Woods Management and Conservation Forum for Landowners

Wednesday May 23, 2012, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
NRWA River Resource Center, 592 Main Street (Rt. 119) in Groton, MA

State Extension Forester Dave Kittredge will lead this free Woods Forum bringing together local woodland owners to share their experiences with woods management and conservation decisions. Many of us don’t think about our woods on a day-to-day basis, except to enjoy the privacy, scenery, and the tranquil environment to live in and raise a family. However, at some point in every landowner's life, questions arise about what to do with our woods, such as: should I harvest the woods on my land? How much are my woods worth? How do I address ice storm damage on my property? It’s important for woodland owners to know they have options and know where to find information.

After a short presentation by Kittredge, the Woods Forum will feature a discussion in which landowners can ask questions and get answers from one another about woods management and conservation. Local forestry experts and conservation professionals will supplement the discussion with their experiences.

Refreshments will be provided. The forum is sponsored by the NRWA, the Pepperell Conservation Commission, and the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners. To RSVP, or for more information, please call Al Futterman, NRWA Land Programs Director at (978) 448-0299, or email Al Futterman.

Returning and New Volunteer Training for Purple Loosestrife Beetle Monitoring

Wednesday, May 30, 2012, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Groton, MA

Come and learn how a small beetle is helping to protect our wetlands from being overwhelmed by invasive purple loosestrife. NRWA will provide training for monitoring sites where beetles have been released and 5 new sites where beetles will be released in the summer. You will learn to identify purple loosestrife and the various life stages of the Galerucella beetles that feed exclusively on this plant. We will be monitoring at 12 sites where the beetles have been released in Ashburnham, Ayer, Groton, Leominster (if not too wet), Lunenburg, and Pepperell, as well as 5 new sites in Clinton, Groton, Harvard, Shirley, and Pepperell from June 2-17. We are looking for volunteers who can monitor at one or more sites. Monitors can pick up supplies and equipment at the Association and coordinate monitoring times with other volunteers. Monitoring takes about 1- 2 hours per site. Assistance in releasing beetles at the new sites is also needed. The training/refresher session for monitoring will be held Wednesday, May 30th at the Broadmeadow Road parking lot in Groton by the Nashua River Rail Trail. Attending the training is optional for returning monitors, but recommended for new volunteers. Funding for this project is provided in part by the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts and the Groton Garden Club. Training is free and open to the public. If you know of anyone interested in the program, please encourage them to attend the training. Pre-registration for training is required. RSVP by May 28th to Kathryn Nelson, NRWA Water Monitoring Coordinator, by calling (978) 448-0299, or email Kathryn Nelson.

Deciding the Future of Your Land: Estate Planning and Conservation Options for Landowners

Thursday May 31, 2012 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Gale Free Library, 23 Highland Street in Holden, MA

Your land is a part of your legacy. Deciding what will happen to your land after you are gone may be the most important step you can take as a landowner—not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of your family, your community, and, of course, the land itself. Land is a flexible asset that can provide both financial and personal value. In order to find solutions that will meet your needs and those of your family, planning ahead is important. An estate plan ensures that your assets—including your land—are distributed in a way that will meet the your financial and personal needs. Estate planning helps ensure that the legacy of your land is a positive one.

Learn about estate planning and land conservation options that can help you shape the future of your land at this free 2-hour workshop featuring:

• George Dresser, an experienced estate planning attorney, explaining important estate planning considerations.
  
• Al Futterman, from NRWA, discussing conservation options and how land trusts can help you make the best decisions for your family and your land.
  
• Two local landowners sharing their personal experiences with estate planning.
  

You will receive a free copy of the new publication, “Your Land, Your Legacy” to help guide your estate planning efforts, as well as other helpful resources. Refreshments will be provided. There is no obligation or cost. Space is limited, so please let us know if you will attend. To RSVP, or for more information, please call Jay Rasku at (978) 248-2118 or email Jay Rasku.

Birds of Groton and Ayer: Birding Walk

Saturday, June 2, 2012, at 7:00 a.m. (rain date: June 3rd)
in Groton, specific location TBD

The Groton Historical Society and the NRWA are partnering to present a Birding Walk led by Mark Archambault, NRWA Smart Growth Circuit Rider and avid birder. We’ll take an early morning field walk to look for bird activity, and identify what we see and hear. No previous birding experience necessary. Please dress for an outdoor hike, take precautions for ticks and other insects; bring water and binoculars, if available. This walk is appropriate for ages 12 and up. Please no dogs. The walk is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required for the walk. To register or for more information, please contact Mark Archambault at (978) 448-0299, or email Mark Archambault.

Training in Conservation Restriction (CR) Monitoring

Saturday, June 9 OR June 16, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon (Rain date: Saturday, June 23rd)
The Trustees of Reservations Doyle Center, 325 Lindell Avenue (red house), in Leominster, MA

This free workshop is intended for Conservation Commissions and land trusts. Commissions and trusts can and do play an important role in conserving important farms, woodlands and natural areas by holding the interest in a Conservation Restriction (CR). A CR permanently protects land by preventing development while keeping the land in private ownership. A CR needs to be monitored annually to ensure the landowner is honoring the terms of the restriction.

In order to help Conservation Commissions and land trusts understand and prepare for the responsibilities that come with holding CRs, the NRWA and North County Land Trust (NCLT) are co-hosting this interactive workshop on the basics of monitoring CRs. The goal is to offer the knowledge and field skills needed to conduct a proper monitoring visit on conserved land from start to finish. Our presenter is Jenn Tuomala, AmeriCorps MassLIFT Land Steward serving at NCLT.

The same workshop will be held twice to accommodate more participants. The workshops will consist of both classroom and field work (conducting an outdoor monitoring visit), so please dress accordingly. Choose the workshop you wish to attend, either Saturday, June 9th or Saturday, June 16th (rain date for either workshop is Saturday, June 23rd). RSVP is required; the number of participants for each workshop is limited to 8 (with 2 wait listed).

These programs are funded in part by AmeriCorps MassLIFT program and a grant awarded by the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, U.S. Forest Service.

To RSVP, or for an outline of the schedule, objectives and skills to be learned, please call Al Futterman, NRWA Land Programs Director at (978) 448-0299, or email Al Futterman.

Nashua River Festivals

Be sure to mark your calendar and plan to visit the NRWA booth at these River Festivals in June:

Lancaster River Festival on Saturday, June 16
From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Presented by Lancaster Friends of the Nashua River

Groton River Festival on Sunday, June 24
From 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Presented by the Groton Greenway Committee

Nashua River Outdoor Wellness Walking Program

The NRWA will begin on-going walking groups in two locations on the Nashua River Rail Trail this spring. Participants will walk for about 30 minutes, covering approximately 1 mile. While engaging in this health-building activity, NRWA staff leading the walks will be making observations of the natural areas through which the group is walking. Participants can walk with us once a week, or as many as four times a week. We are still setting the schedule for the walks. The tentative schedule is for walks to be held at 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursday in Pepperell, and, also at 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesday in Ayer. Check our web-site for an updated schedule and information on when the program will begin. Pre-registration is required. If you are potentially interested, but these days of the week and/or times of day don’t fit your schedule, please contact us as we may be adjusting the times, or we may be starting other walking groups. No dogs please. To pre-register or for more information, please contact Al Futterman, NRWA Land Programs Director, at (978) 448-0299, or email Al Futterman.

NRWA Summer Eco-Adventures

July 2012—see specific weeks below, all programs run 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Based at the NRWA River Resource Center, 592 Main Street (Rt.119) in Groton, MA

Summer is just around the corner. The NRWA is again offering its popular Summer Eco-Adventures for children ages 6 to 14. Give your child the gift of adventure outdoors with NRWA naturalists. Choose from:

Outdoor Discoveries: Exploring Field, Forest, and River Life
July 9–12, 2012
Ages 6 – 9
Summertime is outdoor time and what better way to spend it than immersing ourselves in the natural world around us. Join our naturalist educators for a fun-filled four days of exploration and discovery.
Program Fee: NRWA Members $190 / Non-members $220

Eco-Adventure Wilderness Survival Week
July 16-19, 2012
Ages 11- 14
Hiking, tracking, shelter building, and a full day of canoeing are only part of the adventurous activities included in four action-packed days with NRWA River Classroom Director Stacey Chilcoat.
Program Fee: NRWA Members $200 / Non-members $230

Nature’s Engineers & Architects: Designing for Survival
July 23-26, 2012
Ages 9-12
Create your own structures and designs using Mother Nature’s amazing models and learn how plants and animals have evolved elaborate designs and structures to survive. NRWA Environmental Education Director Mary Marro leads this four-day workshop of engineering fun!
Program Fee: NRWA Members $190 / Non-members $220

Programs are open to children from all communities. These programs run 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, and are based at the NRWA River Resource Center, 592 Main Street (Rt. 119) in Groton, MA. There will be field trips to J. Harry Rich State Forest and the historic Williams Barn, both in Groton. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. To register or for more information, please contact Stacey Chilcoat, NRWA River Classroom Director, at (978) 448-0299, or email Stacey Chilcoat.