Annual Environmental Conference

Transcription

1 Annual Environmental Conference March 5, 2016 College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Protecting Massachusetts natural resources by supporting conservation commissions through education and advocacy Conference Platinum Sponsor

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3 Annual Environmental Conference March 5, 2016 College of the Holy Cross, Worcester Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions 1

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5 Program Book Contents Conference Agenda... 5 Outgoing President s Message Executive Director s Message... 8 MACC Officer, Director and Nominating Committee Election MACC Annual Business Meeting 2015 Draft Minutes...12 Raffle - Win a MalibuKayaks Sierra 10 Kayak...13 Environmental Service Awards Annual Environmental Conference Exhibitors...17 Annual Environmental Conference Workshops Descriptions About our Keynote Speaker: Martin Suuberg...24 Now Available for Conservation Commissions...25 MACC is Grateful for our Corporate Members...26 Thank You EarthShare Donors...26 Thank You MACC Supporters and Members...27 MACC Annual Report Essential Resources for Conservation Commissions...32 Cover photos by Joey Wigglesworth and Lindsay Martucci Thank you to our Conference Sponsors PLATINUM SPONSOR Eversource Energy Silver Sponsor National Grid Bronze Sponsors Beals & Thomas Cultec Epsilon Associates Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani LEC Environmental Consultants McGregor & Legere New England Environmental VHB Wilkinson Ecological Design President s Reception Sponsor Keolis Commuter Services Fundamentals Sponsors BSC Group EcoTec Lucas Environmental Conference Supporter Ecosystem Solutions 3

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7 Annual Environmental Conference 2016 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 February 2015 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 Kathleen (Kate) Connolly, President Kate Connolly Margaret Carroll, Treasurer Scott Jackson, Chair of the Nominating Committee Kate Connolly Kate Connolly, Chair of the Awards Committee Eugene B. Benson, Executive Director Martin Suuberg, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 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 104 and :15 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 201 and 205 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 3:15 p.m. Exhibit Hall closes 4:30 p.m. Book Sales and Raffle ticket sales close 5:30 p.m. Conference closes 5

8 Outgoing President s Message Kathleen (Kate) Connolly Welcome to MACC s 2016 Annual Environmental Conference! We have a wide range of geographic areas of the Commonwealth represented in this year s registrants as well as a high number of vendors. I thank you all for coming and thank our many sponsors as well. As I finish my third term as MACC President I am honored and pleased to think back on all of MACC s accomplishments on behalf of conservation, conservation commissions and professionals, open space stewardship and wetlands protection, among others. In summary, MACC can count many successes from our focused efforts in 2015 in our mission areas of advocacy and education. We saw good results in the form of court decisions on cases of environmental importance in which we had participated, as well as in some proposed new regulations in areas where we have raised concerns with state agencies. We have been actively involved in commenting on proposed state and federal regulatory changes with far-reaching environmental impacts. We also faced some brand new issues from specifically proposed developments such as the Tennessee Gas Pipeline expansion and proposals to install solar arrays in wetlands, in addition to the continuing work on general issues like climate change science and responses. Within our organization, we reviewed our Fundamentals training units to determine topics to add or modify and to otherwise stay current to best assist our members. We have witnessed an increasing use of our dynamic, interactive Handbook. More specifically, in the legal realm, the courts issued decisions in two cases in which MACC had filed friend of the court briefs. First, in 2014 the highest state court in Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC), issued a decision upholding the state s priority habitat regulations with respect to how they allow the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) to designate priority habitat without affording landowners the procedural protections statutorily due to those owning property given the other designation of significant habitat areas under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). As reported in our 2014 Spring Quarterly, the case of Pepin v. DFW arose from the fact that the significant habitat protection program established by the legislature differs from the priority habitat protection program established by DFW by regulation. The Pepins argued that DFW went beyond the law s intent when it created the additional regulatory category of priority habitat. The SJC found in favor of DFW and upheld an earlier, lower court ruling that MESA authorized DFW to review projects in a priority habitat and to limit or require mitigation for impacts that may threaten species survival by causing what is known as a take under the statute. The SJC supported arguments made by MACC in our brief. Later in 2014, the SJC resolved any ambiguity surrounding whether conservation of forests and open space is a charitable activity that benefits the public and whether non-profit organizations formed to preserve land in its natural state are entitled to property tax exemptions for those protected parcels. In New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) v. Town of Hawley, the SJC held that NEFF s land in the town of Hawley qualifies for a property tax exemption under a statute that provides that real estate owned by a charitable organization and occupied by it or its officers for the purposes for which it is organized is exempt from taxation. The decision accepted arguments made by MACC that conservation commissions and land trusts operate as public and private counterparts on local land conservation and are dependent upon property exemptions to protect and conserve natural open space throughout the Commonwealth. MACC was honored to be participants in these cases and views the SJC s decisions as great successes for environmental protection and land conservation. In the regulatory arena, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has been busy overhauling its regulations, and MACC has been busy keeping watch over the proposed changes closely and providing comments. MACC has weighed in with comments at every phase of the public comments periods and in work groups with MassDEP. We continue 6

9 to consult the MassDEP website for the promulgation dates for new regulatory changes. There are also many bills pending in the Legislature that could have implications for wetlands and conservation land and we have actively monitored, provided comments in support or opposition, and in some cases sponsored legislation. Some of the more interesting and novel bills we have been monitoring and working on: H.150 An Act relative to the disclosure of wetlands on property (this relates to real estate transactions where a potential purchaser would be informed in writing of any wetland on the property and if an NOI would be required to do any work within 100 feet of the wetland); H.664 An Act relative to local on-site sewage disposal systems (would prohibit boards of health from adopting local septic system requirements more stringent than state requirements without DEP approval); H.665 An Act providing for more efficient wetlands (again impacting municipal home rule powers by prohibiting adoption of local wetlands bylaws/ordinances unless, among other requirements, they are approved by DEP); S.702 An Act relating to 40B projects built near wetlands (bill would extend local wetland bylaws/ordinances to 40B projects, although MACC believes that it is currently unartfully worded); S.881 An Act allowing local wetlands bylaw decisions to be appealed to land court (MACC has opposed this bill and we testified against it); H.1864 An Act relative to the effective enforcement of municipal ordinances and bylaws (MACC wrote and sponsored this bill); and H.2587 An act to Sustain Community Preservation Revenue and S.1459 An Act to Sustain Community Preservation Revenue (with some limitations, these would provide for a minimum 50% CPA Trust Fund distribution for all CPA communities, based on filing surcharges). MACC is one of the sponsoring organizations of these identical bills which are led by the Community Preservation Coalition; and S. 122 An Act Promoting the Planning and Development of Sustainable Communities (this is one of several proposed overhauls of the state Zoning Act that have been met with both passionate opposition and zealous support. MACC has been a supporter of the principle of zoning reform and has weighed in on portions of the bill impacting municipalities, particularly conservation commissions and other land use boards. There are many facets to this bill, but one that MACC is particularly interested in is the proposed bill s provision for development impact fees - mandatory payments from developers to towns to mitigate development impacts.) MACC has also weighed in on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal, released jointly with the United States Army Corps of Engineers ( Corps ) to issue a clarification of the definitions of waters of the United States and navigable waters which some viewed as potentially expanding federal jurisdiction over these wetlands and waterways. MACC also provided comments to the Corps on its proposal to replace the six New England states General Permits (GPs) with a consolidated regional New England General Permit (NE GP) with the Corps stated goal of being more efficient and streamlined permit review within the New England states while continuing to maintain a high level of environmental protection. MACC provided comments that focused on Massachusetts and the potential effects the proposed NE GP might have on the Corps ability to regulate and protect waters of the U.S., including wetlands. At MACC s request, the Corps also hosted a webinar for conservation commissioners and environmental organizations and other non-profits to learn and have an opportunity to ask questions about the proposed NE GP. Soon after learning of Kinder Morgan s Tennessee Gas Pipeline Northeast Energy Direct pipeline proposal, MACC was one of many organizations that signed a June 24, 2014, letter calling on the six New England governors to prioritize their energy resources to protect the environment, expressing concern that the pipeline would cross over 250 miles of Massachusetts land, including wetlands and open space. Based on that letter and requests from MACC and other groups, the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs invited MACC, land trusts, and other groups to a meeting with Kinder Morgan to discuss the proposed pipeline. MACC and many others participated in that meeting. MACC then met with conservation commissions along the proposed pipeline route to discuss the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) process for reviewing interstate pipeline proposals, and to discuss the role of conservation commissions under the Wetlands Protection Act and as stewards of open space in their communities, were FERC to approve the pipeline. We continue to monitor the process and filed comments with FERC and other agencies and intervened in the FERC review. As noted above, we were very excited when MACC s online edition of its Handbook, Protecting Wetlands and Open Space: MACC s Environmental Handbook for Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners came out in It has been more and more widely used as commissioners, agents and consultants now rely on its interactive tools. For more information on how to order and use the resource, go to org/ehandbook.html. As we head into the new MACC year, we are finishing our 5-year Strategic Plan and as always welcome input from our members on what you need and want from MACC. If you have ideas, please give me or another MACC Director or our Executive Director Eugene Benson a call. Meanwhile, I hope you all enjoy the Annual Environmental Conference and have fun reconnecting with old friends and colleagues! Kate Connolly is MACC s outgoing President and a Principal with Louison, Costello, Condon and Pfaff LLP, where she practices land use and environmental law and general municipal law. She can be reached at

10 Executive Director s Message Eugene B. Benson Welcome to MACC s Annual Environmental Conference 2016! We are delighted you are here and hope you will have a wonderful day. MACC s Board and staff, along with many 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 to help protect wetlands and open space. 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 essentials for conservation commissions as well as other offerings sure to please anyone interested in the natural world. And please take a chance on a raffle to win a terrific kayak or the second prize of a free one day canoe, kayak, or paddleboard rental. 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 three awardees this year, Don Cooper, Bill Keohan, and Mike O Reilly, have done amazing work for which they are well known and appreciated locally. We are happy to celebrate their dedication and successes and raise the visibility of their work to the state-wide conservation community. My thanks to our Awards Committee, chaired by Kate Connolly, and including Brandon Faneuf, Gregor McGregor, E. Heidi Ricci, and Janice Stone, for their wise choices for awardees. We are delighted MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg will give the Conference Keynote Address. Commissioner Suuberg has a long list of accomplishments and much experience in DEP and Energy & Environmental Affairs. Now in his second year as commissioner, he is leading DEP as it responds to state budget cuts and staff reductions, reviews all its regulations under Executive Order 562, and continues to administer its many environmental programs. We look forward to hearing Commissioner Suuberg discuss DEP s plans and priorities and what we should expect of the agency. Our 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. Perhaps the biggest change you will see this year is a new conference schedule with 90-minute workshops, made in response to comments that 75-minute workshops did not allow adequate time for topics. Let us know what you think of the change. What remains essential are workshops on the latest science, technologies, laws, regulations, policies, thinking, and hot topics in wetlands and open space protection, and the opportunity to meet with and hear from experts and practitioners. 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. The conference evaluations this year are all digital. You will receive an from us with a link to the online evaluation form. Please take a few minutes to complete the evaluation and give us your input on this year s conference. It will be read and inform next year s conference. There are many people to thank for making the conference a success. MACC s Annual Environmental Conference Committee 2016 is comprised of Committee Co-chairs Amy Ball and Matt Schweisberg; MACC Associate Director & Education Coordinator Michele Girard; MACC Officers Kate Connolly, E. Heidi Ricci, and Margaret Carroll; MACC Board members Rebekah Lacey, Gregor McGregor, and Cynthia O Connell; former MACC Board member Sally Zielinski; and Allan Greenberg. Once again, MACC Office Manager/ Newsletter Editor/ Membership Coordinator Lindsay Martucci, MACC Graduate Student Intern Joey Wigglesworth, and MACC Finance and Operations Director Candace Domos were 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 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 community and the natural world make this conference shine every year. As I write this in early February (with no snow on the ground!), we are focused on making this 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. Your evaluation of the conference gives us the feedback we need for next year s conference. Enjoy! 8

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12 Annual Business Meeting - March 5, 2016 MACC OFFICER, DIRECTOR, AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE ELECTION The 2015 Nominating Committee recommends the slates below to the membership: Officers serving until Annual Meeting 2017 President Jennifer Carlino First Vice President Michael Howard Vice President for Advocacy Scott Jackson Vice President for Education Amy Ball Secretary Cynthia O Connell Treasurer John Goldrosen Directors serving until Annual Meeting 2019 Kathleen (Kate) Connolly E. Heidi Ricci Janice Stone Matt Schweisberg Margaret (Peg) Stolfa Directors serving until Annual Meeting 2018 Lee Curtis* Nick Nelson* Director serving until Annual Meeting 2017 Pamela Harvey* Nominating Committee Non-Board Members serving until Annual Meeting 2017 Michele Grzenda Tim Purinton Kathy Sferra Seth Wilkinson *NEW NOMINEES TO THE BOARD Lee Curtis is a Senior Associate at BSC Group, Inc., an environmental consulting and engineering firm, based in Boston, MA, where she manages the Ecological Sciences and GIS services in the Worcester office. She has 12 years of professional experience in providing environmental consulting services; specializing in wetland delineation, assessment, mitigation, construction monitoring, ecological inventories, wildlife habitat assessment, vernal pool ecology, and regulatory analysis and permitting. She is a Certified Erosion, Sedimentation and Storm Water Inspector (CESSWI) through Envirocert International, Inc. Lee is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Masters in Wetlands Conservation. Lee has successfully completed and/or contributed to numerous local, state, and federal environmental permit applications for linear utility and energy generation projects, as well as private and public development and transportation projects in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. In 2014, she was a recipient of the Worcester Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award. Lee s involvement with construction and compliance inspections added to MACC s Erosion and Sediment Control Workshops, where she contributed to the development of the presentation materials and assisted in the presentation of the spring 2015 workshop. Lee was a member of the Town of Ayer Conservation Commission from and also served on the town Storm Water Committee. Pamela D. Harvey worked at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from , serving in a number of capacities including wetlands protection. In 2007, the DEP Commissioner designated her as a presiding officer to conduct adjudicatory hearings. Previously, she served as counsel to the commissioner, advising the commissioner on final decisions and senior staff on regulatory issues. Formerly, Pam was in DEP s Office of General Counsel, where she concentrated on regulatory and policy development. While serving as acting director of the wetlands and waterways program at DEP, she was responsible for drafting the regulations to implement the Rivers Protection Act. MACC awarded her an Environmental Service Award for that work. Pam also drafted regulations for the 401 Water Quality Certification program and revisions to the Wetlands Regulations for the delineation of bordering vegetated wetlands to add soils and hydrology. Pam also worked with many advisory committees of which MACC was a member. Pam has served on the Boston Bar Association s Environmental Law Section and wrote articles for and co-chaired courses for attorneys at Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. Pam graduated cum laude from Boston University School of Law and Hamilton College. Prior to law school, Pam served as administrator for the Belchertown Conservation Commission. She is in her third term as an Associate Member of the Brookline Conservation Commission. 10

13 Nick Nelson is a Fluvial Geomorphologist and regional director based in the Cambridge, MA, office of Inter-Fluve. Dam removal, cranberry bog wetland restoration, aquatic habitat restoration, and bank stabilization projects comprise much of his work in New England. Nick s work includes project management, geomorphic assessments, land-and-water-based topographic surveying, GIS, and construction management. Nick has worked closely with conservation commissions on many river and wetland restoration projects, from western Massachusetts to Martha s Vineyard. Of particular note is Nick s involvement in the design of the Tidmarsh Farms project in Plymouth, where he has been collaborating closely with the MA Division of Ecological Restoration, the owners, and numerous other project partners on the largest inland wetland restoration project ever conducted in Massachusetts. Nick earned an MS in Watershed Science from Utah State University. He was a presenter on fluvial geomorphology at the MACC Annual Environmental Conference from , lectured at the University of Minnesota since 2007, taught Environmental Planning at Northeastern University since 2014, and is currently teaching a water and ecology class at Harvard University s Graduate School of Design. Other Members of the Board of Directors (not up for election this year) Serving until Annual Meeting 2017 Richard Drury Brandon Faneuf Jennifer Steel Serving until Annual Meeting 2018 Marc Bergeron Rebekah Lacey Gregor McGregor Presented by the 2015 Nominating Committee: Board members Scott Jackson (chair), Jennifer Carlino, and Brandon Faneuf; and non-board members Michele Grzenda, Ingeborg Hegemann, Nathaniel Stevens, and Seth Wilkinson SERVICES TO CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS Gordon & Rees is proud to support the MACC Annual Environmental Conference 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. Please contact Michael Howard, PWS, CWS, Principal and Manager of Ecological Services, at (978) or mhoward@epsilonassociates.com. Margaret R. Stolfa, Partner Environmental Law MACC Board Member A national litigation and business transactions firm with more than 650 attorneys in 37 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. 3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 250 Maynard, Massachusetts 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 11

14 The meeting was called to order at 8:35 A.M. Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Annual Business Meeting February 28, 2015 DRAFT MINUTES Welcome: Kate Connolly, President, welcomed the attendees. The Annual Business meeting then commenced. Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to accept the Minutes of the March 1, 2014 Annual Business Meeting. The vote to accept the Minutes as drafted was unanimous. Financial Report: Treasurer Margaret Carroll referred the membership to the Financial Report in the AEC Program Book. She briefly summarized the report, which showed that revenue exceeded expenses in FY 2014, in part due to reduced staffing. Slightly more income came from Grants & Contributions, followed almost equally by income from Membership Dues and Educational Programs. 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: Gregor McGregor, 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 2016: Kathleen Connolly Esq.-President; E. Heidi Ricci- First Vice President; Amy Ball- Vice-President for Education; Scott Jackson- Vice President for Advocacy; Margaret Carroll- Treasurer; Janice Stone- Secretary. Directors (* New nominee): Serving until Annual Business Meeting 2017 John Goldrosen* Serving until Annual Business Meeting 2018 Jennifer Carlino, Gregor McGregor, Mark Bergeron*, Rebekah Lacey*, and Cynthia O Connell* Nominating Committee: Non-Board Members serving until Annual Business Meeting 2016: Michele Grzenda, Ingeborg Hegemann, Nathaniel Stevens, and Seth Wilkinson. The Business Meeting was adjourned. Environmental Service Awards: Brandon Faneuf, Chair of the Awards Committee, introduced the 2015 Environmental Service Award recipients, chosen for their long and outstanding service for natural resource protection. The Award Winners were William Frenette, Conservation Commissioner of the Year; Frank McKinnon, Conservation Administrator of the Year; Ingeborg E. Hegemann, Outstanding Achievement in Conservation; Kitty Doherty, Outstanding Local and Regional Service; MA Dept. of Fish & Game Commissioner Mary B. Griffin, Outstanding Agency Leadership; and the Division of Ecological Restoration in the MA Dept. of Fish & Game, for Outstanding Public Service. Dr. Sally Zielinski was awarded the Nancy Anderson Award, MACC s most prestigious award. Keynote Address: Executive Director Eugene Benson introduced Keynote Speaker Matthew A. Beaton, new Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Secretary Beaton told the group that he would be funding EOEEA efforts to conserve areas identified as high-priority open space, and developing strategies to protect against the negative effects of climate change. The Baker Administration will be pushing strong municipal partnerships with the state. He told the group he supports the DEP Circuit Rider program. EOEEA will be focusing on protection, restoration and sustaining of the environment, balancing growth and resource protection. A motion to adjourn was made and seconded. All voted in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 9:20 A.M. Respectfully submitted, Janice Stone, Secretary. 12

15 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE 2016 RAFFLE WIN A MALIBU KAYAKS SIERRA 10 KAYAK! Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 Purchase raffle tickets at the publications table *All proceeds benefit MACC programs and services* MalibuKayaks Sierra 10 Win this all season, sit-in kayak, the Sierra 10. Stay dry and warm in this traditional model designed to fit most universal spray skirts. MSRP $595. The kayak color will be sand. The Malibu Sierra 10 is great compact kayak ready for the paddler looking for a fishing experience or just cruising on local rivers, lakes, and ponds. At 31" wide with a V-shape hull, this boat offers a stable platform and good tracking and handling at a 10' length. With the addition of a nicely padded high back seat, one can paddle in comfort for hours. If your goal is to fish, the Sierra 10 comes equipped with flush-mount rod holders, ample bungee cords for tie downs of equipment, and a rear storage well with a bait bucket platform. The Sierra is a tidy package that will allow the recreational paddler or fisherman get to the water with ease. Measurements: Length 10 feet; width 31 inches; depth inches; hull weight 45 pounds; maximum capacity 325 pounds. Seats 1. Material: polyethylene. MACC thanks Charles River Canoe & Kayak for the kayak Please see more about them at 13

16 Donald D. Cooper Donald Cooper was appointed to the Andover Conservation Commission in June 1985, within a few years became Vice-Chair, and has been Chair since 2001, a tenure of over 30 years on the Commission. As Chair he has built a professional and effective commission by ensuring people of various backgrounds and experience are appointed to the commission. He has increased the efficiency of commission hearings and meetings in several ways involving application review procedures and scheduling of hearings. In a busy town like Andover, that makes a big difference! A commissioner estimated that Don has been involved in more than 700 meetings and review of over 7,000 applications during this thirty plus years on the commission. Among Don s outstanding achievements is his work on the town wetlands bylaw and regulations. He participated in the writing and successful passage of the bylaw at Town Meeting in 1999 and was one of the authors of the implementing regulations in With the wetland bylaw in place, he created the Backyard Project Review Committee, which provides a local appeal process for applicants unsatisfied with the commission s ruling under the bylaw. Don has also been a leader in the protection of open space in Andover. He has been instrumental in spearheading land purchases, with almost 1,300 acres of open space protected during his 30 years on the commission. His fervor and excellent negotiating and speaking skills resulted in millions of dollars in funding from Town Meeting for land acquisition and protection. Andover now has over 2,000 acres of town conservation land. To manage that much land, Don worked with conservation staff to build the Land Management Group. There are now close to 100 volunteers that assist the commission on land projects. Don is an environmental attorney and licensed professional engineer. His excellence in environmental law has been recognized by his inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Litigation-Environmental since He is described by people he works with as effective, pragmatic, passionate but practical, creative and steadfast, collaborative and independent. As one of his colleagues at Nixon Peabody wrote Don is known for his ability to find creative solutions to environmental problems that are acceptable to all parties and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Don has walked, hiked, biked, kayaked, canoed or birded throughout much of Massachusetts and has a personal commitment to environmental conservation and a love for the diversity and beauty of the natural resources that make the Commonwealth unique.don s tenure in Andover is an extraordinary example of service to a conservation commission. Don has also shown his environmental dedication by serving on the Mass Audubon Board of Directors since For his numerous and exemplary accomplishments on the Andover Conservation Commission, MACC is pleased to honor Donald Cooper with the Environmental Service Award as Conservation Commissioner of the Year. 14

17 Mike O Reilly Mike O Reilly started as Conservation Agent for the Town of Dartmouth in Dartmouth, a town of 35,000 people, is fourth in land size among Massachusetts municipalities. During his 27 years in Dartmouth, Mike has helped lead Dartmouth to the forefront of environmental excellence. In a Town where there is much support for conservation, Mike took a leadership position in conservation in a way that few others have been able to duplicate. His presence at conservation commission meetings is like the ticking of a clock - an even, steady hand that his commission has relied upon from the mundane to the sublime. He has reviewed over 1,500 NOIs and half as many RDAs in a town that has every wetland Resource Area in the Wetlands Protection Act except Designated Port Area. In addition, the Town has a local wetlands delineation service available in local procedures, through which Mike has delineated hundreds of wetlands. Mike took an early interest in open space protection, which has led to some 2,500 acres of conservation commission land, a good portion of it coastal, rural, agricultural, and now perpetually coastal, rural, and agricultural land. Some of the land he spearheaded protecting is truly spectacular, looking out over Buzzards Bay. The partnerships Mike developed over the years with the local land trust and state and federal land protection organizations have resulted in the protection of nearly 18 square miles (27%) of the Town of Dartmouth. Mike s interests and intellect have taken him even further than that. Just helping to protect conservation land wasn t enough for Mike. Restoring wetlands was another task. He coordinated the restoration of wetlands (at least six significant salt marsh restorations and one fish passage project, among others) and initiated the grants to fund them (with $4.2 million in total grant awards to the town). To make things like that happen, a person has to know not just how to fill out the paperwork and where to send it, but also the people. Mike knows people. Ask him about a relevant conservation-related subject, and he ll not only tell you how to get started, but whom to call for more help on that particular topic. His restorations are of such high quality that numerous federal, state, and non-profit organizations have awarded him for his work. In 2005, NOAA awarded Mike the National Environmental Hero Award. It may seem like an afterthought, but during all of the above, Mike became a self-taught GIS expert to tie it all together. Even before they were available to all, Mike was using infrared remote sensing to map wetlands. Starting in 1990 he headed the Town s GIS implementation and has been the town s GIS coordinator for the past 12 years. He knows the technology inside and out, which can discourage many a potential land developer from cutting corners. His dedication has led him to travel to California for GIS conferences. This is the kind of skillset that should create admiration, if not envy, in the environmental community. When recently asked to consider a position as a Board Member with MACC, Mike replied that he was sorry but was too busy. Why? Because he was taking on the Chairmanship of the Buzzard s Bay Action Committee, using his grant-finding, GIS, and people skills to obtain, within months of his taking the position, a $200,000 grant to enable member towns and cities to get started on stormwater quality testing for the next phase of the expected EPA NPDES MS4 permit. Mike has always been ahead of the curve. But probably most important of all, he has always been there to help and share his knowledge with others. For these reasons and more MACC is pleased to honor Mike O Reilly with the 2016 MACC Environmental Service Award as Conservation Administrator of the Year. 15

18 William Keohan The Town of Plymouth s William Keohan has been selected as MACC s award winner for Outstanding Achievements in Open Space Stewardship for his many efforts preserving open space, wetlands and waterways and for finding ways to utilize his town s Community Preservation Fund to protect the environment. Bill has successfully shepherded 17 major environmental projects resulting in the protection of over 1,100 acres of farmland, conservation land, waterfront properties, ponds and lakes, forests and woodlands that are used for summer camps, environmental education centers, hiking trails, cranberry bogs and water sources and even prisoner rehabilitation (Plymouth County Farm). Bill was appointed chairman of the newly created Open Space Committee that was included in the town charter of 1995, marking the beginning of his generous contributions towards the betterment of the town of Plymouth. As chairman of the Open Space Committee he searched for ways to protect the environment by acquiring open space, as landowners large and small were being courted by developers. Having researched various ways to do this, he became an early proponent of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and helped lobby for its passage on Beacon Hill. After that success, he worked hard and spoke eloquently to convince Plymouth Town Meeting of its benefits and afterward campaigned to get the taxpayer s vote for its passage in the town election that followed. The CPA surcharge on residents real estate bills needed careful explanation to get citizen approval and Bill has made it his duty to educate the population of the financial benefits of leaving land undeveloped. Bill s understanding of the need for land and resource preservation took early root. After graduating college, travelling overseas, and working on Capitol Hill, he returned to Plymouth in the mid-1990 s at a time when the town was experiencing unrelenting and unrestrained growth, and the new commuter rail line to Boston exacerbated that. Bill foresaw this development boom and took action to preserve the environment and cultural history of the town he loves. Open space stewardship is his passion and avocation as well as his vocation, yet Bill gives all the credit to the Community Presevation Act and the people of Plymouth for voting for it so he could have the honor of using the Fund to protect open space. For his exemplary work protecting open space, MACC is pleased to honor William Keohan with the Environmental Service Award for Outstanding Achievements in Open Space Stewardship. Native Habitat Restoration restoring balance to nature Wetlands Woodlands Meadows Fields Invasive Plant Control Field Reclamation Habitat Restoration Replanting Planning & Permitting nativehabitatrestoration.weebly.com Licensed in MA CT NY VT 16

19 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE 2016 EXHIBITORS Partial List ACF Environmental Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Agresource, Inc. Airmax/Porous Pave by Fourth Generation Nursery, Inc. Antioch University New England Bay State Forestry Service Beals & Thomas, Inc. Beaver Solutions/ MSPCA Charles River Canoe and Kayak E. J. Prescott, Inc. Filtrexx Northeast Systems Groundscapes Express, Inc. Hancock Associates Herb Chambers Toyota of Auburn Horsley Witten Group Hydro International International Erosion Control Association-Northeast Chapter LEC Environmental Consultants, Inc. Lucas Environmental, LLC MA Cooperative Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program MA Department of Conservation & Recreation - Service Forestry Program MA Division of Ecological Restoration MA Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Mass Audubon Massachusetts Environmental Trust MassDEP Wetlands and Waterways Program Native Habitat Restoration New England Environmental New England Wetland Plants, Inc. New England Wild Flower Society Next Step Living Pavers by Ideal Polatin Ecological Services, LLC Rinker Materials - Stormceptor Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. The Nature Conservancy - Massachusetts Tighe & Bond, Inc. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory Division USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service Vernal Pool Association 17

20 Annual Environmental Conference 2016 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 The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife recently published a data layer on MassGIS that allows users to determine the presence of coldwater 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 new 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: Annie Bastoni, Stormwater Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Highway Division Jason Stolarski, Fisheries Biologist, Fisheries Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Timothy Dexter, Environmental Analyst, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Highway Division Environmental Section Moderator: Brandon Faneuf, PWS, Principal, Ecosystem Solutions, Inc.; MACC Director 2. What Conservation Commissions Can Do to Regulate Activities in Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage (LSCSF) is listed as an area subject to protection under the Regulations, as well as under the Act. Each area subject to protection is presumed to be significant to one or more interests of the Act. Therefore, although not explicitly stated in the regulations, and unless it can be overcome, conservation commissions can assume that LSCSF is significant to the interests of storm damage prevention and flood control because of its inherent functions. This workshop will cover the beneficial functions and types of activities that interfere with those functions. The workshop will also summarize MassDEP s work with a Technical Advisory Committee to evaluate this issue. Speakers: Rebecca Haney, CFM, Coastal Geologist, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Lealdon Langley, Director, MassDEP Wetlands Program Moderator: Kathleen (Kate) Connolly, Esq., Louison, Costello, Condon & Pfaff, LLP; MACC Officer 3. Culvert Replacement Implementation: Understanding the Latest Regulatory Changes and Key Aspects of a Successful Replacement Undersized culverts disrupt natural stream processes and obstruct the movement of fish and other aquatic organisms. For local road managers, undersized culverts often pose public safety risks, due to culvert failure, road washouts or flooding during storms. This workshop will cover: 1) the recent WPA regulatory changes and interpretation of maximum extent practicable; 2) typical costs of culvert replacements; and 3) the basic steps conservation commissioners, consultants, and DPWs can take to implement successful projects meeting MA Stream Crossing Standards. Attendees will obtain a detailed understanding of how to work with their local DPWs to simplify and get the most out of a culvert replacement project. Speakers: David Cameron, PWS, Chief of Wetlands & Waterways Program, MassDEP-Western Regional Office Tim Chorey, Stream Continuity Specialist, Division of Ecological Restoration, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Moderator: Marc Bergeron, PWS, CWS, Senior Project Manager/Wetland Scientist, VHB, Inc.; 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. 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: Sally A. Zielinski, Ph.D., Botanist/Environmental Journalist 18

21 5. 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 professional life in the conservation office. Speaker: Jennifer Steel, Senior Environmental Planner, Newton; MACC Director Moderator: John Goldrosen, Esq., Kopelman and Paige, P.C.; MACC Director 6. Greening Your Community with LID: Saving Land, Water, and Money This workshop takes a fresh look at Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI) through the lens of multiple fiscal and other benefits to municipalities. It presents facts and figures on how LID and GI can assist communities to protect wetlands and water resources, reduce flooding and stormwater management costs, minimize infrastructure and maintenance costs, improve quality of life, and increase property values. The workshop will address how municipal departments including conservation, planning, and public works can harmonize their roles by applying cost-effective LID and GI and will include information resources on financing, financial incentives, grants and technical assistance. Speakers: Scott Horsley, Principal, Horsley Witten Group, Inc. Stefanie Covino, Project Coordinator, Shaping the Future of Your Community, Mass Audubon Moderator: E. Heidi Ricci, Senior Policy Analyst, Mass Audubon; MACC Officer 7. Effective Wetlands Enforcement Addressing wetlands violations can be a confusing and frustrating task for conservation commissions and staff. What are the enforcement options 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 dynamic and practical way, using hypothetical scenarios based on fact. Attendees will receive helpful handouts and leave equipped with the tools to carry out effective enforcement. Speakers: Rebekah Lacey, Esq., Miyares and Harrington, LLP; MACC Director Cynthia O Connell, Conservation Agent, Town of Canton; MACC Director Moderator: Matt Schweisberg, PWS, Wetlands Strategies and Solutions, LLC; 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; 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. This workshop will provide an overview of the Climate Action Tool, discuss on-the-ground uses with participants, and seek input on additional content to include as work continues to improve the Tool. Speakers: Kathleen Theoharides, Consultant; Conservation Commissioner, Town of Grafton Melissa Ocana, Research and Extension Project Manager, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Moderator: Allan C. Greenberg, MACC Education Committee Member Series B 1:15 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 9. Mapping Priority Parcels for Conservation: A New Tool You Can Use This workshop will introduce and demonstrate a new web-based tool developed to allow Massachusetts conservationists to rapidly identify specific parcels to protect to achieve their land protection goals. The tool prioritizes land protection opportunities by synthesizing multiple state-of-the-art data sets: biodiversity (BioMap2), climate change resilience (based on The Nature Conservancy modeling), proximity to existing conservation land, size of parcel, and wildlife connectivity. The workshop will provide practical tools for conservation commissions to conduct targeted open space planning and focus limited municipal resources. Speakers: Jeff Collins, Director of Ecological Management, Mass Audubon Andy Finton, Conservation Programs Director, The Nature Conservancy Moderator: E. Heidi Ricci, Senior Policy Analyst, Mass Audubon; MACC Officer 19

22 10. StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet Series: Strategies to Reduce Coastal Erosion and Storm Damage while Minimizing Impacts As part of the StormSmart Coasts program, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) developed StormSmart Properties fact sheets to give coastal property owners important information on a range of measures that can effectively reduce erosion and storm damage while minimizing impacts to shoreline systems. Fact sheets are currently available on a variety of techniques, such as artificial dunes and dune nourishment and sand fencing, among others. The fact sheets provide significant detail regarding where each technique is appropriate, the benefits and impacts relative to other options, permitting and regulatory standards, costs, and maintenance requirements, and detailed design considerations highlighting the latest in progressive, plant-focused bioengineering techniques to minimize adverse impacts and ensure a successful project. Learn about how to use the fact sheets and about best management practices for new fact sheets in development, including repair and reconstruction of seawalls and revetments and new guidance for bio-engineering projects. Speakers: Rebecca Haney, CFM, Coastal Geologist, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Jeremy Schaub, Associate Restoration Designer, Wilkinson Ecological Design, Inc. Moderator: Amy Ball, CWS, Project Manager - Senior Ecologist, Horsley Witten Group, Inc.; MACC Officer 11. Right-Sizing Monitoring for Stream Barrier Removal Projects Removing dams and replacing undersized culverts can have extraordinary benefits for rivers and streams, as well as the people and wildlife that use them. Once a restoration project is completed, how do you know that it has had the intended effects? As these projects become more common, conservation commissions are increasingly involved in shaping how to evaluate success. This workshop will discuss several sources for guidance on monitoring barrier removal projects and how monitoring fits into the new Wetlands Protection Act regulations. The presenters will also share examples from their practice. Speakers: Nick Wildman, Restoration Specialist, Div. of Ecological Restoration, Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game Sara Grady, Ph.D., South Shore Regional Coordinator for MassBays; Watershed Ecologist for the North and South Rivers Watershed Association Moderator: Nick Nelson, Fluvial Geomorphologist, Inter-Fluve, Inc. 12. Solar Arrays: Permitting Issues for Commissions to Consider 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, examples, case studies, and the MassDEP Wetlands regulatory and program position about this emerging topic, including how such work might be evaluated in a Notice of Intent filing and conditioned through an Order of Conditions. The presentation will include: 1) a general discussion of the solar array industry and construction processes, including installation of related ancillary facilities (e.g., electrical interconnection, temporary and permanent access roads, security fencing, etc.); (2) examples of alternatives and techniques that can be used to avoid or minimize impacts to wetland resource areas; (3) quantifying and assessing impacts to wetland resource areas from tree removal that is necessary to minimize the effects of shading and loss of production on the solar arrays; (4) stormwater management challenges; and (5) potential mitigation measures for unavoidable impacts to wetland resource areas. Speakers: Moderator: Lealdon Langley, Director, MassDEP Wetlands Program Michael Howard, PWS, CWS, Principal & Manager, Ecological Sciences Group, Epsilon Associates, Inc.; AMWS President; MACC Director Matt Schweisberg, PWS, Wetlands Strategies and Solutions, LLC; MACC Director 13. 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., Principal, Louison, Costello, Condon & Pfaff LLP; MACC Officer Moderator: Amy Green, Principal, Amy Green Environmental Consulting LLC; Conservation Coordinator, Littleton; MACC Director 14. An Evaluation of Green Infrastructure in a Traditional New England Village This workshop will explore the challenges of implementing green infrastructure within a village redevelopment project, focusing on the Route 149 (Cotuit Road) corridor within Marstons Mills, Barnstable, MA. Following a brief presentation, participants will be asked to put sustainability planning and design into action with a corridor re-design for a traditional New England Village. This interactive workshop will require participants to balance stormwater management with village 20

23 redevelopment through the incorporation of green infrastructure practices in a Complete Street design. Speakers: Brian Kuchar RLA, P.E., Senior Landscape Architect, Horsley Witten Group, Inc. Jo Anne Miller Buntich, Director, Growth Management Department, Town of Barnstable Moderator: Jennifer Steel, Senior Environmental Planner, Newton; 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: John Goldrosen, Esq., Kopelman and Paige, P.C.; MACC Director 16. Understanding the Science, Design, and Use of Fluvial Erosion Hazard Maps in MA Fluvial erosion and deposition during riverine flood events are consistently the costliest natural hazards each year in parts of Massachusetts. The Commonwealth has not provided landowners, zoning boards, or conservation commissions with the necessary, reliable, and science-based tools to understand and manage these hazards. A Massachusetts-specific fluvial geomorphology task force led by UMass and MA state agency scientists has created a series of pilot fluvial erosion hazard maps for rivers throughout Western Massachusetts. Unlike Vermont, these maps are not yet required to manage land adjacent to rivers in the Commonwealth; and yet municipalities are requesting the information be made available. This workshop will (1) describe the science behind current fluvial erosion hazard maps in MA; (2) describe how landowners, zoning boards, and conservation commissions may use the maps to understand fluvial hazards; and (3) discuss the current and future legal barriers and opportunities to utilizing fluvial erosion hazard maps to manage land adjacent to rivers in Massachusetts. Speakers: Christine Hatch, Ph.D., Extension Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Benjamin P. Warner, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept. of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Moderator: Pamela D. Harvey, Esq.; Associate Member, Brookline Conservation Commission Series C 3:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 17. Conserving Biodiversity through Strategic Conservation Planning Strategic conservation planning is a crucial tool for conserving biodiversity, from rare species to unique natural communities. This workshop will provide an overview of the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MADFW) and its conservation planning process. MADFW staff will discuss how it applies conservation planning tools to land protection, habitat management, and regulatory review under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act and the Wetlands Protection Act regulations. Speakers: Jesse Leddick, Endangered Species Review Biologist, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Sarah Haggerty, Chief of Information and Program Development, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Caren Caljouw, Habitat Biologist, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Moderator: Amy Ball, CWS, Project Manager - Senior Ecologist, Horsley Witten Group, Inc.; MACC Officer 18. Making River Buffer Restoration Work for Water Quality and Habitat How do you decide where to restore or protect lands along rivers to make the greatest difference for water quality and habitat? How can you protect or better manage the forested lands along your rivers? The first part of this workshop provides a case study of how river buffer areas were selected for protection and restoration in a collaborative project in the Merrimack watershed funded by the US Forest Service from the landscape-scale to specific site selection; the second part highlights how towns and conservation commissions can restore or protect forested river buffers through conservation, management, 21

24 and bylaws. We will highlight lessons learned in the selection of river buffer areas in a watershed and a process for moving forward. Speakers: Caroly A. Shumway, Ph.D., Executive Director, Merrimack River Watershed Council Alan Futterman, Land Programs and Outreach Director, Nashua River Watershed Association Karen Bennett, Extension Forestry Professor and Specialist at University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Moderator: Lee Curtis, Senior Associate and Manager of Ecological & GIS Services, BSC Group 19. Interactive Questions and Answers for All Things Conservation 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 inaugural 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 Director Jennifer Steel, Senior Environmental Planner, Newton; MACC Director Jacquie Goring, Conservation Assistant, Town of Stow 20. It s Raining Cats and Dogs! How Recent Precipitation Changes May Affect Wetlands Regulation Evidence is mounting that the historic precipitation and streamflow frequency and intensity data is now outdated due to changes in natural precipitation and streamflow patterns possibly driven by climate change. To address these changes affecting wetland resources, MassDEP is examining options to revise the methodology currently required by the wetland regulations, which may affect the extent of Bordering Land Subject to Flooding (BLSF), and the sizing of culverts and stormwater management structures. This workshop will compare the current methodology with the new precipitation frequency atlases developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC) at Cornell University, as well as new streamflow frequency information published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and discuss possible options for incorporating this new information into the wetland regulations. Speakers: Sandra Pavlovic, Visiting Scientist (NOAA), University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Christopher Castellano, Research Support Specialist, Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University Thomas Maguire, Regional Coordinator, MassDEP Wetlands Program Moderator: Sally A. Zielinski, Ph.D., Botanist/Environmental Journalist 21. Conservation Commissions: Front Line in Fighting Climate Change Through protection and restoration of the biosphere at the local, regional, and continental scales, we can remove legacy carbon from the atmosphere and reverse global warming. Conservation commissions have an important role to play, including teaching the science in decisions; linking land conservation, wetlands protection, and ecological restoration; enforcing strict application of mitigation/replication requirements and respect for hydrology; and long-term monitoring of project sites to ensure that biodiversity and ecosystem processes (including carbon, water, and nutrient cycling) are maintained. Case studies that failed to apply these principles will be examined, and climate friendly alternative approaches will be discussed. Conservation commissioners will learn how to be climate-savvy and sustain biodiversity and ecosystem values in their administration of the Wetlands Protection Act. Speakers: Sharon McGregor, Consultant on Biodiversity and Climate; Board Member, Biodiversity for a Livable Climate Jim Laurie, Restoration Ecologist, Biodiversity for a Livable Climate Moderator: Michael Howard, PWS, CWS, Principal & Manager, Ecological Sciences Group, Epsilon Associates, Inc.; AMWS President; MACC Director 22. Natural Gas Pipelines: The Role of Conservation Commissions There are numerous natural gas pipelines being proposed for Massachusetts that are before the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC). This workshop will take a look at the techniques of gas pipeline construction and potential impacts on wetlands and open space, provide information on the role of conservation commissions under the Wetlands Protection Act and local wetland bylaws in permitting those pipelines (that may have federal preemption of some state and local requirements), and the role MassDEP intends to play in the permitting process. Speakers: Eugene Benson, Executive Director, MACC Lealdon Langley, Director, MassDEP Wetlands Program Michael J. Toohill, PWS, CE, Senior Project Manager, BSC Group 22

25 23. Culvert Assessment: The First Step toward Restoring River and Stream Continuity Culverts often degrade rivers and streams by blocking the movement of fish and other aquatic organisms. Culvert replacement offers excellent opportunities for enhancing stream connectivity, either as mitigation projects or proactive restoration. However, there are so many road-stream crossings in Massachusetts that it is essential that scarce restoration dollars be targeted at sites with the highest restoration potential. Culvert assessment is the first step in determining which sites in your community or watershed should be priorities for culvert replacement. Massachusetts is part of a 13-state program, the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC), providing an assessment protocol and support for organizations and communities engaged in the assessment of road-stream crossings. Speakers: Scott Jackson, Extension Associate Professor, UMass Amherst; Conservation Commissioner, Town of Whately; MACC Officer Carrie Banks, Regional Planner, Division of Ecological Restoration, MA Department of Fish and Game Moderator: Allan C. Greenberg, MACC Education Committee Member 24. Interpreting FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps & Studies and MA Coastal A Zone Maps Local officials are charged with making decisions regarding development in floodplains, which requires review and interpretation of the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Studies (FISs). Because of the complexity of review, officials may misinterpret the data and arrive at incorrect flood zone delineations. To address this problem, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Flood Hazard Management Program have produced a guidance document to improve the ability of local and state officials to use and interpret FIRMs and FISs. CZM and DCR have also produced the Massachusetts Coastal A Zone Maps to accurately depict the Coastal A Zone based on current FEMA guidance to facilitate implementation of new requirements for Coastal A Zones in the 9th Edition of the State Building Code. This workshop will introduce and describe how to use those important resources. Speakers: Rebecca Haney, Coastal Geologist, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Moderator: Brandon Faneuf, PWS, Principal, Ecosystem Solutions, Inc.; MACC Director Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners 10:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Unit 104: Wetland Functions and Values Content: Common vegetated wetlands in Massachusetts; differences between the scientific and regulatory definitions of wetlands; functions, characteristics, and watershed context of wetlands; performance standards; and buffer zones Instructor: Ingeborg Hegemann, Vice President, BSC Group; Conservation Commissioner, Town of Stow Assistant: Janice S. Stone, Conservation Agent, South Hadley; MACC Officer Unit 202: 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, UMass Amherst; Conservation Commissioner, Town of Whately; MACC Officer Assistant: Jennifer Carlino, Conservation Director, Norton; President, MA Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals; MACC Director 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Unit 201: 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, Arlington Assistant: Rebekah Lacey, Esq., Miyares and Harrington LLP; MACC Director Unit 205: Effective Erosion and Sediment Control Content: Soil erosion processes; jurisdiction and regulations; control applications; best management practices; incorporation of ESC into conservation commission decision-making Instructor: Paul J. McManus, LSP, PWS, President, EcoTec, Inc. Assistant: Marc Bergeron, PWS, CWS, Senior Project Manager/Wetland Scientist, VHB, Inc.; MACC Director 23

26 About our Keynote Speaker: Martin Suuberg Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Martin Suuberg was appointed on January 8, 2015 as the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) by Governor Charles D. Baker and his Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Matthew A. Beaton. With nearly 30 years of experience working in environmental and natural resource agencies at the state and federal level, Martin is a lawyer and manager who has effectively and efficiently administered the environmental laws that protect the quality of life for all Massachusetts citizens. Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Martin served as Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. At MassDEP, Martin served as Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning. He took over this position after 9 ½ years as the Regional Director for the Central Regional Office in Worcester, which serves more than 70 communities in Worcester County and nearby areas and is responsible for environmental permitting, inspection and enforcement activities. Over his long career, Martin has also served as General Counsel to MassDEP and to the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, as well as to the former Department of Environmental Management where he also served as Deputy Commissioner. Before moving to Massachusetts, Martin was an Associate Solicitor and then Deputy Solicitor at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC, where he worked on land management and natural resource issues. 24

27 MACC has made available for conservation commissions an easy-to-read guide to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and its importance. Useful to give to homeowners, realtors, builders, and interested citizens. The guide will be personalized with the commission name and contact information. It is a quad-fold brochure on heavy white stock. Cost is 20 cents each. Minimum order of 100. Sold in increments of 100. $4.00 shipping & handling for 1st 100. $3.00 for each additional 100. To order, visit MCGREGOR & LEGERE ATTORNEYS AT LAW, P.C. Gregor McGregor Luke Legere Nathaniel Stevens Michael O Neill 15 Court Square, Suite 500 Boston, MA Fax: Website: Environmental law, real estate, and related litigation plus strategic advice for complex transactions and controversies. NEE environmental consulting Collaborating with Clients On Environmental Projects Since 1986: Natural Resources & Environmental Permitting Ecological Restoration & Construction Landscape Architecture & Ecological Design Site Assessment & Remediation New England Environmental, Inc. Environmental Consulting 15 Research Drive Amherst MA (p) (f)

28 MACC is grateful for our corporate members Bransfield Tree Company LLC BSC Group, Inc. Cultec, Inc. Ecosystem Solutions, Inc. EcoTec, Inc. Foresight Land Services Groundscapes Express, Inc. Guerriere & Halnon, Inc. Horsley Witten Group, Inc. LEC Environmental Consultants, Inc. MBL Land Development & Permitting Corporation McGregor & Legere, P.C. Mill River Consulting New England Environmental, Inc. Nitsch Engineering Northern Construction LLC Oxbow Associates, Inc. Pavers by Ideal Rinker Materials - Stormceptor Stantec Consulting SumCo Eco-Contracting Wilkinson Ecological Design, Inc. BEALS+THOMAS 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 Jessica Wozniak at or visit EarthShare New England s web site at Consultants supporting the sustainable development & conservation of New England s natural resources Civil EnginEErs landscape architects land surveyors planners EnvironmEntal specialists Southborough & Plymouth, MA 26

29 Thank You to our many supporters and members during Fiscal Year 2015 Your contributions make a difference! Lorraine Ahearn Marlene Alderman Monique Allen Geoffrey Andrews Neil Angus Jorge Ayub Margaret Bacon Amy Ball Kevin Bardon Kathleen Baskin Sue and Henry Bass Mark Beaudry Jean Bednor Helen Bethell Ryan Bianchetto John Bologna Bernice Bowler Adam Brodsky J. Thomas Brownrigg Lois Bruinooge Mary Bruno Kimberly Burlingame James Callahan Mike Callahan Daniel Campbell Richard Canavan Jennifer Carlino Thomas Christopher Michael Clark Marie Clarner Richard Claytor, Jr. Jane Coe Charlotte Cogswell Larry Cohen Neil Cohen Karen Miho Connolly Kathleen Connolly Miles Connors Bridget Cooke Christie Coon Anthony Costello Pat Cote Roy Cramer Melissa Cripps Tashanique Daniels Robert DeFabrizio Antonio DeFrias Diane DePaso Michael DeRosa Michelle Desorcy Carl Dierker Kitty Doherty James Dombrowski Kimberly Drake Richard Drury Dwight Dunk Lisa Eggleston Judith Eiseman Thomas Ennis Steve Eriksen Edward Estella Brandon Faneuf Gail Feldman Ellen Fine Robert Fitzpatrick Michael Fleming Henry Flint Susan Flint-Vincent Eric Ford James and Janice Fowler Ada Fox Charles Gardiner Catherine Garnett Deborah Gattenby Carl Gehring Michèle Girard Scott Goddard Corey Godfrey David Goldman John Goldrosen Amy Green Allan Greenberg Mary Griffin Michele Grzenda John Gurney James Hall Jim Hankin Maureen Hanley William Harman Richard Harrington Joyce Hastings Ingeborg Hegemann Pam Herrick Walter Hewitson Leslie Hilton Peter Hingorani Arthur Hodges Meredith Houghton Michael Howard Thomas Hughes Leo Immonen Edward Irvin Scott Jackson Alyssa Jacobs Marc Jacobs William Jolly Kathy Joubert Lydia Kachadoorian Julian Kadish William Katz Wayne Keefner Brenda Kelly Charles Ketchuck Carolyn Kiely James Kilcoyne Joshua Kimball David Klinch Richard Knoener Hal Kraus Glenn Krevosky Dr. Kevin Kroeger John Kucich Laura Kuhn Steven Kulik Rebekah Lacey Michael Lach David Lager Julia Lalor Jack Landers-Cauley Cameron Larson Miriam Lasher Ron Laurin Arthur Lawrence Edward Lawson Matt Liebman Patricia Loring Russell Lovaas Christoper Lucas Ray Lyons Denis MacDougall Sue MacVeety Thomas Maguire Eleanor Manire-Gatti William Manuell Mickey Marcus Rebecca Markey David Martel Kathryn Martin Joshua Massey Maria Mast Laura Mattei John McCutcheon Gregor McGregor Jill Messick Tom Miner David Mitchell Danielle Mucciarone Dan Mulloy Carolyn Murphy William Murray Jeffrey Nagle Nick Nelson Amanda Neville Marta Nover Alyssa Noyes Liam O Brien Carolyn O Connell Cynthia O Connell Aisling O Shea Christine Odiaga Joseph Orzel Stacy Parsons Maggie Payne Gordon Peabody Ann Marie Pilch Markus Pinney Katrina Proctor Ken Pruitt Tim Purinton Robert Quinn Scott Rabideau Robert Rand Carrie Rennie Lisa Rhodes E. Heidi Ricci Jeffrey Roelofs Cori Rose Beth Rosenblum Nicholas Rossi Eric Runstrom Jenny Russell Jennifer Ryan Barbara Saint Andrè Charles Saulnier Ginny Scarlet Matt Schweisberg Kara Shemeth Norman Sims William Solomon Michael Sommerville Lana Spillman Theresa Sprague David Standley Stephen Stapinski Donald Steckler Jennifer Steel Frederick Stepanis, Jr. Nathaniel Stevens Martha Stevenson Mark Stinson Margaret Stolfa Janice Stone Daniel Streeter Jennifer Tabares Michael Talbot Karin Theodoros John Thomas, Jr. Meredith Tibbo Larry Tilton Brian Timm Bruce Tripp Garrett Tunison Steven Tyler David Uitti Louisa Varnum Christine Vitale Peter Von Mertens Sheryl Waddick Christopher Wagner Thomas Walker Rebecca Waugh Alan Weinberg Cheryl Weston Mark White Kenneth Whittaker Brian Wick Michael Wierbonics Donna Wiley Seth Wilkinson Sylvia Willard Amy Wilson Glenn Wood Henry Woolsey Christopher Yarworth Michael Yerka Curtis Young Leigh Youngblood Sally Zielinski 27

30 MACC Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015 (July 1, June 30, 2015) OVERVIEW In fiscal year 2015, MACC successfully continued to fulfill its mission to protect Massachusetts natural resources by supporting conservation commissions through education and advocacy. 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. We increased the number of training units from eight to ten by creating and offering two new units this year: Protecting Wildlife Habitat; and Effective Erosion & Sediment Control. Participants who complete the five required units and three of the five elective units receive a Certificate. Forty participants received their Certificate this fiscal year. We had a total of 711 unit participants. We offered four of the units via live webinar so people might take them at their computers in the comfort of their home or office. With a grant we obtained from the Island Foundation, we presented eight Fundamentals units to conservation commissioners in Bristol and Plymouth Counties at no charge. We also presented Fundamentals units in Berkshire County for no charge for commissioners in that county through a grant from the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. We provided 64 environmental workshops and Fundamentals units during the fiscal year, with 1,828 participants. Our workshop offerings, in addition to those at Annual Environmental Conference, included: Hydric Soils, Exploring Wetland Plants, Wetland Shrubs in Winter (offered in both Nov. and Feb.), Identifying Wetland and Other Shrubs, Basic Wetland Delineation: Soils, Basic Wetland Delineation: Vegetation, Basic Delineation for Beginners and Erosion and Sediment Control: Effective Solutions. Our Fall Conference, on September 27, 2014, at Framingham State University, with the title of Managing Invasive Plants: Getting Your Feet Wet and Coming Out Ahead, had 98 participants. Through workshops and presentations, participants learned management techniques for aquatic-based invasive plant species, how conservation commissions can permit such work, and tools for aquatic-based invasive plant identification and lake and pond management. We completed the first update to the 10 th edition of Protecting Wetlands and Open Space: MACC s Environmental Handbook for Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners, which we published as an online e-book the previous year. The update is a new Chapter on Guide Books and Reference Publications. 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 began providing a free one-year subscription to each Fundamentals graduate. 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 We held the 44 th MACC Annual Environmental Conference on February 28, 2015, at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Nearly 750 people participated. They were able to choose from among twenty-seven workshops on legal, regulatory, scientific, and technical issues in administering the state Wetlands Protection Act and stewarding open space, nine units of Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners, more than forty exhibits to visit, and many opportunities for networking. Matthew Beaton, the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, gave an informative and interesting keynote address, introducing himself and discussing his first two months as Secretary and his goals for the state s environmental agencies. 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. 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 28

31 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, which was reported favorably by the joint Senate and House committee that considered the bill and by the state Senate. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts the bill remained in the House Committee on Third Reading without a House vote as the session ended. It was filed again in the next session. We testified in the legislature against bills that would weaken wetlands protections and are delighted that none of those bills passed. Unfortunately versions of them were introduced in the new legislative session. We joined with other environmental groups in commenting and expressing concern to the Baker Administration and Attorney General Healey about Executive Order 562, which Governor Baker issued 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 began to monitor agency work under the Order. We participated on MassDEP s Advisory Committee on Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage, as DEP determines whether to propose regulations and performance standards for that resource area and what those standards should be. We have been a strong advocate for LSCSF regulations that set performance standards and take into account projected sea level rise. We filed written comments to the Army Corps of Engineers on its proposed Massachusetts General Permits for wetlands and on its proposed revision to the New England District Compensatory Mitigation Guidance; to the Environmental Protection Agency on its proposed rule for waters of the United States; and to the MA Coastal Erosion Commission on its draft report. We participated with other environmental groups in commenting on other state budget and regulatory proposals. SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS HIGHLIGHTS We continued supporting conservation commissions that have 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. We held meetings across the pipeline route to provide information on how commissions might be affected as owners and managers of open space and as administrators of wetlands protection in their communities. We held a workshop about the pipeline at Annual Environmental Conference We created an list about the pipeline and ed pipeline updates and recommendations to commissions. We wrote to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, criticizing the quality of the environmental analyses that Kinder Morgan had filed with them and suggesting improvements that should be required. We answered 77 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. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE AWARDS At Annual Environmental Conference 2015 we presented our most prestigious award, the Nancy Anderson Award, to Dr. Sally Zielinski, only the third time we have awarded that honor. We presented MACC Environmental Service Awards to William Frenette for Conservation Commissioner of the Year; Frank McKinnon for Conservation Administrator of the Year; Ingeborg Hegemann for Outstanding Achievement in Conservation; Kitty Doherty for Outstanding Local and Regional Service; Mary Griffin for Outstanding Agency Leadership; and the Division of Ecological Restoration, MA Department of Fish & Game, for Outstanding Public Service. BOARD AND STAFF At the MACC February 2015 Annual Business Meeting, membership elected board officers and directors. New board members elected were Marc Bergeron, John Goldrosen, Rebekah Lacey, and Cynthia O Connell. Departing from the board were Charles Katuska, Seth Wilkinson, and Sally Zielinski. We thank them for their dedication and service to MACC and to our work. Board Officers and Members as of the February 28, 2015, Annual Business Meeting election were: Officers: President: Kate Connolly First Vice President: E. Heidi Ricci Vice President for Education: Amy Ball Vice President for Advocacy: Scott Jackson Treasurer: Margaret Carroll Secretary: Janice Stone Directors: Marc Bergeron Jennifer Carlino Richard Drury Brandon Faneuf John Goldrosen Amy Green Michael Howard Rebekah Lacey Gregor McGregor Cynthia O Connell Matthew Schweisberg Jennifer Steel Margaret Stolfa Continued on next page 29

32 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 interns Joey Wigglesworth, Jodi Curtin, and Amara Vogt. FINANCES MACC revenues slightly exceeded expenses, with an increase in unrestricted net assets of $15,491. We balanced the budget by keeping our costs low and through fundraising. Some revenues we received in FY 15 were for expenses in the next fiscal year. FY 2015 INCOME Grants and Contributions $134,983 Membership Dues $153,363 Educational Programs $133,605 Total Revenue $421,951 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. With a starting grant from The Echo Charitable Foundation, we established the David Standley Fund for Storm Water, Climate Change, and Sea Level Rise and formed a committee to begin planning workshops on climate impacts for coastal conservation commissions. The Standley Fund joined our Alexandra Dawson Legal Education & Action Fund and Frederick Fawcett Education Fund as our three restricted funds. FY 2015 EXPENSES Educational Programs $165,684 Membership Services $180,891 General Administrative $45,431 Fundraising $14,454 Total Expenses $406,460 FY 2015 Income FY 2015 Expenses Educational Programs 32% Grants and Contributions 32% General and Administrative 11% Fundraising 4% Educational Programs 41% Membership Dues 36% Membership Services (incl. Advocacy) 44% Grants and Contributions Membership Dues Educational Programs Educational Programs Membership Services (incl. Advocacy) General and Administrative Fundraising Environmental Law & Litigation Representing and advising conservation commissions for over two decades Subscribe to our blog: 30

33 MACC FISCAL YEAR 2015 CONSERVATION COMMISSION TRAINING AND SUPPORT AT A GLANCE 746 PARTICIPANTS ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS FALL CONFERENCE ,828 PARTICIPANTS ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOPS 711 PARTICIPANTS FUNDAMENTALS FOR CONSERVATION COMMISSIONERS TRAINING 40 NEW GRADUATES FUNDAMENTALS FOR CONSERVATION COMMISSIONERS TRAINING 64 ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOPS AND FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING UNITS HELD 4 MACC QUARTERLIES AND 26 E-MACCS PUBLISHED 77 HELPLINE QUESTIONS ANSWERED 31

34 Essential Resources for Conservation Commissions Order online at or call AVAILABLE AT THE CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS TABLE Protecting Wetlands and Open Space: MACC s Environmental Handbook for Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners The Environmental Handbook is the indispensable resource for conservation commissioners and for those working with and appearing before conservation commissions. It is online and interactve, providing word search capability, pop-up definitions of terms, internal and external hyperlinks, and the ability to keep notes in the text. Its twenty-two chapters and eight special topic sections offer guidance and sugggestions, and provide the science, technology, laws, regulations, and policies necessary for understanding and implementing the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and Conservation Commission Act and for protecting wetlands and open space. Cost is $15 per annual subscription for MACC Members. Massachusetts Runoff, Erosion & Sediment Control Field Guide The ESC Field Guide is for conservation commissioners and agents, public works employees, engineers, planners, contractors, landscapers, and consultants. It addresses commonly used practices for runoff, erosion and sediment control and implementation of storm water standards, including practices specific to coastal environments. It will help conservation commissions understand the ten strategies for effective erosion and sediment control, ask the right questions of applicants and consultants before approving projects, and monitor projects that have been approved. To be used during the design, construction, and monitoring phases of projects near critical water resources, this takein-the-field publication is the only one of its kind for Massachusetts. Cost is $24 per copy for MACC members. Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations The current Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations, 310 CMR 10.00, updated effective October 24, 2014, are available from MACC in a handy and easy-to-use letter-size format bound volume. Cost is $15 per copy. 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

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