| President's Message | Moving On | Focus for FY'04 | River Cleanup | | New Members' Meeting | Watershed Enemies |
	Moving On by Michael Parker Former Watershed Team Leader Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Well, I've been putting retirement off long enough. September 30th was my last day on the job as Watershed Team Leader in the Farmington and Westfield Rivers for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. It's been about five years since I began this wonderful run of helping bring federal, state, and local officials together with citizens, businesses, and citizens groups to better protect and manage the natural resources in the area. There have been many opportunities for local people to meet and work with us over this span. I have enjoyed doing the workshops, fairs, symposiums, newsletters, team meetings, etc. Working together we have accomplished a lot. But there is much more to do, and I urge you to work closely with my successor to continue to improve our environment. We have been able to help communities, state agencies, and environmental groups economically and structurally do a better job. The Watershed Team got funding for many projects, including a pollution study in the lower Westfield River, erosion and sediment control at Robinson State Park in Agawam, an eelway at the DSI fishway in West Springfield, water quality improvements at Pequot Pond in Westfield and Southampton, open space protection in the Hilltowns, and endangered species habitat protection. Looking ahead, we are asking for funding to help, among other things, continue local community level open space planning, manage the Wild and Scenic River sections, study fish and mussels for habitat availability, prepare a long term plan for the watershed, and assist local forest landowners to better manage and protect this valuable resource. The key to all of these successes is the involvement of citizens as volunteers. Without your help, the Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program would be unable to work. The eelway and fishway at DSI would not be adequately staffed with the result of valuable data lost and fish not migrating upstream. Volunteers have helped clean the river and plan open space protection in their town. You have made my job easier and mostly fun. Please continue to get involved with the Westfield River Watershed Association and the Watershed Team. You do make a difference!