The Hoosic River Revival (HRR), a community-based, non-profit, private organization composed of area residents, believes the time has come to make the Hoosic River in North Adams an asset.  The goal of the HRR is to make the river suitable for fishing, boating and swimming, to have it bordered by biking and walking trails running through parklands, and for it to be a place where people come for business and socializing.   In keeping with that goal, it has been working with consultants, city planners and river restoration engineers to prepare an Options Assessment.   Recently completed, this Assessment provides many ideas for enhancing the 2 1/2 miles of the Hoosic River, and the downtown area immediately adjacent to the river.

In the 1950’s, the Army Corps of Engineers built flood control chutes which funnel the North and South Branches through downtown North Adams and they merge at the west end of Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.  According to HRR, these chutes have done their job; the River is no longer a danger during heavy rains or spring runoff.  And, due to tighter environmental regulations from the Federal Government, the River presents no health threat to the City’s residents.  Unfortunately, the chutes have both tamed it and prevented the public from seeing, using, and appreciating it.

Due to the channelization, Mass. DEP has assessed the entire 2.4 miles of the flood control chutes as “non-support” with respect to aquatic life use.   Water is significantly warmer in the flood control chutes due to dramatically reduced water depth, poor aeration and little overhead cover.  These conditions are inhospitable to fish, while the smooth surface prohibits plant and macro-invertebrate growth necessary for any functioning aquatic habitat.

This impact is particularly unfortunate in the upper Hoosic River, which is one of the few cold-water rivers in Massachusetts containing populations of native brook trout and naturally reproducing brown trout. A healthy population of trout is not only an ecological benefit, but also an economic advantage, attracting anglers to a region heavily dependent on tourism.  The flood control chutes severely limit this habitat.

With structural maintenance of the 60 year-old Hoosic flood control project a future concern, North Adams should consider creative ways to include a more accessible river in its new image.  According to the Berkshire County Regional Planning Commission,   “During the time of industrial growth residents abused the river.  Now they ignore it.  Yet the river is far cleaner and more attractive than it used to be. While considering ways for tourism to take up the slack of lost industrial jobs, Northern Berkshire could benefit from attending to this exciting and potentially useful resource.”

“The flood chutes are ugly. But it could be different,” says Judith Grinnell, leader of the HRR.  Residents of North Adams have a choice in how they want to engineer the River in order to guard against flooding while at the same time restoring its recreational and ecological value.  Adams has already initiated a habitat restoration project aimed at enhancing trout habitat in the channelized section of the river running through downtown Adams. 

Flood control projects are increasingly incorporating natural designs that promote aquatic habitat and public access.  Some projects are so successful in replicating a natural channel that they are virtually indistinguishable from unengineered rivers.  While intense development of the banks of the Hoosic River makes a completely natural, de-channelized river a near impossibility, there is great potential for improving habitat, promoting recreation, and increasing public access and enjoyment of the river. 

A new method of increasing public access and enjoyment of urban rivers consists of designing “playscape” paddle runs, where the flow is concentrated and whitewater conditions are created with the placement of small (2-3 ft.) grade drops for paddlers.   This design may be an attractive possibility for the constrained sections of the River in North Adams and, if properly designed, it may improve fish habitat at the same time as attracting paddlers and tourists.

Another relatively quick and inexpensive option of habitat improvement should be considered

for the areas of the flood control project consisting of rip-rap levees.  Currently, operations and maintenance protocols defined by the Army Corps of Engineers require North Adams and Adams to mow the sides and tops of the levees and remove vegetation growing in the rip-rap in order to maintain the stability of these structures.  Because of that, the river flowing through these sections of the flood control projects is even less shaded than the areas where it flows through the concrete channels.

While the lack of vegetation detracts from the aesthetics of a “natural” stream, the increased exposure to sunlight causes an increased and greater variability of stream temperature, which adversely impacts trout.  HRR believes the possibility of planting vegetation that will not interfere with the structural integrity of the levee structures should be investigated.

The HRR is working in partnership with the Hoosic River Watershed Association.  Grinnell pointed out that HooRWA is concerned with the entire three-state, 70-mile Hoosic River while the HRR is concentrating on the city’s sections of the river.  A planned bike path linking North Adams to Williamstown probably will run near the river for much of its way is another tie into this revitalizing venture.

“It won’t be easy”, says Grinnell.  “There are difficulties in altering the flood chutes, and expenses.  But the concept is in line with changes in state and federal policies that are looking to make rivers more wildlife and people friendly by removing dams, restoring banks and encouraging more natural answers to controlling the waters.”  HRR wants to share the Options Assessment information (a short powerpoint and Q & A presentation) with local organizations. Contact Judy Grinnell at (413)212-2996 or via email at HoosicRiverRevival@gmail.com

DFW Western District Manager Andrew Madden recently reported that four hunters participated in the paraplegic deer hunt that was conducted in the Mount Washington area and three hunters participated in the hunt in the Williamstown area.  In both locations the deer were moving around and there were several sightings but none of the hunters bagged any.  Nevertheless, it was a “very positive hunt”, said Madden, and it was enjoyed by hunters and volunteers alike.*****

We were saddened last week with the news of the death of Lawrence A. Lewis of Drury, MA, who apparently fell out of his tree stand while hunting near Savoy State Forest on November 3.  At the time of this writing, the circumstances of the fall are unknown.  Perhaps he slipped, or had a seizure, or simply fell asleep and rolled off.   He was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a valued member of the Berkshire Beagle Club.  The last time I saw him was late last April while he was planting hundreds of small pine trees on the Club property.  (They were planted to provide cover and protection for the hares from overhead predators).   Our condolences go out to his family.

Unfortunately, he was the second local hunter to experience a fatal accident while treestand hunting in the last few years.  Another bow hunter suffered a fatal fall from a tree while hunting near the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club several years ago.

Sadly, tree stand incidents and deaths are an all too familiar occurrence within the hunting community.  According to the National Bowhunter Education Foundation’s (NBEF), national studies indicate that approximately 10% – 30% of hunters who hunt from an elevated stand will have an incident sometime in their hunting career. Some will not live to tell their story; others will tell it from a hospital bed or wheel chair.  Many accident victims will never hunt again. Some states report higher fatality rates associated with tree stand incidents than with firearm incidents.

Many years ago, brothers Homer and Paul Ouellette taught a basic bowhunting course for the Mass DFW locally.   I had the privilege of taking one of their last courses and learned a great deal from them about this form of hunting and especially about the safety, ethics, bowhunting methods, and care and handling of the game.  Unfortunately no one teaches this course in the Berkshires anymore and in order to take it one has to travel to the eastern end of the state.  (Click onto the MassWildlife’s web site to find the details of these courses). 

However; MassWildlife’s Hunter Education Program has teamed up with the HUNTERcourse.com to offer tips and an opportunity to take a free, voluntary online treestand safety course.  By reviewing this 15-minute interactive, narrated treestand safety course, a tree stand owner or user will learn about the latest Treestand Manufacturers Association’s safety standards and guidelines.  I have taken it and highly recommend it to all treestand hunters. *****

The program which was developed by the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), offers international-style target archery training through a national standardized education package.  NASP and the Archery Trade Association have partnered with the Massachusetts  Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (DFW) and the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation, Inc. to promote student education and lifelong interest and participation in the sport of archery. 

The goal of this program is to provide school children with the ingredients to become involved in a life skill that has no barriers.  Unlike many school activities, students of all sizes can easily be involved in archery.  Archery allows students to be taught a safe lifetime skill they can practice almost anywhere.  The core content covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration, core strengthening physical fitness and self improvement.  Students are encouraged to continue practicing after school and to compete in State and National tournaments.

Since its inception in 2002, more than 4 million students in 4,900 schools located in 46 different states have participated.  In 2010, Massachusetts became the 47^th state and the DFW began a 10 school pilot program across the state.  Wahconah Regional and Lee High schools were the pilot schools in our area.  The program has proven to be a great success and now there are 12 schools statewide participating. 

Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) president Mark Jester has a goal of seeing every school in the Berkshires have such a program, and the individual clubs which make up the League are with him.  They have pledged over $3,000 to be used as leverage in obtaining donations. Leverage funding has also been provided by some school districts and the NASP.  The funds will pay for three NASP archery equipment kits with teacher training packets which cost approximately $2,900 each. 

If funding can be secured, three more local school districts in the Berkshire area are targeted (pardon the pun) to come on board in the near future.  They are Undermountain Elementary School in Sheffield, Farmington River Regional School District in Otis and Pittsfield High School.  The DFW will offer free training to certify physical education teachers at each of the three school districts. 

Incidentally, the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation, Inc is a 501©(3)organization which provides funding to directly conserve and to restore wildlife habitat and to reach out to children and citizens of all ages with ongoing programs that will engage and bring them into the natural world.  According to its Clerk, Wayne MacCallum, the archery program “is particularly key to its overall mission and is highly complementary to NASP’s.  We believe that citizens must feel at home in and engaged with the outdoors if they are to value and want to protect the natural world in the future”.

With year end rapidly approaching, you might want to consider making a tax deductable donation to the Outdoor Heritage Foundation.  You can designate where you want your donation spent and this archery in the school program seems like a good place.  To find out more about it, visit http://massoutdoorheritage.org. *****

Effective October 12, several new hunting regulations have been promulgated which expand wild turkey hunting opportunities across the state.   They are as follows:  Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ) 10, 11 and 12, which encompasses eastern MA and Cape Cod, opened for the fall wild turkey hunting season.  Previously, the fall wild turkey hunting season was open in only WMZs 1 – 9 and 13, central and western MA and Martha’s Vineyard.

It has been lengthened from a one week to a two week season.  Fall wild turkey season will begin on the second to last Monday in October and will continue for 2 weeks.  This year’s fall hunting season dates are October 22 to November 3, 2012.

Permissible shot sizes for wild turkey have been expanded to include #7 shot.  Formerly, shot sizes were limited to #4 – #6 for wild turkey hunting.    Turkey hunting is only allowed with shotguns no larger than 10 gauge or with bows 40 lbs or greater.

MassWildlife reports that thanks to successful restoration efforts and other conservation partners such as the National Wild Turkey Federation, Massachusetts has a healthy and robust wild turkey population, allowing for the expansion of the fall hunting season.  Recent technological development of turkey hunting-specific shotshells using denser-than-lead shot alloys (typically tungsten and bismuth) has improved the ballistics of smaller shot size, ensuring an effective turkey harvest. 

The fall hunting hours are different than those of the spring turkey hunting season.  The hours are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset except as noted in Wildlife Management Area Regulation #10.  If you shot a bearded bird in the spring season, you are allowed a bird of either sex in the fall season.  No hunter may take 2 birds in the fall season.   Birds must be tagged immediately and you must check/report the bird within 48 hours. *****

Chronic Wasting Disease (CRD) a contagious neurological disease fatal to deer, moose, elk, and other members of the cervid (deer) family continues to spread.  It was recently discovered in a deer in Pennsylvania.  With that recent discovery, MassWildlife is reminding hunters of the ban on importing intact deer carcasses from CWD-positive jurisdictions such as Pennsylvania and New York, into Massachusetts.

To prevent the possibility of this disease entering Massachusetts, regulations were adopted several years back making it illegal for anyone to import, process or possess whole carcasses or parts of these animals (from the wild or from captive herds) from states and Canadian provinces where CWD has been found. The only exceptions to the regulations are meat that is deboned, cleaned skull caps, hides without the head, or a finished taxidermy mount. Also, it is illegal to import live deer of any species into Massachusetts for any purpose. This ban includes animals used in deer farming practices and those used seasonally for petting zoos or holiday displays.

CWD attacks the brains of infected animals, resulting in their becoming emaciated, exhibiting abnormal behavior, and eventually dying.

A CWD monitoring and testing program for wild cervids has been conducted in Massachusetts since 2002.  Currently, MassWildlife is only testing deer or moose displaying symptoms of disease.  So far CWD has not been found in Massachusetts deer or moose.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The World Health Organization, there is no evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans. Hunters have been taking and eating meat from these animals from the infected areas of Colorado and Wyoming for more than 30 years.

For more information about CWD and FAQs, visit http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/wildlife/diseases/cwd_info.htm. *****

In his October report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Manager Andrew Madden reported that the Western District check stations logged in 96 black bear during the September hunting season.    This compares with 75 harvested during the 2011 early season.  No statewide bear harvest figures have been released yet.  The late bear hunting season opens on November 5 and runs through November 24. *****

According to MassWildlife, the New England Cottontail (NE) is the only cottontail rabbit native to New England and they historically inhabited these states as well as eastern NY.  Since 1960 their range has decreased by 86% and is restricted to small isolated populations in parts of these states with Vermont no longer having them.  In 2006 the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated it as a candidate for Endangered Species Act protection and determined that habitat loss and fragmentation was the primary threat.  USFWS and state agencies are working together to implement strategies to restore or create young forest/shrubland habitat in an attempt to avert Federal listing.

Blocks of 25 acres or more are ideal, as this is the minimum amount of habitat thought to sustain cottontail populations.  Since the NE experience low survival in habitat patches less than 12 acres, the most valuable locations will be at least this size.  Conservation efforts involve creating or restoring habitat in areas where they are currently known to occur and funding assistance for management on private lands is available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS).

According to MassWildlife, the only way to distinguish between the New England and the more common Eastern cottontail is by examining various skull features or submitting tissue samples for DNA analysis.  Therefore carcasses in any condition can be donated to facilitate conservation efforts.  Road killed carcasses or cottontail heads should be placed in a plastic bag and frozen until they can be dropped off at a MassWildlife District Office or Field Hqs.  Be sure to wear gloves when handling carcasses and include a note with your contact information, date of collection and detailed, specific location information such as the street address, intersection or other discernible landmark.

My father, who was a rabbit hunter, was aware of the two kinds of cottontails, referring to one type as “swamp rabbits”.   I never knew which type it was nor could I tell the difference.  They all tasted the same to me, too.   It has been said that the NE Cottontails are sometimes slightly smaller and darker with dark spots on their heads.  The Eastern Cottontail supposedly has eyes higher up on its head and can spot overhead predators such as hawks and owls easier, which would explain its higher survival rate.  According to MassWildlife, there is no evidence of interbreeding between the two bunnies.

In December, 2010 MassWildlife appealed to sportsmen, highway department workers, animal control officers and others to provide them with carcasses or skulls.  Since the first appeal, 500 specimens were received and about 10% have been identified as NE Cottontails, and significantly, several new local populations have been identified. The majority of the samples came from the eastern and southeastern parts of the state, and they need more specimens from Worcester County and all points west. 

Efforts to manage habitat suitable for NE Cottontails are being implemented on public and private land in specific focal areas where they are known to occur.  Private landowners interested in contributing to these conservation efforts may be eligible to receive funding assistance to implement a habitat management project.  In the Berkshires there is a focal area which includes Becket, Monterey, Otis, Blanford, New Marlboro, Sandisfield, Tolland and Granville.  Contact Marianne Piché at (508)389-6313 or Marianne.Piche@state.ma.us about how you may be able to participate in managing habitat for these bunnies and other species in greatest need of conservation. *****

Speaking of habitat management, last month you may have seen people doing some digging and planting next to the Housatonic River along Route 8 in Hinsdale near the parking area of the Old Mill Trailhead of the Housatonic River Association (HVA) River trail.  They were members of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited, HVA and Project Native, all non-profits concerned about our streams and the environment.  They were planting native trees, shrubs and wildflowers which were selected to enhance the biodiversity of the stream and buffer zone. These native plants will provide shade for the fish and habitat for native birds, butterflies and pollinators and will act as a buffer between the parking lot pavement and river, thus reducing runoff.

Grants, which were obtained from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the Fields Pond Foundation and the Housatonic Heritage Foundation, were used for the project which started approximately a year ago.

I am listing the plants and trees that were planted in case you have a stream on your property or know of a stream that could use some shade and biodiversity.  The common names for the trees planted were: Red Osier Dogwood, Sycamore, White Oak and small elderberry.  The plants and wildflowers were: Boneset, Purple Joe-Pye and Carolina Thermopsis.   If you need some of them, contact Project Native at (413)274-3433 or www.projectnative.org.*****

Don’t put away your fishing rod just yet.  According to MassWildlife over 71,000 rainbow trout have been allocated to be stocked statewide and the Western District will surely get its share.  They average over 12 inches in length.  Due to favorable water temperatures and flow levels, trout stocking in much of the state began the week of September 24 and was completed last week.

The following local bodies of water were scheduled for stocking this fall:  Ashfield Lake, North Pond, Windsor Lake, Lake Buel, Windsor Pond, Upper Highland Lake, Otis Reservoir,  Big Pond, Stockbridge Bowl, Norwich Lake,  Pontoosuc Lake, Deerfield River, Goose Pond, Onota Lake, Westfield River (East Branch) – Chesterfield Gorge,  Richmond Pond, Laurel Lake and Littleville Lake.  A complete listing of trout waters stocked is posted at: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/trout/trout_stocked_waters.htm.   Water bodies stocked in the fall are underlined.

But wait, there is more good news!  Jeff Mosher, USFWS Biological Technician working out of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in Hartsville/New Marlboro reported that last week he stocked the Williams, Green, and Konkapot Rivers as well as Lake Garfield, and Lake Buel with 10 inch pre-spawned native brook trout.   

Beautiful fall foliage and waters full of feisty trout.  It doesn’t get any better than this. *****

Recently the Chesapeake Beach Consulting firm conducted a national public opinion poll among 800 randomly drawn, self-identified hunters and anglers for the National Wildlife Federation. To qualify, a respondent must have indicated they were a hunter, an angler or both as well as a registered voter.  The margin of error for this study is plus or minus 3.2% at the 95% confidence level.

 It is important to consider the demographics:  Gender – 63% Male, 37% Female;  Partisanship – 42% Republican, 18% Democrat, 32% Independent (27% indicate they split their ticket when voting) ;  Ideology – 10% Liberal, 37% Moderate, 50% Conservative;  Type of Sportsperson – 33% Angler, 12% Hunter, 55% Both; Age – 2% 18-29 years old, 10% 30-44, 23% 45-54, 27% 55-64 and 36% 65+.

Here are the results:

• Hunters and anglers tend to be conservative,      Republican or Independent, and, they vote.
• Conservation is just as important to them as      gun rights (A partisan divide is evident      here with 56% of Democrats indicating that gun rights and conservation are      equally important while 50% of Republicans believe that gun rights are the      most important issue.  50% of      Independents believe the two issues are equally important as do 54% of      ticket-splitters).
• They favor restoring Clean Water Act      protections to wetlands and waterways including smaller creeks and      streams.  (Bi-partisan support with 94% of Democrats, 78% of      Independents and 73% of Republicans favoring restoring Clean Water Act      protections to wetlands and waterways).
• They want public lands protected and they want      access to these lands that to date have been inaccessible.  They want the government to take their      needs and desires into account when issuing oil and gas leases.   Outdoor recreation in this country      contributes $730 billion a year to the U.S. economy. (49% believe protecting public lands should be given      priority, even at the risk of limiting the amount of energy supplies such      as oil, gas and coal the United States produces.  Just 34% favor development of energy      supplies even if our public lands suffer).
• They believe global warming is occurring and      believe we have a moral responsibility to confront it to protect our      children’s future. They also believe that global warming is a cause of the      recent hot temperatures we have experienced.  (Majorities      in every region of the country, both men and women and all age groups      agree that global warming is occurring as do 86% of Democrats and 61% of      Independents.  Republicans split on      this question with 45% agreeing and 49% disagreeing.  Ticket-splitters agree global warming is      occurring by a margin of 67% to 28%.       Some 72% agree that we can improve the environment and strengthen      the economy by investing in renewable energy technologies that create jobs      while reducing global warming pollution.
• They want BP held accountable and want monies      collected from fines used for Gulf restoration and not spent on roads,      bridges, ports and convention centers.     
• Children spending hours each day in front of      the television or computer screen and not enough time outdoors is a      problem and a threat to the future of wildlife conservation in America.   (87% of      hunters and anglers believe it is a very serious problem).

While there were only 800 sportsmen surveyed, they were randomly selected from hundreds of thousands of individuals who fell into the hunter/angler category.  It is surprising that the Democratic, Republican and Independent sportsmen actually agree on some issues such as global warming and clean waters and want something done about it.   It came out in this survey loud and clear.

It would be wise for our politicians to pay attention to the results of this survey.  It is estimated that there are 60 million anglers and 30 – 40 million hunters, and outdoor recreation in this country contributes $730 billion a year to the U.S. economy.  With that much political and economic clout, the sportsmen should not allow our politicians to skirt these important issues and make them state their positions now, before Election Day.

Then again, maybe they are getting the word.  Recently the U.S. Senate voted in favor of two measures important to the sportfishing industry that will, among other things, conserve recreationally-important fish stocks, restore fish habitat and support fishing access.   According to the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the first bill, The Billfish Conservation Act passed and will help restore billfish populations and improve recreational fishing opportunities while concurrently creating jobs and other economic benefits.  The second bill, The Sportmen’s  Act of 2012 awaits post-election vote.  Many of ASA’s top legislative priorities are included in the Sportsmen’s Act, and the recent action taken by the Senate lines up this bill for a vote when it returns in November.  This legislation provides for increased access, habitat conservation, protection of traditional fishing equipment and improved fish and wildlife management. *****

In his September report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) Western District Manager Andrew Madden reported on DFW and Department of Fish and Game Land Acquisitions in Fiscal Year 2012.  The land acquisition program protected over 5,600 acres statewide during the fiscal year (July 2011-June 2012).  Western District efforts included the following projects:   Alford – 114 acres of Conservation Easement with Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Egremont – 20 acres abutting Jug End Fen, North Egremont – 2.5 acres of access to the Green River, Sheffield – 140 Acres abutting Hubbard Brook WMA and Chesterfield – 230 Acres of former Boy Scout property.  All of these properties are open to the public for passive recreation.  *****