Blackstone River Watershed Association
Blackstone River Watershed Association
In This Issue
BRWA NEWS

Annual Winter Hike

New Board Members

CALENDAR

THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL

2014 is the Year of the Salamander!

SPOTLIGHT ON SCIENCE

Muskrats

FAMILY FOCUS

Wildlife Videos

BE GREEN

Fireplaces

REFLECTIONS


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About the BRWA
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Issue 43 January 2014

BRWA NEWS

Annual Winter Hike

Mark your calendar on Saturday, January 25 to join us for our annual winter hike at the West Hill Dam and Park in Uxbridge. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) manages this amazing 567-acre property, which is situated along the West River within the Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor. Susan Thomas, BRWA Program Coordinator and a natural history guide for Mass Audubon, will lead us on a scenic hike through the pine and oak woodlands, along the river, and past wetlands and open meadows of this vibrant wildlife management area. Along the way, Ms. Thomas will share her knowledge of the plants and animals of the area, as well as the hydrological features of this federally-managed flood control project.
Aerial View of West Hill Dam..
aerial view of West Hill Dam

This will be a moderate, 3-mile hike. The ground is uneven and could be snow covered or muddy depending on the weather. Wear appropriate footwear and bring water. Following the hike, we will return to the parking area for warm drinks and refreshments. We hope you can join us!

Participants should meet at the West Hill Dam entrance located at 518 East Hartford Avenue, Uxbridge, MA. Signs will direct you to the entrance for the dam and ACOE office, which is a short distance down East Hartford Avenue beyond the road that leads to the West Hill Park entrance. For more information, or to RESERVE YOUR SPOT, please e-mail events@thebrwa.org..

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New Board Members
Our mission is to engage, educate and advocate to improve water quality in the Blackstone River Watershed. And we work towards this mission with the help of the BRWA Board, other BRWA members, and our community partners. We are excited to have three talented and enthusiastic new Board members who joined us last November!

Joy Trahan-Liptak has been involved in a variety of initiatives and events in the Blackstone Watershed. She has interned for the EPA working with local groups to promote the development of fish ladders in Rhode Island, studied pollutants in indicator organisms and served as a site captain for the Greenway Challenge. She holds a degree in biology with a concentration in ecology and environmental biology from WPI where her life-long interest in the environment extended to watershed management. She is currently a biologist for a lake and pond management company and serves as a founding board member for her hometown’s land trust. Joy likes to spend much of her free time outdoors – hiking, fishing, and canoeing. She is looking forward to assisting the BRWA with research and ecosystem restoration projects.

Gordon Hankinson lives in Cumberland, RI, and has enjoyed exploring the Blackstone River in his efforts to become a more competent kayak paddler since taking that up four years ago. Gordon considers the river to be of tremendous importance to this area for its role in the natural water cycle, as a wildlife and plant habitat, as a recreational resource, and as a key component in the historical development of bordering communities. He has had considerable work experience in document preparation, committee function, and regulatory interaction which will be of great use to the BRWA. Gordon’s other interests include pre-1945 jazz records, classic films, and sports cars/automotive history.

Mary Murray has extensive understanding of sewer issues as the long-time manager of Grafton's sewer department. She is also skilled in fund raising and project coordination, all of which will be a great boost to the BRWA's efforts to improve the blackstone river's water quality. Mary is active in many community activities including the Grafton Walking Club, the Grafton Food Bank, and the annual Gazebo Road Race. She enjoys enjoys hiking through area woodlands and canoeing, especially in the Quabbin Reservoir. She holds an Associates Degree in Arts and Science.

We also welcome Maggie Plasse who is returning to the Board after a short hiatus. We missed her contributions to the BRWA and are thrilled to have her back.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
January is National Mentoring Month
If you consider yourself skilled, or just enthusiastic, about an outdoor activity, set aside some time this month to mentor a young person who hasn't had the opportunity you have had to learn about nature. Share your knowledge about birding, tree identification, fly tying, snowshoeing, star gazing, tracking, owl calling, hiking, or ice fishing. You'll be making the world a better place!

1/23 BRWA Board Meeting. 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 271 Oak St., Uxbridge   info
1/25 BRWA Annual Winter Hike @ West Hill Dam and Park. 1:00pm to 3:00 pm. 518 East Hartford Avenue, Uxbridge, MA.   See abovefor details.
2/5 Wetland Shrubs in Winter. New England Wildflower Society and the Mass Association of Conservation Commissioners. 10:00am. - 2:00pm. Garden in the Woods, Framingham.   info.
2/15 Blackstone Canal Conservancy Work Day. 9am. Meet at Plummers Landing west parking area, Church Street, Northbridge. For info, contact Dave Barber 508-478-4918  
2/19 Blackstone River Watershed Council Monthly Meeting. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Lincoln, R.I.   info
2/27 BRWA Board Meeting. 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 271 Oak St., Uxbridge   info

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THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL

2014 is the Year of the Salamander!
yellow-spotted salamander In our March 2013 newsletter, we talked about salamander migrations, which typically occur in late winter or early spring. These fascinating amphibians are an integral component of the Blackstone River watershed by serving as both predator and prey in woodland and wetland food webs. 2014 has been designated as the Year of the Salamander by the international organization Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC). In Massachusetts, salamanders and other non-game species are monitored and protected by Mass Wildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Information about PARC's activities can be found at http://parcplace.org/news-a-events/2014-year-of-the-salamander.html.

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SPOTLIGHT ON SCIENCE

Muskrats
Ondatra zibethica is a common rodent that is equally at home in water or on land. Reaching a maximum of four pounds, it resembles a small beaver. It has brownish-black fur that is comprised of a dense undercoat covered with guard hairs. The outstanding insulation and waterproof qualities of this pelt make it favored by trappers. The muskrat's semi-aquatic lifestyle is further aided by its webbed hind feed, small ears and eyes, a vertically flattened tail used as a rudder, and an extraordinary ability to hold its breath for up to 20 minutes!
Muskrat.
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/farsider7/P1000783.jpg.
muskrat

Muskrats inhabit marshes and slow-moving streams. They construct mounds similar to those of beavers, but smaller. They gather aquatic vegetation and mat it down to make an underwater mound entrance that leads up into dry chambers. Sometimes, muskrats will share mounds or connect them together. And, like beavers, muskrats alter their environment. But whereas beavers dam up streams to flood previously dry areas, muskrats dig channels through a marsh to deepen paths for swimming. When muskrats live in a stream rather than a marsh, they will dig tunnels into stream banks that then lead to multiple chambers. They make ventilation holes to help circulate air, and on cold winter days, steam rising from these vent holes helps wildlife viewers locate muskrats.
Muskrat mound and tunnel.
http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae25/drsyntax1/new%20album/100_7975.jpg. http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af6/trunkgab/trap%202010-2011/DSCF2478.jpg.
Muscrat Mound Muscrat tunnel

Muskrats are primarily herbivores, munching their way with their ever-growing incisors through cattails, sedges, algae, and other aquatic vegetation. Only a small portion of their diet is comprised of aquatic animals; animal food items include snails, clams, and other macroinvertebrates.

Females give birth to multiple litters each year between March and July. The young are born dependent and are weaned after two months. They can live up to four years in the wild. Muskrat populations, with their robust reproductive potential, sometimes exceed the carrying capacity of a local waterway. When this happens, the food supply vanishes and a muskrat population can crash if individuals do not relocate to a new area. Conflict with humans can arise when, following depletion of the muskrat's natural food supply, muskrats turn to eating farm crops. Muskrats are also considered a pest when their digging undermines dams, levees, and other water structures. Keep an eye out for these ingenious little creatures the next time you are out enjoying a local waterway!

To view muskrats in action, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mj36HTIJFY


References:
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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FAMILY FOCUS

Wildlife Videos
Wildlife videos are a fun way to learn about animals in their natural environment. Videos may be made in the traditional way, or as a webcam with live feed from a den or nest. Some scientists even use crittercams in which a recording device is attached to an animal in a non-intrusive manner. For some rare or secretive species, webcams and crittercams may be the best way for biologists to study the behavior and ecology of an individual or population. For other species, it's just more convenient for people to click their computer mouse than to repel down a cliff, navigate class-3 rapids, or fend off ravenous insects.

Here are a few webcams and videos that offer glimpses into the fascinating lives of species that inhabit riverine habitats. top

BE GREEN

recycle symbol enveloping planet Earth Fireplaces

Cold winters have a way of bringing people and fireplaces together. They offer warmth and ambiance as the snow falls and the winds blow. However, they also create a significant drain to your overall home energy budget by allowing warm air in the house to escape up the chimney. According to EarthShare's website (www.earthshare.org), 24,000 cubic feet of air can be vented outside through the chimney. That's a lot of money to go up in smoke!

Homeowners who are set on keeping their traditional fireplace can minimize this heat loss by cracking the nearest window, maintaining a clean chimney, using heat-tempered glass doors, and of course keeping the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use. A more energy-efficient option is to install a gas fireplace. They still provide heat and charm while circulating up to 80 % of the heat back into the home (www.thisoldhouse.com).

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REFLECTIONS

“It is not half so important to know as to feel.” Rachel Carson

I used to live on the Cape. The late fall and winter were my favorite times of the year to be by the water. The grasses turn golden, water ices over along shorelines, and the trees display their exquisite branch designs. You can't help but slow down and appreciate the nuances of the moment. Below is an image from Minnesota that captures the same quiet peace.

Chaplin, S. (2012, December 20). Winter on the marsh. Back Yard Biology. Retrieved from http://bybio.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/winter-on-the-marsh/.
winter on the marsh

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Views & opinions expressed in linked websites do not necessarily state or reflect those of the BRWA.

Your input is crucial to this eNewsletter. If you have a local watershed-related story, information of interest to our subscribers, or comments about this publication, drop an email to the editor.

The Blackstone River Watershed Association (BRWA) has a mission to engage, educate and advocate for improved water quality in the Blackstone River Watershed; its objectives are to:
  • Engage the public in watershed stewardship activities,
  • Educate members, supporters and watershed residents on watershed protection strategies, and
  • Improve the water quality and esthetics of the Blackstone River Watershed’s water bodies.
The BRWA eNewsletter is published monthly by the Blackstone River Watershed Association. BRWA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Editor: Susan Thomas susan.thomas@thebrwa.org
Mailing address: BRWA, 271 Oak Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
Phone: 508-278-5200  Web: www.thebrwa.org

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