WESTFIELD – “Citizen Science in Our Watershed” is the theme of the 2016 Westfield River Symposium on Saturday, April 2. Citizens make important contributions to understanding the Westfield River and its watershed. Whether monitoring river banks and wetlands, sampling rivers and streams for contaminants, oxygen levels and other river health indicators, or investigating the impacts of dams and culverts on fish and other wildlife, citizens contribute significant data that help scientists and others protect the watershed and river. The Symposium, sponsored by the Westfield River Watershed Association, takes place at Scanlon Banquet Hall at Westfield State University.
The River Symposium is free, as always, and will feature informative, inspiring speakers, including: “Westfield River Watershed – Playground, Classroom, Sanctuary,” Sienna Wildfield, Exec. Dir., Hilltown Families; “Assessing Road-Stream Crossings for Fish and Wildlife Passage,” Carrie Banks, Mass. Dept. of Environmental Restoration and North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative; “Bringing Citizens and
Scientists Together,” Meredyth Babcock, Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee; “Consequences and Continuity – the Influence of Small Dams on Aquatic Ecosystems,” Dave Christensen, professor, WSU Biology Dept.; “Connecticut River Watershed,” Andrea Donlon, steward, Conn. River Watershed Council; “Developing a Water Quality Database for the Westfield River,” Aaron O. Reyes, WSU Chemical and Physical Science Dept.
Registration takes place from 8:30-9:00. The welcome and keynote speech are at 9. Concurrent speaking sessions run from 10:10-10:55 and 11:05-11:50. Attendees can view exhibitors from 12:00-12:30. Raffle winners will be announced at 12:30. A field trip to explore “Water Quality Monitoring: Demonstrating Sample Collection Techniques” will depart from Scanlon Hall at 1:30.
Symposium exhibitors offer more insights into how our citizens, nonprofit organizations and government experts provide stewardship for the watershed and the river. Scheduled exhibitors are: Biocitizen School, Canoe for Clean Water, Conn. River Watershed Council, Friends of Columbia Greenway, Friends of Robinson State Park, Mass. Division of Ecological Restoration, Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Mass. Flyfishermen, Westfield River Invasive Species Partnership, Westfield River Watershed Association and Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee.
For more information about the Westfield River Symposium and the Westfield River Watershed Association, visit www.westfieldtriver.org.
