The President's Message

Dear Westfield River Watershed members and supporters:

Thanks for your support of WRWA through your annual membership dues. Those dues cover the
basic operating expenses of our Association, and give us the resources to take on a variety of
local projects. The new year is looking like a particularly busy one for WRWA, with both old
and new programs on the horizon. As we have for the past several years, WRWA is providing
equipment and support for the Atlantic Salmon Egg Rearing Program (ASERP) in several local
schools this winter/spring. If you'd like to see a tank in operation, stop by the Elementary
Science Education classroom at Westfield State College during our 10th Annual River
Symposium on March 27. The theme of this year's symposium is "habitat" and the keynote
speaker will be Wayne McCallum, director of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and
Wildlife. A variety of talks in the morning will be followed by one or two local field trips in the
afternoon. We're hoping to exceed the turnouts of approximately 150 that the last two symposia
have attracted. We also anticipate continuing our tradition of offering volunteer assistance for the
state salmon fry stocking program in April and May. The schedule of local stocking days should
be available on our website by early April, and WRWA usually plays a primary role in recruiting
volunteers for one or two weekend days. Other spring events include our Annual Dinner meeting
on May 6, the open house at the fishway in West Springfield (date to be arranged), and the canoe
cruise on the lower Westfield River on June 5.

Several newer initiatives are also slated to begin in the next few months. The most ambitious of
those projects is a storm drain stenciling program, for which WRWA has received a grant of
$950 from Northeast Utilities. During the summer months, with the help of local scouting
groups, we are planning to stencil hundreds of storm drains in the towns of West Springfield
(supported by the NU grant) and Westfield (supported by general operating funds of WRWA).
There will definitely be opportunities for WRWA members to get involved in this project - keep
an eye on the website for details, or contact Joan Pearsons, who's taking the lead on this project.
Gabe Khatchadourian is working on putting together a fly-fishing derby in early April - an event
that we hope will become an annual spring ritual and may even raise a little money for the
Association. Finally, the Education Committee, under the guidance of Carl Grobe, is working to
find and archive stories and photographs of the 1955 floods along the Westfield River. We're
planning to hold a commemorative event in August, 2005 - marking the 50th anniversary of
those floods. If you have, or know of some one who has, personal stories or materials relating to
the floods, please contact Eileen Rannenberg, who's agreed to compile a list of potential sources
for this project.

Again, thank you for your support. We hope that you'll find time to become personally involved
in one or more of these projects during the coming months - they provide wonderful
opportunities for connecting to your watershed!

Best,

Mike Young
President 

10th Annual River Symposium

by Carl Grobe

Time flies! Saturday, March 27 is the date of our annual Westfield River Symposium and this year is
our tenth Symposium! For any of you who have never attended this free event, it is a program
dedicated to exploring and learning about our watershed and some of the issues most important to the
river, the surrounding land areas, and the inhabitants of those areas. The morning program includes a
keynote speaker, multiple sessions on specific topics, and displays from organizations and individuals
with ties to the watershed.

The theme of the Symposium this year is "Habitats," and our keynote speaker will be Wayne
MacCallum, Director of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (Mass Wildlife). Session topics will
include the design of sustainable cities, historical uses of the river, old growth forests, terrestrial
habitats and organisms, stream studies, and conservation strategies for the Watershed.

The program will again be held on the Westfield State College Campus in the Savignano Auditoriums
(formerly the Wilson Auditoriums, site of the Symposium in the past). Registration will begin at 8:00
am, and the program will begin at 8:30. Registration is FREE, and a complimentary continental
breakfast will be provided. The morning sessions will conclude at 12:30. For those who are interested,
two field trips will leave the Auditoriums at 1:30 pm.

More detailed information about the Symposium will be posted on

our website(www.westfieldriver.org). You may also obtain more information by calling Carl Grobe at
572-5304. We hope to see all of our members on Saturday, March 27! Please stop by our display to
say hello and to see the latest information about your organization.
 

ASERP

by Mike Young

For the fifth year, WRWA is involved in providing equipment and/or technical support to local
schools participating in the Atlantic Salmon Egg Rearing Program (ASERP). In addition to the three
public schools that participated in the program last year (South Middle School in Westfield, Memorial
Elementary School in West Springfield, and Gateway Regional Middle School in Huntington), we've
added the Powder Mill Middle School in Southwick this year. The participating teachers and liaisons
attended a full-day workshop on January 13, held this year at Greenfield Community College, and
approximately 300 eyed-up salmon eggs will be delivered to each school by the middle of February.
Teachers and students control the rate at which the eggs and fry develop by controlling the
temperature in the 29-30 gallon aquarium tanks where the salmon live until they're stocked into local
streams in May. Initially, tank temperatures are typically in the 30s, but as the release date nears the
tank temperature is gradually raised to match the temperature of the stream in which the fry will be
released. Most schools have been feeding the young salmon brine shrimp for several weeks before the
release - the trick is to keep the tank temperature low enough that the fry won't need to feed until after
the April vacation week! Last year several WRWA volunteers helped with the releases, including
assistance with environmental surveys at the release sites. Let me know if you'd be interested in
helping this year - it's a great way to help. 

January Planning Meeting

by Mike Young

The WRWA Board of Directors met on the morning of Saturday, January 24, 2004 at Westfield
State College, continuing a tradition of annual planning meetings. In the past these get-togethers
have focused on planning for the River Symposium, general goal setting, and discussion of
possible future directions for the organization. While many of those things came up in one way
or another at this year's meeting, the focus was on the development of a budget for 2004. Thanks
to the efforts of Ken Taylor, our treasurer, and the Audit Committee from last spring (Gabe
Khatchadourian, Rob Bristow and myself - with help from local CPA Laurie Padykula), the
Executive Committee had already come up with a reasonable projection of our basic operating
expenses for 2004 - including costs for the 2004 River Symposium. On the 24th, the Board's task
was to decide on our priorities for the remaining money, estimated at approximately $2,900. The
Education and Stewardship Committees met separately to discuss their priorities for the coming
year, and then the entire group came back together to rank the various ideas that had been put
forward. The items that were funded are: (1) $950 for storm drain stenciling in Westfield
(matching the $950 grant we've received from Northeast Utilities for stenciling in West
Springfield), (2) $550 for continued support of the Atlantic Salmon Egg Rearing Program,
including some new equipment for the Powder Mill Middle School in Southwick, expendable
items to be used at all four of the Watershed schools participating in the program this year, and
funds to support a meeting of the local teachers involved in the program, (3) $250 to support the
development of a booklet commemorating the 1955 floods along the Westfield River, (4) $250 to
support this year's canoe cruise, (5) $200 to fund the fishway open house to be held in May at the
DSI Dam in West Springfield, and (6) $200 to provide start-up funding for a Fly-Fishing Derby
to be held in early April. The list includes a number of new initiatives and provides an ambitious
target for our organization to meet for the year. We hope that each and every member will find a
way to get involved in Watershed issues during this new year - we can certainly use your
energy! 

Vernal Pools
by Matt DelMonte

Vernal pools are temporary bodies of fresh water that typically fill with water in the autumn or
winter due to rising ground water and rainfall and remain so through the spring and into early
summer. Because a vernal pool is usually dry for part of the year, it can't support breeding
populations of fish; however, they do support a variety of rare plants and animals including
amphibians and invertebrates. In fact, some organisms must live in vernal pools for at least part
of their life cycle. These organisms are called obligate species. Examples of vernal pool species
in Massachusetts include the wood frog, the spadefoot toad, fairy shrimp, and mole salamanders.

In Massachusetts, the Department of Fish and Game's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species
Program (NHESP) serves the important role of officially "certifying" vernal pools that are
documented by citizens. Finding vernal pools is the first step for protection. Some certified
vernal pools are protected in Massachusetts under the Wetlands Protection Act regulations, as
well as several other federal and state regulations and local bylaws.

According to NHESP, 52 vernal pools within the Westfield River watershed have been certified
in only seven communities. A survey of potential vernal pools produced by the NHESP has
identified 748 potential vernal pools throughout the basin that require further field investigation.
If you would like more information on vernal pools, or would like to certify a vernal pool in your
community, contact the NHESP or visit them on the web
at http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhesp.

Upcoming Events
Hike Hubbard Brook (Sunday, March 28)

Join the outing club for a stroll along one of the prettiest little brooks in Western Mass, Hubbard
Brook in Granville State Forest. Here the spring runoff cascades over numerous small falls as the
water tumbles down a heavily forested hillside. Along the way, we'll stop and discuss the power
of water to shape the watersheds in which we live. We'll also look for signs of an early (we hope)
awakening spring. Meet at the Brooks Shopping Plaza in Southwick at 9 a.m. Expect to return
about 1 p.m. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring a small pack to stow your shed layers,
a small lunch, and plenty of water. Call Tom or Nancy Condon at 564-0895 to pre-register for
the trip or with any questions.

Fly Fishing Derby (Saturday, April 3)

Are you a fly fisherman or fly fisherwoman? Then this is your opportunity to show off your
skills and win great prizes. On or about April 3rd, WRWA will be hosting our first annual
Majestic Westfield River fly fishing competition. The event will be held along three different
stretches of the Westfield River on Rt. 20 around the Sheraton Inn. Rules are not yet set, but will
be simple. For example, you can use any kind of flies, any length of rod, and any line weight.
Also, only 4 fishermen will be at each location at one time. Competitors will have 20 minute
turns. Judges will be on site with measuring tapes. These are just some examples of rules, but are
not finalized yet. A minimal entry fee of $15.00 will be required, which will go to preserving the
Westfield River as one of the best fly fishing attractions in New England. So come to the river
and bring some friends and let's all have a good time. Please bring your own gear. This
competition will be a catch and release event. Please feel free to call me with questions or
suggestions. Gabe Khatchadourian (568-3005).

Hike the Unkamits Path (Saturday, May 1)

We'll hike approximately 4 miles to Round Top and then to Chester on the Unkamits Path, with a
check on a possible vernal pool for its life forms. Meet at 9:30 a.m. across the brook from Carms
Restaurant in Chester (18 miles west on Route 20 from Westfield). Call hike leader Henry
Warchol at (413) 562-3467 for more details.

Annual Dinner Meeting (Thursday, May 6)

Join the Board of Directors for the WRWA Annual Meeting, to be held this year on Thursday,
May 6 at the Westwood Restaurant in Westfield (on Rts. 10/202 about a mile north of the center
of Westfield). This year's dinner will begin with a social hour from 6:00 to 7:00, followed by a
buffet dinner. Invitations will be mailed to members in April. Contact Kathy Meyer (413-568-
4252) for more information or to register.

Keystone Arches Ceremony (Saturday, May 22)

The Friends of the Keystone Arches will be hosting an opening ceremony for the Keystone Arch
Bridges Trail at the new elementary school in Chester, MA, one mile from the trailhead. The day
will feature Civil War re-enactors, crafters, railroadiana vendors and exhibitors, fly fishing
demonstrations, kayak demos, special postal cancellation, music, food and other surprises.
Weather permitting, it will be held outside on the grounds of the new school. Students will
participate with art and displays relating to the trail and local history. Hikes will be led all day to
see the marvelous structures at the heart of this enterprise. For more information check out the
Friends of the Keystone Arches Website at: http://home.att.net/~rickarbour/News.htm.