 |
|
|
| Wild & Scenic | Trash | Fishway Open House | Flora & Fauna | Upcoming Events | |
The Westfield River: Wild & Scenic (Tuesday, September 21) Portions of the upper branches of the Westfield River were added into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System on November 2, 1993. The designated segments include: the West Branch from a railway bridge 2000 feet downstream of the Becket town center to the Huntington-Chester town line; the Middle Branch from the Peru/Worthington town line downstream to the confluence with Kinne Brook in Chester; Glendale Brook; the East Branch from the Windsor/Cummington town line to the Knightville Reservoir. There are 18.9 miles classified as scenic and 24.4 miles classified as recreational for a total of 43.3 miles. An additional 34.8 miles are currently under consideration by the Secretary of the Interior for designation. What is the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System? What does this important distinction mean for the river and its surroundings? Why is the Westfield's designation different from rivers in the west and in other parts of New England? What has the designation achieved so far? Liz Lacy, of the National Park Service, will provide answers on Tuesday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Savignano Auditorium A in Wilson Hall on the campus of Westfield State College. The talk is free and open to the public. Annual River Cleanup - Day I (Saturday, October 2) Our annual river cleanups are scheduled for October 2nd and October 16th. Last year we had a fantastic turnout which gave us the opportunity to tackle more spots that needed to be cleaned. This year I am hoping we will cover a larger area. We will meet both days at 9:00 AM at the Westfield Gas and Electric Power station by the green bridge (off Meadow Street) in downtown Westfield. Please register your name as a volunteer early so I can organize more areas to be cleaned. Again, volunteering for a couple hours on any or both of these days will help the overall goal of WRWA. Please email or call Gabe Khatchadourian (413-568-3005) with any questions or to register. AMC Hike (Sunday, October 10) Hike on Unkamit's Path on Sunday, Oct.10th (B3BC). See views of the environs from both Turtle Bend and Shatterack Mtn's.. Bring water and a lunch. Meet at the Westfield City Hall parking lot at 59 Court Street at 9 am. Call Henry Warchol for details at 562-3467. Stormwater Management Forum (Thursday, October 14) Join us on Thursday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town of West Springfield's Municipal Auditorium (26 Central St., 2nd floor) for a program on stormwater management. Several speakers, including Jim Lyons (Town of West Springfield), Kathy Meyer (Westfield River Watershed Association), and Dietrich Schlobohm (Naturalists' Club) will make short presentations, and a film from EPA will probably be shown. We'll also be recognizing scouting groups that have helped with storm drain stenciling in West Springfield over the summer. Annual River Cleanup - Day II (Saturday, October 16) Our annual river cleanups are scheduled for October 2nd and October 16th. Last year we had a fantastic turnout which gave us the opportunity to tackle more spots that needed to be cleaned. This year I am hoping we will cover a larger area. We will meet both days at 9:00 AM at the Westfield Gas and Electric Power station by the green bridge (off Meadow Street) in downtown Westfield. Please register your name as a volunteer early so I can organize more areas to be cleaned. Again, volunteering for a couple hours on any or both of these days will help the overall goal of WRWA. Please email or call Gabe Khatchadourian (413-568-3005) with any questions or to register. Trees and Flowers along the Westfield River (Sunday, October 17) Autumn is a spectacular time throughout New England. Join Nancy and Tom Condon for a stroll along the Westfield River above Knightsville Dam to explore the wonders of the season. We will stop to identify trees and flowers along the way and marvel at the process by which leaves change color. Bring your binoculars to help identify those migrating birds as well. Pack a lunch, plenty of water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable shoes for the hike. Please call 413-564-0895 to register. Meeting place is the commuter parking lot at Westfield State College and the trip will run from 9:00 a.m. til about 1:00 p.m. A 'Brief History of Time' in the Pioneer Valley (Sunday, November 7) Join Nancy and Tom Condon for a hike along the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail to the top of Provin Mountain. Wešll take a leisurely pace up this gradually climbing ridgeline. Wešll stop along they way to explore the geologic past of the Pioneer Valley. The trail will take us past evidence of ancient volcanic activity, continental collisions, and ice ages. We will also explore how this unique geological history has shaped the flora and fauna of Western Massachusetts. The trail offers outstanding view to the west all along the way; the views from the summit, near the Channel 22 transmitters, offer a 3600 panorama of the entire valley. Wear good hiking boots as the trail is rugged in places, dress for the weather, and bring a lunch and water for the hike. Please call 413-564-0895 to register. Meeting place is the pull-off on the north side of Route 57 at the Southwick/Feeding Hills Line and the trip will run from 9:00 a.m. til about 1:00 p.m. |
|