Project Plans FY09

Fish, Wildlife & Biodiversity Conservation

Project Leader: Scott Jackson

Participating Extension Staff and Faculty:

• Scott Jackson
• Marie-Françoise Walk
• Brad Compton
• Kevin McGarigal
• Paul Sievert
• Kasey Rolih

Project Year: 2009

Brief Description

Massachusetts is the third most densely populated state in the nation. The rate of land consumption for residential development is steadily increasing far out of proportion to its population growth. Haphazard growth has impacted water resources, natural resource-based enterprises, open space, wildlife habitat, and community character. Nearly half the state's communities lack professional planning staff, while volunteer boards struggle with increasing levels of responsibility, liability, time demands and public mistrust.

The Fish, Wildlife & Biodiversity Conservation Project addresses these concerns through related initiatives that focus on habitat loss and fragmentation, establishing priorities for ecological restoration and mitigating development impacts on wildlife and ecosystems. Major initiatives include:

• The Fish, Wildlife & Biodiversity Project - addresses conservation issues through integrated extension and applied research initiatives, strategic education and outreach to target audiences, and publications and web sites
• The River & Stream Continuity Project - focuses on the impact of road-stream crossings (culverts, bridges, fords) on fish and other aquatic organism passage by providing technical guidance and standards, field surveys, and other tools and approaches for setting priorities for culvert upgrade or replacement
• Mitigating the Impacts of Roads & Highways on Wildlife & Ecosystems - an integrated extension and applied research program to better understand the impacts of roads and highways on wildlife and ecosystems and to develop and evaluate techniques for mitigating those impacts
• The Mill River Watershed Project - making science, research, and planning resources available to watershed officials and residents and to develop a coordinated, community-based approach to resource protection across town boundaries
• Wetlands Regulations and Protection - part of a broader effort to provide training and information to municipal officials, this initiative provides workshops and materials for conservation commissions in the implementation of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.

Activities

• Conduct workshops on the results and use of CAPS analysis
• Training programs on new regulations and technical issues related to road-stream crossings
• Workshops, presentations and technical assistance on mitigating the impacts of transportation on fish, wildlife, and ecosystems
• Workshops, presentations and technical assistance on wetlands and wetlands protection regulations
• Workshops, presentations and technical assistance on wildlife natural history and conservation
• Hatfield Dam Feasibility Study: Public Outreach
• Interpret and apply CAPS results and extend CAPS analysis to additional areas of Massachusetts
• Revise and enhance MassCAPS website
• Maintain and expand streamcontinuity.org website
• Maintain the MA NAAMP website
• Maintain and revise MA Snakes website
• Maintain the Mill River Watershed website
• Final revisions to and launch of Masswetlands.org website
• Develop MassHerps portal website
• Maintain the MA Herp Atlas website
• Evaluate data collected by volunteers and analysis data in the Crossings database
• Development of a comprehensive state monitoring and assessment program for freshwater wetlands in Massachusetts
• Evaluating the effectiveness of road passage structures for freshwater turtles in Massachusetts
• Survey of municipal officials
• Development of a comprehensive, multi-media, multi-modal educational program for municipal officials
• Identify a process for the revision and publication of WEThings and WEThings - Birds
• Distribution of Extension publications and documents on fish, wildlife and biodiversity conservation (hard copy and PDF)
• Wetlands assessment and field techniques
• Coordination of the MA Calling Amphibian Survey as part of the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP)
• Continue development of CAPS software and related tools
• Manage and continue to improve and expand the online Crossings Database for volunteer assessment of road-stream crossings
• Continue development and refinement of crossing standards, assessment protocols and training materials, and scoring algorithm

Inputs: Time and Effort

Reporting Year	Faculty Days	Extension staff days	Volunteer Days	Seasonal/ Hourly/Tech Staff Days	Clerical staff days	Student days
2009	40	510	160	470	0	330

Outcomes

• Participants adopt practices that minimize the impact of development projects on ecosystems, water and other natural resources
• Participants acquire the knowledge and skills to develop legally sound land use decisions
• Participants develop the knowledge and skills to minimize the impact of development projects on ecosystems, water and other natural resources
• Participants develop the knowledge and skills to promote, implement or participate in strategic land conservation programs that protect ecosystems, water and other natural resources
• Participants have the knowledge and skills to effectively address water and other natural resource issues during project review and permitting

This project is a part of the Natural Resource & Environmental Conservation program