by FRAN RYAN
For the Daily Hampshire Gazette
Environmental educators have long believed that people with a deep understanding of, and meaningful ties to, the area in which they live are more invested than others in protecting that environment. Proof that this “sense of place” concept is working in the Valley is found in the work of the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee.
The committee is part of the National Wild and Scenic River System, which was created by Congress in 1968 to preserve and protect rivers with “outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish & wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values.”
To achieve this goal, the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee enlists the help of people who are directly engaged with or affected by the rivers, brooks and streams that make up the watershed. This includes landowners who live along the waterways, local environmental specialists, business owners and other concerned people who want to pitch in to help conserve the natural resources around them.
“This is the only program in the country where the protection efforts come from people that actually live along the waterways,” said Roan Katahdin, the Worthington representative to the Westfield River Wild and Scenic Committee.
This hands-on grassroots approach to protecting the watershed, combined with assistance from state and federal agencies, has proven to be an effective strategy.
Since its initial designation as the state’s first National Wild & Scenic River in 1993, 35 miles of the Westfield River’s three major tributaries and headwater streams have been added to the designation, which now totals 78 miles of waterways.
“Before that first designation, it was the committee themselves that had to ID certain segments of the river they thought might fit the criteria,” said Meredyth Babcock, volunteer coordinator for the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee. “They had to walk it, take photos, document everything they saw, put that together and submit the proposal as to why they thought it deserved protection. It was community people that really did most of the footwork.”
Qualify for funding
When rivers achieve the National Wild & Scenic River designation, they qualify for funding from the state and federal government to conserve the health and natural integrity of the river.
“With the designation, we can really go to bat for communities to do things like replace culverts and bridges in a manner that is best for wildlife, aquatic life and human beings,” said Babcock.
The committee has representatives from Becket, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Savoy, Washington, Windsor and Worthington.
The Wild and Scenic Committee is working toward designating Worthington’s Little River, a tributary to the East Branch of the Westfield River, and the Wards and Watts brooks that flow into the Little River.
The Little River system crosses many town roads. A wild-and-scenic designation could provide a significant contribution to the town in funding for eco-friendly road and bridge repairs.
This spring, the committee began the project by training volunteers. Environmental specialists taught them skills such as how to collect data, identify plants, aquatic species, animal tracks, and geologic formations, and how to use GPS.
Volunteer monitors
Landowners were also invited to sign up to adopt river segments or “reaches” and agree to monitor their property over a three-year period.
“The landowners know their particular river reach better than anyone. They know when it floods and the effects that has on the land, and they can also document any history they may have on the area,” Babcock said.
Babcock noted that when landowners are given the tools that allow them to really see the variety of species that live on their property, it also gives them a deeper understanding of the land.
“Just that extra bit of knowledge can make a difference in something like deciding to clear trees right down to the riverbank or not,” Babcock said.
David and Jennifer Parish-Hill of Prentice Road in Worthington recently signed up for the project. The Watts Brook runs through their property.
“We got involved accidentally when we saw people walking around down there,” David Parish-Hill said.
“It was a very happy accident. We talked with them, and what they were doing looked really interesting so I joined them for the rest of the walk,” Jennifer Parish-Hill added.
Before they knew it, the couple had volunteered to monitor their section of the brook, and placed two wildlife cameras on the property provided by the Wild and Scenic Committee.
“It is very exciting to see what’s on the camera, it almost feels like Christmas when we get to see the critter cams,” Jennifer Parish-Hill said.
The couple relocated from Malden to Worthington two years ago and said that it was important to learn about their nearly 6-acre property and how to take care of the land.
“We are city folks that moved out to the country, so doing this was almost a no-brainer,” David Parish-Hill said. It’s nice to know what’s on the property. So far we have seen bobcat, bear and otter.”
The Wild and Scenic Committee also uses interns such as Virginia Sowers, a UMass student who lives in Worthington, and two other students from Westfield University.
“Our interns are priceless. They are enthusiastic, interested and they really care about the project,” Babcock said. “The are also amazingly capable with electronic devices which I am personally grateful for.”
Because of the nature of the Little River and the Wards and Watts brooks, and the dedication of volunteers and the caliber of environmental specialists working on the project, Babcock said she believes they have a very good shot at receiving a wild-and-scenic designation.
Watershed Blitz
On Sept. 19, the public will have an opportunity to learn about the local river system when the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee hosts the Watershed Blitz, a day of river exploration with 11 local environmental professionals from a variety of backgrounds.
People are invited to join volunteers and landowners and choose one specialist for the day as they explore the Middle Branch of the Westfield River.
The activities will be organized at the Littleville Fairgrounds in Chester at 9 a.m.
The scheduled specialists are fish biologist, Dave Christensen; mammals, John E. McDonald; river restoration and dynamics, Carrie Banks; geology, Mike Young; tracking, Jess Applin; native and invasive plants, Julie Richburg; kayak history tour of Littleville Lake, Jeff Penn; frogs and newts, Andrea and Mike Howlett; river ecologist, Cindy Delpapa; dragonflies, Kirsten Martin; and butterflies and moths, Tea Kestinghandly.
For more information or to reserve your spot on a trip, call Wild & Scenic Westfield River program coordinator Carrie Banks at 579-3015.
“The Watershed Blitz is also a tremendous amount of fun,” Babcock said. “The event also reminds us what is truly unique and worth preserving about the Westfield River.”
