What is the MA DER and what does it do?

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The Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is a division of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. DER was created in 2009 with the merger of the Riverways and Wetlands Restoration Programs (formally within the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management). DER coordinates ecological restoration to improve ecological condition and to restore important ecosystem services that improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts citizens.

 

DER helps restore and protect rivers, wetlands, and watersheds in Massachusetts for the benefit of people and the environment.  DER works with partners from municipalities, nonprofits, government agencies, and other organizations to accomplish its restoration goals.  Some benefits and accomplishments in 2023, as detailed in its Annual Report, are as follows:

 

Storm Protection & Reduced Flood Risk

 

DER’s ecological restoration work protects communities by increasing climate resilience through storm protection and reduced flood risk. Along the coast, DER restores wetlands and salt marshes, which provide a natural barrier to storms by absorbing flood waters and decreasing wave energy, protecting nearby communities. In the western part of the state, Massachusetts experienced severe flooding in the summer and fall of 2023, which resulted in undersized culverts unfortunately contributing to road flooding and failures. DER’s Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grant Program helps municipalities replace undersized and deteriorated culverts with larger and more resilient structures. Installing culverts that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards allows rivers to flow unrestricted and lowers the risk of flood damage.

 

 

Healthy Infrastructure & Public Safety

 

Many municipalities are confronted with aging and deteriorating culverts and dams, paired with increasing costs to maintain them. DER’s Dam Removal and Stream Continuity Programs work with partners to remove dams and replace undersized and deteriorating culverts with those that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards. This work improves public safety and helps municipalities address rising maintenance costs. Although replacing culverts with structures that meet these standards involves more up-front cost, it is less expensive over the lifespan of the structure than inaction or in-kind replacements.

 

Biodiversity

 

Creating free-flowing, healthy rivers and wetlands not only benefits our communities, but also improves habitat to support diverse and rare species found throughout the Commonwealth. In 2023, the Healey-Driscoll Administration helped prioritize and bring awareness to this by signing an Executive Order to develop new biodiversity goals for a nature-positive future. Ecological restoration supports biodiversity by revitalizing habitats for a variety of wildlife, including many endangered and threatened plant, fish, and animal species.

Recreational Opportunities

 

DER’s restoration projects often result in new natural areas for the public to enjoy or improvements to existing conservation land. This work also improves public safety at many of these sites. Massachusetts has many beautiful natural spaces and continuing to restore rivers, wetlands, and watersheds will ensure future generations can enjoy them.

 

In 2023, they were involved in the following:

 

Projects:

  • 11 projects under construction
  • 3 projects completed
  • 66 Priority Projects in planning, design, permitting, or construction

Infrastructure:

  • 3 dams removed in Braintree and Bridgewater
  • 3 culverts upgraded in Ashfield, Plymouth, and Washington

Benefits

  • 2 river miles reconnected
  • 40 acres of freshwater wetlands restored
  • 594 acres of river herring spawning habitat now accessible

 

In the last five years, DER has doubled in size, and has rapidly expanded its restoration programs in response to the demand for assistance. Now, DER is restructuring its programs to better meet the restoration needs of municipalities, non-profit organizations, and landowners. As a young agency, DER is building a solid operational foundation that will serve the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and its partners for many years to come.

 

DER is excited for all that’s coming in 2024, including some of these anticipated activities:

  • It will issue its annual Request for Responses for municipalities that want to upgrade undersized or failing culverts through the Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grant Program.
  • It will expand the Regional Restoration Partnerships Program by issuing a new request for responses to establish new Restoration Partnerships.
  • It will continue to oversee over 50 active projects as part of the Priority Projects Program. In addition, DER intends to issue a request for responses to award Priority Project status to new projects, making them eligible for support from DER in the form of grant eligibility, technical assistance, and contracted technical services.
  • It will complete preliminary design studies for seven potential dam removal projects. DER awarded $350,000 to support these studies in December 2023.
  • It will begin preliminary design studies to replace near-coastal waterway crossings (such as culverts or bridges) that are expected to be impacted by sea-level rise and increased storm surge due to climate change. Addressing this type of crossing presents a new set of challenges.
  • It issued a Request for Responses to identify potential project locations in need of preliminary studies in 2023 and anticipates selecting sites in 2024.
  • It anticipates completing construction on at least seven cranberry bog restoration, dam removal, wetland restoration, and culvert replacement projects.

 

Youth Outreach Derby

On June 1, some 25 youths and their families attended the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s (BCLS) Youth Outreach Fishing Event this year at Reynolds Pond in Cheshire.  This year’s group was from the Pediatric Palliative Care Program, part of Hospice Care in the Berkshires which is sponsored by the Department of Public Health.  It is a separate program from Hospice Care for kids who have life limiting health conditions.

The program is about giving the kids and their families a quality of life.  They provide nursing, social work, spiritual counselling, art therapy, music therapy and other therapies.  The siblings get to benefit from them as well because they do family events.  “Most of the kids get their medical care at Boston Children’s Hospital. They have  nurses who come to their homes and talk about what’s going on and discusses plans for doctor events. They have social workers who help connect the families to all of the resources that are available to them such as social security, mental disability services, fuel assistance, housing, anything to help the families.

Picture provided by Gene Chague

The kids, along with their parents and grandparents, were eager to attend and learn how to fish at Reynolds Pond.  Most never have been fishing before and it was a brand new experience for them.  It was such a great way for kids and families to connect outside of school.  These kids had a ball and were in their element.

The BCLS was more than happy to provide comfort to these kids that are medically challenged.  There was a wide variety of kids, some were in wheelchairs – and kids who look like any other kids but with conditions that may very well limit their lifespans.  Kids with seizure disorders, with cancer, and all kinds of different challenges.

Reynolds Pond was stocked and the kids were guaranteed that they would catch fish.  And boy did they!  For a change, the fish cooperated and they caught lots of good- sized brook trout, keeping the fish cleaning volunteers quite busy.

Youth hauling in an old shoe. Picture taken by Gene Chague

Each kid was given a fishing pole and equipment with which to fish and when the day was over, they were able to take them along with their trout home. Their equipment was all set up by volunteers by the time they arrived and they were provided with the necessary bait. Around noon time, a meal of burgers, dogs, chips, drinks and desert was provided.

The BCLS annually sponsors the event with significant grants from the local chapter of Whitetails Unlimited.  They provided the brook trout (which were raised in the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery), equipment, bait, and food. Volunteers from the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club, Adams Outdoor for Youth, B.A.S.S., Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Berkshire Beagle Club and Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club assisted.

God bless the kids, their families and many thanks to the sportsmen and women who provided them with such an enjoyable and memorable day.

Firearm course just for women

 

The Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club is offering a MA firearm license course for women only on Saturday, June 29. The course will run from 9:00 AM until 2:30 PM. The fee is $ 160.00 which includes eye and ear protection that they keep. Live fire is included.

 

For more information, email Robert at robmcdermott@verizon.net.

 

Questions/comments:  Berkwoodsandwaters@gmail.com.   Phone: (413) 637-1818

 

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Kudos to the Massachusetts Wildfire Crew

A crew of Massachusetts wildfire fighters recently returned from a 14-day assignment on the Flat Fire protecting values at risk in Pioneerville, Idaho.  The crew included 18 members from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and 3 members of the MassWildlife fire team. Two of the MassWildlife staff were from the Western District. Nate Buckhout (Western District Wildlife Biologist) and Heather Sadler (Western District Wildlife Technician) joined Benjamin Mazzei (Westboro Habitat Biologist) on the deployment.

They left on August 11 and returned home on August 27.  While there, they camped on a dirt airstrip in Idaho City (population of about 485), about 1 ½ hours north of Boise, Idaho.  They slept right on the dirt runway.

There weren’t that many firefighters when they first arrived, but the number eventually grew to 350+ firefighters.  The camp grew from a couple of tents to a point where there were caterers, a tractor trailer with 16 showers, a finance office, a medical logistics, etc.  The temperatures were very hot (mid 90’s) but it cooled a little toward the end of the assignment.

The workdays were around 16 hours.  They got up at 5:30 am, ate dinner around 10:00 pm and were in bed by 11:00 pm.  One day they had to stay longer because the fire jumped over the fire line and they ended up fighting it in the dark.

It usually took one to 1 ½ hours to get to the fire because they had to travel very slowly on winding logging roads. Fortunately, no one in their group got injured.  They had a good group of people who knew what they were dealing with and helped those that did not.

All the Massachusetts men and women firefighters worked as a Type 2 Initial Attack Team working with hand tools to build fire lines and contain active fires. The group broke into smaller squads to meet specific objectives depending on the day’s assignment.

“We got thrown into everything.”  Said Buckhout.  They were put into a spike camp (remote camp with less amenities).  There they set up their tents while others drove food up from down below.  At the spike camp, there was no cell service, no showers, and only a couple of bath rooms.

When they arrived the fire was less than 10% contained but when they left it was 60% controlled which was great because there were other big fires nearby blowing up.  Their fire wasn’t a relatively big fire compared to others, but because of the location as to communities and type of areas it was a concern.  It was maybe 3,800 acres at its largest, but there was a 40,000 acre fire north of them in an 80,000 acre wilderness area.

Other than the Massachusetts crew, there were no other firefighters there from the east.  Most of the assisting firefighters came from Colorado, Wyoming, Utah or California.  The Idaho warden who was in charge called them out and said that he would ask for them by name the next time. They left with a good impression with all the different divisions with whom they worked.

The smoke wasn’t great.  The worst part was the dust, because it was so dry, and the altitude, hiking those hills.  When you stepped anywhere, there was a cloud of dust.   When driving, there was so much dust from the vehicle in front,  they had to let it clear so that could see.

They felt like they were doing something that mattered.  As much as it was realy tough, it was a great experience and they would do it again.

Being able to work with DCR they saw a different perspective.  They were all just one, not DCR or DFW.  It was a very positive experience working with DCR and they made good friends.

The assignment was particularly arduous, said MassWildlife District Manager Andrew Madden, but the crew gained valuable experience which will be applied to MassWildlife’s prescribed fire program.

It was a good year for land protection in the Western District

That’s according to Andrew Madden.  He gave delegates the good news at the September meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen which was held on September 5 at the Lee Sportsmen’s Association..

During the period from July 2023 to June 2024 the following projects were completed:

Shales Brook Wildlife Management Area (WMA) – Becket – A 73-acre gift of land off Tyringham Road abutting the existing WMA.

Savoy WMA -Savoy – A 4-acre acquisition on Harrington Road surrounded by the existing WMA. The project improves access and prevents development which would reduce land available for hunting.

Green River WMA – Williamstown – 100 acres abutting the existing WMA. The property includes frontage along the green river and quality forest on the uplands.

Edge Hill Wildlife Conservation Easement (WCE) – Ashfield – This 132-acre Conservation Easement is held in partnership with the Franklin Land Trust. The property (a former golf course) is open to the public and available for hunting.

Hiram Fox WMA – A 50-acre forested inholding accessible from the existing WMA.

Karner Brook WMA – 18 acres with stream frontage that expands on the existing WMA.

Eugene Moran WMA – 42 acres on Cheshire Road that expands access to the existing WMA.

Assuming that all dwelling and road set back requirements and WMA regulations are complied with, all of the above WMA and WCE lands are open to hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreational activities.

For maps and locations visit https://www.mass.gov/how-to/masswildlife-lands viewer.

 

Huge trout caught at the Hatchery Kid’s Derby

According to Dave Ziegler, the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery Board Chairman and official fish measurer, there were 18 entrants into the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery Kid’s Derby which was held in Hartsville/New Marlborough last Saturday morning. It was a derby for youths under 13 years of age.

Boy!  Did they catch some whoppers!  Vance LaBonte of Litchfield, CT took first prize with a 22-inch brook trout, estimated to weigh between 3 ½ to 4 lbs.   Jackson Broderick of Pittsfield took second place with a 21-inch rainbow trout. Trever Daley of Lee took third place with a 13-inch rainbow.

Vance LaBonte. Picture provided by Gene Chague

These derbies don’t normally yield such large trout, but the Hatchery folks decided to liberate some of their larger fish as they were getting old and nearing the end of their life spans.

Fall trout stocking should begin soon

MassWildlife will soon stock approximately 73,750 trout.  About 27,000 rainbow trout over 14 inches, just over 40,200 rainbow trout over 12 inches, and about 6,500 brown trout over 12 inches will be stocked across Massachusetts this fall. These fish, along with the 455,000 trout that were stocked in the spring, should provide for some great fall fishing. Fall stocking season will begin around the last full week in September depending on water temperatures and will conclude in mid-October.

Local fall trout stockings are usually conducted in Stockbridge Bowl, Onota Lake, Lake Buel, Goose Pond, Laurel Lake, North Pond, Windsor Lake, Windsor Pond, Otis Reservoir, Richmond Pond, Ashfield Lake, and the Deerfield River.  We’ll have to see if water conditions are sufficient to stock the East Branch of the Westfield River.  We need some rain to raise the water level.

Once stocking begins, visit mass.gov/Trout for a stocking report that is updated daily.

Habitat Management Grants Available

Private and municipal landowners of conserved lands can apply for grant funding to support active habitat management projects that benefit wildlife and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities. Grant applications are due by October 17, 2024. Visit the MHMGP webpage time to learn more about the application process and to see examples of funded projects. For general questions about the grant program, contact James Burnham, Program Coordinator.

Questions/comments:  Berkwoodsandwaters@gmail.com.   Phone: (413) 637-1818

 

 

 

Flyfishing in Iceland

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In July, a group of my fishing buddies flew to Iceland to do some Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout and perhaps Arctic Char fishing.  Included in the group were Mike Shepard of Dalton, Mike Miller and Carlton Racie from Athol, MA, Darren Miller from Bedford, MA, Brandon Jones of Leominster, MA, Gary Hebert of Richmond, NH, Tim Racie from Acton, MA and Ken Griffin from Boston.

 

Their trip to Iceland started on July 21, flying out of Boston to Reykjavik, the largest city and capitol of Iceland.  Following an overnight stay there, they flew to Akureyri, a fishing village in northern Iceland.  There they were picked up by their outfitter, Iceland Fishing Guide, and drove to Myrarkvisl Lodge.

 

Before fishing Iceland’s waters, all of their fishing equipment including rods, reels, flies, fly lines, waders and boots had to be disinfected in order to protect the pristine Icelandic rivers from any risk of infection from bacteria or disease from foreign rivers that may be present on waders or other equipment.

 

The Mýrarkvísl River is one of the tributaries of Laxá River in Aðaldal, which flows north into the Atlantic Ocean near the Arctic Circle.  It is a relatively small river that holds a great stock of brown trout along with good runs of Atlantic Salmon throughout the summer. The river runs through plains on the Reykjaheiði plateau making it perfect for fly fishing. All of their fishing was done on private land owned by farmers which the guide rented for fishing beats.  They fished on this river for three days.

 

On the second day, Mike Shepard caught an 8 lbs female (hen) Atlantic salmon that was fresh from the ocean and “as silver as it could be.”  It took him about 30 minutes fighting it in heavy water.  As soon as he could get her to shore for the guide to net, she would line him. (make another powerful run).  She did this 4 – 5 times.  In the process, she jumped 5 times, straight out of the water.  Mike’s biggest issue was if she chose to leave the pool, there was no way he could follow her down the river for it was really rough walking.  However; he was using an Orvis Helos III  9 weight (heavy, strong rod) a Mirage Reel and 20 lbs test straight leader, and was able to turn her back to the pool easily.

Mike Shepard with 8 lbs Atlantic Salmon

 

For salmon, they normally use heavy tube flies or classic Atlantic salmon flies, size 10 with double hooks.  But Mike caught her on a dark colored dry fly.

 

They then switched to the Reykjadalsa Lodge, in a small village of Laugar in northern Iceland. There they fished the balance of the days in the Reykjadalsa River, a typical freestone river, renowned for salmon fishing and a wet fly angler’s paradise. It’s known as one of Iceland’s best wild Trout rivers, with high volumes of fish landed every season. In the morning, four of their group fished for Atlantic Salmon, and in the afternoon, they switched and fished for big Brown Trout in the Laxa River. They split the trip into two different lodges for the logistics of fishing different rivers and streams.

 

The Laxa River is about 3/4 of a mile wide and never deeper than one’s knees, so one could wade straight across it.  The river bottom was black, from volcanic ash and it is full of big Brown Trout. (Iceland is basically a volcanic island.  All the volcanic activity that is in the news these days is in the south about 200 miles from where they currently were staying).

 

The smallest Brown Trout caught on the trip was probably 3lbs and the largest 7lbs.  There is not an abundance of aquatic insects so a dry-fly fisherman had to work hard to catch them.  On the other hand, a wet-fly fisherman or person fishing with nymphs could kill them.  (Actually, everything was “catch & release).

 

According to Mike Shepard, they got their share of rainy, windy weather.  He wore Under Armour, a flannel shirt, and a wool sweater each day, and a raincoat, too, if needed.

 

They never got to see the Northern Lights and because of the long days up there, they fished until 10:00 pm, had an hour’s drive back to the lodge and didn’t eat until 11:30 pm.

 

According to Mike, all in all, the group caught a lot of big brown trout.  They caught 13 Atlantic Salmon   Most of the guys caught one or two, but Carl’s son Tim Racie is an accomplished wet-fly fisherman, and caught 4, one of which was a brute of probably 20 lbs. The guide said it was the biggest one caught in the river in the last 4-5 years. Gary Hebert managed to hit the mother lode on Browns and caught one of the largest Browns of the week.

Gary Hebert with a large Brown Trout

 

According to Gary, they have a tradition up there when you catch your first Atlantic Salmon of the season, you have to indulge in the curse of the fermented shark (a tradition of having to eat fermented shark (Hakari).  He described it as the nastiest rotten smelliest vile food in the world.

 

(Readers may remember Gary.  I mentioned him in an article that I did about fishing the Minipi River/Lake in Labrador some years back.  He and I were the early risers each morning and he would make our coffee, which was arguably the strongest cup of coffee in North America.  We called it napalm.  Both being vets, we got a chuckle out of that.)

 

They were in a small village of Laugar in northern Iceland.  The country is essentially run on geothermal power. According to Gary, a few of them indulged in one of the local geothermal pools while enjoying their favorite libations.

 

Mike Shepard feels that it is clearly a “bucket list” trip – the opportunity to catch an Atlantic Salmon is once in a lifetime.  Although he only caught one, he did have ten come after his fly – three with the intention of hitting it.  One, estimated to be 15 pounds came right out of the river and jumped over his fly.  Another big one hit it with his nose and knocked it straight up in the air.  The other salmon flashed at his fly, not making any effort to take the fly.  Atlantic Salmon don’t eat once they hit fresh water, so you are left to making them mad.

 

“The country is essentially treeless, mountains with enormous valleys of grass fields and outcropping of volcanic rock”, said Mike, “unique but beautiful in its own pristine way.  The Icelandic people are very friendly and helpful, the guides were excellent.  The food was traditional Icelandic meals focusing on lamb and fish. One of the cooks was a trained chef so dinner was gourmet.”

 

The trip took 10 days including travel days and an overnight stay in Reykjavik. The price was $6,400 USD per person for 6 1/2 days of fishing, which included meals, fishing license, guiding (1 guide for two anglers), accommodations, full catering, taxes and tips. Airfare was $860 with another approximately $650 for hotel, meals, libations, taxes and tips.

 

Incidentally, of the 8 anglers who went on that trip, 5 came back with Covid.  Fortunately for Mike Shepard, he was not one of them.

In case you are wondering why I didn’t join the guys on this trip, its because my wife Jan and I were in other waters – the Mediterranean Sea on a cruise ship.  While there, I was hoping to do a little trolling off of our stateroom balcony (on the 14th deck), but it just didn’t work out.  The handle of my net was a tad too short.

Fishing Derby

 

The Friends of the Berkshire Hatchery in Hartsville-New Marlborough is scheduled to have its last Youth Fishing Derby of this year next Saturday, September 14 from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its Lower Pond at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, Hartsville, MA.  Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.  No child goes away empty handed.

Wear your life jackets, it’s the law

 

MassWildlife cautions us that all canoe or kayak occupants must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD from September 15 to May 15, and that includes waterfowl hunters.

Goose, bear hunting seasons start next week

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The Early Canada Goose Hunting Season (statewide) begins on Monday, September 2 and runs through September 21.  For Early Canada Goose season only, hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  The daily bag limit is 15 and the possession limit is 45.  The reason for this early season and the large numbers of geese allowed to be taken is to reduce the large local resident population that is befouling our lawns and beaches.

There are many regulations regarding goose hunting and your attention is directed to the 2024 – 2025 Season Dates & Bag Limit provided at https://www.mass.gov/doc/2024-2025-migratory-game-bird-regulations.

 

Also, the Early Black Bear Hunting Season opens statewide on Tuesday, September 3 and runs through September 21. Those hunting hours are also 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.  There are no blaze orange requirements during this season.  Hunting implements allowed during this season are rifles, revolvers, muzzleloaders and archery equipment.  There are also many regulations governing bear hunting as noted on pages 30 and 31 of the Massachusetts Fishing and Hunting laws (commonly referred to as the abstracts).

Please remember:  It is unlawful for hunters to intentionally, or knowingly leave a wounded or dead game animal in the field or the forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it. Each retrieved animal shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, pelt, feathers, or taxidermy. This does not apply to animals unfit for consumption or use—animals and their parts that are damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected.

Also remember that no hunting is allowed on Sundays in Massachusetts.

Here’s wishing you safe and successful hunts.

DFG announces 5-year strategic plan

The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) recently announced the release of a five-year strategic plan, Connections: Working Together for Nature to guide the agency’s work from 2025-2030. The plan establishes a vision for the Department, focusing on solutions at the intersection of biodiversity, climate change, and environmental justice while advancing the priorities of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It ties into goals laid out by Governor Healey’s Executive Order 618, which ordered the DFG to review all executive departments’ biodiversity efforts and lay out biodiversity goals for 2030, 2040 and 2050, as well as strategies to reach them.

The strategic plan was created collaboratively across DFG’s four Divisions—Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife), Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), and Office of Fishing & Boating Access and with input from the Fisheries & Wildlife Board and Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission.

The Department has identified key priority biodiversity conservation goals. It will double the pace of land protection, working to protect an average of 6,000 acres per year, to support the state’s goal of conserving 40 percent of Massachusetts land by 2050. Additionally, the Department will complete five landscape-scale conservation projects, expand river and wetland restoration efforts, promote carbon storage and sequestration, and develop decarbonization and resilience plans for all facilities.

It will also work to meaningfully connect with environmental justice and Indigenous communities by creating new inclusive recreation opportunities for underserved and environmental justice communities, increasing accessibility and use of Department programs, facilities, and resources, and improving language access. It will foster respectful, mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous peoples and collaborate with Tribes to identify resources they may wish to access for traditional and cultural uses. Finally, it will increase food security by expanding venison donations, connecting environmental justice communities with fresh, local seafood, and increasing harmful Algal Bloom monitoring by 25% to ensure sustainable shellfish harvest.

You can read the 64-page strategic plan at https://www.mass.gov/doc/dfg-strategic-plan-1/download.

“This plan reflects our agency’s commitment to respond with urgency to the most pressing challenges of today: unprecedented biodiversity loss, the climate crisis, and persistent environmental injustice,” said DFG’s Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “By aligning our efforts, this plan will allow our Department to rise to these challenges, expand our impact, and above all, better serve the people of Massachusetts.”  “Since its inception, DFG has been dedicated to conserving fish and wildlife for the benefit of all people. While the Department maintains its commitment to conserve fish and wildlife and continue the long traditions of hunting, fishing, boating, and other outdoor recreation, this strategic plan outlines priority areas for growth and expansion.”

“DER is proud to be a part of this groundbreaking plan for the next five years. Climate change is bringing significant challenges to our communities: extreme weather, increased precipitation, and catastrophic flooding.” said DER Director Beth Lambert. “We are excited to scale up our river and wetland restoration efforts to help people and nature adapt—increasing capacity at the local level and leveraging new and existing partnerships to expand our impact.”

“The DFG’s Strategic Plan is an important first step that clearly lays out for the public what the Department’s and MassWildlife’s key priorities are, including but not limited to biodiversity and landscape-scale conservation through partnerships, land protection, habitat restoration and management, expanding fishing and hunting opportunities, access to nature and wildlife for all to enjoy, and expanding “Hunters Share the Harvest” to help address food security needs in the Commonwealth.” said MassWildlife Director Mark S. Tisa.

“The Fisheries and Wildlife Board is proud to support MassWildlife’s comprehensive mandate to ensure the conservation of the Commonwealth’s natural resources for the use and enjoyment of all people. The Board appreciated the opportunity to engage during the development of the DFG’s Strategic Plan and applauds the plan’s commitments to expanding access to outdoor recreation through learn-to-fish and -hunt programs, connecting people to nature with wildlife education programs, and to environmental justice across all programs,” said Stephen Sears, Chair of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board.

15th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day Brings Community Together to Survey Local Species

 

Celebrating local biodiversity during a time of unprecedented global biodiversity loss, the 15th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (also known as Berkshire BioBlitz) welcomes community members of all ages to join biologists, naturalists, and environmentalists to identify as many plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms as possible during a 24-hour period.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from noon on Friday, September 13, to noon on Saturday, September 14, at the Berkshire Community College campus, 1350 West St, Pittsfield. Participants may take part at any time during this period to record a survey of their findings and experience first-hand the importance of a healthy, active ecosystem in their community.

This year’s program promises to be an engaging experience for all nature enthusiasts. The schedule is packed with guided walks, presentations, and demonstrations led by experts. Presentation topics include native plants as insect habitat from Charley Eiseman, moths and how to observe them from Carla Rhodes, lichen from Kay Hurley, and arthropods from Bryan “Professor Bugman” Man.

Professor Tom Tyning will lead an amphibian, reptile, and small mammal walk that will involve checking under cover boards—a common surveying method used by herpetologists. Rene Wendell from Hoffmann Bird Club will lead an owl prowl, and Matthew Rymkiewicz will lead a demo on how to “lightsheet” for moths. Ben Nickley of Berkshire Bird Observatory will also conduct a bird banding demonstration. Visit www.berkshirebioblitz.org to find a detailed schedule of the 24-hour program.

 

All attendees should meet in the lobby of the Koussevitzky Arts Center on BCC’s campus. Biological surveys and expert-led walks will be conducted on BCC’s campus, which spans 180+ acres and boasts a diverse range of habitats, including meadows, forests, and wetlands. Presentations will take place in the K-111 Auditorium.

The 15th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day is organized and sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Nature Academy of the Berkshires. It’s co-sponsored by Berkshire Community College, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and Panera.

To learn more about this 24-hour biological survey and the scheduled activities, visit www.berkshirebioblitz.org or email team@thebeatnews.org.

 

Deb Lipa has retired

 

Congratulations to Debra ‘Deb’ Lipa who retired this past Friday from her position as clerk at the DFW Western District Headquarters in Dalton.  And many thanks for providing us those local trout stocking reports.  We know and appreciate the added work, involved that was required to get that information to us.

 

For the last 10 years she was the pleasant lady who greeted us upon entering the headquarters.

 

Here’s wishing Deb a long, happy and healthy retirement.

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.

 

 

 

 

Brief but beautiful, Friends of the Williams River

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Photo of Williams River taken by John Masiero

With funds raise from membership fees and Riverways grants, the FWR became involved in several projects:

It made grants to college students.  It worked with Mr. ??? Schmidt and Don Roeder of Simons Rock College. Mary Lynn Sidari, a student there, did a study and prepared a thesis on trichoptera (caddis flies) in the Williams River. Her monitoring stations were in West Stockbridge, Housatonic, and Richmond.  Her thesis was submitted to the Natural Sciences Facility in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree. The Board soon made Mary Lynn an honorary member of the FWR

(Interestingly, Taconic TU had an esteemed member and very knowledgeable fly fisherman, the late Ernest Long of Pittsfield, who analyzed the results of Marilyn’s study and determined the main tricoptera detected was the Irrocqenea caddisfly.  He did extensive research and found a fly pattern that best imitated the aquatic insect.

Michelle Kirchener, also a Simons Rock student, received a grant to do water samples of phosphorous and fecal coliform after the new sewage treatment plant came online.

During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s TU members John Stengle, of Richmond, Bill Hanford and Ed Desaulniers collected quarterly water samples of the river for UMASS for its Acid Rain Monitoring program. They tested for pH and alkalinity.

Maria Vandeusen, Joan Kimball and Russ Cohen from Mass Riverways in Boston frequently came to the FWR meetings to consult with it, illustrate overlay maps, etc.

The FWR became involved with the Mass Turnpike degradation of Card Pond and attempted to hold them accountable.

Try as it might, it could not establish a walking trail on the old train track property which extended from Gt. Barrington to Canaan, NY.   It worked feverishly with Mass Electric, (owners of the old rail line property) to let it establish a rail trail.  (This was years before the establishment of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Pittsfield/Cheshire). It met resistance from some landowners with lands abutting the abandoned rail line.  After many years of disuse, they extended their boundaries to include the portions of it which crossed their properties.  Then there was the issue with the local sportsmen who did not want a hiking trail going through areas where they hunted.

During that period, John Masiero led periodic hikes along the river trying to drum up more interest in it as well as to encourage membership in the FWR. He got the FWR participating in the West Stockbridge’s Zuccini Festival and ran a rubber duck parade on the River.

The community supported the FWR and obtaining annual membership fees was never a problem. The FWR was doing just fine but it couldn’t attract new, younger members to serve on its Board and to ensure continuity of the organization.  Some board members got to the age where they could no longer attend the meetings.  That, coupled with the lack of our ability to recruit new younger members to the FWR, foretold difficult times ahead.

In 19?? John Masiero was elected president and newsletter editor.  In that year he and Peter Tucker, with a winch, removed such items from the river as a stove, refrigerator, etc. on Earth Day. A rusted 1979-1980 Volkswagen Rabbit automobile was retrieved from the Williams River Gorge below the Rock Dale dam.  Ed Desaulniers, Chairman of the ConCom and FWR Board member enlisted the FWR to underwrite the use of a log skidder with a 30-ton winch to remove the wreck.

From the late 1990’s through the early 2000’s the FWR started to lose board members, Jervis Gennari passed in 1995, Sissy Paddock in 1999, Bill Hanford and Ted Giddings in 2005.   When Ed Desaulniers went into a nursing home the Board had to seriously consider terminating the FWR and it had to do something with the deeded Shaw and Gennari properties.  The deeds were sitting in my safe deposit box.  John and I had to take charge of the treasury.

The remaining active board members (John, Dave, George and I) decided to sell those parcels, which abutted the Maple Hill lands to the DFW for about $8,000. With the monies derived, we paid up any State taxes owed. (John took on the task of filing all of the necessary State forms). We then made a $500.00 donation to the BNRC and the rest was donated to a new organization called the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation with the stipulation that the funds be spent in the Williams River Watershed.  Then we terminated the FWR.

We chose to donate the remaining treasury to the Outdoor Heritage Foundation because it works to create cooperative partnerships to find and fund the best wild lands and wildlife projects directly and provide pivotal collaboration by assisting without duplicating any efforts of other environmental organizations and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife).

We were confident that our gift to benefit wildlife and rare and endangered species would not be diverted to other unrelated or contradictory purposes in time of fiscal crisis in the Commonwealth.

We also knew, given the foundation’s close working relationship with MassWildlife, that the projects and research it sponsors or contributes toward are based on rock-solid science, rigorously applied. At the same time, its independent status allows the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation to be more nimble than MassWildlife, acting faster and at a finer scale than is always practical or possible for a large state agency.

Three former Board members had passed away since the dissolution of the FWR (Ed Desaulniers in 2009, Dave Oclair in 2014 and George Naventi in 2016) leaving only Board members John Masiero and me to tell its story.

In the short timespan that the FWR existed, it mattered.  Following the initial land acquisitions previously mentioned, MassWildlife continued to acquire abutting lands in the Williams River watershed to the point that they now protect over 1,000 acres including the 165-acre Fairfield Brook WMA in Richmond. Much of the lands containing rare and endangered species.

In 1992, DFW purchased 120 acres from Al Sabatino family and converted it into a Wildlife Management Area.  In 1996, DFW purchased 142 acres of nearby/abutting land from the Shisko family. In 2008 the previously mentioned 24+ acres that Shaw/Genari donated were purchased from the FWR.  In 2010, 10 acres of land which were owned by John Masiero, Sr. were purchased and then 25 acres of land owned by the West Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club which became the Williams River WMA.  In 2011, 242 acres of land were purchased in the Flat Brook area. In 2011 and 2013, 17 and 190 acres respectively were purchased from Symphony Lakes. In 2018, 4 acres of land were purchased from George Soule and 15 acres were gifted from Patches family.  In 2019, 48 acres of land were purchased from the George Naventi estate and 25 acres was purchased from John Masiero, Jr.  In 2021, 31+acres were purchased from Al Sabatino family and nearly 13 acres was purchased from Gene Delea.

DFW Western District Land Agent Peter Milanesi handled all of those transactions. No state-owned land existed in West Stockbridge prior to the establishment of the FWR.

Incidentally, the third adopter of the FWR, the Housatonic River Watershed Association, suffered the same fate as the FWR and opted to merge with the Housatonic River Association (HVA) in the middle 1990’s.  As its Treasurer, I transferred its treasury over to them.  Tom Stokes was its local supervisor while it operated out of the Lenox Train depot.

John and I feel that the FWR played a key initial role in getting the land acquisitions started.  It really started something.   Sissy Paddock would be very pleased about all that has transpired since her initial phone call back  in 1985.  I know that John and I are.

Many thanks to John Masiero and Peter Melanesi for their assistance in preparing this story.

 

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.

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An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws

In announcing the passage of the above Act, Governor Healey wrote that this legislation updates our firearms laws in response to the Supreme Court’s misguided Bruen decision, that it cracks down on ghost guns and 3-D printed weapons, bans firearms in additional public spaces like schools, polling places and government buildings. It expands the 2018 “red flag” law to allow school administrators and licensed health care providers to petition a court to temporarily take firearms away from someone deemed a threat to themselves or others.  It also includes new penalties for possession, creation and transfer of untraceable guns. Some of those components of the law are things that hunters and target shooters could support, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there.

 

The following is based upon interpretations by the Gun Owner’s Action League (GOAL), the Massachusetts Conservation Alliance, the Sportsmen’s Alliance and others.  Please bear in mind new interpretations are coming in daily.

 

There will be a complete prohibition for MA Firearms ID (FID) card holders, regardless of age, from owning, possessing, purchasing or transferring rifles and shotguns that are large capacity or semi-automatic (even rimfire) firearms. Hunters will be allowed to hunt with semi-automatic shotguns if they have a valid License-to-Carry (LTC) and the firearm is on the approved roster. Youth hunters can hunt with a semi-automatic shotgun, under the supervision of an adult that has a valid LTC.

As for holders, the new semi-automatic laws are very expansive and there are several sections that must be referenced in order to determine what is banned and who is banned from possessing them.

The new law  appears to give full authority to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security  to amend the rosters for any and all firearms including semi-automatics. We won’t know what will be approved or banned for some time

There are no exemptions for rimfire in the assault weapon law. (Rimfire cartridges are typically low-powered and small-caliber, traditionally .22 rifles. Large capacity feeding devices do not include .22 rimfire tubular magazines.)

 

There has been no information yet regarding buy backs or confiscation.

 

Under the new laws, any muzzleloader that utilizes modern ammunition components and/or can be readily converted to accept a modern cartridge or barrel (for example) will now require a LTC or FID.

 

Non residents are no longer exempt from possessing handguns and/or semi-automatic firearms for competitions or hunting. It bans youth non-resident hunting (under 18).  All firearms entering the Commonwealth for any purpose other than traveling through must be registered prior to them entering. For people who have moved into Massachusetts, it is possible that they will have to report all transfers since they have been living in Massachusetts.

 

UPS, FedEx, etc. must comply with storage and transportation laws.  Trigger locks and other devices do not appear to have been changed.

 

There are new training requirements which were projected to take effect on August 1, 2024.  There appears to be some training that was grandfathered which includes any license issued on or before August 1, 2024 and for all renewals. Only new applicants must do disengagement training and live fire training.  There are many new requirements for the new training curriculum.  The Colonel of the State Police, in consultation with the Municipal Police Training Committee, shall create a new training curriculum. It must include:  injury prevention, suicide prevention, disengagement tactics, live fire and completion of a written exam.

 

Is there any doubt as to why GOAL announced a referendum effort to repeal this gun law? A referendum petition is used to have a law that was recently enacted by the legislature to be repealed by the voters.  You can find out more about that on the GOAL website.

 

The new law is 116 pages long and there may be other aspects of it which could be mentioned in future columns.  But for the next two weeks, this column will cover a different subject matter.

 

Berkshire National Fish Hatchery events

 

On Saturday, August 10, two events will be taking place at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in Monterey/Hartsville.

 

Running from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery will be having their monthly kids fishing derby.  Bring your children ages 13 and under so that they can learn to fish and compete for prizes. No child goes away empty handed.  Its free and there will be free derby shirts for the kids.

Following that, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. they will have an Open House where visitors have an opportunity to explore the fascinating facility, take guided tours and learn about the amazing work they do to support local fish populations and their habitats.

Enjoy complimentary hotdogs, chips, and watermelon during the Open House. T-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts will be for sale under the tent and a raffle drawing for a Traeger grill smoker.  There will be fly casting for adults with a chance to win a bottle of gin from Berkshire Distillery with the hatchery logo on it

Fly Fishing Clinic

On August 9, Jim Lagacy, Aquatic Resource Education Coordinator, invites you to join MassWildlife’s ‘Fly Fishing 101’ clinic to learn how to get started in this wonderful pastime.  They will take the romance and mystery out of this age-old technique and show you that fly fishing is just another tool in your fishing arsenal. From the necessary equipment needs, essential knots, how to rig up your fly rod and reel outfit, and how to cast, as well as some commonsense tips and techniques to get you started.

Kendelll Wojtkonski with a nice brown trout out of the Housatonic River in Lee., MA Picture taken by her fdad, Craig Smith.

After an introductory lesson, participants will be able to fly fish on Reynolds Pond (45 Fred Mason Rd, Cheshire) with help from local fly anglers and MassWildlife staff.

The free clinic is designed for beginner fly anglers (age 15+). Bring your own fly-fishing gear or borrow theirs.  Space is limited, so pre-register at HTTPS://massfishhuntevents , # 4331, ASAP.

Family Fishing Clinic

 

On August 10, Lagacy invites you to join them for a free, family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Upper Highland Lake in the DAR State Forest, in Goshen, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow theirs; limited equipment and bait will be provided.

When you arrive, instructors will cover the fishing basics with the balance of the time spent fishing.  This class is designed for adults and families; participants ages 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Free and open to the public, pre-registration is required. HTTPS://massfishhuntevents 4332, ASAP.

American Museum of Fly Fishing Festival

On Saturday, August 10 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the AMFF’s 16th annual free Fly-Fishing Festival will take place rain or shine on the museum grounds in Manchester, Vermont. This is its signature event of the summer, featuring a unique collection of vendors, including painters, appraisers, industry artisans and professionals, and other angling-related nonprofits. You are invited to enjoy fly tying and casting demonstrations, try your hand at casting vintage rods, learn how to tie a fly, and mingle with like-minded people as you share the joy of the great outdoors.

Join them throughout the day for a wide array of activities, including presentations, competitions, and demonstrations. The schedule of events is as follows:

11:00 am: Casting competition
12:00 pm: Saltwater Casting Seminar with AMFF Ambassador Kyle Schaefer
1:00 pm: Meet the Artist: C.D. Clarke
2:00 pm: Art Workshop with AMFF Ambassador Rachel Finn
3:00 pm: Raffle drawing at admissions tent

Happening all day: Tackle appraisals with Bob Selb, Fred Kretchman, and Carmine Lisella,
casting lessons with AMFF Ambassador Kyle Schaefer, vendors and non-profits, fly tying demonstrations, casting the classics, local food and beverage trucks, children’s activities
explore multiple exhibitions in the museum galleries, music by Shannon Roy, free museum admission all day.

 

Hoosic Riverfest

 

You are invited to join the Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) and the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited on Saturday, August 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for RiverFest.

 

Attend a workshop on fly tying, fly casting, macroinvertebrates and/or wild edible plants. Listen to river-inspired music and poetry, see demos on water quality monitoring, get to know the species that live in the river, and even participate in a river clean-up which runs from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

 

This event is free and open to the public. The rain date is Saturday, August 24.

Carp Palooza derby set a record

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On Saturday, June 15, the Carp Palooza fishing derby was held on Pontoosuc Lake.  According to organizer Josh Christman, this was a record year with 37 teams. Robert Houghtlin and Payton Quinn were this year’s champions.  They had a total weight of 29 lbs, with the lunker being over 15 lbs. They received the winning belts and over $1,000 for having won the tournament and the Lunker Pool which is the heaviest carp.

Brian Houghtlin on left and Payton Quinn on right. Picture provided by Josh Christman

Carp Palooza rules require that catches be released alive.

With an earlier start time, they saw teams with their kids making a day of it. Christman plans the same start time again next year because people enjoyed the earlier time start. Next year he also hopes to add a kid’s division so they can also participate. This year he awarded a child a gift card because the father sent Christman the video of the child catching a carp. “It was great seeing people participate as a family.” said Christman. He said that from now on, the derby will be moving to Onota Lake permanently.

Raffles were offered this year and they were able to raise over a $1,000 which was handed to Steve Bateman to be added to the donations for the Jimmy Fund.

Christman thanked the sponsors:  Berkshire Tree Service, Lakeside Bar & Grill, Onota Boat Livery Jsmegal Roofing & Gutters, Dave’s Sporting Goods and Dicks Sporting Goods.  He also gave a huge thank you to Steve Bateman, Brandon Murray, Andrew Christman and Conor Graham for helping out with Carp Palooza this year.

An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws

Recently, the MA House of Representatives and Senate voted on H.4885 (An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws).  The House vote was 124 yeas, 33 nays and 2 not voting.  State Representatives Barrett and Farley-Bouvier voted yea and Pignatelli did not vote.  The Senate vote was 35 yeas and 5 nays.  State Senator Mark voted yea.

Incidentally, after many years Smitty Pignatelli is not seeking re-election and there are currently 4 candidates running for his seat.  Before casting your vote this November, perhaps you should find out how each one would have voted on H.4885.

It is quite lengthy (116 pages) and, at the time of this writing, is still being reviewed by GOAL (Massachusetts Gun Owners Action League) and others. It would be impossible for me to delve into it as it is so lengthy it would take several columns to list and explain its contents.  Also, I am receiving conflicting information as to what exactly is in that bill and am afraid to comment on it at this time for fear my information may be inaccurate and would only add to the confusion.

I’m not hearing good things about some aspects of it.  For starters, according to Mass Conservation Alliance (MCA) Co Chair Wayne M. Adams, one now must have an LTC (license to carry) in order purchase, possess, transfer, etc. all semi-automatics firearms. ( A LTC costs $100.00 and must be renewed every 6 years.) FID card holders are banned from privately transferring or purchasing 1) large capacity firearms and feeding devices and 2) all semi-automatic firearms.

In the upcoming weeks, this column will provide more information on the many aspects of this bill.  I doubt this new law will change anything and only the law abiding gun owners will abide by these laws and that it will have little or no effect on people with evil intentions.

The Landship Partnership Program

The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced over $3 million in grants to conserve large acreages of essential land across Massachusetts. Through the Landscape Partnership Program, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded three grants to expand public recreational opportunities, improve water supply protection, support agriculture, and promote healthy ecosystems. The grants from the program will also support the Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative to protect high-quality forested land.

“Investments in land conservation are critical to strengthening climate resilience in our communities. Thoughtfully conserving our natural landscapes is also essential for reducing emissions and safeguarding the diversity of our ecosystems,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Successful partnerships between agencies and organizations such as these can have a profound impact on enabling residents to enjoy the outdoors.”

The Landscape Partnership Grant Program was established in 2011 to facilitate large-scale projects that foster healthy ecosystems, protect the viability of farm and forest economies, and expand public outdoor recreational opportunities via state, municipal, and non-profit partnerships. This year’s awards will conserve over 1,300 acres in Berkshire and Plymouth County. The implementation of these grants will support the administration’s efforts toward building climate resilience and safeguarding critical natural landscapes.

“I want to thank Secretary Tepper and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for making this important investment into crucial land conservation efforts in Southeastern Massachusetts,” said Senator Marc R. Pacheco (D-Third Bristol and Plymouth). In addition to ensuring healthy ecosystems, protecting water supply, and creating recreational opportunities, these grants protect areas that, through carbon sequestration, play a part in the Commonwealth’s efforts to meet their requirement of being Net-Zero by 2050.”

One of the Landscape Partnership Grant Program awardees is The Trustees of Reservations, Sheffield Land Trust, and MA Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) – Cooper Hill Farm Project.  A $1.25 million grant to protect 538 acres that are part of a broader, regional effort to conserve 1,130 acres of critical ecological habitat, forestland, and active agricultural landscapes in Sheffield, MA and Salisbury, CT. The Project will purchase an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) from Pine Island Farm, one of the largest dairy farms in Massachusetts, ensuring the farm remains in agricultural use in perpetuity. The project will also extend protection to 40 acres of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) designated Priority Habitat for Rare Species and expand public enjoyment of Bartholomew’s Cobble which is managed for passive recreation and habitat values by The Trustees of Reservations.

The other two grant awardees are:  Buzzards Bay Coalition, Town of Carver and Town of Wareham – Weweantic River Headlands Conservation Project: $1.25 million to protect 280 acres of forested uplands, cranberry bogs, and riparian wetlands along the mainstem of the Weweantic River in Carver and Wareham.

Buzzards Bay Coalition and MA Department of Fish & Game (DFG) Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) – Sippican Headwaters Landscape Project: $1.25 million to protect 499 acres of forested uplands and wetlands at the headwaters of the Sippican River in Rochester and Middleborough.

12-Pound, 6-Ounce Largemouth Bass Breaks 37-Year NY State Record

Recently, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced that a new state record for largemouth bass was set on July 11, 2024. James Britenbaugh of Pennsylvania reeled in the record-breaking 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Cayuga County while fishing in preparation for an upcoming bass tournament. The record-breaking catch surpasses the previous 37-year-old State record largemouth bass, caught from Buckhorn Lake, Otsego County, in 1987 by one pound and two ounces.James Bitenbaugh.

“It’s no secret that New York has the best bass fishing opportunities in the country and Mr. Britenbaugh’s incredible fish certainly confirms that,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “DEC encourages all anglers fishing in New York to check out the Angler Achievement Awards Program before dropping a line in the water. It’s an exciting program that recognizes sizable catches and shines a light on the numerous lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams producing trophy-sized fish right here in New York.”

This year, New York State landed five lakes on Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Best Bass Lakes in the country. Among the New York waters included are the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), ranked as the best bass water in the nation, and Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, ranked as the seventh-best water. Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, and Oneida Lake made the list as well and are in Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 25 Northeastern Best Bass Lakes of 2024.  Other waters across the state also offer exceptional bass opportunities and New York continues to be a destination for world class fishing.

Incidentally, the state record for largemouth bass in Massachusetts is 15 lbs, 8 oz and it measured 28 inches.  It was caught out of Sampson Pond in Carver by Walter Bolonis in1975.

Catskill fishing trip – Part 2

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Last week’s narrative of our flyfishing trip to the Catskills ended at the Covered Bridge Pool on the Beaverkill River where Paul Knauth and I stopped on Day 3 of our trip for lunch at a picnic area.  You may recall that there we told an old timer where we thought the Rhododendron Pool was located.  He had been searching for that pool for years.

From there, we went back to fish Ferdon’s Pool on the Beaverkill River where we had pretty good luck the night before.

This time Paul fished the tail end of the 200 yard pool and I returned to the rapids entering it.  I brought two fly rods to the waters, my trusty L.L.Bean graphite and an old bamboo rod named the Scotty, which was made by Sharpe Co. of England.  I have no idea how old that rod is. The plan was to catch one trout with that rod, put it down and continue fishing with the L.L. Beaner.  I didn’t want to risk breaking that old classic bamboo rod like I did last year with an old Orvis bamboo rod.  Well, I ended up fishing all evening with that rod because I never caught a fish.  Paul managed to catch only 1 trout.  The fish just weren’t biting.

After returning to the motel, we joined the other anglers around a campfire.  Two young German fellows who were in the US on a business trip and who were staying at the motel joined us and brought along some beer.  (What else?) Paul and I opted for a splash of bourbon in his fancy glasses which he always brings on our trips.  The German fellas had never fly fished before and on that day hired a fishing guide to take them out.  One of them caught a trout and he was elated and is probably now hooked on fly fishing.

Feeling better from his bout with vertigo, Dwight Atkinson showed up and he brought a peach pie which we all shared.  It was a wonderful evening of comradery.   Later, when we returned to our room, Paul suggested that I look at the bottom of his empty glass.  Standing there with wings upright and happy as a lark was a live blue winged olive mayfly.   We had a good laugh over that.

On Day 4, (Wednesday), we had breakfast at a local diner and just as we were leaving, Paul struck up a conversation with an old gent who knew the area quite well and he gave us some advice as to where to fish on the Willowemoc River.

We checked out one area which wasn’t to our liking as it was not a large area and would probably be crowded if another angler showed up.  We checked out the second area mentioned, Dettes Pool and Roscoe Riverside Park, and we found a good looking pool to fish.  We decided to fish it that evening after having another lunch of overstuffed sandwiches with a hint of yellow pepper juice followed by my wife Jan’s delicious chocolate chip squares.

It was at the park that we saw the famous 2-Headed Trout sign. (See footnotes below about the Dettes and the 2-Headed Trout.)

When we arrived at the pool, we were disappointed to see that two anglers were there already.  So, we found another decent looking spot further downstream and began fishing there.  Paul fished downstream toward Junction Pool while I fished the bumpy pocket water upstream with my trusty AuSable Wulff dry fly.  The fishing was incredible! It seemed like every piece of pocket water contained a trout.  When I worked up near the pool where the two fishermen previously had been, I saw that they had left. Moving right in, I proceeded to have the best fishing in many years.

Around 8:00 p.m., I started fishing back downstream toward Paul and the fishing was even better than when I fished upstream – the fish were larger. I won’t mention how many trout I caught, for readers probably wouldn’t believe me.  It was one fish after another, almost every cast for 3 hours.  Nice sized trout too, with the largest being 15 inches – all on the same fly, the AuSable Wulff dry fly.

The fishing was so good that I practically had to hide behind bushes and trees in order to apply floatant and refresh the fly, lest a trout would jump and try to take it right out of my hand and perhaps bite me in the process.

Just before dark, while fighting a 15-inch brown trout, I saw another even larger trout jump nearby.  After landing the 15 incher, the fly was all beat up, bent and starting to unravel. But I tossed it out near the big fish anyway.  Bam! Did it hammer it! When it realized it had been hooked, it immediately shot straight across the river to where there were some submerged slate rocks, swam around one and cut my leader. I had the distinct feeling that fish had used that tactic before.

By then it was too dark to tie on another fly so I watched Paul fish for a little while before total darkness set in.  No problem for I had never caught and released that many trout in a day, much less three hours.  Retired Dr. Charles Wohl of Lenox has an apt description for fishing times such as these….. “obscene.”

Paul also had a good night of fishing with his old Orvis bamboo rod and using Copper Johns and Gold Ribbed Hares Ear nymphs

That was a lucky evening for me in another way, too.  One time I slipped and went down falling on my L.L. Bean flyrod.  Fortunately, it didn’t break. But if I had been using that old bamboo Sharpe rod that I used the night before, it would surely have been shattered and it would have tainted an otherwise perfect evening.

When we returned to the motel, it wasn’t long before word got out about my unusual success.  I was treated like a celebrity that night with people stopping by to offer congratulations and asking what fly I had used. For a while, I considered charging a consultant fee.

Mike Mcgowan, an angler from Idaho, was very interested in the fly and was going to purchase one the following day, as was Dwight, who was feeling even better and was able to start fishing.

Paul and I headed home that Thursday morning and while on the road, Mike texted telling us he purchased an AuSable Wulff dry fly and proceeded to catch a 20-inch brown trout that morning. Dwight stayed on and fished until Saturday.  He fished the Dette Pool and one day he netted 7 trout with the same fly.

No, we never met up with Iron Mike, the big brown trout, on this trip.  Instead of returning time after time to the same spot where we last saw him, we opted to fish new places such as the Rhododendron Pool, Covered Bridge Pool and the Roscoe Riverside Park and I’m glad we did.  How could I be disappointed after having one of the finest days of fly fishing in my entire life amid such beautiful surroundings?  Paul and I look forward to another flyfishing trip to the Catskills this fall, a little more knowledgeable about its wonderful rivers than we were before.

*Walt and Winnie Dette, along with their daughter Mary, tied flies from their home along the banks of the Willowemoc River for almost three-quarters of a century.  They had been part of the tradition of Roscoe, a center of fly-fishing, and were the last of the renowned school of the Catskill FlyTiers. Walt was one of the major links in a chain that reaches back to Theodore Gordon, long considered by many as the father of dry-fly fishing in this country.  Established in 1928, it is claimed that Dette Flies is the oldest family run fly fishing shop in the world.

** The 2-headed trout sign reads as following:  “Legend holds that a trout swam to Juncture Pool where the Beaverkill and Willowemoc meet.  Unsure of which way to go, it started left and right.  Remaining in one spot so long, the trout grew a second head.  To this day, people say they have seen it, but no one has caught it.”