment, conservation, open space, participation in the civic life of two communities, and for her many successes working on and with her conservation commissions. 18

21 Conservation Commissioner and Administrator of the Year Al Goetz Al Goetz is being honored as Conservation Commissioner and Administrator of the Year for his longstanding and dedicated work as the Town of Norwood conservation agent and as a Town of Walpole conservation commissioner. Al was nominated by the town manager and conservation commission members in the town in which he is employed, Norwood, as well as by state environmental officials, conservation agents in neighboring towns, some of whom called him their most valuable mentor, and by his colleagues in the town in which he lives, Walpole. In addition to working for more than twenty years as conservation agent in Norwood, Al was appointed to the conservation commission in Walpole at its inception in 1964, has held the positions of chair and vice chair of the commission, and has been instrumental in helping that commission grow and mature into the effective and knowledgeable board it is today. It is widely agreed Al is honest, dependable, intelligent, and incredibly hard-working. He has an impressive knowledge of wetland regulations and conservation guidelines. He has a thorough understanding of climate change and an impressive knowledge of wetland plants and systems, is a champion of rivers in the riverfront area, and is always looking for ways to improve riverfront area and storm water management. He has a strong, historic memory for details and has been an invaluable resource for the Norwood and Walpole Conservation Commissions. Al is respected by developers, engineers, consultants and lawyers who come before his commissions. As one of his nominators stated, Al is often one of the last to comment on a proposed project and does not fail to come up with some helpful insights or anecdotes to place things into greater historic perspective. Another commented that Al has an uncanny way of disarming a situation by listening to frustrated individuals and applicants. Al says sometimes people just need to vent; when he explains the situation and the wetlands issue,s people understand and change their attitude and projects either go forward or don t and compliance is met. Al s conservation efforts go beyond wetlands permitting and enforcement. His environmental efforts include developing and implementing the trails committee for the Bay Circuit Trail in Walpole and working to improve the Neponset River and waterways. He is currently working with the new owner of an abandoned mill site on Morse Street in Norwood to clean up the area around the channelized river flowing through the site. Since the 1970s with Al s assistance, the town of Walpole has protected approximately 2,000 acres of land with conservation restrictions. MACC is delighted to recognize Al for his lifelong service and dedication to the environment, conservation, open space, participation in the civic life of two communities, and for his many achievements. 19

22 Outstanding Public Service Everose Schluter Everose Schluter is being honored with an Environmental Service Award for Outstanding Public Service. Everose (Eve) has served with distinction as Review Biologist at the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) in the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for nearly 10 years. She is currently its Chief of Environmental Review and is very highly regarded within government and by those outside of government with whom she interacts. Eve was hired as an endangered species review biologist in 2007 and has protected varied wetland resources while conducting numerous reviews of development projects across the state. She has evaluated and provided detailed written comments on hundreds of proposed projects under the Wetlands Protection Act, the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA), and the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. She has worked closely with the Commonwealth s major utilities on managing utility right-of-way corridors to protect wetlands and other endangered species habitats, including initiating an annual rare turtle identification and survey training for utility workers. She has worked with foresters across the state to help bridge the divide between the regulated and regulating communities. She has collaborated with MassDEP on changes in environmental regulations, is the liaison between MassDEP and NHESP, and her expertise is regularly relied upon by MassDEP in its protection of rare and endangered species under the Wetlands Protection Act. For her excellent work and effective management skills, Eve was named as NHESP s Chief of Environmental Review in 2015 and now supervises the entire NHESP environmental review staff. Leading the program s regulatory efforts, she has worked tirelessly for proposed regulatory changes to the list of species protected under MESA. Eve was nominated for an Environmental Service Award by state officials and private environmental consulting firms. Engineers and wetland scientists with whom Eve works admire and appreciate her straightforward pragmatic approach to implementing MESA and its regulations. One of those who recommended Eve for an MACC award noted that as NHESP has come under increasingly intense scrutiny from the regulated public, Eve has demonstrated her skill of working with project proponents to accomplish the mission of her agency using a practical and sensible approach. Eve has offered her time and experience conducting MACC training sessions and has provided outreach and advocacy to conservation commissions and other environmental groups across the state to help explain the important role of NHESP and how its mission works together with the mission of MACC. Eve s colleagues note that, while passionate about the mission and goals of NHESP, she exhibits excellent judgment and is not afraid to think outside the box in problem-solving. Her approach has been described as fair and reasonable. Eve is a conscientious state employee who is respected by those both inside and outside of government. For her exemplary work protecting endangered species and habitats, MACC is pleased to honor Everose Schluter with its Environmental Service Award for Outstanding Public Service. 20

23 Outstanding Environmental Education MA Keystone Project The Massachusetts Keystone Project is being honored with an Environmental Service Award for Outstanding Environmental Education. Conservation is local. The Keystone Project (originally Coverts) was started in 1998 by UMass Extension as a means to provide private woodland owners with conservation information. With one Extension Forester, and thousands of private woodland owners, the model was designed to invest in peer owners and inform community leaders, and have them make connections and disseminate information in their respective towns. Training involves three days at the Harvard Forest with field trips and classroom talks by a variety of conservation professionals. Early on, it was recognized that in addition to forest owners, conservation commissioners and others could be excellent conduits of information. Since 1988, 26 classes have been held, with over 500 people participating as Keystone Cooperators. They collectively own over 36,000 acres, and through their community or organization are involved with over 500,000 acres. Acres and people are only part of the Keystone Story. Cooperators are expected to volunteer a minimum of 30 hours to advance conservation at the local level. Recent evaluation results indicate that in a one-year period Keystone Cooperators made contact with 15,033 people about forest conservation, and 1,742 referrals to conservation information resources. Keystone Cooperators contributed 44,636 hours to conservation-related activities, 63% of which were volunteer hours. This is equivalent to more than 22 full-time conservation positions, of which nearly 14 positions were volunteer. Over the years Keystone has received invaluable financial support from a number of generous organizations, without which the training would not occur, including: Massachusetts TNC, Massachusetts DCR, Mass Wildlife, and Harvard Forest. For its exemplary work with land owners, conservation commissioners and many others to protect woodlands, MACC is please to honor the MA Keystone Project with its Environmental Service Award for Outstanding Environmental Education. Environmental Law & Litigation Representing and advising conservation commissions for over two decades Subscribe to our blog: 21

24 MACC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, June 30, 2016) OVERVIEW In fiscal year 2016 (July 1, June 30, 2016), MACC successfully continued to fulfill its mission to protect Massachusetts natural resources through education, advocacy, and support of Conservation Commissions. We provided environmental education programs and workshops throughout the year, offered all units of Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners, and organized and held a well-attended and reviewed Annual Environmental Conference and Fall Conference. We published and delivered by the MACC Quarterly e-magazine for our members, ed twice-monthly emaccs to a larger audience, and provided other support services to conservation commissions. We advocated to the state legislature and agencies for smart science-based environmental laws, regulations, and policies that can be implemented on the local level. EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS Our Fundamentals for Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners certificate training program is an essential resource for conservation commissioners, agents, and others interested in wetlands and open space protection and management. It had a total of 613 unit participants. In fiscal year 2015, we increased the number of training units from eight to ten. This fiscal year we worked on creating an eleventh unit, Stormwater Requirements for Wetlands Protection, to be first offered in fall of Participants who complete the five required units and three of the six elective units receive a Certificate. Twenty-two people received their Certificate this fiscal year. We offered all the units during the year, and four of the units via live webinar for people to take at their computers in the comfort of their home or office. We provided 62 environmental workshops and Fundamentals units during the fiscal year, with 1,397 participants. Our workshop offerings, in addition to those at Annual Environmental Conference and the Fundamentals units, included: Wetland Plant Identification; Basic Wetland Identification and Delineation; Basics of Wetland Hydrology and Soils; Basic Wetland Delineation: Soils; Basic Wetland Delineation: Vegetation; Advance Wetland Delineation: Vegetation; Advance Wetland Delineation: Soils; Hydric Soils - Field Identification, Documentation, and Delineation; Fern Identification and Ecology for Conservationists; Winter Botany; Wetland Shrubs in Winter; Wetland Shrubs of Ponemah Bog; Fire on the New England Landscape; and Introduction to Prescribed Fire. We completed a significant update to Protecting Wetlands and Open Space: MACC s Environmental Handbook for Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners, incorporating the changes made to the Wetlands Protection Act regulations in October 2014, the new Army Corps of Engineers Programmatic General Permit for Massachusetts, new court decisions, and making some other amendments to the text. A great advantage to using an online e-book format is that each update is immediately available to subscribers at no additional cost to them. The Environmental Handbook remains the indispensable resource for those serving on, working with, and appearing before conservation commissions. A majority of our answers to MACC Helpline questions include a reference to the Environmental Handbook. We market the Environmental Handbook regularly, continued to provide a free one-year subscription to each Fundamentals graduate, and now also provide a free one-month trial subscription to each new conservation commissioner. There continues to be good demand for the Massachusetts Runoff, Erosion & Sediment Control Field Guide, which we wrote for field use by conservation commissioners and agents, staff of public works and planning departments, and consultants. Soils that wash off construction sites and into streams, lakes, and wetlands cause major water quality problems. The Field Guide provides information on commonly used best technologies and practices to control erosion and sediment and helps the reader ask the right questions of design and implementation professionals. The strategies recommended in the Field Guide help minimize soil disturbance and erosive potential, stabilize soil, and keep sediment onsite. The Field Guide is the recommended text for the Fundamentals unit, Effective Erosion & Sediment Control. ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE 2016 We held the 45th MACC Annual Environmental Conference on March 5, 2016, at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Nearly 750 people participated. They were able to choose from among twenty-four workshops on legal, regulatory, scientific, and technical issues in administering the state Wetlands Protection Act and stewarding open space, four units of Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners, more than forty exhibits to visit, and many opportunities for networking. Based on feedback from previous conferences, we altered the workshops timing from 75 minutes to 90 minutes to allow extra time for in-depth discussion and questions and answers. The change was very well received. Martin Suuberg, the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, gave an informative and interesting keynote address, discussing the important role of conservation commissions in Massachusetts and his agency s goals for wetlands protection. The conference continues to be the largest of its kind in New England and the premier conference for those working for wetlands and open space protection in Massachusetts. FALL CONFERENCE 2015 Fall Conference, on October 17, 2015, at Devens Common Center, with the title of Wetlands Replication and Restoration: Let s Get it Right, had 125 participants. The authors of a soonto-be-released report on wetlands replication in Massachusetts presented information and insights from their report about the 22

25 large number of wetland replication projects in Massachusetts that fail and reasons for the failures. The participants also heard from experts on what can be done to increase the success rate of wetland replication projects, with discussions of siting, design, permitting, implementation, and monitoring. They heard about national issues for wetland replication. Speakers also introduced and discussed the concepts of ecological restoration. The conference wrap-up was an expert panel answering questions from the conference participants and posing some of their own questions to the group. The conference received high marks from participants. ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS One of our legislative goals has been a law to allow conservation commission orders to be enforced by the same court in the same proceeding in which it might assess civil fines for violations of those orders. We succeeded in having a bill introduced in the legislative session to accomplish that goal, and testified and advocated for the bill. As in previous legislative sessions, the bill was reported favorably out of committee but unfortunately languished in later committees and did come to a vote by the full legislature. The bill did not have a strong internal advocate within the legislature. We saw a similar fate for the Public Lands Preservation Act, which remained in committee, but with conversations that left us optimistic about it for the next legislative session. We testified and filed written comments against a number of bills that would weaken the state Wetlands Protection Act and others that would make it more difficult for cities and towns to enact local wetland ordinances/bylaws. None of those bills were enacted into law. As the fiscal year ended we were monitoring and submitted comments opposing a provision in Governor Baker s economic development bill that would override municipal environmental and health rules in starter home zoning districts. We joined with other environmental groups in monitoring the actions of the environmental agencies in implementing Governor Baker s Executive Order 562 (E.O. 562) requiring state agencies to review all their regulations and withdraw or modify regulations that do not meet the standards set forth in the Executive Order. We attended and spoke at agency listening sessions about the potential impact of the Executive Order on wetlands and open space protections. We participated in the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) E.O. 562 Advisory Committee. We also joined other organizations in a letter to Governor Baker expressing our concerns about the staff reductions at the environmental agencies. MassDEP had no additional meetings of its Advisory Committee on Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage (LSCSF), on which we participated. DEP failed to propose LSCSF regulations. We have been a strong advocate for LSCSF regulations that set performance standards and take into account projected sea level rise. We also advocated for MassDEP to replace the outdated TP-40 rainfall data with the new NOAA Atlas 14 data, to release the report on wetlands replication, to replace the wetlands plant indicator list with the current federal list, and for other actions needed for wetlands protection. MassDEP assured us that many of those items will get done. SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS HIGHLIGHTS We answered 94 MACC Helpline questions from conservation commissioners asking for advice and guidance on difficult questions they or their commissions were facing. We continued to operate our online MACC Web Forum, where members ask questions, get answers, share knowledge and experience, and are part of the conservation conversation. We listed and offered books that are relevant to wetlands and open space issues. We wrote and distributed our MACC Quarterly e-magazine via to our members. Each issue contained substantive news, information, and announcements. We ed our emaccs twice a month, containing news of upcoming trainings and workshops, updates on legislation and regulations, and information about other programs of interest. One emacc each month focused on education and the other on advocacy. Our website remains a portal to resource materials on wetlands and open space, training opportunities, advocacy, job announcements, and MACC publications. We made progress with our project to redesign and improve our website with a goal of launching the new website in the next fiscal year. We continued supporting conservation commissions that raised concerns and asked questions about Kinder Morgan s proposed Tennessee Gas Pipeline Northeast Energy Direct natural gas pipeline that would cross conservation lands, wetlands, and other ecologically sensitive areas in Massachusetts. At Annual Environmental Conference 2016, we held a workshop about interstate gas pipeline construction, operation, and regulation. We ed pipeline updates and recommendations to our pipelines list. We wrote to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the state Energy Facilities Siting Board with recommendations for the scope of the environmental review of the project. We wrote to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities concerning Kinder Morgan s petition for an order allowing it to survey on privately-held lands, explaining that the proposed surveys would not be exempt from Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act requirements, suggesting conditions needed for wetlands protection, and explaining why a survey order would be premature. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE AWARDS At Annual Environmental Conference 2016 we presented MACC Environmental Service Awards to Donald D. Cooper of Andover for Conservation Commissioner of the Year; Mike O Reilly of Dartmouth for Conservation Administrator of the Year; and William Keohan of Plymouth for Outstanding Achievements in Open Space Stewardship. Conservation commissioners and agents as well as others perform important and noteworthy work protecting wetlands, open space, and biological diversity, and we are happy each year to be able to highlight that work and bestow awards on very deserving people. BOARD AND STAFF At the March 2016 Annual Business Meeting, membership 23

26 elected board officers and directors. Newly elected officers were Jennifer Carlino (President); Mike Howard (First Vice President); John Goldrosen (Treasurer); and Cynthia O Connell (Secretary). They joined Scott Jackson (Vice President Advocacy) and Amy Ball (Vice President Education) as officers, and replaced Kathleen (Kate) Connolly, Janice Stone, and Margaret Carroll, who completed the maximum three terms as President, Secretary, and Treasurer, respectively, and E. Heidi Ricci, who stepped down as First Vice President. Kate, Janice, and Heidi were elected to the board as directors. Lee Curtis, Pamela Harvey, and Nick Nelson were elected as new directors. Margaret Carroll departed from the board, as did Amy Green. We thank the former officers and directors for their dedication and service to MACC and to our work. Board Officers and Directors at the conclusion of the March 5, 2016, Annual Business Meeting were: Officers: President: Jennifer Carlino First Vice President: Michael Howard Vice President for Education: Amy Ball Vice President for Advocacy: Scott Jackson Treasurer: John Goldrosen Secretary: Cynthia O Connell Directors: Marc Bergeron Kathleen (Kate) Connolly Lee Curtis Richard Drury Brandon Faneuf Pamela Harvey Michael Howard Rebekah Lacey Gregor McGregor Nick Nelson E. Heidi Ricci Matt Schweisberg Jennifer Steel Margaret Stolfa Staff were: Eugene B. Benson, Executive Director Candace Domos, Finance & Operations Manager Michele Girard, Associate Director & Education Coordinator Lindsay Martucci, Office Manager, Newsletter Editor & Membership Coordinator Staff were ably assisted by Special Projects Intern Joey Wigglesworth and interns Dana Vesty and Chelsea Polevy. FINANCES MACC revenues slightly exceeded expenses, with an increase in net assets of $39,741 from the previous fiscal year. We balanced the budget by our keeping costs low and through fundraising. Some revenues we received in FY 16 were for expenses in the next fiscal year. We are most appreciative of the many conservation commissions that timely pay their annual dues, corporate and individual dues-paying MACC members, our donors, and the many organizations that sponsor MACC events, advertise in MACC publications, and exhibit at MACC conferences. MACC would not exist without them. We created a special membership category for environmental non-profits and began seeking members for that category. FY 2016 INCOME Grants and Contributions $128,309 Membership Dues $156,343 Educational Programs $140,408 Total Revenue $425,060 Educational Programs 33% FY 2016 Income Membership Dues 37% Grants and Contributions 30% Grants and Contributions Membership Dues Educational Programs FY 2016 EXPENSES Educational Programs $170,396 Membership Services $166,415 General Administrative $42,051 Fundraising $7,534 Total Expenses $386,396 General and Administrative 11% FY 2016 Expenses Fundraising 2% Educational Programs 44% Membership Services (incl. Advocacy) 43% Educational Programs Membership Services (incl. Advocacy) General and Administrative Fundraising 24

27 MACC CONSERVATION COMMISSION TRAINING AND SUPPORT AT A GLANCE FISCAL YEAR PARTICIPANTS ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE MARCH 5, PARTICIPANTS FALL CONFERENCE OCTOBER 17, ,397 PARTICIPANTS ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOPS 613 PARTICIPANTS FUNDAMENTALS FOR CONSERVATION COMMISSIONERS TRAINING UNITS 22 NEW GRADUATES FUNDAMENTALS FOR CONSERVATION COMMISSIONERS TRAINING 62 ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOPS AND FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING UNITS HELD 4 MACC QUARTERLIES AND 26 E-MACCS PUBLISHED 94 HELPLINE QUESTIONS ANSWERED 25

28 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE 2017 EXHIBITORS Partial List Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Antioch University New England Beals and Thomas, Inc. Design Consultants, Inc. EJ Prescott, Inc. ELM Action Fund Eversource Energy Filtrexx Northeast Systems Porous Pave / Fourth Generation Nursery Groundscapes Express, Inc. Hancock Associates Horsley Witten Group, Inc. Hydro International Land Stewardship, Inc. LEC Environmental Consultants MA Department of Agricultural Resources MA Department of Conservation & Recreation - Service Forestry Program MA Division of Ecological Restoration MA Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Mass Audubon MassDEP Wetlands and Waterways Program Native Habitat Restoration New England Environmental/SWCA New England Wetland Plants, Inc. Oldcastle Precast Stormwater Pavers by Ideal Rinker Materials - Stormceptor SOLitude Lake Management Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. The Conway School Tighe & Bond, Inc. Toyota of Auburn USDA - APHIS Vernal Pool Association Woods Hole Sea Grant 26

29 Thank You to our many supporters and members during Fiscal Year 2016 Your contributions make a difference Louise Ahearn Robert Ain Marlene Alderman Monique Allen Geoffrey Andrews Neil Angus Jorge Ayub Margaret Bacon Eline Bakker Amy Ball Sue Barber Kathleen Baskin Sue & Henry Bass Mark Beaudry Jean Bednor Eugene Benson Marc Bergeron Helen Bethell Liam Bevan Ryan Bianchetto John Bolduc John Bologna Bernice Bowler Noelle Bramer Jonathan Bransfield Henry Brennan Adam Brodsky J. Thomas Brownrigg Lois Bruinooge Kimberly Burlingame Patrick Burns Lee Burwell Mike Callahan Daniel Campbell Richard Canavan Daniel Cannata Jennifer Carlino Jeff Carlson Susan Carter Robin Casioppo Shi Chen Michael Clark Marie Clarner Richard Claytor Jane Coe Steven Cognac Charlotte Cogswell Larry Cohen Russell Cohen Neil Cohen Kate Connolly Miles Connors Christie Coon Anthony Costello Pat Cote Clary Coutu David Cowell Roy Cramer, Esq. Lloyd Crawford Robert DeFabrizio Antonio DeFrias Diane DePaso Michael DeRosa Carl Dierker Joanne Dodd Kitty Doherty James Dombrowski Kimberly Drake Richard Drury Christine Dugan Lisa Eggleston Judith Eiseman Marie Elwyn Thomas Ennis Steve Eriksen Edward Estella Brandon Faneuf Gail Feldman Mary (Sissy) ffolliott Robert Fitzpatrick, Jr. Henry Flint James Fowler Charles Gardiner Catherine Garnett Carl Gehring Phil Gilfeather-Girton Michèle Girard Scott Goddard John Goldrosen Brian Grady Bridget Graziano Amy Green Allan Greenberg Mary Griffin Michele Grzenda Candice Guertin John Gurney Peter Haack James Hall Jim Hankin William Harman Cally Harper Pamela Harvey Joyce Hastings Ingeborg Hegemann Pam Helinek Maureen Herald Peter Hingorani Arthur Hodges Meredith Houghton Michael Howard Thomas Hughes Robert Hyams Leo Immonen Edward Irvin The Island Foundation Scott Jackson Marc Jacobs Lydia Kachadoorian Julian Kadish William Katz Wayne Keefner Sarah Kelley Brenda Kelly Carolyn Kiely Richard Knoener Glenn Krevosky Kevin Kroeger Steven Kulik Rebekah Lacey Michael Lach David Lager Jack Landers-Cauley Lealdon Langley Miriam Lasher Arthur Lawrence Edward Lawson Joel Lerner Jean Lidstone Matt Liebman Nancy Lin Patricia Loring Russell Lovaas Christopher Lucas Sue MacVeety Thomas Maguire Eleanor Manire-Gatti William Manuell Mickey Marcus Rebecca Markey Joshua Massey Laura Mattei Christine McCall Carole McCauley Gregor McGregor John McNamara Deirdre Menoyo Jill Messick Julie Meyer Tom Miner David Mitchell Martha Moore Holly Morris Danielle Mucciarone Dan Mulloy William Murray Jeffrey Nangle Nicholas Nelson Alyssa Noyes Jim O Connell Cynthia O Connell Aisling O Shea Joseph Orzel Stacy Parsons Gordon Peabody Donald Pearson David Pickart Ann Marie Pilch Markus Pinney Christine Potts Katrina Proctor Ken Pruitt Tim Purinton Alysha Putnam Robert Quinn Scott Rabideau Robert Rand Ken Redinger Lisa Rhodes E. Heidi Ricci Adam Riquier Jeffrey Roelofs Cori Rose Beth Rosenblum Eric Runstrom Jenny Russell Jennifer Ryan Barbara Saint Andrè Kristen Saint Don-Campbell Betty Salzberg Leah Santone Stephen Scannell Ginny Scarlet Matt Schweisberg Lindsay Scott Jane Sears Pierce Alice Smith Lana Spillman David Standley Donald Steckler Jennifer Steel Nathaniel Stevens Margaret Stolfa Janice Stone Holly Stover James Sullivan Paul Sullivan Bruce Tripp Richard Vacca Louisa Varnum Peter Von Mertens Thomas Walker Alan Weinberg Kenneth Whittaker Donna Wiley Seth Wilkinson Sylvia Willard Amy Wilson Henry Woolsey Sally Zielinski 27

30 MACC is grateful for our corporate members BSC Group, Inc. Coneco Engineers & Scientists, Inc Cultec, Inc. Ecosystem Solutions, Inc. EcoTec, Inc. Epsilon Associates, Inc. Foresight Land Services Groundscapes Express, Inc. Guerriere & Halnon, Inc. Horsley Witten Group, Inc. LEC Environmental Consultants, Inc. Massachusetts Environmental Trust McGregor & Legere, P.C. Mill River Consulting New England Environmental/SWCA New England Wetland Plants, Inc. Nitsch Engineering Northern Construction LLC Nover-Armstrong Associates, Inc. Oxbow Associates, Inc. Pavers by Ideal Rinker Materials - Stormceptor Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. SumCo Eco-Contracting, Inc. GET LICENSED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT OVER $20,000,000 MILLION IN GRANTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS IN MASSACHUSETTS SINCE THAT S A LOT OF GREEN. For less than $2 a month you can purchase an environmental license plate from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Your donation will support the protection and restoration of rivers, streams, marine and saltwater ecosystems across the Commonwealth. To purchase a plate visit your local Registry of Motor Vehicles or visit or For more information call

31 Annual Environmental Conference 2017 POSTER PRESENTATIONS P1. Climate Change Adaptation Tools for Conservation Commissions in Inland Communities - with or without a Wetlands Bylaw - Camila Connolly & Chaz Kelsh; Harvard Law School / Aladdine Joroff Conservation commissions can play an important role in protecting and promoting the value and function of wetlands in the context of climate change. We are developing tools for conservation commissions in smaller, inland towns to assess local vulnerabilities to climate change impacts and to integrate adaptation planning into wetlands permitting decisions. P2. Using Indices of Biological Integrity to Evaluate the Efficacy of Floristic Quality Assessment for Wetlands in Massachusetts - Carolyn Gorss; UMass-Amherst / Scott Jackson Vegetation is commonly used as an indicator of environmental condition in wetland communities. The Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) utilizes vegetative Indexes of Biological Integrity and has been growing in popularity among many states. My research evaluates and identifies opportunities for improving FQA with particular focus on its application to New England wetlands. P3. Monks and Land Conservation in Masschusetts: Monitoring the St. Mary s Monastery Conservation Restriction - Eric Pasay, Sam de Garis, Rose Watts; Clark University / Dr. John Baker In 2010, the Town of Petersham purchased a conservation restriction (CR) on a 190-acre property. The state requires conservation restrictions to be monitored annually for management purposes. The 2016 monitoring report, produced by three Clark University students, highlights the characteristics of this CR and outlines our methods for successful monitoring. Our findings will culminate into a series of suggestions specific for future monitoring of this property as well as for other CRs. We will also present monitoring challenges and tools needed to improve monitoring efforts. P4. Conservation Restrictions as a Tool for Wetland and Watercourse Preservation Case Study: King Farm, Petersham, MA - Sophia Graybill; Clark University / Dr. John Baker Conservation restrictions (CRs) are considered a useful tool for preserving the natural state of land in perpetuity. Literature suggests that the outcomes of CRs are usually positive. This study investigates how CRs positively affect the ecology of individual properties. Our findings indicate that CRs are not only a useful tool for preserving watercourses supplying the Boston area, but could be an important tool for monitoring climate change impacts on wetlands and watercourses. P5. The Effects of Paradise Pond Sediment Management on Freshwater Wetlands Sarita Quimpo-Chiu; Smith College / Dr. Marney Pratt Budget constraints prompted studies to assess less expensive alternatives to the regular dredging of Smith College s Paradise Pond along the Mill River in Northhampton. One alternative is the simple opening of the pond s sluice gates during high flow events to allow natural currents to carry sediment downstream. This project assesses how river organisms (mussels in particular) are affected by this technique using the Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design method. P6. The Mill River Monitoring Project - Maya Hayden; Smith College / Dr. Marney Pratt The Mill River deposits sediment that builds up over time in Paradise Pond, which needs to be dredged every 8-10 years. The pond was drawn down, and sediment was pushed into the fast moving water in the belief that the stream would move the sediment downstream. After comparing pre-event summer sampling data with post-impact fall data, the distribution of sediment showed reduced algal growth as well as reduced organism diversity at the downstream sites. P7. Wetlands and Streams: Monitoring and Assessment Tools in Petersham Jimmy Keough & Lauren Ducat; Clark University / Dr. John Baker The conservation of land regions that maintain aquatic features, such as rivers and wetlands, should be considered of the utmost importance in light of progressing climate change. Human related activities, including forestry and land development, threaten the well being of ecosystems that preserve the quality and abundance of life s most importance elixir water. Conservation easements have proven to be an effective method for ensuring long-term protection for these aquatic regions. We show how an effort to preserve a small area of land can have a much larger environmental and social impact. P8. Small-Scale Land Conservation Balancing Large-Scale Hydrological Challenges and Human Needs Gia Coleman, Sarah Maloney, Jessica McDermott; Clark University / Dr. John Baker Small-scale land conservation is an integral tool for preserving ecosystems and their hydrological services on a larger scale, as well as understanding and assessing adaptations to climate change. This project displays in detail how a selected conservation restriction protects water resources and the property s role in large-scale protection of the Quabbin Reservoir watershed within the greater Chicopee River watershed. 29

32 About our Keynote Speaker: Richard Primack Henry David Thoreau was a climate change scientist! For the past 15 years, Professor Richard Primack (Boston U.) and his team have been using Thoreau s records from the 1850s and other data sources to document the earlier flowering and leafing out times of plants and the more variable response of migratory birds. Most noteworthy, plants in Concord are also changing in abundance due to a warming climate. This work is now being extended to the neglected autumn season. What would Thoreau tell us to do about global warming if he were alive today? Richard Primack is the author of two widely used textbooks in conservation biology; local co-authors have helped to produce 34 translations of these books with local examples. For nine years, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Biological Conservation. Primack is the author and editor of books about tropical rainforests and has recently written a popular book about his work: Walden Warming: Climate Change Comes to Thoreau s Woods. ONE FIRM STATEWIDE BEALS+THOMAS We are where our clients are. Consultants supporting the sustainable development & conservation of New England s natural resources Boston, Hyannis, Lenox, Northampton, Worcester Civil EnginEErs landscape architects land surveyors planners EnvironmEntal specialists Southborough & Plymouth, MA 30

33 RAFFLE ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE 2017 WIN A DJI - PHANTOM 3 STANDARD QUADCOPTER! Take to the skies with a DJI Phantom 3 Standard CP.PT quadcopter. It features an integrated camera with gimbal stabilization to deliver smooth videos and clear photos. A CMOS image sensor captures 2.7K HD video and 12.0MP images. Original MSRP $799. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 Purchase raffle tickets at the publications table All Proceeds Benefit MACC Programs and Services Quadcopter Features Intelligent flight system. Automatically keeps the quadcopter in the air, while ensuring you stay in control. Integrated camera with CMOS image sensor and gimbal stabilization. Features auto and manual focus for high-quality 2.7K HD video and 12.0MP photos that capture cool aerial perspectives. View a live video feed on your compatible mobile device. 16GB of internal memory allow you to save plenty of footage, and with the live feed you don't miss a thing. Included microsd card. Offers plenty of space for photos and videos. Motion sensor for enhanced functionality. Intelligent Flight battery. Reminds you when the power is running low, so you have time to land the device. Fly responsibly. Register with the FAA at as required for operators of unmanned aircraft weighing more than 0.55 pounds at takeoff. 31

34 Purchase Today at the Publications Table! - Completely revised and expanded in Updated in 2015 and Incorporates the October 2014 wetlands regulations amendments - The most indispensable resource for those serving on, working with, or appearing before Massachusetts conservation commissions Online and interactive Use on any internet-connected computer or tablet Available 24/7 Key Features: Always have the latest update -- revisions pushed through immediately at no cost to subscribers Legal, policy, scientific, and technical information and guidance 22 Chapters, 8 Special Topic Sections Word Search Pop-up Glossary of Terms Keep electronic notes on pages Internal and external hyperlinks MACC member subscription price of only $15/year Purchase online at 32

35 Thank you to the Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners. VHB is committed to supporting MACC s efforts to protect the Commonwealth s wetlands. Engineers Scientists Planners Designers 33

36