Category Archives: Conservation

Nice day spent on the banks of the Hoosic River

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On Saturday, August 17, Riverfest took place at the Spruces Park along the Hoosic river in Williamstown.  It was an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the Hoosic River watershed.

Various organizations were represented there.  We had a chance to meet Audrey Werner, Hoffmann Bird Club Communications Officer, and club member Katharine Weinke.  They provided information on the Club’s exciting event summary for 2024-2025.   Sighted on their Guided Bird Walk along the river, were the following: osprey carrying a fish, cormorant, mourning dove, American robin, eastern bluebirds, American goldfinch, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, black capped chickadee, white breasted nuthatch, flickers and a phoebe.

Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited representatives were there.  TU Board member Marc Hoechstetter taught fly casting while Dr Charles Wohl taught fly tying.  Board member Rosanne Mistretta and Betsy Clark conducted the Kid-friendly Macroinvertebrate Workshop.  In the river they found Mayfly larvae, Crayfish, Stonefly Larvae, several types of Caddisfly larvae, Water Penny beetles, Midge larvae and Damselfly larvae.

Representatives of The Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) were there.  It is their citizens’ group that looks after the river.  It is dedicated to the restoration, conservation and enjoyment of the Hoosic River and its watershed, through education, research and advocacy.  It envisions a watershed that is ecologically sound and adds to the quality of life of its residents.  Board members explained the water quality monitoring work in which they are involved.

Judy Grinnell and representatives of the Hoosic River Revival (HRR) were there.  HRR is a volunteer organization dedicated to transforming the aging Hoosic River flood chutes using leading-edge engineering and naturalization measures to reduce flood risk and enhance climate resilience. It envisions an attractive, accessible, healthy, flood-controlled river, which will enhance downtown North Adams and the quality of life for all residents, businesses, and visitors. HRR will accomplish this through advocacy, education, and action in partnership with the City and other stakeholders.

Arriana Collins from HooRWA led the Wild Edibles walk.

A MCLA student and HooRWA intern showed how the water quality testing is performed

There was a River-Inspired Group Sing-Along with Singer/Songwriter Deborah Burns. According to TU President Justin Adkins, there were roughly 20 people singing their hearts out in celebration to the river.

All in all, it was a very pleasant day.

Zebra Mussels found in Onota Lake

In case you missed the article in the Berkshire Eagle on Monday, August 19 entitled “Zebra mussels found in Onota Lake” here is the following:  “The Department of Conservation and Recreation spotted the invasive freshwater mollusks during one of its routine checks of the lake for invasive species, according to a press release issued by Catherine Van-Bramer, the city’s administrative services director.  “This detection only impacts boating operations at the lake and has no impact to other recreational uses of the lake.” according to the release.

 

“In an effort to stop the spread of zebra mussels to other bodies of water, boaters are asked to inspect their boats, trailers and other recreational equipment. They should also decontaminate all parts of their boat, paddles, and other equipment that have been in contact with water. When doing so, they should not allow wash water to flow in any water body or storm sewer.”

 

Surely in the upcoming days, more information will be provided about what part of the lake they were located, the probable causes of their spread, various methods to control or eliminate their spread, possibly a boat cleaning station, etc.

 

Incidentally, water outflow from Onota Lake begins the western branch of the Housatonic River in Pittsfield.  I guess one can expect to see Zebra Mussels show up in Woods Pond in Lenox any time now, if not already.

 

 Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits for sale in September

By now Massachusetts deer hunters should know if they were selected to receive an antlerless deer permit (ADP), also known as a doe permit.  If not, they can simply click onto the MassFishHunt web page to find out.  If selected, Massachusetts residents must pay a $10.00 fee (non-resident pay $20.00) to purchase the permit.

It’s a lottery system, and not every hunter who wanted one in the wildlife management zone of their choice got one.  The difference between allocation and demand determines the odds of winning an ADP. The exceptions are those who applied for permits in Zones 10, 11, 13, and 14 where everyone who applied got one.  There are too many deer in those zones and MassWildlife is trying to reduce the herd to desirable numbers where there is sufficient food and habitat to sustain them.

There still is a chance to get a permit.  Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits (ADP) will go on sale in late September.

On September 24 at 9:00 a.m. surplus ADPs in zones 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 go on sale. Zone 9 are first-come, first-served and limited to 1 permit per day.  Zones 10, 11, 13, and 14 have no daily or season purchase limit and are available for purchase throughout the entire 2024 season.

On Wednesday, September 25 at 9:00 a.m. surplus ADPs in zones 3, 7, 8, and 12 go on sale. Zones 3, 7, 8, and 12 are first-come, first-served and limited to 1 permit per zone per day.
The following is a list of surplus ADP’s by Zones:  Zone 3 – 567, Zone 7 – 1,331, Zone 8 – 547, Zone 9 – 4,503, and Zone 12 – 446.  There are unlimited surpluses for Zones 10, 11, 13 and 14.

Reimbursement for free licenses

By State mandatory, resident sporting licenses (age 70 and older) and resident and non-resident sporting license for paraplegics are free.  The cost of this freebie is about $1 million which the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife must bear annually.  They recently received some good news.  The Budget Conference Committee included language to reimburse its Inland Fisheries and Game Fund this year, and the Governor retained it when she signed the budget into law. This marks the fourth year they have been successful in getting this language included. They hope to make the statutory fix so they do not need to do this each budget cycle.

 

Stepping down

 

I will be stepping down from writing this column at the end of this year.    Simply put, I am not as sharp as I used to be and am slowing down.  Because of that, much more time is required to research, compose, and proofread the proposed articles.  It is also getting to be more difficult attending meetings where useful information is gathered for this column.

 

I’m amazed how President Joe Biden, who is 12 days younger than me, can lead the free world, while I have problems meeting the weekly deadlines for this column.  It is what it is.

 

For some time, I have been planning on stepping down and brought this subject up with Berkshire Eagle Executive Editor Kevin Moran last summer.  I originally thought about retiring after my 1,000th column, but here I am writing this 1,071st column.  Then I planned on retiring on my 80th birthday which was in November 2022, but I’m still here. Then I set the drop-dead retirement date on my 20th anniversary of writing this column. That was last February.  Its time for me to stop procrastinating.

 

In another meeting with Kevin this summer, he suggested that I mention retiring around this time.  In that way, it would give the folks at the Eagle time to seek out another columnist and thus avoid a gap.  That made sense.  Older readers may recall, when my predecessor Ted Giddings retired at the end of 2003, there wasn’t a replacement until February 2004.  It was an excruciating time for us who had become accustomed to reading Ted’s weekly column with our Sunday morning cup of coffee.  That cup of coffee just didn’t taste as good without reading the words of that magnificent scribbler.  Little did I know at the time that his replacement would be me.

 

Kevin’s suggestion appealed to me in another way, too.  It implied that there would continue to be a Berkshire Eagle outdoor sports column in the future.

 

Hopefully, the Eagle is successful in finding someone to continue writing about our beautiful woods and waters.

 

 

 

 

Origin story of the Friends of the Williams River

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Gene, let’s have the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) and the Lenox Garden Club adopt the Williams River.” Those were the words heard on the telephone before I even had a chance to say hello.  It was the familiar voice of the late Frances “Sissy” Paddock, of Lenox.  At the time, (1985) we both served on the Board of the Housatonic River Watershed Association.  She was also a board member of the Lenox Garden Club and I was the President of the Taconic Chapter of TU.

Sissy went on to say that Mass Riverways, a department under the control of the Fish & Wildlife Commissioner (now called the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER)) just introduced a program where groups could “adopt” a river.  The State would provide $2,000 seed money to help get them started.  She thought the Williams River, located in West Stockbridge and Housatonic, would be an ideal candidate to be adopted.

I reminded her of the raw sewage problem. (In the late 1980’s the Town of West Stockbridge was trying to resolve an old problem. Many buildings in the downtown area were discharging raw sewage into the Williams River in violation of Massachusetts and Federal law. The Commonwealth placed a deadline on this practice hoping to end pollution of a major natural resource. The town had no municipal sewage treatment plant due to the small number of potential users.)

I suggested that perhaps we should consider another, cleaner river.  Her reply was that the Town of West Stockbridge was going to build a new sewage treatment plant, that the river would shortly be cleaned up and that people would treasure the river and start building next to it.

“Now is the time to educate the public on things to do to help protect it – proper shading, lack of herbicides near the banks of the river, etc.”  She made a good case.  If you knew Sissy, you knew that she rarely took “no, we can’t” for an answer. I agreed to bring it up at our next TU meeting.

“You have got to be kidding!  That dirty river?” was the reaction of the TU members.  Using the same arguments that Sissy used on me and because TU is dedicated to the preservation of cold waters and cold-water fisheries, I was ultimately able to convince them to adopt the river.

Sissy and I next approached the West Stockbridge town officials and explained the concept to them in an effort to enlist their support.  The late Bill Hanford, a Taconic TU member, was a West Stockbridge resident who knew several Conservation Commission members accompanied us. After our presentations and discussions, the ConCom and selectmen supported the adoption.  It was at that meeting that we met ConCom members Ed Desaulniers and John Masiero.  Ed subsequently joined TU and both joined the cause and became two critically important additions to our group.

A coalition was formed which was made up of the Lenox Garden Club, Taconic TU and the Housatonic River Watershed Association.  The Friends of the Williams River (FWR) was organized in 1988. It was a 501c3 non-profit corporation which received certification to adopt the Williams River from then DFWELE Commissioner Walter Bickford.

The FWR then obtained permission from the West Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club to use the second floor of its building to hold its monthly meetings.

At its first meeting, a board of directors and officers were selected.  I was elected president and newsletter editor, Sissy was the VP, Ed Desaulniers its Treasurer and John Masiero its Secretary.  Other members included abutting land owners George Naventi and Jervis Gennari, Bill Hanford, and Dave Oclair, a TU member from Richmond.  Berkshire Eagle outdoor sports columnist Ted Giddings was named an honorary member. He grew up in Housatonic near the Williams River and provided a great deal of history about it.

Shortly thereafter, the FWR developed a brochure explaining the organization. It was formed to “create a local awareness of the river, to eliminate littering and pollution and to promote the protection of the ecology of the unique headwaters, to protect wildlife and enhance their habitats, to promote water quality and to raise money to educate the community of these vital issues and to assist in land protection.” Annual membership was set at $15.

In compliance with the Adopt-a-Stream Program, TU members inventoried and surveyed the river to determine its positives and negatives, identifying sewage inflows, bank conditions, flora and fauna of the area.  The good, the bad and the ugly were documented.

Another early project was to determine the area and size of the Williams River watershed.  It extended from Richmond, Lenox and Canaan, NY to the Housatonic River in Housatonic (Great Barrington).  Using funds from the Lenox Garden Club, MA Riverways and TU, a map of the watershed was produced which included every pond and feeder stream.

It was around that time that the FWR’s logo was chosen.  It was the wish of the Lenox Garden Club that it be a pink lady slipper.  Hey, they invested $1,000 in the river adoption, so no one objected.

One top priority was to try to contact every abutting landowner along the river and tributaries to inform them of the FWR’s existence, its mission and goals and to invite them to join it. A monthly newsletter was established which ultimately reached about 140 abutters and other interested people, informing them of all its activities.

Obtaining the addresses in West Stockbridge, Housatonic and Richmond for the mailing list was a huge task and having John, Ed and Bill on board was a great asset.  There were others that we included on the mailing list also, MA Fish & Wildlife Commissioner George ‘Gige’ Darey, George Wislocki, Executive Director of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), Attorney Sarah ‘Sally’ Bell, members from MA Riverways, local businesses such as Taft Farm, Simon’s Rock of Bard College, and others. The newsletters was also distributed to all members of the Lenox Garden Club and TU.

In the late 1980’s, MA DFW requested input from sportsmen’s clubs as to what they thought the Division’s goals should be for the next 5 years.  This matter was discussed by Taconic TU and also brought up at the monthly FWR meeting.  FWR Board members had concerns that 84 acres of land on Maple Hill owned by John Astore would someday be sold and developed and the detrimental run off effects of development would reach the Williams River.  By unanimous vote it was decided to send a letter to the Fish & Wildlife Board requesting that they try to purchase that property and establish a Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

At that time, I was the Environmental Vice Chair of the MA/RI Council of TU. I brought the matter up at the next quarterly meeting in Sturbridge, MA, seeking its support.  It did and instructed me to send a letter to the F&W Board on behalf of the Council expressing its support for purchasing the Maple Hill property.  At the time, the TU Council represented 12 chapters and about 3,000 members.

That letter carried a lot of weight because the requested land acquisition wasn’t just supported by a few folks living in the Berkshires, but by thousands of anglers statewide.  That was all that Board Chairman George (Gige) Darey of Lenox needed to get the F&W Board to support it.   DFW purchased the Astore property in May of 1990 and named it the Maple Hill Wildlife Management Area. In retrospect, that turned out to be a very important acquisition.

During the late 1980’s Mrs. Margaret Shaw owned 15+ acres of land nearby on the west side of the Williams River and decided to transfer ownership to the FWR.  Then, FWR Board Member Jervis Genari, whose land abutted Shaw’s, deeded nearly 10 acres over to the FWR in December 1991.  Attorney Sally Bell handled the legal work with the help of Ginny Akabane’s title research.

The Board was surprised to receive these gifts for it never solicited such lands and wasn’t quite sure how to best manage them.   BNRC’s George Wislocki provided invaluable advice on those land acquisitions.

The FWR had become the closest thing that the town of West Stockbridge had to a land trust.

To be continued next week.

Bateman Memorial Fund Fishing Derby breaks another record

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According to event organizer Steve Bateman, the 32nd annual Harry A. Bateman Memorial Fund Fishing Derby was a huge success this year mainly in part because of all the great sponsors that supported the event and the great team that put this event on. The derby, which was held on June 1, had another record-breaking year with attendance and funds raised. Some 330 registered anglers plus another 30-40 people. They raised a record-breaking $13,500+ for the Jimmy Fund.

The largest fish weighed in was a 16 lbs. 4 oz Common Carp caught by Joe Trybus. This was also the largest fish ever weighed in the history of the fishing derby.

New to the derby’s sponsors this year was Joe Garzone of Berkshire Taxidermy who was kind enough to mount the winning trout in the children’s category. Certainly a gift to remember for a lifetime. They also had Chuck Maces of Maces Marine who donated the use of a pontoon boat for the entire day. Carlo Torra and John Erbin from COBB of Western MA brought children and parents throughout the day to experience fishing from a boat. For some it was their first time.

Free worms were provided by Onota Boat Livery. Mayor Peter Marchetti, Councilor Pete White and former Councilor Karen Kalinowski were in attendance. “There was so much support from our community that people from all over the county and other states attended this event,”said Bateman, “two people in attendance, Joe Monterosso and Sue Crawford, traveled in their electric wheelchairs, a 6 mile round trip for the 2nd year, to come to the fishing derby.”

Bateman feels that transportation for the handicapped community will be something that needs attention for next year’s Fishing Derby.

A great time was had by all.

Picture provided by Steve Bateman

This year they had several repeat winners at this event. The winners as reported by Steve are as follows:

CHILDREN HEAVIEST GAME FISH CATEGORY

 

1ST. PLACE: MASON KUCKA – NORTHERN PIKE 3 LBS. 13 OZ.

2ND. PLACE: QUINTYN SHUTTLEWORTH – LARGEMOUTH BASS- 2 LBS. 6 OZ.

3RD. PLACE: MILA OSTELLINO – RAINBOW TROUT – 1 LBS. 11 0Z.

 

CHILDREN HEAVIEST NON-GAME FISH CATEGORY

 

1ST. PLACE: CLOE SHUTTLEWORTH – BOW FIN – 6 LBS

2ND. PLACE: RAYCHELLE ERRICHETTO – BULLHEAD – 13 OZ.

3 RD. PLACE: CASSIDY WOJNICKI – BULLHEAD – 11 OZ.

 

ADULT HEAVIEST GAME FISH CATEGORY

 

1ST. PLACE: JORDAN PASQUARELLI- LARGEMOUTH BASS- 2 LBS. 10 OZ.

2ND. PLACE: DA’JAUN MERENDA– CHAIN PICKEREL – 1 LBS. 13 OZ.

3RD. PLACE: MIKE STORIE – LARGEMOUTH BASS- 1 LBS. 12 OZ.

 

SPECIAL HEAVIEST FISH 1ST. PLACE AWARDS

 

BASS:  JIM BAK-LARGEMOUTH BASS – 3 LBS. 3 OZ. ADULT

PERCH/CRAPPIE: NICK SAYERS – CALICO BASS – 11 OZ.

CARP: JOE TRYBUS- COMMON CARP- 16 LBS. 4 OZ.

TROUT ADULT: JAKE BURKE – RAINBOW TROUT 2 LBS.  5 OZ.

CHILDREN TROUT: ALICE CHRISTMAN – RAINBOW TROUT 1 LBS. 12 OZ.

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: DELCAN ABLE

BUTCH PATRICK TACKLE BOX: JULIANNA MATTHEWS

RAFFLE: 55” TV – DAVID HUBBARD

$100 LOTTERY TREE- KIM SORRENTINO

50/5O RAFFLE PAID OUT $385

ADULT DOOR PRIZE: GAS GRILL IN MEMORY OF CARL DELUCE: ALBERT ADAMS

 

Cindy Delpapa honored

The Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee recently awarded Cindy Delpapa, of Becket the Bob Thompson award for her dedication to the river and the breadth of knowledge she shared for the benefit of all.  The news release mentioned “her high standards and clarity of focus guided the committee through an update of the strategic plan, development of a website focused on action, and a model for funding culvert replacement across the watershed that improves safety and river habitat at the same time.”

photo provided by Wild & Scenic Westfield

“Cindy was instrumental in launching two new initiatives, “Rooting out Barberry” and exploring “Brine for Pretreatment” to prevent ice from forming on our Hilltown roads in winter. Cindy brought Action Research in to assist the committee with developing campaigns that speak directly to the audience the committee is trying to reach in a manner that is clear, inspiring and motivating.

If you are interested in the committee’s work or participating in its initiatives visit https://westfieldriverwildscenic.org/.

Meredyth Babcock, volunteer and projects coordinator for the Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee, gives us more information about Cindy.  “After more than 25 years of service to the people of Massachusetts, the Department of Environmental Restoration’s (DER) Cindy Delpapa retired in late 2021. Cindy brought wide and deep expertise in water quality, stream ecology, estuarine ecology, regulatory policy, and grass-roots action to the Riverways Program and DER. She focused on urban river revitalization, streamflow restoration, and water quality restoration; however, she was truly interdisciplinary, always asking herself what the rivers need and adapting her work accordingly. In addition to her subject matter expertise, Cindy brought exceptional compassion to her work.”

“Always modest, Cindy would be surprised to know that she was perceived as a role model and mentor by many at DER. Countless rivers and wetlands benefited from her restoration expertise. We miss her wisdom and knowledge daily and wish her the best in her new adventures.”

 

Advice on consuming our local fish

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health samples the water and fish throughout Massachusetts for high levels of mercury and forever chemicals known as PFAS. The Mass. DPH then issues advisories for what fish should not be eaten based on where they are caught.

Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that is found in the environment but can also be released by coal-burning power plants. Fish with mercury can still be consumed in some cases but should be limited to less meals per month.

PFAS, Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals that have been used since the 1950s for stain-resistant, water-resistant and non-stick products. PFAS are commonly used in food packaging, clothing and other products. One source of contamination has also come from firefighting foam. Consuming these forever chemicals over an unknown amount of time has been associated with increased levels of cholesterol and live enzymes as well as an increase in the risk of high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.

There is no way to remove these chemicals from fish already contaminated. They can not be cut, cleaned or cooked out, according to DPH.

The following bodies of water in Berkshire County have been issued advisories as of May 2024. If you are more sensitive to these types of hazards, it is recommended to avoid eating any of these fish:

Ashley Lake in Washington – Mercury Hazard – Limit Yellow Perch to 2 meals/month

Ashmere Lake in Hinsdale – Mercury Hazard – Limit Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass to 2 meals/month

Big Pond in Otis – Mercury Hazard – Do not eat Largemouth Bass, limit other fish to 2 meals/month

Buckley Dunton Lake in Becket – Mercury Hazard – Do not eat Largemouth Bass

Garfield Lake in Monterey – Mercury Hazard – Limit Largemouth Bass to 2 meals/month

Goodrich Pond in Pittsfield – PCBs Hazard – Do not eat any fish

Hoosic River in North Adams, Williamstown – PCBs, PFAS Hazard – Do not eat any fish

Housatonic River – PCBs Hazard – Do not eat any fish including frogs and turtles

Konkapot River in Sheffield, New Marlborough – Mercury Hazard – Limit all fish to 2 meals/months

Morewood Lake in Pittsfield – PCBs Hazard – Do not eat any fish

Otis Reservoir in Otis, Tolland – Mercury Hazard – Limit all fish to 2 meals/month

Plunkett Reservoir in Hinsdale – Mercury Hazard – Limit Largemouth Bass to 2 meals/month

Pontoosuc Lake in Pittsfield, Lanesborough – Mercury, PFAS – Limit Largemouth Bass to 2 meals/month, limit other fish to 2 meals/month

Silver Lake in Pittsfield – PCBs Hazard – Do not eat any fish

Upper Spectacle Pond in Otis, Sandisfield – PFAS Hazard – Limit all fish to 1 meal/week

Windsor Lake in Windsor – Mercury Hazard – Do not eat Largemouth Bass

The good news is that MassWildlife stocks local lakes and rivers with healthy trout twice a year which can be consumed.

Pittsfield Open Space & Recreation Survey

Pittsfield is updating its Open Space & Recreation Plan (OSRP) and needs your help. Your input will help guide the planning process and determine the future of recreation and open space in the city.  The plan will make Pittsfield eligible for state reimbursement grant programs for the improvement of recreation areas and the protection of open spaces.

The survey, which will be open from June 6 to July 7, has questions that may be of interest to Pittsfield hunters and fishermen, so you might want to make your voice heard.  The questionnaire is open to all residents, and responses will be confidential. Click onto https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PittsfieldOSRP.

Massachusetts joins national coalition to promote accessibility and innovation in outdoor recreation 

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The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently joined the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a national coalition of state governments, non-profits, and businesses to promote the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and outdoor-related activities. The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) joins 12 other state departments and organizations dedicated to fostering the economic development of more than 110,000 outdoor businesses and accessibility of outdoor recreation across the nation. As a member of the coalition, MOOR will convene regularly to identify challenges and solutions through innovative research and collaboratively sharing information on best practices within the field.

“Massachusetts is thrilled to join our industry, academic, and other state partners as a new member of ORR,” said MOOR Director Paul Jahnige. (It) was instrumental in the creation of MOOR and has already provided incredible models and tools for us to use, including advocacy and rural development tools and training.”

“It is an exciting day to bring Massachusetts into the fold as an ORR State Member,” said ORR Vice President of Programs Chris Perkins. “Director Paul Jahnige has wasted no time in developing forward-thinking initiatives to bolster the Bay State’s $11.8 billion outdoor recreation economy, and we are looking forward to supporting the Office’s future development and growth with research and industry partnerships.”

Established in December 2022, MOOR collaborates with agencies to promote activities across the state, including hunting, fishing, horseback riding, paddling, swimming, and more. Outdoor recreation is vital to the Massachusetts economy, contributing $11 billion to the economy, creating over 102,000 jobs, and boosting tourism. MOOR looks forward to collaborating closely with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable to implement strategic initiatives that drive economic growth, ensure equitable outdoor access for all, and improve public health in Massachusetts.  This announcement follows the hiring of Paul Jahnige as the state’s first Director of Outdoor Recreation

Trout Stockings

 

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked last week by MassWildlife:  West Branch of Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Middlefield and Huntington; East Branch of Westfield River in Savoy, Windsor, Cummington and Chesterfield; Mainstem of Westfield River in Huntington, Russell and Montgomery; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough, Laurel Lake, Richmond Pond, Pontoosuc Lake and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

 

How is climate change impacting our Berkshire lakes and ponds? 

On Wednesday, April 3 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, the Becket Conservation Commission and Becket Lakes & Ponds Association are sponsoring a free program that overviews how climate change is affecting our lakes and ponds, as well as other water resource areas, surrounding environment of trees and plants, and all wildlife that depend on them for their survival. The event will be held in the downstairs Community Room at the Becket Town Hall, 557 Main Street, Becket.

The panelists will be Bruce Winn – Berkshire Community College, Professor of Environmental Life Sciences, Emily Stockman – Stockman Associates, Owner and Senior Scientist and Joe Onorato – Water & Wetland owner Aquatic Specialist.

Refreshments will be provided.

Registration is required. Call Dave Johnson, Becket Conservation Chair: 978-424-5752

or email: CLIMATE PROGRAM or AIAINCDAJ@GMAIL.COM.  A zoom link will be posted on the BCC web page.

 

Basic Hunter Education course

 

Basic hunter education is mandatory for all first-time adult hunters. MassWildlife offers Basic Hunter Education in two formats. Each format covers the same material and students take the same final exam.

Blended: Students complete the online MA hunter study guide before attending one in-person Field Day.

 

In-person (traditional): Students attend an entirely in-person, instructor led course that is offered over multiple days.

 

All courses are free of charge and open to the public.

An in-person course is being offered at the Worthington Rod & Gun, 458 Dingle Rd (Route 112), Worthington, MA.  It will run for 4 nights: Monday, April 15, Tuesday April 16, Thursday April 18 and Friday, April 19.  All classes run from 5:30 to 9:00 pm.

Two blended courses are also being offered nearby:  One is at the Ashfield Rod & Gun Club, 161 North Street Plainfield, MA.  It runs on Saturday, April 6 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The other is at Westfield State University Horace Mann Center, 333 Western Avenue, Westfield, MA.  It runs on Sunday April 17 also from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

To enroll, call 508-389-7830 or click onto:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/basic-hunter-education-course for all the details.

Game dinner coming up

The Annual Popsie Goerlach Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 at the Stationery Factory in Dalton. Doors will open at 5:00 and dinner is at 6:00 pm. Last year they had almost 400 people attend and they’re hoping to do that again this year. They have a great menu lined up and some great prizes to give away, including a four-day Illinois Whitetail hunt, a Ravin crossbow, a Bowtech compound bow, and many other prizes. Tickets for the dinner and the raffle can be purchased online at https://www.12thman-goblue.com/2024-game-dinner

Gala event planned

 

On Saturday, April 6, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association/Ducks Unlimited (LSA/DU) 7th Annual Youth Sports Gala will take place at the Country Club in Pittsfield.  There will be raffles and live and silent auctions.  Doors open at 4:00 and dinner served is at 6:00 pm.  Tickets cost $125 per person and can be purchased at leesportsmen.com or mail from Lee Sportsmen’s Association, PO Box 175, Lee, MA.

 

Coles Memorial Ice Fishing Derby results

According to information posted on the Coles Memorial Ice Fishing Derby web page, the derby raised over $1,200 this year for the Goose Pond Boat Ramp project.  It is now complete and there will be a stone with a plaque going in this spring. After that, the original project will be complete, and the committee will be putting their energy towards figuring out what’s next. They thanked everyone who attended, donated and supported the event this year.

The ice fishing derby which started in 2020 is dedicated in Evan Scott Colbert’s memory who passed away in 2019 at the age of 29. He loved the outdoors and spent his leisure time fishing and boating. He could often be seen enjoying the waters of Goose Pond casting his reel while watching the eagles fly above.

Support endangered species at tax time

More than 430 plants and animals are listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. These rare species play an important role in keeping the Commonwealth’s natural communities thriving. You can make a difference by supporting endangered species conservation while filing your taxes this year. Simply look for Line 33A for Endangered Wildlife Conservation on your state tax form and write in any amount. Your meaningful donation will go to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund which is dedicated specifically to the conservation of rare species in the Commonwealth, such as the Shortnose Sturgeon (pictured).

In Massachusetts, Shortnose Sturgeon are currently found in the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers with historical occurrences in many coastal rivers around Massachusetts.

picture provided by Micah Keefer, USGeological Survey

Shortnose Sturgeon spawn in large freshwater rivers. They migrate from the mouths of rivers, traveling many miles to reach suitable spawning upstream. During non-spawning periods sturgeon often leave freshwater in pursuit of food resources in estuaries or along the coast and migrate between large river systems.  The migration of its population in the Connecticut River is restricted by hydroelectric dams making this population one of the few that lives only in freshwater.

Shortnose sturgeon can live up to 60 years and do not reach reproductive maturity until they are 10–12 years old.  That means their populations are likely slow to recover making them one of the most vulnerable freshwater fish species in Massachusetts

The major threats to this species are river habitat degradation and loss caused by dams, channel dredging, poor water quality, contaminants, fisheries bycatch, and incidental boating strikes.

Hydroelectric dams can alter water flow and sediment patterns impacting spawning success, fragment populations by limiting fish movement, and cause mortality if fish swim too near intake pipes and pass through turbines. Efforts to restore sturgeon migration and reconnect subpopulations are underway in the Connecticut River through the construction of fishways to aid upstream and downstream movement.

It is illegal to possess sturgeon. If you accidentally catch one while fishing, release it as gently and quickly as possible, even if you need to cut the line. Never take the fish out of the water.

Trout stocking has begun

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MassWildlife will stock over 500,000 brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout across Massachusetts this year.  About 455,000 will be stocked this spring and about 60,000 this fall.

According to MassWildlife officials, each year their hatcheries maximize trout production. They measure this as pounds of fish produced within the limits of the facilities. MassWildlife intentionally grows large trout to provide the best possible fishing for anglers. Their hatcheries raise the trout in five hatcheries in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague

They have been very successful at getting outstanding growth rates so the fish have been heavier over time. Pounds of fish produced has less meaning to anglers, so MassWildlife describes the hatchery production in numbers of fish based on weight samples. When the individual fish weighs more, the total number is lower. Production by weight within the hatcheries has stayed relatively consistent over time. You may also see them providing annual totals on the website or social media where they combine both the spring and fall numbers to say they’re stocking over 500,000 trout this year.

This year, 75% of the trout will be over 12 inches, and 40% will be over 14 inches.  Some 800 retired brood brown trout 18”+ inches and 600 retired brood brook trout will be stocked.  About 2,900 tiger trout will be over 14 inches.

The Western District usually gets about 20% of them.  Stocking has already begun in our district with the following waters scheduled to be stocked last week: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Farmington River in Otis, Sandisfield and Tolland; Lake Buel, Onota Lake and Stockbridge Bowl.  Please note: The stocking report is subject to change depending on staffing, equipment, and weather conditions.

MassWildlife has a map with all the fish stocking locations on its website.  There are red dots on the map indicating waters that will be stocked this spring. When stocking begins, the red dots will turn to black push-pins to show where trout have been stocked.

If you are looking for stocking information for a particular waterbody or town, use the table. Type the name of the waterbody or town into the search window to find all stocking reports for that location. You can also sort based on an attribute including town, waterbody, or type of fish.

If you prefer, you can get a list of all 2024 stocked waters.

The waters are cold this time of year.

If you fish from a boat and capsize or fall overboard, you can develop hypothermia within minutes. Hypothermia, the lowering of your internal body temperature, can make it difficult for you to swim, paddle, or stay afloat. A sudden, unexpected fall into cold water can also cause you to involuntarily gasp and ingest water, which can lead to death by drowning. Your life jacket may not prevent hypothermia, but it will help you stay afloat, and it can save your life. Boating fatality victims were often not wearing life jackets.

Safety advocates recommend all boaters and passengers have a life jacket and wear it at all times while boating, especially youths under 12 years old.

In Massachusetts, life jackets must be worn by canoeists and kayakers from September 15 to May 15

Black bears are here

MasssWildlife is warning residents that black bears are waking up this month and they’re hungry.  They urge people to take down bird feeders, secure trash bins, and watch out for their pets.

Governor Healey holding a bear cub.. Photo taken by Joshua Qualls of the Governor office

While we are on the subject of bears, Governor Maura Healey recently accompanied MassWildlife biologists during a visit to a black bear den that is part of ongoing research. Each winter, state biologists visit the dens of female black bears (sows) with radio tracking collars to assess the health and number of new cubs. The study provides critical information about the growing bear population in Massachusetts.

Governor Healey, First Partner Joanna Lydgate, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper, Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea, and MassWildlife Director Mark Tisa were able to get an up-close look at the sow and her three cubs located at a den after trained staff immobilized the adult animal.

“We had a great time learning from our wildlife experts and getting to know our bear neighbors,” said Governor Healey. “Massachusetts is home to an impressive variety of habitats and wildlife. We are committed to using the best possible science to conserve biodiversity in Massachusetts. This black bear research is a great example of how we are making that happen.”

“MassWildlife’s black bear research program is the longest of its kind in New England,” said Secretary Tepper. “The goal is to understand bear behavior, population size, and movements across Massachusetts. We’re grateful to our skilled guides and experts who showed us how we care for our bear population.”

“It was an honor to have Governor Maura Healey join us to highlight MassWildlife’s important black bear research program,” said Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “Despite Massachusetts being the third most densely populated state in the country, black bear populations are thriving and have expanded their range as far east as the Rte. 495 corridor. Collecting this vital data helps MassWildlife understand populations, educate the public, and minimize conflicts with these important creatures.”

“We know that bears will frequent neighborhoods where they find human-associated foods,” said MassWildlife’s Black Bear Project Leader Dave Wattles. “Our goal is to keep these impressive animals wild by understanding their movements and by encouraging people to take actions like removing bird feeders and securing trash in their yards.”

While at the den, biologists checked the health of the cubs and mother and replaced the sow’s GPS tracking collar. Signals from the collar are used throughout the year to see whether bears are using natural areas or developed, residential areas. After all the data was collected from the sow and cubs, biologists carefully returned the bears to their den and left the area. Many black bears are becoming more active during this time of year, but sows with cubs remain in their dens for several more weeks. Learn more about black bears in Massachusetts at www.mass.gov/bears.

Fly Fishing Film Tour

 

On Sunday, March 24 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be presenting the 2024 Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Images Cinema, 50 Spring Street, Williamstown. Tickets which cost $15.00 can be purchased at (https://www.imagescinema.org/movie/2024-international-fly-fishing-film-festival).

 

Last year they filled the Cinema, so make sure you get your tickets early.  Also, get to the theater early to participate in the auctions and raffles.  The film starts at 2:00 pm.

 

Proceeds from this event help Taconic TU focus on conservation of our Berkshire County cold-water fisheries. This year they plan to monitor temperatures in the Hoosic River, add woody debris to strategic locations to encourage fish spawning and life, and joining the Hoosic River Watershed Association in continued bacteria sampling.

 

Following the film, there will be a Pizza Party sponsored by Cheeky Fly Fishing of North Adams.

 

Questions about the upcoming events:  taconictu@gmail.com.

 

Culverts and free flowing waterways

 

Free-flowing waterways provide better habitat for many wildlife species, especially cold-water fish species.  Culverts can be a detriment and obstacle to fish and other aquatic animals, often preventing them from freely moving upstream or downstream. A major problem with many culverts is that they were not designed with wildlife in mind or as a priority. They are often too small, restricting nutrient flow and causing flooding; other times, they might be “perched,” (elevated above the water’s surface), making fish migration difficult at best and sometimes impossible.

 

For this reason, the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT has been working to survey stream crossings in Berkshire County using the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) protocol. This spring BEAT will offer training to anyone interested in conducting volunteer fieldwork by surveying culverts and road-stream crossings throughout the County. These surveys help determine what culverts and crossings need attention and prioritize those that need to be fixed sooner rather than later.

On Tuesday, March 19 at 6:00 pm BEAT and UMass Extension Professor Scott Jackson will host an online public info session dealing with hands-on volunteer fieldwork and why the NAACC was formed, the importance of doing this work, and what the training will entail. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/NAACC-info-session

Study shows trouble for Adirondack brook trout

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There are quite a few local anglers who travel to the Adirondacks to fish.  Some are fly fishermen who fish the rivers, such as the Au Sable, Saranac, Salmon and others.  Some fish the lakes such as Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain, Great Sacandaga, Lake George and others.  A few fish for brook trout in the smaller ponds in the Adirondacks.

Unfortunately, a study recently published by the National Academy of Sciences does not paint a rosy picture for the future of Adirondack brook trout populations in lakes.  The study, titled “Concurrent warming and browning eliminate cold-water fish habitat in many temperate lakes,” explores how trout habitat is impacted by two water quality variables — climate warming and lake browning.   Lake browning occurs when dissolved organic matter from forests turns the water tea-brown, thus making the bottom of most lakes in the Adirondacks unlivable for cold water species such as trout and salmon during the summer.

A research group from Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute learned that only about 5% of Adirondack lakes may continue to maintain water that is cold and oxygenated enough to support cold-water species given current trends. That is a significant decrease from the 1980s, when 23% of those lakes contained suitable habitat. The study provides insights into changes in key ecosystem dynamics with potential consequences for the future of temperate lakes in the Adirondacks as well as elsewhere in northeastern North America and parts of Europe.

This is not a problem in lakes categorized as “very clear.”   Little or no browning keeps the water column cool during the critical months of summer. Unfortunately, most lakes in the Adirondacks do not fall into the “very clear” category.

After a few more decades of browning, most Adirondack lakes will become either too warm or too deoxygenated to support trout populations,” said. Dr. Peter McIntyre,  associate professor in the departments of Natural Resources and the Environment and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. “This is a radical departure from the past, when trout fisheries in numerous lakes were celebrated by locals and tourists alike.”

It’s imperative that we protect the modest number of buffered lakes in the Adirondacks from species invasions, nutrient and salt pollution, and other forms of environmental degradation,” said Stephen Jane. (former Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences).

“Increased browning is an unfortunate legacy of a century of acid rain, despite the prominent reduction in new acid inputs over the last few decades. As acidity has declined, ecosystems have become more productive at the same time that soils have suffered reduced capacity to absorb weak organic acids.  This leads to more dissolved plant matter flowing through the watershed into lakes, making them browner. Also, climate change has increased both the frequency of extreme precipitation events and the length of growing seasons, thereby promoting further runoff of organic matter.”

Browner water creates greater heat trapping at the top of a lake, as the sun’s rays are absorbed by the organic compounds in the water, leading to warming. At the same time, brown water blocks those rays from dispersing through the water column, which concentrates all solar heating in a shallow layer of warm, less-dense water that sits on top of the colder water layer below.

“In a recent study, sensors were placed in 15 Adirondack lakes which measured dissolved oxygen and temperature throughout each lake’s water column. The sensors collected measurements hourly from June through mid-October. “That enabled them to get really high-resolution maps of the habitat within the water column that would be suitable for brook trout,” Jane said.

“They measured rates of browning in a set of lakes with decades of historical data. These data enabled them to calculate relationships between browning and the gradients of temperature and oxygen levels with depth during the summer season. They applied their statistical findings to an existing database of 1,467 Adirondack lakes, and calculated which lakes contained potentially stressful conditions for trout over the summer period, based on understanding of the fish’s thermal and oxygen tolerances

For almost 95% of the lakes in the Adirondacks, any further browning is going to be harmful to these cold-water species,” Jane said.

During the summer, the water separates into different zones, with warm water on the surface and cold water on the bottom. The layer suitable for trout is called the oxythermal layer, and it is located somewhere in the middle. Oxythermal means warm and well-oxygenated, and the greater the span of this layer, the better it is for the trout.  The data suggests that future prospects of oxythermal habitat are bleak because deep lakes are rare and dissolved oxygen concentrations in most lakes were high enough to produce a substantial net loss of suitable oxythermal habitat under observed rates of browning.

The researchers determined that lakes are becoming increasingly “squeezed” by browning. This means that the deep, hypoxic bottom layer is expanding upward, cutting into the oxythermal layer and reducing the trout habitat.

According to the report, “Browning-induced heat trapping at the surface of Adirondack lakes has led to surface warming rates more than double the average rates reported for temperate lakes worldwide and more than 180% faster declines in deep-water dissolved oxygen.”

The study suggests that most Adirondack lakes right now are already poorly suited for trout, and further disruption of habitat will continue to threaten the future of trout populations.

Not good news for those beautiful brook trout.

Certain information was obtained from an article written by Krishna Ramanujan of the Cornell Chronicle entitled Most Adirondack lakes will likely become unsuitable for trout.

 

Identifying trees and shrubs in Winter

 

Do you find that identifying a tree during winter time to be a daunting endeavor? With the absence of leaves, flowers, and fruit, it can appear as though there are no distinguishable characteristics to help with identification. But according to Chelsey Simmons of Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) this is far from true.

 

Chelsey says that winter is an excellent time to learn how to identify woody plant species. The absence of leaves allows for the opportunity to take a closer look at the characteristics that are often overlooked, like the subtle features of a twig, the arrangement of buds, and the overall form and structure of a tree.

 

On Wednesday, February 14 at 6:00 pm, you are invited to join Chelsey for the February Berkshire Green Drinks virtual event to explore the buds, twigs, and bark of common trees seen in our New England landscape.  She will go over the steps to tree identification, break down twig morphology, and give helpful hints on remembering one species from another — all of which will aid in tree and shrub identification year-round.

 

The presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom.   Registration is required to receive the meeting link. Register at: http://tinyurl.com/Feb2024-Berks-Green-Drinks

 

For the past few years, she’s been working on an identification book of trees and shrubs found in western Massachusetts, meticulously drawing and painting each page by hand and sharing those pages with the public through BEAT’s “Tree of the Month” series with the hope of getting people excited about trees and interested in the native species found in our region.

 

Knox Trail Chapter Whitetails Unlimited Banquet

On Saturday, February 10, the Knox Trail Chapter of WU will be holding a fundraiser banquet at the Knox Trail Inn, Rte. 23, East Otis, MA.  Games/drawings/Social Hour begins at 12:00 pm and dinner at 1:30 pm.  Tickets cost $50 each.  The ticket order deadline is February 9. For more information, contact Bill Bailey at 413-244-2304.

The Grassroots Program provides the primary financial support for conservation projects funded by WU, and to date over $125.9 million has been expended on program services that enhance and foster their mission.  The Berkshires has often benefitted from their services.  Tickets can be bought and printed online at whietailsunlimited.com

Ice fishing derby rescheduled

The Lanesboro Volunteer Fire Association’s ice fishing derby which was scheduled for today (February 3) has been rescheduled due to possibly dangerous ice conditions.  It is now scheduled for Saturday, February 24 from 6:00am to 12:00pm on Pontoosuc Lake.  Entry fee is $15 for adults, kids 12 and under enter free.  You must register behind the park on Narragansett Avenue.  The entry fee includes a chance at a door prize.  There will be cash prizes and free coffee and cocoa.  The raffle ticket drawing follows the derby.

A look back at 2023 Berkshire Woods and Waters columns

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The year 2023 is now history.  So, what were some of the major articles this column covered last year?

Well, things started off on a sad note.  In January we learned that local flyfishing legend Fred Moran of Adams passed beyond the riverbend.

More than 700 lbs of venison were distributed and provided meals for people throughout the state in 2022.

A total of 223 black bears were taken during the combined 2022 bear hunting seasons. This was the second highest in the last 5 years and the 6th highest overall. Some 79 bears were taken in Berkshire County. The 2022 deer harvest set a record at 5,853 deer. That harvest highlighted the growing deer abundance statewide and increased access to permits. Some 3,067 turkeys were harvested statewide in 2022, 2,837 in the spring hunt and 230 in the fall hunt.

There was a 3-way tie in the MassWildlife Youth Catch & Keep Angler of the Year 2022, Carter Flagg of Gill, and Logan Middlebrook and Gabriel Christman of Pittsfield. Logan caught the gold pin brown trout weighing 3 lbs. 6 oz out of Onota Lake and Gabriel caught the gold pin 3 lbs. 5 oz rainbow trout out of Stockbridge Bowl.  Gabriel also caught a gold pin white perch weighing 1 lb. 4 oz out of Pontoosuc Lake.

Other gold pin fish that were caught out of Berkshire waters last year were:

  • Adult Catch & Keep Category – A 3 lbs. 5 oz brook trout was caught out of Goose Pond by Allan Armstrong of Lee.
  • Catch & Release Category – Two 44-inch northern pike were caught out of Onota Lake.  One was caught by Seth Davis of Oxbridge and one caught by Jake Burke of Pittsfield. Another gold pin fish caught out of Onota was a 23.25- inch white catfish which was caught by Jason Wingrove of Bernardston.

 

Four area outdoor sportspeople/conservationists received prestigious awards at the Silvio O. Conte Awards Banquet which was sponsored by the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLA):

  • Stephen Sears of Dalton received the Sportsman of the Year Award.
  • The late Fred Moran received the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.
  • Joel Miraglia of Ashfield received the Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award.
  • Eric Dupont of Lee received the John Zuber Award for all that he does for the youth programs at the Lee Sportsmen’s Association.

 

MassWildlife submitted comments to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental and Energy Affairs and MA Environmental Policy Act Office regarding a proposed Pontoosuc Lake drawdown.  MassWildlife’s position is that it alters and causes harm to biological resources without substantive justification or full consideration of alternative approaches with less impact to the biological resources.

Governor Maura Healey made a campaign promise to pause logging on state-owned forest land

 

In March 23, Dan Aitken of Pittsfield caught a 16 lbs 14 oz tiger muskie that measured 45 inches.  Unbelievably, Dan had caught an even heavier fish, a Northern Pike, out of Onota Lake just the week before on March 17. That fish weighed 22 lbs 5 oz and measured 43 inches long.

Local fly fisherman Marc Hoechstetter wrote an article about his experiences fishing the Hideaway Pool on the Deerfield River.

 

Beginning in 2023 two new fish species (Fallfish and White Sucker) were included in the MA Freshwater Sportfish Awards Program.

In May we documented the tale of two youth turkey hunters 13-year old Hunter Lawson of Williamstown and 17-year old Matthew Melito, of Adams.  Both got two turkeys on their first day ever of turkey hunting.

 

In May, Tom O’Shea was appointed Commissioner of the MA Department of Fish & Game replacing outgoing Commissioner Ron Amidon.

MassWildlife added 125 acres in Cummington adjacent to Route 9.  They also partnered with Berkshire Natural Resource Council, DCR, and the Department of Conservation Services to protect more than 750 acres in the towns of Tyringham and Monterey.

A Commemorative plaque was dedicated…. after 49 years.  Appreciation was shown for a land donation which was made to the Town of Lenox in 1974 by the late Robert and Olga Weiss of Lenox

 

Governor Healey’s office announced $500,000 state grants to five coalitions and four individual non-profit watershed organizations across the state to support monitoring water quality. Three local organizations received them, The Housatonic Valley Association – $48,605, The Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited – $26,007 and The Farmington River Watershed Association – $13,378.

 “An unforgettable Opening Day on the River.” Bill Hollister, formerly of Pittsfield, narrated how he helped save a man from drowning in the West Branch of the Housatonic River in 1950.

 

MassWildlife led a cleanup of the George Darey Wildlife Management Area as well as certain areas along Roaring Brook Road in Lenox.

Based on studies, we learned that most brown trout in the Deerfield River are wild, not stocked

 

Changes in goose hunting season, one being the extension of its season date which would run from January 1 through February 15.

 

In June, the Pediatric Palliative Care Program, part of Hospice Care in the Berkshire, enjoyed the BCLS sponsored Youth Outreach Derby on Reynolds Pond in Cheshire.

The 2023 Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby drew about 300 fishermen and raised over $10,000 for the fight against cancer.

 

In June there was an article about Paul Knauth (Hinsdale) and me chronicling a wonderful flyfishing trip to the Catskills and epic battles fought with large trout. None were landed.

 

Naturewatch columnist Thom Smith retired.

 

Wildlife officials wondered whether we could reverse the trend of dwindling hunting and fishing participants.

 

In recognition of his 35 years of dedicated and effective conservation work, an asteroid was named after Dr. Thomas W. French, the founding leader and former Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP).

Local recipients of the Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grant Program were: Egremont: $48,811 for Karner Brook Culvert Replacement, Richmond:  $55,200 for Sleepy Hollow Road Culvert Replacement, Great Barrington:  $55,933 for Housatonic River Tributary Culvert Replacement, Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Restoration Partnership, Housatonic Valley Association, awarded $199,899.

Environmental Police Officer Lt. Tara Carlow received the Outstanding Officer of The Year Award in Conservation Law Enforcement and Public Safety.

 

New proposed gun control law (HD.4420) drew fire from hunters and legal shooting enthusiasts.

 

Alice Christman of Pittsfield caught a 42 1/2 inch pike weighing just short of 14lbs.

 

It was a great hunting year for young Hunter Lawson.  In addition to the two turkeys that he got earlier in the year, he also got a black bear

 

In October a column heading was “Back to Battle on flyfishing trip to the Catskill.  This scribe’s attempt to catch a big brown trout that defeated him in June.  After it cleaned my clock again, it took on the name of Iron Mike. (Named after Heavyweight Champion boxer Mike Tyson who trained in the Catskills).

In October we learned about local MassWildlife firefighter Jacob Morris-Siegel’s trip to Montana to fight the wildfires.

 

here was an article about a new turkey license plate that is on the horizon.

Sportsmen and women were recognized by New England governors as America’s true conservationists.

 

The 2023 MA paraplegic hunt harvested 10 deer, only 1 in the Berkshires

 

In November, four instructors from MassWildlife conducted a Field Day for its Basic Hunter Education Course at the Stationery Factory in Dalton.  49 students passed the course.

In November over 30 individuals participated in a fly tying/fly fishing event at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery

picture provided by Peter Paulson

In December, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced an investment of $25 million to remove eight aging dams in Central and Western Massachusetts, including the abandoned high-hazard Bel Air Dam in Pittsfield

Charles Wohl of Lenox was

Charles Wohl photo provided by Gene Chague

awarded Trout Unlimited Crooked Staff Award.

In December, local photographer Mark Thorne reported that T98, the 21 ½ year old female bald eagle, went missing.

Many thanks for reading this column last year.  I look forward to continuing writing about our woods and waters in the new year.

Massachusetts to receive $3.5 million to improve habitat for imperiled species

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The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) joined by the U.S. Department of the

Interior, through the Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture through

the Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Department of

Defense through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program and

Native Americans in Philanthropy announced 74 new grants totaling $141.3 million

through the 2023 America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC). The 74 awards leveraged more

than $12.1 million in matching funds from grantees, providing a total conservation impact greater than $153.4 million.

 

The ATBC encourages applicants to develop diverse landscape-level projects that address

priority conservation and restoration needs, showcase cumulative benefits to fish and

wildlife, enhance carbon sequestration and storage, engage with and benefit underserved

communities, connect people with nature, and help safeguard ecosystems and communities

through resilience-focused and nature-based solutions.

 

Specifically, the ATBC funds projects within one or more of the following overarching themes:

  • Conserving and restoring rivers, coasts, wetlands and watersheds
  • Conserving and restoring forests, grasslands and other important ecosystems that serve as carbon sinks
  • Connecting and reconnecting wildlife corridors, large landscapes, watersheds and seascapes
  • Improving ecosystem and community resilience to flooding, drought and other climate-

related threats

  • Expanding access to the outdoors, particularly in underserved communities

 

Of the $141.3 million, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) will receive $3,500,000 and when added to $388,900 matching state funds the total amount totals $3,888,900.  The funds will be used for aquatic connectivity for imperiled species in Massachusetts.  They will be used to restore floodplains benches, riparian forests and aquatic connectivity within three river basins in the Appalachian Highlands in Massachusetts. The project will improve habitat and corridors from the southern Berkshires to the Connecticut River Valley, enhance critical connections between two key tributaries and provide critical habitat for numerous imperiled species, including the dwarf wedgemussel and shortnose sturgeon.

 

Could deer hunting in January be the solution?

 

Its no secret that the eastern part of Massachusetts has way too many deer for its own good. According to MassWildlife the ideal number of deer per square mile is 12 to 18.  However; in some areas in the eastern part of Massachusetts and on the islands, the count is around 30 to 50.  Even though they are issuing unlimited antlerless deer permits in zones 10, 11, 13 and 14 not enough deer are being removed from the population to stabilize or reduce deer numbers.

To quote MassWildlife, “When deer numbers exceed human tolerance, they are often viewed as pests and can cause public safety issues and property damage. Additionally, when deer numbers exceed what the habitat can support, forest health can be severely degraded and negatively impact other animals and plants.”

The number of deer/vehicle accidents there must be much higher than around here in the Berkshires as well as the incidences of deer tick related illnesses.  In southeast Massachusetts, farmer’s crops are prime targets and they are petitioning the Fish & Wildlife Board as well as the State Legislators to do something about it such as allowing more deer to be harvested on their lands.

Much of this problem is brought on by the fact that towns are prohibiting hunting which is perhaps MassWildlife’s main tool to control deer numbers. There have been attempts to allow hunting on Sundays to help control the numbers, but so far, the Legislature has failed to act upon them.  Massachusetts and Maine are the only two states which have not repealed the archaic blue laws and still don’t allow Sunday hunting.

One thing which MassWildlife may want to consider is to do what NY is doing.  In Suffolk County (Long Island) they allow firearm and archery deer hunting from Sunday, January 7 through January 31, 2024 including the weekends.  It is applicable only on lands with at least 10 acres in size, with a signed landowner’s endorsement and a town permit where required.  Deer may only be taken with a shotgun using a single slug, a muzzleloading rifle or pistol shooting a single projectile or by archery.

All hunters are required to have a Department of Environmental Conservation-Managed Lands Access Permit to hunt on those properties.

In Tompkins County (near Ithica, NY), they have a  Deer Management Focus Area  (DMFA) season which allows hunters to hunt antlerless deer only (limit 2 per day) during that season from January 13-31, 2024. During the DMFA season, a hunter may use any hunting implement that is lawful during any other deer season in that area.

Perhaps a new hunting season such as this might be something the MA Fish & Wildlife Board and our legislators may want to consider as a way to help get a handle on the serious deer overpopulation in the previously mentioned eastern zones.

Onota Lake female bald eagle disappeared

Local outdoor photographer Mark Thorne of Pittsfield emailed me that “The long reigning queen of the nest, seems to have been “replaced” by a new, younger female.”  Wearing band #T98, she had been here since 2007 and is believed to be 21 ½ years old.   Mark has no idea how it happened and what T98’s status is.  The resident male, wearing gold band  #WR8, that battled for this nest in 2012, is still around and seems to have bonded with the new female.  He is 17-1/2 years old this year. Since the new female is not banded there’s no way to know her age”.

T98 female eagle, photo provided by Mark Thorne

 

Debbie Storie from Lanesboro, who also monitors and photographs these birds, notified Mark around Thanksgiving.  She sent her photos to him and he went this past week and verified it. “We knew it would happen someday, but we may never know what exactly happened to T98 unless someone sees her flying around, or finds her body and reports the band number.” said Mark.

What a legacy she left though.   Mark recorded at least 14 confirmed chicks fledged from this single nest during her tenure from 2007 to 2023, and he’s sure there were more that he missed because his photo records were not reliable for 2008-10 and 2016).

Thank you, Mark Thorne, for sharing the above information.

According to DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden, she was banded as a chick in Dutchess County, NY in 2002.

So long #T98, and thanks for the memories.

Preliminary bear harvest numbers

 

According to bear harvest figures provided by Andrew Madden, the preliminary results of the black bear hunting season show that 245 bears were harvested statewide by hunters in 2023; verses 223 last year.

 

Some 118 of them were taken in the September season which was the 2nd lowest in the last decade for that season. Madden suggests that this was probably due to heat and rainy weekends during that season.

 

In the November season, 50 bears were harvested, which was the second highest for that season. The shogun deer season yielded 77 bears taken which was also the second highest for that season.

 

Overall, 2023 yielded the 4th highest total harvest (combining all seasons). The county breakdown was as follows: Berkshire 80, Franklin 54, Hampden 44, Hampshire 49, Worcester 14, Middlesex 3, Plymouth 1.

 

Madden emphasized that these results are preliminary and there could be several reported at off-line check stations that have not been taken into account.

 

Bunnies want your used Christmas trees

The Berkshire Beagle Club will once again be accepting used and unsold Christmas trees at its club at 380 Sleepy Hollow Road, Richmond.  There should be an A frame sign by the drop spot, or just put them to the right of the driveway as you pull in. The bunnies nibble on the branches and use them to provide cover from predator raptors.  Please make sure to remove all tinsel, angle hair and other decorations and ornaments because the bunnies have a tendency to eat them and can die from their ingestion. And please no plastic or metal trees.

2024 hunting and fishing licenses are available

Normally, at this time of year I remind sportsmen and sportswomen to get their new fishing or sporting licenses before going out on their traditional New Year’s Day ice fishing trip. Well, with the climate change going on, it appears those days may be over.  Instead, I guess you could go bunny hunting provided you purchased your hunting or sporting license.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Primitive Firearms Deer Hunting season opens Monday

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The shotgun deer hunting and late bear hunting seasons end this weekend, but the Primitive Firearm deer hunting season opens on Monday, December 11 and ends on Saturday, December 30. During the Primitive Deer Hunting season, hunters must use a muzzleloader firearm or archery equipment, and must comply with abstracts listed in the 2023 MA Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regulations.

items needed to black powder hunt. Picture provided by MassWildlife

Hunters must use shoulder-fired muzzleloaders .44 caliber to .775 caliber; barrel length 18 inches or more with only one barrel operational. Inline ignition systems are permitted provided the firearm loads from the muzzle. Single projectile only (no buckshot). Sabot rounds, 209 primers, break/hinge-action muzzleloaders, and scopes are permitted. Powder is limited to black powder or black powder substitutes.

A muzzleloader is considered unloaded when the cap or pan powder is removed.

All primitive firearms deer hunters must comply with the 500 square inch blaze orange requirement. A primitive firearm stamp is required.

Hunters may also archery hunt during the primitive firearm season.  There are certain regulations which govern archery hunting, so be sure to review them in the above-mentioned regulations. A primitive firearm stamp is required for archers, too.

Hunters can report their deer harvest online rather than an official check-in station.  It must be reported within 48 hours of harvest.

For some of us, muzzleloader (black powder) deer hunting is even more enjoyable than shotgun hunting.  There is something about it.  Perhaps it’s a link to the hunters of bygone years.  Perhaps it’s the challenge of having only one shot to get the deer.  About the only drawback, other than the cold and keeping the gun powder dry, is the fact that bucks sometimes drop their antlers in late December.  Unless one possesses an antlerless deer permit, it is illegal to shoot them.  An antlered buck, as allowed by the Hunting abstracts, is that at least one antler must be 3 or more inches long.

Sometimes a doe will have antlers causing difficulty in distinguishing it at a distance.  Therefore, it is legal to harvest a doe with antlers but it must be tagged with an antlered deer tag.

Here’s hoping the hunters have a safe, enjoyable primitive firearms hunting season and remember, keep your powder dry.

Some small game hunting resumes on December 11, such as pheasant hunting, which now runs until December 30.  Also, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare and gray squirrel hunting seasons resume on the 11th and run until February 29, 2024.  For the hardy waterfowlers, the regular Canada goose hunting season resumes on December 11 and runs until December 14.  The duck hunting season in the Berkshires resumes on December 11 and runs until December 30.  Be sure to check the 2023-2024 Migratory Game Bird Regulations.

Dangerous dam to be removed

The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced an investment of $25 million to remove eight aging dams in Central and Western Massachusetts, including the abandoned high-hazard Bel Air Dam in Pittsfield. Removing these hazardous and aging dams will restore fish and other wildlife habitat, increase biodiversity, improve water quality, promote climate resiliency, and make communities safer.

“This summer, we saw firsthand the catastrophic impacts of severe flooding and the stress and pressure it puts on our dams. Our administration recognizes the severe threats these dams pose to our cities and towns, and we are taking swift action to remove these obsolete structures,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This is a lifesaving investment that will protect our residents’ and communities’ safety and security.”

The projects are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Of the $25 million, $20 million will support the removal of Bel Air Dam, and $5 million will go toward the removal of seven dams located in areas managed by the DFW (MassWildlife), one of them being the Weston Brook Dam in Windsor. Weston Brook, which is located in the Chalet Wildlife Management Area, doesn’t impound much water but is a fish passage barrier on a cold water stream. The project is more about habitat restoration than safety.

This year’s damaging storms emphasized that we have to move with urgency,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As we continue to experience more frequent severe weather events, it is vital that we address the infrastructure that is most impacted. We are putting this money to work to make our communities more resilient to climate change.”

“With the extreme rainfall this year, we have seen firsthand how important a well-functioning dam system is for the safety of our communities and preservation of our natural resources,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “This funding to remove the hazardous dam will ensure that we can protect the downstream community, restore the natural environment, and enable us to rededicate our resources to ensuring other dam infrastructure is in good condition.”

“The Department of Fish & Game has a special responsibility to be stewards of our rivers and streams for the fish and wildlife that depend on them,” said DFG Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “Dam removal is greatly beneficial to wildlife and one of the keys to improving native biodiversity.”

“During my administration, we have developed great partners at all levels of government. The Bel Air Dam removal project is another example of what we have been able to accomplish when we are all working towards the same goal. I am grateful for the continued support of the Healey-Driscoll administration as we make improvements to environmental quality throughout Pittsfield,” said Mayor Linda M. Tyer.

The removal of the Bel Air Dam will reduce the risk of downstream flooding related to the dam’s failure. The potential flooding would affect nearly 500 parcels of land, including residential, business, commercial, and industrial areas located within the low-income community downstream, as well as impact five bridges in the inundation area. A dam failure could potentially cause loss of life and substantial damage to buildings, roadways, and other infrastructure in the city. It could also put the health of the community at risk by exposing them to sediment contaminants, including lead and chromium.

As part of dam removal and site restoration, DCR will manage contaminated sediment accumulated at Bel Air Dam and dispose of them off-site to reduce the risk of adverse public health effects in the surrounding community.

Junior Duck Stamp contest

There is still time to enter the Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) contest. Students from kindergarten through grade 12 can submit original artwork to participate in this fun and educational competition. The entry deadline is February 15, 2024. The process of creating these works of art allows students to appreciate the importance of preserving wetland habitats and the delights and diversity of wildlife. “Even if students do not enter the competition, science and art teachers will value the JDS curriculum as a useful resource,” advises MassWildlife’s Education Coordinator, Pam Landry.

The JDS program links the study of wetlands and waterfowl conservation with the creation of original artwork. Students in grades K-12 learn about the habitat requirements of various kinds of ducks and geese and then express their knowledge of the beauty, diversity, and interdependence of these species artistically, by creating a drawing or painting which can be submitted to the JDS art contest. The art is judged in four age group categories in a statewide competition; the entry judged Best of Show moves on to represent Massachusetts in the national JDS competition.

For more information contact Pam Landry at pam.landry@mass.gov.

 

2024 Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Laws are now available

Commonly called “the abstracts” they are available in the usual places. The booklet has a cover picture of a big black bear.

New regulations for 2024 are as follows:

  • The archery deer and fall wild turkey seasons now open two weeks earlier in Wildlife Management Zones 1-9.
  • MA Share the Harvest- With the support of donors, hunters who donate their entire deer pay no processing or packaging fees. Hunters who donate a portion of their deer will pay a discounted processing rate, depending on the amount donated.
  • MA is now part of the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact. If any individual’s recreational licenses are suspended in any other US state due to the violation of reciprocal hunting, fishing or trapping laws, their privileges in MA are also suspended and vice versa.
  • A Youth Catch-and-Release category has been added to the Freshwater Sportfishing Award’s Program. Also, two new species – fallfish and white sucker – have been added.

Unsettled weather greeted deer hunters last Monday

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Stormy weather greeted The opening day of shotgun deer hunting was an interesting one for me this year.  First it rained so I hung around the house to see what would happen weatherwise.  Then the sun came out and off I went hunting.

I no sooner arrived at my destination in Hancock, when it suddenly got cloudy, raw, and quite windy.  On the way up the mountain, I met a hunter coming down.  He said that he didn’t see a thing, not even a “tweety bird.” We chatted a while and said while deer hunting here, his wife contacted him to tell him that a big buck was standing right in his driveway in Savoy.  After a chuckle, we parted and I continued up the mountain. When I got to a location to my liking, I sat down on a stump which became my deer stand.

Then, all of a sudden, the wind blew in a thick fog and immediately it started to rain.  A few minutes after that, it started sleeting and then hail was pelting my face.  What’s going on?  Then it started to seriously snow and that along with the fog caused a white-out.  I couldn’t see more than 100 feet in front of me. A check of the weather on my cell phone revealed that it was 40 degrees in nearby Pittsfield.

Well, I had learned my lesson in the past about hunting in heavy fog and getting turned around. This day I was glad my deer stand was within sight of the trail on which I walked in.  No way was I going to get turned around and lost in this fog today.  But then I wondered, what if I shoot and wound a deer and he runs some distance and, because of the thick fog, couldn’t find him.  Also, would I even be able to find my way back to the trail?  I decided that If I had a shot at a deer, I would make darn sure I aimed in a vital area and hopefully drop it right there on the spot.

While contemplating all of this, I decided to have a cup of coffee.  My thermos was in my backpack lying on the ground nearby.  Would you believe that even though it’s color is hunter orange, it was completely covered with snow and nearly invisible.  I’ll bet I looked like a snowman sitting on that stump.  It was at that time that I discovered that I had forgotten to bring my lunch.

Around noon, it cleared up a bit and I decided to move around checking for deer signs.  No signs whatsoever – no tracks, no rubs and no scrapes.  It seemed like I was the only person on that mountain which meant there was no one else to get the deer moving.  Perhaps the weird weather scared them away.  So, I decided to call it quits around 1:00 pm.

While driving home, the sun came out and it turned out to be a beautiful day.  Go figure.

Well, I’m glad somebody had some luck.  According to preliminary figures provided by MassWildlife, 325 or so deer were taken in the Western District during the first three days of hunting.  Some 89 deer were taken in South County.  Nate Buckhout, DFW Wildlife Biologist who covered the Mill River General Store check station reported that there were four 10-pointer bucks checked in so far.  Some weights reported were 183, 187, 192 and 193 lbs bucks.

 

Deer checked in at the DFW Fish & Wildlife Headquarters in Dalton included a 178 lbs, 8-pointer taken in Savoy, a 178 lbs, 8-pointer taken in West Stockbridge, a 180 lbs, 10-pointer taken in Becket, a 190 lbs, 8 pointer taken in Cheshire, a 170 lbs, 8 pointer taken in Savoy, a 179 lbs, 8-pointer taken in Hinsdale and a 191 lbs, 7 pointer was taken in Lanesborough.

Those were field dressed certified weights. To determine the estimated live weight, multiply field dressed weight by 1.26.  For example, that above referenced 193 lbs. buck probably weighed around 243 lbs. on the hoof.

Detailed figures for the other deer check stations were not available as of Thursday.

Hunter Ed

 

On Sunday, November 19, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, four instructors from MassWildlife conducted a Field Day for its Basic Hunter Education Course at the Stationery Factory in Dalton.

Picture of Todd Olanyk teaching hunter ed class

The Basic Hunter Education Course was developed by the International Hunter Education Association and includes the safe handling and storage of hunting arms and ammunition, hunting laws and ethics, care and handling of game, and wildlife conservation.  In order to attend this course, the students had to first prove that they already completed the MA Hunter Study Guide.

Four instructors including Tim Bradbury, DFW Hunter Education and Outdoor Skills Specialist, Todd M. Olanyk, MA DFW Central District Supervisor, Jim Legacy DFW Aquatic Resource Education Coordinator and DFW Seasonal Employee Kevin Yetman along with two interpreters were there.  Some 52 students from across the state, Connecticut and New York took the course.

In the course, the instructors did a quick review of parts of firearms and demonstrated how to safely transfer to and accept a firearm from another person. The students learned how to find their shooting “master eye.  (Your master or dominant eye is the eye that provides a slightly greater degree of input to the visual part of your brain. It also more accurately relays information about the location of objects, important for leading game.)

The students were divided into 3 groups where, among other things, they learned and practiced firearm handling (for pump, bolt, and double barrel shotguns as well as lever action rifles) One lesson introduced students to the knowledge and skills of safe firearm handling and proper loading and unloading practices, crossing obstacles in the woods and fields, and the fundamentals of shooting

Another lesson introduced the students to the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship and elements of range safety. They learned judgement and shot placement. It introduced the students to real world hunting decisions such as determining safe verses unsafe shots and making the best and most ethical shot for the sake of the animal.

Another lesson introduced the students to proper field carries which refers to the how you hold your firearm while you hunt in a group, zones of fire.  Another introduced the students to the safe zones in which they can shoot while hunting in a group. Students were introduced to the knowledge and skills needed to effectively recover big game animals.

They learned about places that are open to hunting in Massachusetts and the importance of good landowner relations.

Environmental Police LT. Carlow and Officer Kolis reviewed the hunting laws and regulations as well as responsibilities of gun ownership.

During the class, they handled rifles and shotguns with blaze orange forearms and stocks.  They were inert, non-firing dummy guns based on real firearms.

 

When the teaching was over, they handed out the tests in 5 different languages.  Some 49 of the students passed the course and are eligible for certification as a MA Hunter Education Graduate.

When asked how many of the students would be hunters and not just gun owners.  Bradbury felt that the vast majority will take up hunting.

It was a very informative and well-run course.  It is so important that such classes be mandatory prior to issuing hunting licenses to ensure that we have hunters and responsible gun owners with knowledge of safe handling and good shooting skills.

Happy 20th birthday Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT)

 

This weekend, BEAT celebrates its 20th Anniversary at its Environmental Leadership & Education Center, located at 20 Chapel Street in Pittsfield. On Saturday, Executive Director Jane Winn showed the new renovations which feature a balcony overlooking the west branch of the Housatonic River, which runs directly behind the building, a fully accessible bathroom, and an accessible sloped walkway that leads to an entryway. There was also a stream-table demonstration

 

BEAT envisions a world where communities work together to sustain their environmental health and economic vitality; all people recognize their interconnectedness to, and dependence on, the natural world; the air and water are clean; rivers and streams flow naturally; and there is plenty of interconnected, natural land where wildlife thrive. BEAT’s goal is to make all of this happen — and their newly renovated Environmental Leadership & Education Center is one of the first steps in reaching that goal.