For years local fishermen and environmentalists have been troubled by the annual Pontoosuc Lake drawdowns and herbicide applications even though such steps do not always appear to be necessary.  While some herbicides may be necessary to prevent the takeover of the lake by invasive aquatic vegetation such as Eurasian Milfoil, is it necessary every year?  They feel that the drawing down of the lake and the application of herbicide represent a “double whammy” on the fish, invertebrates, turtles, etc.

They feel the drawdowns, greatly affect the nearby coves and wetlands with animals such as muskrats, beavers, etc.  Also, freshwater mussels being exposed to the winter elements are dying perhaps by the thousands. (They are important critters that filter out impurities in our waters). Beavers are suddenly exposed to freezing waters after they have already made their lodges and stored their food for the winter.

Their concerns have been brought to MassWildlife because it is the agency charged with the statutory responsibility for the conservation of freshwater fish and wildlife including endangered plants and animals.  In meetings with the Conservation Commissions, MassWildlife has expressed opposition to the drawdowns, but they go ahead and permit them anyway. The authority to allow the drawdowns rests with them and DEP and not MassWildlife.

Fishermen, especially Dan Miraglia of Pittsfield, have approached the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) year after year, but it also is powerless to stop them. This year; however, the delegates, led by League President Wayne McLain, unanimously voted to send a letter to the MA Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA) expressing their concerns about the new proposed drawdown as well as the use of herbicides.

MassWildlife also submitted comments to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental and Energy Affairs (OEEA) and MEPA regarding the proposed drawdown.  What both parties requested is to properly follow the procedures set by the state with solid plans and metrics so that the resource is properly protected. Such an approach supports all citizens’ interest and ensures things proceed in a balanced way without preferential treatment or influence.

Parts of MassWildlife’s comments are included in this column.  Space only allows me to cover one of its concerns which is very important to area sportsmen – impacts of the drawdown

In its letter MassWildlife expressed four concerns:

Drawdown Project.

“MassWildlife’s position on the proposed drawdown 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. Specifically, MassWildlife identifies the following concerns:

o Project Segmentation (should be considered in totality)

o Inconsistencies between the Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) Pontoosuc Lake Annual Drawdown Project, and previous filings for lake management in Pontoosuc Lake

o Incomplete/Insufficient alternatives analysis

o Proponent’s assertion that the ecology of the lake is unimpacted by the drawdown”

Importance of Pontoosuc Lake

“Pontoosuc Lake is a recreationally and ecologically important and valuable resource. Ensuring

access to high-quality outdoor recreational opportunities is especially important in Pittsfield, as

it is designated as a community in Massachusetts with Environmental Justice populations.

The lake’s proximity to Pittsfield and the public access boat ramp makes Pontoosuc a

destination lake for anglers and other recreational users. MassWildlife’s Angler Education

Program has hosted Learn-to-Fish clinics at Lake Pontoosuc to introduce people to fishing and

connect the local community to nature.

The lake is annually stocked with trout by MassWildlife to provide additional recreational

opportunity for anglers. In addition to trout fishing, they target Largemouth

Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Chain Pickerel, and Northern Pike. The naturally

reproducing Pike fishery in Pontoosuc is particularly sought after. The lake and its supporting

wetlands are also important habitat for waterfowl, semi-aquatic mammals, reptiles,

amphibians, and invertebrates.”

Impacts to Fish and Wildlife

“The impacts to wildlife resources from drawdowns have the potential to be extensive, both in-lake and downstream. The dewatering of littoral zones may be temporary, but the impacts of a drawdown are long lasting. Shallow water habitats in Pontoosuc Lake have been impacted for many years as a result of the long running annual drawdown. Native freshwater mussels, snails, and other invertebrates die from exposure to the dry, freezing conditions as they are unable to fully relocate (Carmignani et al. 2019). Beaver lodges and muskrat dens are exposed to freezing conditions at a time when the animals cannot relocate to thermally safe environments. Delayed refill impacts spawning activities of fish who deposit eggs within littoral habitats. MassWildlife disagrees with the presumption of the Proponents that the ecology of the reservoir has somehow adapted to the consequences of drawdown over the many years that it has been implemented. Rather, it is equally, if not more likely, that the ecology has in-part succumbed to the cumulative impacts of annual drawdown.

The EENF states that recent/ongoing research has not documented significant impacts from drawdowns on lake biological assemblages. However, recent research in Massachusetts lakes has shown that the decades-long application of annual winter drawdowns significantly alters littoral habitat and associated biological assemblages within exposure zones. In MassWildlife’s opinion, the Proponents incorrectly describe the results of a study, Carmignani et al. 2019. (It) found a near absence of mussels at depths exposed to drawdown compared to the same depths (<2ft) in lakes without drawdown. Lakes without drawdowns contained significantly more mussels in shallow waters. This pattern strongly suggests depths exposed during drawdown have become low quality or no longer suitable mussel habitat.

The Proponent points out that mussels were found at higher densities in deeper water in drawdown lakes compared to non-drawdown lakes; however, the Proponents misinterpret this pattern as mussels compensating for the loss of habitat with increased abundances below the drawdown exposure zone. In fact, the study explicitly demonstrates this pattern does not hold in western Massachusetts lakes, which would apply to Pontoosuc.

The Proponents also misinterpret that small and likely colonizing mussels found within the drawdown exposure zone during the summer will persist year-round. In stranding surveys across multiple drawdown lakes, (it) found subsequent drawdowns cause stranding and mortality of these smaller mussels.

Taken together, it is MassWildlife’s assertion that annual winter drawdown in Pontoosuc negatively impacts its freshwater mussel population by reduction of suitable habitat and through annual stranding and mortality of young colonizing mussels. Consequently, the annual winter drawdowns have likely reduced the overall mussel population size in Pontoosuc, and abatement of annual winter drawdowns would enable mussel colonization into the former drawdown exposure zone providing important restoration opportunities.

The Proponent mentions at several points that drawdown impacts are temporary and abated once the pond refills. This is not supported by any documentation and the opposite can be expected. Wetlands associated with this drawdown, once frozen, are impacted for the long term. To imply that these wetlands immediately recover is counter to winter drawdown for vegetation control, which relies on more permanent impacts to negatively impact the vegetated community. The EENF does not adequately support the arguments of temporary impacts. We recommend that they address these issues in a revision to the EENF or future EIR more closely reflect the information herein, or provide other literature support for their positions.

Attachment 4 of the EENF provides output from the Resilient Massachusetts Action Team (RMAT) analysis. The Proponents identify the project as an ecological restoration in this analysis. While MassWildlife is not familiar with all the details of RMAT process, nothing in this proposal would constitute an ecological restoration project for fish and wildlife resources.”

Summary

“Pontoosuc Lake is an ecologically and recreationally important resource in proximity to a DEIJ (Environmental Justice) community.  Winter drawdown of lakes and ponds in Massachusetts alters resources that MassWildlife is mandated to conserve and protect. The submitted EENF appears to be segmented from other outstanding lake and pond management activities that are currently under review; is inconsistent in intent with previous permits for the same drawdown; does not propose to operate in such a way as to minimize downstream flooding; does not adequately address alternative solutions that would benefit downstream resources; and discounts historical and long-term impacts to fish, wildlife, and wetland resources.

MassWildlife believes that the drawdown is harmful to the biological communities in Pontoosuc Lake. All alternatives should be considered and weighed against the harm to the biological communities with thorough and conclusive evidence for the stated management action.

MassWildlife respectfully requests that the Secretary require the Proponent to provide additional details to address the issues described herein. Without additional information, MassWildlife does not feel the project has adequately and completely analyzed impacts.”

Signed by Todd Richards, Assistant Director of Fisheries and Andrew Madden Western District Supervisor

We can only hope that MEPA takes MassWildlife’s recommendations seriously.  After all, they are the Massachusetts ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Office.

Because four members of the MA Fish & Wildlife Board are new members this year, it seemed appropriate that the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife inform and educate them as to what the Division’s Wildlife Program is all about.  Hey, it’s a good time for us to learn about it too. The following are excerpts of a report that Assistant Director for Wildlife, Michael Huguenin made to the Board at its January meeting, minus the charts which he used.

Mr. Huguenin reported that the Wildlife Section’s mission is to conserve and manage wildlife populations and habitats, and to enhance wildlife-based recreation and public appreciation of wildlife. Wildlife conservation and management and public service are the section’s priorities. To serve those priorities, its staff consults and reviews the best available science, and conducts population research, monitors for disease, and tracks harvest trends. Wildlife staff also tracks human-wildlife conflicts, conducts annual surveys that go back decades, participates in a myriad of other R3 (recruitment, retention and reactivation) and relevancy efforts, and contributes to MassFishHunt’s ongoing development.

Mr. Huguenin noted that when data has been collected, the biologists combine that information with the collective experience and professional judgement of Wildlife staff and senior staff to initiate management actions, such as regulation reviews, outreach strategies, habitat management, and surveys, and to develop and manage programs such as crossbow permitting, falconry, PAC [Problem Animal Control] permits, pheasant stocking, and LART [Large Animal Response Team].

M.G.L. Chapter 131 and 321 CMR 2.00 and 3.00 really govern all the Wildlife Section’s work. The law provides MassWildlife with its authority to fulfill its mandate.  Mr. Huguenin reported that the single most important piece in the conservation puzzle is the law. Further, he noted that Chapter 131 gives MassWildlife the authority to create regulations and permits that dictate the manner in which one can take, possess, or impact wildlife. In turn, the research and monitoring that the science staff conducts are essential to informing those regulations and permit parameters for conservation and management, just as they inform other management actions.

Assistant Director Huguenin reported that the team the Wildlife section has to accomplish all of this is not very big, but it gets a lot done. He noted that the Wildlife section also houses the six Habitat Program staff, and that the Habitat Program has grown and evolved over time, and essentially serves all sections in the agency.

Huguenin reported that Wildlife has four Project Leaders (PL), Black Bear and Furbearer -Dave Wattles, Turkey and Upland Game – Dave Scarpitti, Waterfowl – H Heusmann, and Deer and Moose – Martin Feehan. There are also three Wildlife Biologists, Sue McCarthy, Erik Amati, and Bridgett McAlice, who assist the PLs, among other duties; State Ornithologist Drew Vitz, who splits his time with NHESP (Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program); and GIS Specialist Jonathan Brooks, who also works with Habitat.

The Habitat Program consists of Manager Brian Hawthorne and Habitat Biologists Ben Mazzei, Marianne Piche, Fletcher Clark, Tom Wansleben, and Patrick Conlin.

The Wildlife section coordinates closely with District staff, OLE, and other staff to accomplish all that it does. Staff works across the state, sometimes in urban areas more than forested, but most of the work is at a desk behind a computer, answering calls, conducting testing on and answering questions about MassFishHunt, meeting with partners, planning, coordinating, reacting, interviewing, and writing.

Huguenin observed that many of the species the Wildlife section deals with are very comfortable living in the same spaces as people. The single biggest contributing factor to conflicts with wildlife is food, he reported. The most important piece of advice for people is to remove the food source, which is easier said than complied with. He pointed out that Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden had contributed a great article in the last issue of Massachusetts Wildlife magazine about bears and wildlife feeding that he recommended everyone read.

Ducks Unlimited Joins $60 Million Herring River Restoration Project

Work is underway to restore the Herring River estuary on Cape Cod and Ducks Unlimited (DU) has recently stepped up to help financially.

DU is partnering with the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Restoration Center, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, Wellfleet Conservation Trust, Friends of Herring River, the town of Wellfleet and others on a $60 million project to replace a dike built in 1909 with a bridge, and implement vegetative and sediment management to reestablish natural salt marsh conditions.

The bridge will be equipped with control gates to return the natural flow of tidewater to the marsh. It is scheduled to be finished in 2025, and the gates will be incrementally opened to reintroduce tidal flow to 890 acres and will continue to be monitored to allow for adaptive management”

“The Herring River Estuary is the largest tidally restricted estuary in the northeast and this project is a once-in-a-century opportunity to address the impacts of past generations,” said DU Regional Biologist Bri Benvenuti.

“The scale and success of the Herring River Restoration Partnership is an excellent example of what can be achieved when conservation and community partners come together.”

Bottom of Form

In November, park staff, in partnership with AmeriCorps Cape Cod members and park volunteers, will begin on the groundwork to clear freshwater vegetation that has “encroached into the former tidal floodplain around the Herring River in Wellfleet,” officials said.

“Partnering with AmeriCorps Cape Cod and volunteers from the Friends of Cape Cod National Seashore, the first small steps toward the eventual restoration of hundreds of acres of coastal wetlands will begin as crews clear thick and overgrown vines, shrubs, and small trees from about six acres along the Herring River in the area around High Toss Road in Wellfleet,” the release said.

In addition to making way for a restored salt marsh, clearing vegetation in the area will provide access for scientists to collect data to develop and evaluate methods for restoring the floodplain.

The area has seen increased freshwater vegetation since 1909 when saltwater flow in the river was blocked by installing the Chequessett Neck Road Dike. Before the dike was built, most of the Herring River supported a highly productive salt marsh, dominated by cordgrass and other native salt-tolerant species, officials said.

The lack of tidal exchange and saltwater input into the estuary led to the conversion of salt marsh to freshwater wetlands. All these freshwater wetland species will eventually die-back as the native salt marsh is revived by restored tidal flow, thanks to the project.

More extensive vegetation clearing begins this winter, as the park begins the process of removing dead trees and promoting the recovery of native salt marsh vegetation in the Duck Harbor area of the Herring River.

Since January 2021, the 120-acre Duck Harbor floodplain has had periodic over wash of saltwater breaking over the dunes on Cape Cod Bay, mostly during spring tide periods.

Removing the dead vegetation should bring back more salt marsh plants and increase the ecological productivity of Duck Harbor. It will also help minimize a breeding habitat for mosquitoes.

Incidentally, the Ducks Unlimited/Lee Sportsmen’s Association’s  7^th Annual Youth Sports Gala fundraiser will be held on Saturday, April 1 at the Country Club of Pittsfield.  (Details TBA). It’s nice to see funds being put to good use here in Massachusetts.

Hoosic River Path in North Adams

At its general meeting on March 9, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited will feature Nick Howe from Hoosic River Revival who will give a talk about the work being done to restore the river path in North Adams. It will run from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Tourists Motel Lodge, 915 State Road, North Adams.

Hoosic River picture provided by HRI

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is about to begin its $3 million Feasibility Study to create the necessary modernization plan for the City of North Adams. Hoosic River Revival aims to re-establish the Hoosic River as the heart of North Adams’ economy and community. The two branches to the Hoosic River converge in North Adams and flow West to the Hudson. The river has historically been the engine behind North Adams’ economy. Flood protection, while effective, has separated the city’s residents from one of their greatest assets.

The general public is invited to this free event.  You are encouraged to come early to grab a drink at the bar.