Project Report - 2008

Fish, Wildlife & Biodiversity Conservation

Project Leader: Scott Jackson

Extension Staff and Faculty:

• Brad Compton
• Marie-Francoise Walk
• Kasey Rolih 

Collaborating Faculty:

• Paul Sievert, Natural Resources Conservation
• Kevin McGarigal, Natural Resources Conservation
• Curtice Griffin, Natural Resources Conservation
• Paige Warren, Natural Resources Conservation
• Robert Muth, Natural Resources Conservation

This project addressed the following UMass Extension Critical Issues

• Ecosystem Management, Protection and Restoration
• Land Use Management

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 protection and restoration of natural systems and an ecosystems approach to resource management are essential for sustainable human societies.

The Fish, Wildlife & Biodiversity Conservation Project addresses these concerns through the following integrated research and extension initiatives that focus on habitat loss and fragmentation, establishing priorities for ecological restoration and mitigating development impacts on wildlife and ecosystems:

• The Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS) -a computer software program and an approach to prioritizing land for conservation.
• The River & Stream Continuity Project - focuses on the impact of road-stream crossings (culverts, bridges, fords) on fish and other aquatic organism passage
• Mitigating the Impacts of Roads & Highways on Wildlife & Ecosystems - an integrated extension and applied research program to better understand and mitigate the impacts of roads and highways on wildlife and ecosystems
• 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
• Wildlife Conservation - applied research and information, educational materials and programs based on current research to promote wildlife conservation.
• Wetlands Regulations and Protection - part of a broader effort to provide training and information to municipal officials, in the implementation of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.

Activity Summary

Over the past year faculty, research associates, Extension personnel and a graduate student continued to develop the Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS).  CAPS analyses were performed for 112 towns in western and central Massachusetts (42% of the state). The results of this assessment are available as GIS data or maps depicting an Index of Ecological Integrity (IEI) score for each point in the undeveloped landscape. With funding from US EPA and MassDEP, CAPS is now being used as the basis for developing a comprehensive wetlands monitoring and assessment program for Massachusetts. Eight workshops and presentations on landscape-based ecological assessment reached 228 participants for a total of 245 contact hours.

Projects addressing transportation impacts on wildlife and ecosystems included:

• Field data collection to test the crossing assessment protocol and scoring algorithm as part of the River and Stream Continuity Project
• Completion of the Bennington Bypass Wildlife Crossing Research Project
• Continuation of the Turtle Tunnel Research Project
• Early planning for a FHWA/TNC funded project to use CAPS to identify opportunities for mitigating impacts of roads on the environment and help inform the design of new roads
• Twelve workshops and presentations were conducted on the environmental impacts of roads and highways, reaching 631 people for a total of 434 contact hours.

The following projects addressed various aspects of wildlife conservation and wetlands protection.

• Outreach on the Hatfield Dam Feasibility Study (Mill River Watershed) to the Hatfield Conservation
• Commission and Open Space and Recreation Committee
• Coordination of the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program in Massachusetts
• Training for Conservation Commissioners on wetlands regulation and protection, in cooperation with the
• Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
• Implementation of a scientific survey of Conservation Commissions, Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeal
• Thirteen workshops and presentations reached 996 participants for at total of 1,057 contact hours

Summary of activities

The Fish, Wildlife and Biodiversity Project produced the following outcomes in FY 2008.

• Ecological assessments using CAPS were completed for 112 communities in western and central Massachusetts. The results of this assessment were posted on the www.masscaps.org web site as GIS data and maps for each of the 112 cities and towns. This CAPS assessment is the basis for generating “Important Habitat Maps” for MassDEP for use by Conservation Commissioners in implementing the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. MassDEP also has adopted CAPS as the basis for its comprehensive wetlands monitoring and assessment program. 
• The rapid field assessment protocol developed as part of the River and Stream Continuity Project is being used in five of the six New England states. The Nature Conservancy has adopted the approach for use in high priority watershed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut. The USDA-NRCS is using the methodology in Rhode Island. Discussions are underway to integrate a similar program in Maine with the approach being used in these other states. Elements of the Massachusetts River and Stream Crossing Standards are now part of the US Army Corps of Engineers Programmatic General Permits in all six New England states. Substantial portions of the MA Crossing Standards have been incorporated into standards in Connecticut and New Hampshire. 
• The Hatfield Dam Feasibility Study is being used by the National Marine Fisheries Service and Connecticut River Watershed Council to consider opportunities for removal or modification of this dam on the Mill River. 

In Massachusetts, 20 volunteers covered 18 monitoring routes for the North American Amphibian and Reptile Monitoring Program.

Planned outcomes and observed or measured progress

• 331 people increased their knowledge and skill in preparing wetlands assessment and permit applications
• 3766 people increased their knowledge of tools and strategies for mitigation of the impacts of roads, railroads, and highways on fish, wildlife and biodiversity
• 3300 people increased their understanding of the impacts of roads, railroads and highways on fish, wildlife and ecosystems
• 148 people increased their understanding of wetlands processes, functions and values, and the influence of landscape context on wetland function
• 584 road-stream crossings were evaluated and entered into the Crossings database
• 16 volunteers were trained in collecting monitoring data for evaluating road-stream crossings and wildlife crossing structures
• 560 municipal board members increased their knowledge of proper and supportable legal and procedural standards in their permitting processes
• 656 Conservation Commissioners increased their knowledge of MA Wetlands Protection Act regulations and policies
• 420 people expected to use the results of ecological assessments or natural resource inventory to establish conservation priorities
• 515 people increased their understanding of how to use ecological assessments and natural resource inventories for conservation planning
• 2750 people who increased their appreciation for the need to conserve biodiversity and use an ecosystems approach to land protection and management
• 10500 people increased their knowledge of wildlife natural history and ecology, wildlife conservation issues, and techniques for protecting and enhancing wildlife habitat
• 400 Conservation Commissioners increased their knowledge about BMPs for protecting wetland functions including wildlife habitat
• 656 Conservation Commissioners increased their knowledge and skill in reviewing development plans, environmental assessments and permit applications
• 301 Conservation Commissioners increased their understanding of the impacts of roads, railroads, and highways on fish, wildlife and ecosystems
• 196 Conservation Commissioners increased their understanding of wetlands processes, functions and values, and the influence of landscape context on wetland function

Activities, delivery mode and participants reached

Conduct workshops on the results and use of CAPS analyses
8 completed, 228 adult participants

Continue development and refinement of crossing standards, assessment protocols and training materials, and scoring algorithm
(Analytic tools and techniques)
1 completed

Continue development of CAPS software and related tools
1 completed

Develop and launch the MA Herp Atlas website
1 completed

Develop MassHerps Portal website
1 completed

Implementing the Bennington Bypass Monitoring Project
1 completed

Development of a comprehensive state monitoring and assessment program for freshwater wetlands in Massachusetts
1 completed

Coordination of the MA Calling Amphibian Survey as part of the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP)
1 completed, 20 adult volunteer participants

Maintain the MA NAAMP website
1 completed, 500 adult participants

Development of a comprehensive, multi-media, multi-modal education program for municipal officials
1 completed

Maintain and expand content for the “streamcontinuity.org” website
1 completed, 3000 adult participants

Distribution of Extension publications and documents on fish, wildlife & biodiversity conservation (hard copy and PDF)
10 completed, 350 adult participants

Evaluate data collected by volunteers and analysis data in the Crossings database
2 completed, 10 adult volunteer participants

Evaluating the effectiveness of road passage structures for freshwater turtles in Massachusetts
1 completed

Hatfield Dam feasibility study: Public Outreach
2 completed, 8 adult participants

Identify process for revision/publication of WEThings and WEThings-Birds
1 completed
 
Interpret and apply CAPS results and extend CAPS analysis to additional areas of Massachusetts
8 completed, 40 adult participants

Maintain and revise Mass Snakes website
1 completed, 5000 adult participants

Maintain the Mill River Watershed website
1 completed, 1000 adult participants

Merge and continue to improve and expand the online crossings database for volunteer assessment of road-stream crossings
2 completed, 500 adult participants, 10 adult volunteer participants

Revise and enhance MassCAPS website
1 completed, 2000 adult participants

Training programs on new regulations and technical issues related to road-stream crossings
7 completed, 440 adult participants

Work with volunteers to implement a monitoring plan for Route 2 wildlife passage structures
1 completed, 3 adult participants

Workshops, presentations and technical assistance on mitigating the impacts of transportation on fish, wildlife, and ecosystems
5 completed, 191 adult participants

Workshops, presentations and technical assistance on wetlands and wetlands protection regulation
11 completed, 926 adult participants

Workshops, presentations, and technical assistance on wildlife natural history and conservation
2 completed, 70 adult participants

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