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	Symposium Provides Retrospective on Past and Vision of Future Kathy Meyer About 150 eager participants journeyed both backward and forward in time at WRWA's 8th Annual Westfield River Symposium on March 23. The symposium¹s theme, Your Watershed: Past, Present & Future, tied in with WRWA¹s 50th Anniversary which we are celebrating in 2002. Protecting open space and preserving biodiversity offer both a challenge for the present and an opportunity for the future. Keynote speaker Robert O'Connor of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs described the state¹s visionary plan for doing both with his comprehensive presentation on "Open Space Plan for Massachusetts". Between sessions, participants could view over 20 exhibits. Following the keynote address, concurrent morning sessions provided deeper insights on a variety of topics. Historian Dennis Picard explained the fascinating canal system that ran from Northampton to the Congamond Lakes in the 1840s. Bob Leverett connected us to our past with his discussion of Old Growth Trees. Paul Catanzaro of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management and Art Eve discussed modern forest management practices. Jim Gibbs of the Department of Environmental Protection addressed the difficult problem of beaver control, while Scott Jackson from UMass Extension explained the importance of Vernal Pools in our watershed. Dr. Caleb Slater from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife described the progress being made in restoring migrating fish such as shad, herring , eel, and Atlantic Salmon to the Westfield River and its tributaries. Following lunch, participants had the opportunity to attend an indoor program or go on field trips. For those attending the indoor program, a new appreciation of the watershed¹s beautiful flora and fauna emerged as seen through the lens of professional photographer Dan Minicucci in his stunning audio/visual presentation of Biodiversity in the Westfield River Watershed. Dr. Caleb Slater led a field trip to the state-of-the art fishway and eelway at DSI/FiberMark and Ralph Tarnauskas guided participants through Springfield¹s W. Parish Water Filtration Plant. Because this is our 50th Anniversary, Senator Michael Knapik and Westfield Mayor Richard Sullivan were on hand to honor WRWA for its 50 years of local conservation efforts. Senator Knapik presented WRWA with a Senatorial Proclamation and Mayor Sullivan presented a City Proclamation. Although she couldn¹t be present in person, Representative Cele Hahn offered a House Proclamation, read by Massachusetts Watershed Initiative Team Leader Mike Parker. Other special touches for our 50th Anniversary included a cake with a picture of the Westfield River and 50th Anniversary apparel worn by WRWA Board Members. Board member Rob Bristow wrote a short position paper on the "State of the Westfield River Watershed" summarizing where we now stand in our efforts to preserve our watershed. History buffs will appreciate the 50 year history of WRWA that Board Member Ken Taylor is compiling. He is thorough, and although he is only finished with the first 25 years, the paper is already 50 pages long! A 5 page summary was available at the symposium. Ken plans to have the complete history finished for our Annual Dinner/Meeting in June. Committee members who organized this successful symposium are Carl Grobe, Ken Taylor, C. Mason Maronn, Mike Vorwerk, Mike Young and Mike Parker. We owe special thanks to Mike Parker, who went "above and beyond" in his contributions to this symposium. If you would like to see photos from the symposium, visit our new website at www.physci.wsc.ma.edu/wrwa/