Fish, Feathers, Foam, Fur, Plastic and Steel. Dreams, Goals, Desires, Obsession and Hope.
Entertainment from the water and tying bench with a little bit of Red Sox thrown in.
We have some beautiful rivers in Massachusetts and one of the local favorites is the Nissitissit. It is unique in the state having both a "fly fishing only" and catch & release section.
Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will stock a selected set of rivers with a healthy amount of 12+ inch rainbows, browns and brookies. The Nissitissit is one of two rivers in the Northeast District to receive the biannual stocking.
Given tight state budgets and very short staff with the DFW, the state does a phenomenal job with raising healthy and vibrant fish then distributing them through out the Commonwealth.
My wife and son volunteer with the Westford Stream Team whose mission is to document all surface water flowing both into and out of our town. They have been part of the team for the last five years collecting data on water quality to make sure upstream sources are not adversely affecting our water quality and to assure that the water leaving town is as good or better than when it arrived. I've had the opportunity to fill in for my wife a couple of times and have participated in the measurement process.
Our town is unique in this region of Massachusetts drawing all of our water from two local aquifers via either town or private wells. We are not part of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.
Our local stream water quality directly affects our drinking water.
My wife involved my son at the early age of 11. This on-stream lesson about how water quality affects fish populations has translated to a young man who wants to continue his education after high school in fisheries and wildlife management.
And also has created a pretty decent angler and a budding entomologist.
--Typical Measurement Site --
A typical measurement day starts around 3 AM with the team leader picking up a state certified water measurement meter from a neighboring conservation group. The meter is calibrated at the time of pick-up and again at the time of return. The leader meets the morning crew at the first stream test site around 5 AM and then a second crew relieves the first starting at 8 AM.
At each site, they take multiple water samples and use the meter to measure real-time temperature, dissolved oxygen, percent oxygen, pH and specific conductivity. They also observe and record water clarity, air temp, flow rate, channel depth and other environmental conditions at the sample site. A double blind sampling is used to assure accuracy and proper chain of custody should water data be required for legal proceedings. The samples are sent to a lab for analysis of phosphorus, ammonia and nitrogen compounds.
My son produced and my wife edited the recruitment video for more volunteers. The Westford Stream Team has funding support from our local conservation commission and trust. They are also applying for state grant monies to expand the program and purchase measurement gear.
-- Snapping Turtle --
Not only does the team perform a valuable service to the community, the volunteers experience the beauty of our town's natural environment.
This morning they encountered a wild turkey, coyote, snapping turtle and a golden stone fly.
In two of the brooks, some small native fish where spotted. Typically brookies or red pickerel are found in our local streams.
-- Outflow from non-functioning mill --
It takes commitment and dedication to spend your early weekend mornings helping the community. Much of this team's work, along with the countless other volunteer conservation efforts around the country, go unnoticed and we all should support and help these groups with our time and money.
I personally want to thank the Westford Stream Team for their work and let them know that I truly appreciate the work they do in supporting water conservation!
My son, a junior in high school, participated in "Job Shadow Day" last week. The students search out companies and organizations for jobs that might interest them after school, make contact with an employee and "shadow" that employee during a typical work day.
My son is very interested in wildlife management and contacted the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game for his job shadow. I dropped him off at the Northeast District Office at 8 AM.
We got a quick tour of the office and met the fish and game biologists. They are just completing the spring stocking of the district's rivers and ponds.
After I left, my son traveled with the game biologist to a game check-in station. He was able to help with the measurement of a wild turkey brought in by a hunter. They travelled out to Plum Island, a coastal barrier island north of Boston, to monitor and count waterfowl that is part of an effort to protect their nesting sites.
His last stop was at a pond to meet a stocking truck. The guys in the truck left the district at 1 AM to drive to the Cape and pick up the fish at a hatchery and then drive them back to the ponds and rivers on their stocking schedule.
In addition to fish stocking and hunting management, much of their work involves monitoring and reporting on all things related to the health and well being of the fish and game in the district. They cover a lot of territory with a very small staff.
Some of the reporting work helped with the creation of the Massachusetts BioMap2. This comprehensive biodiversity mapping of the natural resources in the state is a work of art. BioMap2 helps the state manage its natural resources and make sure that new developments don't damage the most fragile parts of the ecosystem.
Part of the planning and protection envolves strategic land acquisition. They recently acquired a 840 acre parcel of undeveloped land in Tolland that will help protect some of the Farmington River watershed. Last year, the Department of Fish and Game acquired 245 acres of land around Red Brook in Plymouth and Weymouth which will help protect and restore sea-run brook trout.
I have to applaud Mass Fish & Game on their forward thinking land management and planning to protect our natural resources.
Stuffed Trout with Bacon Wrap
Meanwhile back on the stocking pond, that brookie shown above was not doing very well in his new pond. He was plucked from the water, field dressed and handed to my son for dinner.
The stocking in this state is "put & take" -- meaning the state stocking program is for recreational fishing and the taking of fish from the stocked waters is allowed within a daily creel limit.
Overall, it was a great experience for him (and me). I appreciate the efforts of Mass Fish and Game which facilitate outdoor recreational opportunities today while conserving our natural resources for future generations .
