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WRWA sponsors or participates in a variety of events during the year. Many of these events offer opportunities for volunteers to get involved with watershed issues. The events listed below are those which are scheduled for the next few months. Details on additional events will be posted as information becomes available. 18th Westfield River Symposium: WRWA's annual river symposium is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, 2012 in the Scanlon Banquet Hall on the campus of Westfield State University. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. Salmon Stocking: In conjunction with Mass Wildlife, WRWA again plans to sponsor two salmon stocking events, the first on Saturday, April 14, 2012 along Dickinson and Munn brooks in Granville and Southwick, and the second on Saturday, April 28, 2012 along the Middle Branch of the Westfield River. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. Kayak/Canoe Demo Day: Together with Wilderness Experiences in Southwick, WRWA will co-sponsor its third annual Kayak/Canoe Demo Day on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Hampton Ponds State Park. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. WRWA Annual Meeting: The Annual Meeting is tentatively scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Strathmore Park in Russell. A catered dinner, election of new Board members and an after-dinner speaker will highlight this event. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. Fishway Open House: WRWA will sponsor our annual open house at the West Springfield Fish Ladder, pending repairs necessitated by damage from Tropical Storm Irene, on Sunday, June 3, 2012. This free events offers a "once-a-year" opportunity to tour the fish ladder, and possibly to see an adult Atlantic salmon if one's been captured during the previous day or two. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. Westfield River Canoe Cruise: WRWA's annual canoe cruise along the Westfield River, from the Great River Bridge in Westfield to Robinson State Park in Agawam, is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 16, 2012, concurrent with the Friends of Robinson Park's annual event. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. Storm Drain Labeling: Having labeled nearly 1000 storm drains in Westfield during the summer of 2011, we're hoping to finish labeling most of the core areas of Westfield during weekends in June-August, 2012. This involves affixing plastic labels reading "No Dumping, Drains to River" to the pavement near storm drains, letting people know that the storm sewer system drains directly to the river. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. Fly-Fishing Clinic: WRWA, in conjunction with the Western Massachusetts Fly-Fishing Association, will again sponsor a fly-fishing clinic at the Rt. 20 turnout in Huntington on Saturday, September 15, 2012. This event offers an opportunity for some instruction on fly-tying and casting. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. Annual River Cleanup In conjunction with the Connecticut River Watershed Council's "Source to Sea" cleanup, we'll be organizing volunteers to clean up sections of the Westfield River from Huntington to Agawam on Saturday, September 29, 2012. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. 1955 Flood Documentary DVD: The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace, in partnership with WRWA (the Westfield River Watershed Association), will sell DVDs of Five Feet and Rising: The Flood of '55. This 28-minute documentary, produced by Jack Hayward of Hayward Communications and co-produced by Mark Saint Jean of Westfield State College in cooperation with WRWA, recounts the devastating Westfield River floods of August 1955. The film includes a number of interviews with Westfield residents recalling their experiences of the 1955 event - the largest recorded flood in Westfield's history. The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace, located at 16-30 Union St. in Westfield, is open from 9-6 on Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 on Sunday. Non-profit organizations can obtain free copies of the DVD by contacting Kathy Meyer at 568-4252. Westfield River Exhibit: WRWA partnered with The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace in Westfield in the creation of an exciting new Westfield River exhibit, which was unveiled on November 24 and is available for viewing during The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace's business hours of M-Sat 9-6 and Sundays from 12-5. The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace renovated unused space and developed it into a large exhibit highlighting the history of the area, celebrating the Westfield River in all its wild and scenic glory, and depicting the Great River Bridge Project in its various stages of construction. The display is divided into the Past, Present and Future. The Past features historic photos and drawings of the river and Westfield. The Present includes a large poster on the Westfield River highlighting its Wild and Scenic features. The Future includes architectural drawings and models of the Great River Bridge. WRWA funded the printing of the Present poster, which is a reprint of a display posted in a kiosk on Route 20 in Huntington. |
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