Dec 22, 2023 update:  

PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, NON-PROFITS, ACADEMIA AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

SWCS Southern New England Chapter is taking a soup-to-nuts look at restoration projects focused on improving resiliency and repairing damage cause by humans.  One such project will be used as a case study for permitting as an Ecological Restoration Limited Project under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.  Broad participation has been confirmed by state and federal agencies, non-profits, academia and the private sector; scroll down for preliminary program information and check back for updates as the program develops.  

Certificates of attendance will be provided to document 6 solid hours of educational content suitable for professional certification renewals. 

Theme:

Partnerships and collaboration are integral to success.  Join us in sharing ideas, case studies, success stories and lessons learned!

The Call for Presentations requested topics including but not limited to:

Case Building and Community Outreach • Partnerships and Funding • Landowner Coordination • Engineering and Design • Permitting • Monitoring • Scientific Studies • Legal Agreements • Bidding and Contracts • Construction • Implementation • Adaptive Management • Data Sharing and Reporting

We’ve had excellent response but are still accepting suggestions about collaborative efforts to restore degraded resources and increase resiliency.  Please let us know if you’re working on a community-based restoration project or conducting resiliency-related studies in Connecticut, Massachusetts or Rhode Island.  

Registration is online via credit/debit card only.

• General Admission: $125

• SWCS Member: $75

• Student General Admission: $50*

• SWCS Student Chapter Member: $25

• Blue Light Special: $190
  

  Join the Soil & Water Conservation Society now at the $115 Conservationist level and benefit immediately by registering at the $75 SNEC Member rate!  Simply select the Blue Light Special option when you register – we’ll handle the SWCS membership paperwork.  For more information about benefits of membership (including a subscription to the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation)

*Students must be currently enrolled full-time at an accredited high school, college, or university.

• Rain or Shine | No Refunds | Transfer Allowed

• Lunch and coffee will be provided.

• Registration includes presentations and access to exhibits.

SNEC is please to announce that participation has been confirmed by

• Wenley Ferguson, Director of Habitat Restoration, Save The Bay

• Bill Giuliano, Cranberry Bog Program Manager, Mass Division of Ecological Restoration

• Melissa Kaplan (Licensing and Permitting Team Lead) and Tom Groves (Senior Botanist), BSC Group

• Joe Manetta, Graduate Research Assistant, URI

• Christine Odiaga, Assistant Project Manager, Friends of Herring River

• US Fish & Wildlfie Service Coastal Program

Details to follow as additional speakers confirm.

A Special Wetland
Eversource Energy’s Atlantic White Cedar Mitigation
and 1st Year of Long-Term Monitoring

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) considers Cedar Swamps (wetlands that contain Northern or Atlantic White Cedar) as a Special Wetland with the presumption that these natural communities provide habitat for State-listed rare species. Mitigation for Atlantic White Cedar (AWC) tree removal was required as part of Eversource Energy’s 400/500 Lines Rebuild Project as a condition of the CT DEEP issued 401 Water Quality Certification.  The Mitigation Plan included enhancement of an existing 0.5-acre Atlantic White Cedar (AWC) stand and expansion/creation of 0.25-acre AWC habitat through the planting of 159 locally sourced AWC seedlings as well as herbivory protection fencing installation. In addition to this revegetation effort, annual monitoring of the planting was necessary to determine the long-term success of the plantings.  This presentation provides detail on the project, the required mitigation plan, and the results of the 1st year of monitoring.

Herring River Tidal Restoration Project:
a WPA Ecological Restoration Limited Project Case Study

In 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) adopted new regulations to facilitate permitting of Ecological Restoration projects “whose primary purpose is to restore or otherwise improve the natural capacity of a Resource Area(s) to protect and sustain the interests identified in M.G.L. c. 131, § 40, when such interests have been degraded or destroyed by anthropogenic influences.”  These included a Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) general permit for Ecological Restoration (ER) projects that meet specific criteria and provisions to guide development and permitting of ER projects that are not eligible for the general permit.

In its natural, historic state, the Herring River in Wellfleet Massachusetts supported a vibrant estuarine ecosystem and the largest diadromous fish run on outer Cape Cod.  Construction of a dike at the mouth of the river in 1909 and other alterations to the natural hydrology eliminated tidal flow to the salt marsh, drained the wetlands and transformed the estuary into one of the Cape’s most degraded natural resources.

Replacement of a portion of the dike with a new bridge and tidal control structures, combined with removal of other barriers to fish passage and tidal exchange, will restore water quality and habitat connectivity to the entire estuary, restore marine and coastal habitats, improve resiliency to climate change, provide economic benefits to the region and revive a herring run that feeds the Gulf of Maine fisheries.  Nine adjustable tide gates will allow incremental reintroduction of tidal flow in accordance with a scientifically rigorous Adaptive Management Plan based on structured decision-making; increasing tidal flow will bring saltwater back to the river and return it to the thriving and ecologically productive estuary it was for thousands of years before the dike was built.

Phase 1 of the Project includes (i) construction of all infrastructure needed for full restoration of tidal exchange to the Herring River estuary, (ii) vegetation/marsh management, and (iii) reintroduction of tidal flow to a specified water surface elevation in the lower Herring River basin.  The environmental permitting process began with the filing of an Environmental Notification Form in 2008 and was completed in the spring of 2022 with issuance of WPA Orders of Conditions by the Wellfleet and Truro Conservation Commissions approving the Tidal Restoration limited project.

Introducing JAIME CLINTSMAN

The SNEC Board is pleased to announce that we’ve hired a part-time Administrator and Event Coordinator: Jaime Clintsman.

Jaime will be the primary point of contact for this conference and for SNEC matters in general. If you have suggestions or would like to participate, please contact Jaime at (214) 870-9249 or jc@swcssnec.org.

Conservation NewsBriefs

Conservation NewsBriefs

SWCS Southern New England Chapter (SNEC) seeks a self-motivated contractor to handle administrative matters, coordinate educational events and outreach activities, and provide support to a volunteer Board of Directors on a part-time, remote basis (currently 400 hours/year with opportunity for expansion).

SNEC is a small non-profit organization that relies heavily on its volunteer Board of Directors. We serve our members and the regional conservation community primarily by providing opportunities for professional development and networking; the bulk of effort under this contract will stem from SNEC events and associated activities. Other typical duties include handling correspondence, managing website and social media content, and supporting outreach campaigns. The selected contractor will assist the Board monthly with items such as event-planning virtual meetings, action item follow-up, and elections. The estimated level of effort for the scope of work described below is 400 hours/year.   

The workload for this position fluctuates throughout the year but is relatively predictable; the months leading up to our winter conference are the busiest and summer is slowest. SNEC has no office space or supplies. The contractor provides their own workspace and personal computer. The work for this contract can be accomplished completely remotely, with optional travel to events. Travel to and in-person attendance at our events is NOT required.

SNEC’s main educational event is a full-day winter conference that includes presentations, discussion, and exhibits. The SNEC annual chapter meeting is held in the summer and includes a field component; the location rotates between the states we serve. SNEC also hosts a minimum of two (2) fall field days focused on erosion and sediment control and stormwater management; the program typically includes indoor presentations in the morning (organized by SNEC) and field displays/demonstrations in the afternoon (organized by a distributor).

Event-related tasks include but are not limited to –

• Securing venue space
• Coordinating meals for attendees
• Managing event registration and attendance using Eventbrite
• Creating event webpages and updates and promoting the event via social media and Mailchimp email blasts
• Developing event programs, agendas, and preparing folder inserts and graphics as needed
• Managing event needs, and day-of coordination (can be done remotely through delegation to the SNEC BOD)
• Completing post-event tasks like follow-up emails, and certificates of attendance

Administrative tasks include but are not limited to –

• Coordinating Board and event-planning committee meetings, taking basic notes and tracking action items
• Handling email correspondence, managing the mailing list, and maintaining contact with national staff
• Submitting reports and maintaining records
• Assisting Board with outreach to sponsors, and tracking delivery of sponsor benefits
• Managing website and social media content of the chapter including swcssnec.org, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook
• Compiling content and distributing quarterly newsletters
• Managing and executing SNEC outreach program that includes student outreach and member retention initiatives

There is great potential to grow this role and add items or services beyond the above listed. Potential additional services include developing and administering additional training workshops, conferences, and seminars; development and production of brochures and other publications; and special project development.

Terms for the Administrator/Event Coordinator contract will be $25/hour for up to 400 hours/year, renewable each year based on satisfactory performance. As noted above, the scope and budget for this can be expanded by mutual agreement. The SNEC will be responsible for the cost of approved expenses and supplies required for performance of the contractual services, including but not limited to overnight travel (GSA rates), meeting and office supplies, venue fees, postage, and web-related expenses. The Contractor retains the right to perform services for other clients.

How to Submit Your Application:

• Applications must include at least one link to a website that demonstrates your content management capability and at least one event page link or program from an event you coordinated.
• Contact information for a minimum of two references appropriate to this job description is required.
• Submit your 1-page resume and the above requested information to info@swcs.org.

For questions contact us at info@swcssnec.org. To learn more about the Chapter, visit https://swcssnec.org.

Conservation NewsBriefs

“MICROPLASTICS IN THE ENVIRONMENT”
BAOSHAN XING

Professor and Director of Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst

“Through the River and Over the Woods: Global PFAS Exposure and Implications for Ecosystem Health”
Lisa McIntosh

Senior Technical Manager, Woodard & Curran

“Improving Water Quality One Field at a Time: NRCS Practices for Producers”
Nancy Ferlow

Connecticut Natural Resources Conservation Service

“MassDEP’s Environmental Justice Initiatives to Improve Water Quality”
Dr. Padmini Das

Chief, Nonpoint Source Management Program, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

“Implementing the Single Standards Act to Increase State Protection of Buffers for Freshwater Wetlands in Rhode Island”
Chuck Horbert

Deputy Administrator, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

“Quality of Massachusetts Waters: Regulation, Improvement and Challenges”
David Wong

Environmental Analyst, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

“Wetlands and the MA Contingency Plan”
Mia McDonald

Circuit Rider, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Conservation NewsBriefs

Compost Use Notes – Bear Path Compost

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Managing Phosphorus in Organic Residuals
Applied to Soils

Composts, Biosolids, Manures, and
Other Organic Residual Sources

A symposium presented by the University of Massachusetts
Extension Agriculture and Landscape Program

Wednesday 2 November 2016
8:15 a.m. -4 p.m. in Marlborough, MA

MA Law and Regulations:

• An Act Relative to the Regulation of Plant Nutrients
• Plant Nutrient Regulations (330 CMR 31.00) 

Mass Department of Agricultural Resources (MassDAR) info:

• Plant Nutrient Management web page
• Factsheet for Turf and Lawns 
• Retail Sign for Phosphorus Containing Fertilizers 

Water Supply Protection Areas:
The location of water supply protection areas, including Zone A areas, can be found on the MassDEP Water Supply Protection Map (Online Map Viewer):

UMass Amherst resources:

• Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory
• Soil Test Methods
• Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE) web page
• Nutrient Management Practices for:
  • Cranberry
  • Crops, Dairy, Livestock and Equine
  • Fruit
  • Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture
  • Nursery
  • Turf
  • Vegetable
• UMass Extension Nutrient Management web page
• UMass Extension Crops, Dairy, Livestock & Equine Program (CDLE) web page
• Low Cost Aerated Static Composting Systems for Small Acreage Equine Operations

UMass Extension Crops, Dairy, Livestock & Equine (CDLE) Program  Fact Sheets

Soil and Nutrient Management:

• Components of Integrated Crop Management for Field Crops
• Composting Horse Manure
• Conserving Ammonia in Manure
• Field Assessment for Determining Priority of Manure Application
• Guidelines to Nitrogen Application on Agronomic Crops in Massachusetts
• Manure Inventory
• Manure Spreader Calibration
• Nitrogen Management: End-of-Season Cornstalk Nitrate Test
• Nitrogen Management: Pre-Sidedress Nitrate-N Test (PSNT)
• Nitrogen Management: Soil Amino Sugar Test
• Nutrient Credits from Manure
• Nutrient Management: Planning for Dairy, Livestock and Equine Operations
• Nutrient Recommendations for Field Crops in Massachusetts
• Plant Nutrients from Manure
• Sampling Livestock Manure
• Sampling Soils for Meaningful Results
• Soil Organic Matter
• Strategies for Effective Cover Cropping on Dairy Farms
• Waste Management and Composting

Soil Biology Primer

Tugel, A.J., A.M. Lewandowski, and D. Happe-vonArb, eds. 2000. Soil Biology Primer. Ankeny, IA: Soil and Water Conservation Society.

48 full-color pages, 8.5″ x 11″ softbound

The Soil Biology Primer, a 4-color publication, introduces the living component of soil and how it contributes to agricultural productivity and to air and water quality.  This book is an excellent resource for gardeners, farmers, ranchers, agriculture professionals, resource specialists, conservationists, soil scientists, students, and educators.  The primer includes information on the soil food web—the community of organisms living in soil—and how the web relates to soil health.  Chapter topics include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, and earthworms.

The Soil Biology Primer Photo Gallery is posted on the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Soil Health web page.

from the Soil Biology Primer

for the Connecticut contingent:

UConn Soil Testing Laboratory
Fact Sheets and Interpretation Sheets:  click here

UConn Home & Garden Education Center – an informational resource for your gardens and home.  Click here for Fact Sheets

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 
Division of Agriculture

Farmland Ecology Best Management Practices
Each BMP has a description of the practice and the benefits to be achieved by implementation, if appropriate. Not all of the management practices described may be implemented depending on the size and type of the agricultural operation nor is it required to implement more than one practice. Each farming operation is different and only those management practices which will prove to be economically and environmentally beneficial are recommended for implementation. The goal however, is the same for each individual practice and that is to protect and conserve Rhode Island’s natural resources.

• Nutrient Management
  • Conservation Buffer Systems
  • Crop Rotation
  • Nutrient Management
• Erosion and Sediment Control
• Pest and Pesticide Management
• Livestock Grazing Management
• Irrigation Management
• Vehicle and Petroleum Storage

Rhode Island General Laws:

• Farmland Preservation, Chapter 42-82
• Fresh Water Wetlands, Chapter 2-1

Regulations:

• Procedures for the Operation of the Agricultural Lands Preservation Commission and the Purchase of Farmland Development Rights (10/2007)

Farm Fresh Rhode Island

Rhode Island Farm Bureau

Plan for Managing Nutrient Loadings to Rhode Island Waters
Prepared by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Pursuant to RI General Law ß 46-12-3(25) February 1, 2005 [Edited February 10, 2005]

News Release (February 15, 2005):

DEM ISSUES NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Primary Goal is to Reduce Loadings from Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Cornell Waste Management Institute

CWMI is a program in the Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University.  CWMI serves the public through research, outreach, training, and technical assistance, with a focus on organic residuals.

CWMI Composting Fact Sheets

Compost Fact Sheet Series #1-8

1. Marketing Composts and Meeting Consumer Needs. 6p, 2004 (updated 2015)
2. Regulation and Certification of Composts. 4p, 2004
3. Improving and Maintaining Compost Quality. 6p, 2004 (updated 2013)
4. Testing Composts. 6p, 2005 (updated 2015)
5. Compost Bulking Materials. 4p, 2004 (updated 2013)
6. Compost Pads. 6p, 2005
7. Compost Equipment. 6p, 2006
8. Composting Liquids. 4p, 2007

Natural Rendering Fact Sheets

Composting Livestock Mortality and Butcher Waste. 12p, 2002
Composting Road Kill. 12p, 2007
Composting Poultry Mortality. 12p, 2008
Horse Mortality: Carcass Disposal Alternatives. 8p, 2012

Health and Safety

Health & Safety Guidance for Composting in the School Setting. 2p, 2005
Health & Safety Guidance for Small Scale Composting. 2p, 2004

Home Composting

Composting at Home: the Green and Brown Alternative. 12p, 2011
Home Composting. 4p, 2005
Home Use of Milorganite®. 2p, 2006
Preventing Animal Nuisances in Small Scale Composting. 2p, 2005

Municipal Solid Waste Composting Fact Sheet Series #1-7

Table of Contents
1. Physical Processing
2. Biological Processing
3. Strategies for Separating Contaminants
4. Potential Effects of Heavy Metals on Plants and the Environment
5. Issues in Risk Assessment
6. Issues in Policy and Regulation
7. Key Aspects of Compost Quality Assurance
8. Composting Glossary

Municipal Yard Waste Composting – Operator’s Fact Sheet Series #1-10

Introduction and Table of Contents
1. The Compost Process
2. Composting Ingredients
3. Water
4. Oxygen
5. Temperature
6. Building Windrows
7. Turning Windrows
8. Chipping Woody Wastes
9. Health and Safety Precautions
10. Troubleshooting

COMPOST USE CATEGORY GUIDELINES

To familiarize yourself with the use categories listed below, click here.

To learn more about the organizations from which guidelines and specifications were obtained, click here.

To estimate the amount of compost needed for a project, click here.

Otherwise, select one of the following options…

Conservation NewsBriefs

     Handouts are posted below

AGENDA

SPEAKERS

 ~~~

2016 Summer Meeting

Friday August 5th

 ~~~

C O M P O S T

Turning Waste into Wealth

Bear Path Farm, West Whately and UMass Amherst

The SWCS Southern New England Chapter 2016 Summer Meeting will feature a tour of the operations at Bear Path Farm, led by farm owner Bill Obear and partner Mike Mahar.

Bear Path Farm is recognized throughout the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts as a dedicated producer of high quality, compost for residential, agricultural and commercial applications for 20 years.  But many people are unaware of Bill’s commitment to sustainable forest management; of the farm’s 50 acres, 35 are forested with a diverse mix of hardwoods.   Bear Path Farm has been an official Tree Farm since 1984 and takes pride in the fact that its modest woodland is being sustainably managed under the guidelines of the American Tree Farm System and is certified as such by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  By meeting the rigorous FSC forest management standards, Bear Path Farm reaps multiple environmental benefits for its forestland as well as for the greater good.

In 2015 the compost operation transitioned into Bear Path Compost, LLC.  The location remains the same; what’s changed is the addition of two new faces, Mike and Pete Mahar, as Bill’s new partners and owners of Bear Path Compost.  The Mahar brothers also operate Poplar Hill Farm and have the same zeal and attention to detail that Bill has demonstrated over the last 20 years.
     Handout:  Bear Path Compost History 

Mike and Bill will talk about their feedstocks and mixing & turning techniques; and they will open up and probe a few windrows for temperature.   “Of course we have other things to go over, but show and tell is basically what our tour will be all about.”
     Handout:  Compost Use Notes 
     Handout:  Compost as a Mulch in Ornamental Landscapes  

Katie Campbell-Nelson, a UMass Extension educator and vegetable specialist at the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, will provide practical information on site, including a demonstration of how to properly collect samples for analysis and guidance on interpreting compost test results.

The residues-to-riches story will continue at UMass Amherst.  Attendees will caravan or carpool to Lot 45; half-day parking permits will be distributed at the farm.  Presentations and Lunch will be in Room 308 at Holdsworth Hall.

Geoff Kuter, President and General Manager at Agresource, Inc., will provide an overview of  compost characteristics and the basics of the composting process, different types of facilities in the region (e.g. biosolids vs. leaf and yard wastes), the technologies and equipment that are used.
     Handout:  Composting Principles (slides) 2.9 MB 
     Handout:  Composting Principles (for taking notes) 1.8 MB

Hotze Wijnja, an Environmental Chemist at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, has been involved with the development and implementation of the regulations at 330 CMR 31.00 promulgated in 2015 to address plant nutrient management.  He will provide an overview of the regulations and discuss the implications of the requirements as they relate to the application of compost.
     Handout:  Plant Nutrient Regulations 1.7 KB
     Handout:  Turf & Lawns Factsheet 
     Handout:  Information Sheet for Agricultural Land

A video will be shown during lunch:  Low Cost Aerated Static Composting Systems for Small Acreage Equine Operations by  Masoud Hashemi and Atakan Kadi of UMass Extension.  Masoud Hashemi is an Associate Professor in the Crops, Dairy, Livestock, and Equine Program specializing in sustainable food and farming.  Through a 319s grant funded by Massachusetts Department of Environment Protection, UMass Extension implemented two Aerated Static Pile (ASP) composting systems, also known as forced aeration, to manage livestock manure and bedding produced on Blue Star Equiculture Farm in Palmer, Massachusetts.

Geoff Kuter will make a second presentation after lunch about the benefits of using compost and how compost is being used, including non-agricultural uses such as site remediation, and low impact  development projects including wetland restoration and storm water management projects.
     Handout:  Compost Characteristics & Uses (slides) 1.6 MB
     Handout:  Compost Characteristics & Uses (for taking notes) 3.4 MB

The event will conclude with the Southern New England Chapter Annual Meeting, which is open to all.  FY 2017 Board of Directors election results will be announced.  Other agenda items will include discussion of the 2017 Winter conference, long-term goals and the FY17 budget.

In the spirit of conservation, only the agendas will be provided in hard copy.  Please print any information you want to have on hand.

Certificates of Attendance will be distributed before the Chapter Meeting; these will show the agenda to document 3 contact hours of professional development.

AGENDA:

Certificates of Attendance will include this agenda to document 3 contact hours of professional development.

The SNEC Board of Directors would like to thank all of our fabulous speakers for their energy and expertise!

Speaker Biographies and Contact Information (PDF)

Workshop and Presentation Descriptions and PDFs

Keynote Address:  Adapt CT – Outreach Efforts for Resilience and Adaptation (6 MB) | CT Sea Grant, the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) and UConn Extension have partnered to develop Adapt CT, a unique collaboration to bring information, interaction and dialogue to the most pressing resilience and adaptation issues faced in CT.  This presentation will focus on the numerous and challenging problems raised by stakeholders across CT and how we are working to move forward on many of these resilience issues.
– – -> Juliana BARRETT | Extension Educator, UConn Sea Grant Program

Soil Workshop #1:  Getting to Know Soils in an Urban/Suburban Environment (5 MB) | Exploration of the unique hazards faced by urban soils and of the many benefits they offer.  Ideas for improvement and protection to sustain a healthy urban environment for the future.  Overview of urban soil types, mapping and practical measures to take when working with them.

“Urban soils are under unique stresses, but they give a lot too!”
– – -> Lisa KRALL | Resource Soil Scientist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Sustainability and Urban Forestry (5 MB)  | What makes for a sustaining urban forest?  That answer is as complicated as answering what makes an urban forest – as one considers what it takes for a tree to thrive in today’s dynamic urban environments.
– – -> Chris DONNELLY | Urban Forestry Coordinator, CT DEEP Division of Forestry

Sustainable Stormwater BMPs from the Municipal Perspective (4 MB)| Rarely is the sustainability and cost of maintenance by the cities, towns and private parties who will eventually own and maintain them a consideration prior to installation of stormwater management BMPs.  Case studies of local projects provide a real-life view of storm water management challenges and practical measures implemented to resolve them.
– – -> Charles EATON | Director of Municipal Services, CME Associates

Soil Workshop #2:  Urban Soil Health and Permaculture/Agriculture in Urban Areas (7 MB) | A look at managing the urban landscape to improve soil function and nutrient cycling, and to increase carbon sequestration, infiltration and water holding capacity.  Permaculture, the development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient, will be highlighted.

“I have a passion for conservation, primarily through soil health and ecosystem restoration.  I am an avid believer that humans, while widely considered the problem to environmental issues, can also be the solution to them; and that we can, through the facilitation of understanding, improve the planet we live on.  It is with this torch I carry myself in my life and my career as a conservationist.  Become the change you want to see in the world, and see it done.” 
– – -> Raymond COVINO | District Conservationist and Soil Health Specialist, USDA NRCS

Municipal Resiliency: Local Problems, Local Actions | Seeing the impacts of climate change first hand, municipal and regional leaders are adapting to the changes at the local level. This session will cover the relationship between adaptation and land-use planning, and a recent resiliency project:  a Low-Impact Development Design Manual for the town of Morris (funded by CIRCA and overseen by NHCOG.  Attendees will learn about starting the adaptation planning process, where to find tools and informative case studies.
– – -> Joanna WOZNIAK-BROWN | Planning Assistant, Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG)

Bringing Wetlands to Market: Examining the Role of Nitrogen in Blue Carbon (5 MB) | Coastal wetlands have carbon sequestration rates three to five times greater than tropical rain forests; but excess nitrogen inputs and other stressors have the potential to alter carbon cycling and storage within wetlands.  Bringing Wetlands to Market is a collaborative project that provided data and a model for predicting carbon uptake rates (and greenhouse gas fluxes) from coastal wetlands.
– – -> Katelyn SZURA | Graduate Student, URI Moseman-Valtierra Laboratory

Practical Applications for Drones in Data Collection (5 MB) | Discussion of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (i.e.  drone technology), the regulatory environment and examples of commercial grade products delivered for clients.  Overview includes inspection and mapping for civil/environmental projects, documentation, stakeholder engagement and general considerations for planning and executing successful missions.  Example products & deliverables include Point Cloud/3D renderings, ortho-mosaics and elevation models.
– – -> Jon BUDRESKI | Co-Founder and Director of Business Development, AirShark

–>> AGENDA <<–

BROCHURE

Speaker Biographies and Contact Information

Conservation NewsBriefs

Emily Cole leads AFT’s Climate and Agriculture Program in New England. She works both to improve and advocate for the integration of climate-smart management practices into New England’s productive farming communities through education, outreach, and policy. She earned her Doctorate in plant and soil sciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where her research focused on improving soil health and carbon sequestration through the application of biochar and implementation of climate-smart management practices. She also holds a Master of Science Education from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Kenyon College. 

27 August Rd
Simsbury, CT 06070
(413) 240-4629
ecole@farmland.org

Karen Ribeiro has worked in the renewable energy and efficiency markets since 2008 when she left a career in banking to serve the planet. Karen has two undergraduate degrees from UMass Amherst and has earned an M.B.A. from Western New England University. Karen has extensive sales and service experience and is well informed on utility regulations, state policies and incentive programs. She is an owner of PV Squared Solar, is a member of the commercial design & sales team, and represents PV Squared regionally and nationally on the political front.

PV Squared Solar
311 Wells St. Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 265-3892
karenr@pvsquared.coop

Christopher Stone is a licensed Professional Engineer with over 30 years of experience as a designer, project manager and regulator in a broad spectrum of civil and environmental engineering applications. He began his career in private consulting as a site and utility design engineer, eventually specializing in stormwater management in the site design process. Chris left consulting to develop the CTDEEP’s stormwater program as their first stormwater engineer. He has written all of the current DEEP stormwater general permits including the first-in-the-nation commercial stormwater general permit issued in 1995. His current focus is on the development of the next generation of stormwater general permits addressing industrial, commercial, municipal and construction stormwater management. Chris has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Urban Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a NICET certified Land Management and Water Control Inspector and has received the Recognition Award for Outstanding Professional Service from Connecticut Engineers in Private Practice and the DEEP Green Circle Award.

CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
MMCA/WPED
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 424-3850
chris.stone@ct.gov

Sharon Klein is an Associate Professor in the School of Economics at the University of Maine. She has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to her career in higher education, Dr. Klein worked as a high school environmental systems teacher in Quito, Ecuador for 2 years; a middle school science teacher in San Diego, CA for 3 years; an environmental technician in San Diego for 1.5 year; and an Americorps National Civilian Community Corps volunteer in the Southeast region of the US for 1 year. Dr. Klein’s research and teaching are multi-disciplinary in nature, centering on the technical, economic, environmental and social tradeoffs inherent in sustainable energy decision-making. Dr. Klein is interested in all sustainable energy options but has keen interest in solar energy research, completing her PhD dissertation on the engineering, economic, and environmental tradeoffs associated with using thermal molten salt energy storage and dry cooling in concentrated solar power plants, and more recently, assessing the social and economic benefits and costs of community-based solar initiatives. Dr. Klein and her colleagues have created the first US Community Renewable Energy Database – a central location for sharing information on community-based renewable energy projects: https://www.communityenergyus.net/.

5782 Winslow Hall, Room 305
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
(207) 581-3174
sharon.klein@maine.edu

Yasmin Yacoby is the Program Manager for Energy Justice issues at the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, Rhode Island’s lead state agency on energy policy and programming. Her role focuses on the equitability and accessibility of Rhode Island’s energy systems, programs, and policies, and she is working to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to clean, affordable, and dependable energy. She is working together with members of her department, other state agencies, and community members to strengthen support for low-to-moderate income households and communities of color. Yasmin is a Govern for America Fellow and graduated from Harvard University with Honors in May 2019 with a BA in Environmental Science and Public Policy. She wrote her Honors Senior Thesis on the flaws within the National Environmental Policy Act that lead to and exacerbate environmental injustice in marginalized communities. In her spare time, Yasmin loves to hike, and is a freelance light designer for various theatres in the Boston and Providence area.

RI Office of Energy Resources
1 Capitol Hill, Providence RI
(401) 574-9103
yasmin.yacoby.CTR@energy.ri.gov

Lucy Bullock-Sieger is the Director of Civic Engagement at BlueWave Solar. She leads the Government and Community Affairs strategy at BlueWave. Lucy works closely with industry colleagues, legislators, and administration officials across all BlueWave markets to advocate for sustainable community solar policy. Additionally, she drives BlueWave’s social impact efforts that includes community service, corporate giving, and B Corp Certification. Prior to BlueWave Lucy was the US communications and fundraising lead for an international aid organization. For the last ten years Lucy has focused on energy, land use and public health policy and holds a Masters of Public Administration from Northeastern University.

BlueWave Solar
111 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02199
(803) 606-6364
lbullock-sieger@bluewavesolar.com

Stephen Herbert is a Professor of agriculture and former Associate Dean and Director of the Center for Agriculture, the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station and UMass Extension at UMass with 40+ years of professional activity in crop production and product evaluation both in the U.S. and in Asia. Currently leads a project evaluating growth of vegetables in partial shade of solar panels.

204 Bowditch Hall
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003
herbert@umass.edu

Abby Barnicle is a Renewable Energy Program Coordinator at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). At DOER, Abby helps to implement the Commonwealth’s solar incentive programs, including the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program. Prior to joining DOER, Abby worked as the operations manager for Zapotec Energy Inc., a solar engineering firm in Cambridge, MA. Abby graduated from Stonehill College with a B.A. in English.

MA Department of Energy Resources
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-7339
abby.barnicle@mass.gov

Dwanye Breger is an Extension Professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and serves as the Director of the Clean Energy Extension. The Clean Energy Extension supports state goals to accelerate clean energy markets in Massachusetts through market outreach, technical assistance, and applied research. Dwayne came to UMass in 2015 after 13 years as the Director of the Renewable Energy Division at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). At DOER, he was responsible for the state Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), the development of the RPS solar carve-out and solar loan program, the advance of biomass energy policy, and served on the staff working group that designed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Prior to DOER, he was an Assistant Professor in engineering at Lafayette College, an AAAS/U.S. EPA Environmental Science and Engineering Fellow, a U.S. participant in the International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Program, and served as a Senior Research Associate at UMass in Mechanical Engineering. Dwayne received his Ph.D. in Resource Economics from UMass Amherst, an M.S. in technology and policy from MIT, and a B.S. degree in engineering from Swarthmore College.

209 Agricultural Engineering Building
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-8512
dbreger@umass.edu

Zara Dowling is a postdoctoral research fellow with UMass Clean Energy Extension and the American Wind Wildlife Institute.  She works on a variety of projects regarding environmental and wildlife issues associated with development of solar and wind energy, as well as municipal energy efficiency and carbon neutral planning efforts.  She serves on her town Conservation Commission and Energy Committee.

209 Agricultural Engineering Building
University of Massachusetts
250 Natural Resources Way
(413) 545-8516
zdowling@umass.edu

Conservation NewsBriefs

As of December 3rd, 2020 – 122 total registered attendees

Valerie Miller, Natural Resources Team Lead, SWCA Environmental Consultants

Naomi Valentine, Restoration Specialist, SWCA Environmental Consultants

Moosa Rafey, Wetland Enforcement Officer/Assistant ZEO, Town of Waterford, CT

Mark Massoud, Land Use Administrator/Building Services, ZEO, Town of Waterford, CT

Christine Odiaga, Assistant Project Manager, Friends of Herring River

Michele White, Special Projects Coordinator, Cape Code Commission

Timothy Randhir, Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Seth Taylor, Environmental Planner, GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc.

Chris Bores, President, Bores Property Services LLC

Amanda LaChance-Yavis, Account Manager, Bores Property Services LLC

John Edwards, Solar Owner

Paul Knapik, Senior Project Manager, BSC Group, Inc.

Lindsey Carle, Ecologist, BSC Group, Inc.

Heidi Graf, Ecologist, BSC Group, Inc.

Truman Cavallaro, Field Technician, BSC Group, Inc.

Samantha Walker, Wetland Scientist, BSC Group ,Inc.

Keith Hannon, Ecologist, BSC Group, Inc.

Bryan Wentworth, Engineering Group Manager, BSC Group, Inc.

Ethan Sneesby, Wetland Scientist, BSC Group, Inc.

Theresa Portante, Ecological Scientist, BSC Group, Inc.

Arthur Allen, Vice President, EcoTec, Inc.

Dean Gustafson, Professional Soil Scientist & Wetland Scientist, All Points Technology Corporation P.C.

Brad Parsons, Department Manager of Civil Engineering, All Points Technology Corporation P.C.

Matthew Gustafson, Forester & Scientist, All Points Technology Corporation P.C.

Jin Tao, Project Engineer, All Points Technology Corporation P.C.

Joshua Wilson, Senior Ecologist, Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.

Jessica Hunt, Associate, Stantec

Michele Simoneaux, Senior Project Manager, Stantec

Carol Grasis, Resource Conservationist, USDA NRCS

Chris Lenahan, Operations Manager, Harlan Electric

Judith Schmitz, Environmental Analyst,  Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

George (Ray) Hill, Project Manager, Riggs Distler & Company

Brett Lowrie, Assistant Project Manager, Riggs Distler & Company

Greg Vorbach, Project Manager, Harlan Electric

Kaitlin Hollinger, Policy Associate, BlueWave Solar

Jeffery Patterson, Senior Soil and Wetland Scientist, VHB

David Halliwell, Environmental Project Manager, POWER Engineers

Melissa Kaplan, Manager of Ecological Sciences – CT, BSC Group, Inc.

Anthony Damiano, Assistant Project Manager, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Alyssa Noyes, Assistant Project Manager, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Aaron Svedlow, President, North Light Energy Development Services

MacKenzie McConnell, Event Coordinator, HomeWorks Energy

Micheal Gagnon, Senior Project Special, Civil Engineering, Milone & MacBroom, Inc.

Matthew Sanford, Manager of Natural Resources Planning, Milone & MacBroom, Inc.

John Zehren, Principal Consultant, SLR International Corporation

Patrick Lord, Assistant Project Manager, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Christopher Newhall, Senior Project Manager, AECOM

Gabriella Placido, Graduate Student, University of Rhode Island

Steve O’Neill, Director of Transportation Engineering, VHB

Mike Everhart, Eastern Erosion Control & Geo-Products Specialist, EJ Prescott

Javier Sabogal, Student, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Stephanye Zarama-Alvarado, Graduate Student, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Paul Vitaliano, CT Director Of Land Development, VHB

Steve Kochis, Senior Project Engineer, VHB

Jeff Shamas, Director of Environmental Services, VHB

Gordon Daring, Managing Director – CT, VHB

Iredia Ohenhen, Soil Conservation Planner, USDA-NRCS

Fernando Rincón, Soil Conservationist, USDA-NRCS

Lilliam Torres-Santiago, Soil Conservationist, USDA-NRCS

Gina Wolfman, Senior Developer/Permitting Specialist, Greenskies Clean Energy

Gail Ceresia, Principle, Berkshire Wetland Services

Allison Milliman, Project Manager, BSC Group, Inc.

Dorothy McGlincy, Executive Director, MA Association of Conservation Commissions

Chris Sullivan, Executive Director, Southwest Conservation District

Cynthia Rabinowitz, Executive Director, Northwest Conservation District

Heidi Ricci, Director of Policy, Mass Audubon

Gregor McGregor, Environmental Attorney, McGregor & Legere, PC

Nancy Ferlow, State Resource Conservationist, USDA-NRCS CT

Robert Duero, Principal Account Manager, Stantec

Joanna Shapiro, Executive Director, North Central Conservation District

Barbara Kelly, Coordinator, North Central Conservation District

John Dudula, Natural Resource Specialist, North Central Conservation District

Mindy Gosselin, Natural Resource Specialist, North Central Conservation District

Eric Boswell, Sr. Project Manager, Stantec

Matthew Davison, Wetland/Soil Scientist, Davison Environmental

Eric Davison, Wetland/Soil Scientist, Davison Environmental

Kip Kolesinskas, Consulting Conservation Scientist

Emad Mady, Visiting Researcher/Grad Student, University of Massachusetts

Reena Randhir, STEM Director, Springfield Technical Community College

Adam Henry, Associate Principal, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

John Edwards, Forester/Solar Consultant, John Edwards

Chris Dill, Environmental Engineer I, RI Department of Environmental Management

Moussa Siri, Student, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Leo Garneau, Forester/Wetland Scientist, Northeastern Consulting Forestry Services

Aaron Svedlow, President, North Light Energy Development Services

Doug McCluskey, Western Stormwater Specialist, Everett J Prescott

Tom LaVergne, VP Land Clearing & Pipeline, BLUROC

Cheryl Cappiali, Board Member, Southwest Conservation District

Patricia Sesto, Director of Environmental Affairs, Town of Greenwich

Sarah Traore, Graduate Student, University of Massachusetts Amherst

*Please note that this list does not include 3 private sector employees and 29 students who chose not to be listed here (some listed may send staff in their place).

Conservation NewsBriefs