Category Archives: Conservation

Becket Washington School students release salmon fry for the last time

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On May 30, the students released salmon fry for the last time into the Yokum Brook branch of the Westfield River. The Atlantic Salmon Egg Rearing Program (ASERP) has come to an end after eight years because the US Fish and Wildlife Service and MassWildlife will no longer support it.

“Elvis Has Left the Building” said 3rd grade teacher MaryKay McCloskey to the school library full of excited schoolchildren and adults. One of McCloskey’s students had named his salmon fry “Elvis” and that is what prompted the statement. Visitors were impressed with the enthusiasm the children showed for their salmon and how knowledgeable they were about the species and the project.
Karen Karlberg of Becket, the ASERP Liaison from the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited, had been assisting the teachers and students in this program from the beginning. “I am so proud to hear about the great test scores the Becket Washington students receive in Earth Sciences because of this hands on project”, said Karlberg. “We were helping to create the future stewards of our water, earth and wildlife with this important program.”
Nineteen fourth graders in Patricia Robie’s class and the thirteen in McCloskey’s all took turns scooping out a cup full of the salmon fry into the big bucket that was then carried down to the outdoor classroom area next to Yokum Brook.
The 300 salmon eggs which were delivered in mid February had been nurtured and observed by not only the 3rd and 4th graders but also the other students and parents. Even visitors would stop in and check on the progress of the school’s salmon. The eggs were watched carefully as they developed to consume their egg sacks and then were ready to feed on brine shrimp. That helped them to acclimate to feeding on their own in the new river environment upon their release.
With luck, they will continue to mature for another couple of years, migrate to the Atlantic Ocean and return again in 3 years to Yokum Brook in Becket, next to the school ground to spawn.
Thanks goes to Karen Karlberg for providing the above information. *****
Kudos go to the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) staff. On May 31, they took Lanesborough School fifth graders out to Town Brook to find some creepy crawlers. Here are some quotes of the kids who went: “It was really amazing to go from living in our big world to exploring their little environment.” “I cannot believe that I caught giant stonefly larvae, caddis fly larvae, damselfly nymph, clams, and leeches, too. I will definitely do this again all by myself.” “My favorite ones to find were the salamanders, the baby catfish, and crane flies.” (We) saw a caddis fly larva, stone fly larva, mayfly larva, crane fly larva, aquatic worms, and midge larva”, “Thank you so much. Hope we can do that again next year. I want to work at HVA someday.” *****
Some of us gray haired anglers remember when June 15 was an important date. It used to be the opening date of the bass fishing season in Massachusetts. The season was delayed because Mass. DFW wanted to wait until the end of the bass spawning season. They didn’t want people pulling the parent bass off of their nests while they were protecting their eggs/young. However; the season was changed years ago and now bass can be caught year round.

Bass fishermen have been out since early May and the Greylock Bass Club has had several tournaments. Their first tournament was on Cheshire Lake on May 5. In that event there was a tie for 1st place between Bob Olinski and Chip McCann. 3rd place went to Dave Benham, Jr and Jim Underhill took 4th.

On May 18 they fished Richmond Pond and Bill Gates took 1st, Jim Underhill took 2nd, Dave Benham took 3rd and Joe Chague took 4th. They fished Ashmere Lake on May 19 and Dave Benham took 1st, Joe Chague took 2nd, Chip McCann took 3rd and Bill Gates took 4th.

On June 2 they fished Goose Pond and Dave Benham took 1st, Mark Lane took 2nd, Josh Colligan took 3rd and Bill Gates took 4th. The lunker so far this season was a largemouth bass weighing 4 lbs 9 ½ oz., caught by Bill Gates. *****
On June 19, Russ Cohen of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Ecological Restoration will share river ecology information on an HVA paddle from Lee ending behind HVA’s office. A potluck dinner will follow. The paddle trip is free but registration is required. For more information and to register for the paddle trip, visit hvatoday.org, or call 413-394-9796 or email dregan@hvatoday.org or adixon@hvatoday.org.
Incidentally, the HVA and the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) are having a Housatonic River Clean-up in Pittsfield next Saturday. Contact HVA at the above addresses or BEAT at www.thebeatnews.org for more information. *****
In his June report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Manager Andrew Madden reported that the Division website has a new look. It is part of an ongoing statewide effort that results in a standard “look and feel” among all state government agency websites. New and useful features for the new format include wider pages, enhanced navigation, and mobile phone/tablet viewing readiness. The DFW main web page address remains the same, www.mass.gov/masswildlife, and the information from the old address has been moved to the new website. You will need to update any favorites, bookmarked, or saved searches on specific DFW web pages as those links will no longer work. ****

More local open spaces are being protected

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In a March 13 press release, the Patrick-Murray Administration announced the awarding of two grants under a new Landscape Partnership Program.  The grant in our area is called the Long Mountain Conservation Project.  That program will allow the Department of Fish and Game to permanently protect a 906 acre parcel from Lyme Northern Timber Fund as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA).  The property was highly threatened by development but it will now remain a productive forest.  In addition, an abutting private landowner is donating a conservation easement on a 597 acre parcel to the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC).  Collectively, approximately 1,500 acres will be protected, which has important significance for landscape conservation, wildlife habitat, public access and climate change protection.

Then in his April report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District   Manager Andrew Madden reported that the Division recently completed projects in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties as follows:  Windsor – 190-acres connecting the Moran WMA and the Savoy WMA.  This property includes wetlands, forests, and shrubland with extensive road frontage.  Chesterfield – 369-acres along the East Branch of the Westfield River.  This property protects one of the larger remaining parcels along the river and connects two previously protected areas in the lower Pork Barrel area.  Access can be gained from Wilkin Rd.  He also reported a 26-acre acquisition in Chester, which contains wetlands and access abutting the Hiram Fox WMA.

Lastly, in a recent town meeting, Lenox residents voted to grant a conservation easement giving an additional layer of protection on some 948 acres of land on Lenox Mountain that comprises the Town watershed area surrounding its reservoirs.  The CR will be held jointly by the Lenox Conservation Committee and the BNRC.  The purpose of the CR is to preserve the scenic and natural resources of the land while allowing for any future expansion of the town waterworks.  That means the entire Yokun Ridge will now be protected from possible development.  Other lands on that mountain are owned by the BNRC, Mass Audubon and Lenox Kennedy Park.  With the exception of the BNRC owned lands, no hunting or fishing will be allowed on that ridge but that’s ok, it never has been allowed.    At least future generations are assured of having Yokun Ridge for its scenic and natural resources value. *****

The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club (SSC) will be holding its annual Spring Fishing Derby next Saturday from dawn until 3:00 PM at the Stockbridge Bowl boat ramp.  There will be $100 prizes for the heaviest trout or salmon, pickerel, bass and bullhead.  Free lures for all kids 12 and under.  Pre-registration fee is $10 and post registration fee is $15.  Tickets are available at the Minkler Insurance Agency in Stockbridge (413)298-3741 or from any club member.

The Onota Fishing Club will be holding it’s annual trout derby next Sunday from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Onota Lake.  Sign up will be at the Controy Pavillion.  Cash prizes will be awarded for heaviest trout and salmon and trophies will be awarded for children’s prizes.  There will be food and raffles.  There will also be a $10 all-you-can eat fish fry after the derby.  The fish fry is free with paid entry.  $10 for adults, $5 for children. 

This year the Onota Fishing Club will also be holding a tag sale at its derby event.  Anyone interested in donating any old fishing/camping/hunting equipment (no guns or ammo) can contact Chris Porter at 413-496-0105.  All proceeds from this raffle and derby benefit Pittsfield Little League.  A separate table will be set up for those that would like to sell their own items, with a small donation made to the events. 

Also next Sunday the SSC will be holding a firearms safety course 8:30 AM in its main hall.  The 5 hour classroom course meets requirements for FID/LTC.  The fee is $75 and is due at the course.  To register, call 413-232-7700 or e-mail robmcdermott@verizon.net.  Provide your legal name, middle initial and date of birth.

 Also next Saturday, the Lee IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Assn) will be holding matches at, the LSA.  New shooter orientation is at 11:30 AM, sign-in and stage review at 11:45 and start time is noon. The cost is $15.  Cold Range rules apply, 50 rounds, 3 magazines, holster, eyes & ears protection, concealment vest.  For scheduling information, click onto http://www.berkshireidpa.us.

 The Lee Sportsmen’s Association is starting up a new youth shotgun team formed through the SCTP (scholastic clay target program) for youth development through the shooting sports. Currently it has 5 athletes and 4 coaches.  The LSA Buckshots are training in trap, skeet, and soon, sporting clays.  Their first competition is Trap on June 8 in Burlington, MA.   If you know an athlete that would like to join, check out their website at http://www leesportsmen.com.  *****

 The following waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:  Hoosic River in Clarksburg, Cheshire and Adams, Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Green River in Williamstown,  Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Williams River in West Stockbridge and Great Barrington, Housatonic River in Pittsfield (S/W), Lee and Stockbridge; Hop Brook in Lee and Tyringham, Hudson Brook in Clarksburg and North Adams, Buck and Clam Rivers in Sandisfield, Potash Brook in Blandford, Town Brook in Lanesborough, Westfield River in Russell, Greenwater Pond, Littleville Lake, Norwich Lake, Laurel Lake, York Lake, Windsor Lake, Windsor Pond, Onota Lake, Richmond Pond and Stockbridge Bowl.  The Deerfield, Littleville Lake and Laurel Lake stockings also included tiger trout.