massachusetts housatonic river watershed restoration ......apr 30, 2018 · • mass audubon •...

Open HouseHousatonic River Natural Resource Damages Fund

May 1, 2018, Lenox Town Hall, Lenox, MassachusettsMassachusetts SubCouncil, Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees

One Winter Street, 6th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program

Agenda

1. INTRODUCTIONS

2. PRESENTATION• Housatonic River Watershed

Restoration Program• Rounds 1 - 3 Restoration

Projects• NRD Restoration Funding

Summary• Round 4

3. OPEN FORUM / Q&A

HOUSATONIC RIVER WATERSHED RESTORATION

PROGRAM

Housatonic River Watershed Restoration ProgramGE/Housatonic River Natural Resource Damages (NRD) Settlement• Consent Decree in 2000• $15 million in damages as compensation for natural resource injuries

Approx. $7.75 million targeted for projects in Massachusetts

Massachusetts SubCouncil of theHousatonic River Natural Resource Trustees• Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Secretary of Energy and

Environmental Affairs (EEA), represented by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)

• Department of the Interior (DOI): U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Massachusetts SubCouncil Members

Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program

Thomas M. Potter, MassDEPState Trustee Representative &Lead Administrative TrusteeMassachusetts Department ofEnvironmental ProtectionOne Winter Street, 6th FloorBoston, Massachusetts 02108email: [email protected]: (617) 292-5628

Molly Sperduto, USFWSTrustee Representativefor the DOI / USFWSU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service70 Commercial Street, Suite 300Concord, NH 03301email: [email protected]: (603) 227-6415

Dave Cameron, MassDEPState Trustee Representative AlternateMassachusetts Department ofEnvironmental Protection,Western Regional Office436 Dwight Street, Suite 500Springfield, Massachusetts 01103email: [email protected]: (413) 7552138

Andrew Major, USFWSDOI / USFWS Representative AlternateU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service70 Commercial Street, Suite 300Concord, NH 03301email: [email protected]: (603) 227-6413

Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program

The MA SubCouncil is responsible for disbursing funds from the Massachusetts portion of the NRD settlement.

Funds are to be used for compensatory restoration projects that will restore, rehabilitate, replace, or acquire the equivalent of natural resources and/or their services that were injured or lost as a result of the release of hazardous materials, including PCBs, into the Massachusetts portion of the Housatonic River watershed.

Three rounds of restoration projects (Rounds 1, 2 and 3) have been funded to-date as a part of this Restoration Program.

A fourth and final round of funding (Round 4) is anticipated.

SUMMARY of ROUND 1- 3RESTORATION PROJECTS

Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:OverviewRounds 1 - 3 Restoration Program:• Selected and funded 20 Restoration Projects based

on plans developed with public input.

• Provided $7,425,508 in NRD funding for compensatory restoration projects within the Massachusetts portion of the Housatonic River.

• Supported projects proposed and implemented by local municipalities, non-profit organizations, and state agencies.

Current Status of Round 1-3 Projects:• 18 projects have been completed.• 2 projects are ongoing.

Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 1 Projects

West Branch of the Housatonic River Revitalization (Dam Removal Component)City of Pittsfield & MA Division of Ecological RestorationLocation: Pittsfield, MASummary: Dam removal and associated stream restorationStatus: Ongoing

Rare Species Recovery on the Housatonic RiverMA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species ProgramLocation: Housatonic River and major tributaries in MASummary: Study of state-listed species and priority natural communities in the watershedStatus: Complete

Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 1 Projects (con’t)

Housatonic Flats Land AcquisitionBerkshire Natural Resources CouncilLocation: Great BarringtonSummary: 26 acres open space protected along the Housatonic River and 239 tons of solid waste removed from wetland and riparian habitat.Status: Complete

Barkerville Conservation Area AcquisitionCity of PittsfieldLocation: PittsfieldSummary: 71 acres open space protected along the Southwest Branch of the Housatonic RiverStatus: Complete


Housatonic River Floodplain Forest RestorationProject NativeLocation: Great Barrington, West Stockbridge, Stockbridge, SheffieldSummary: 100 acres habitat restored and 78 acres open space protectedStatus: Complete

Great Barrington Housatonic River WalkGreat Barrington Land ConservancyLocation: Great BarringtonSummary: 2.63 acres riparian habitat restored, 0.5 miles of trail management and enhancements, and public outreach and educationStatus: Complete


Enhanced Public Access to the Housatonic RiverHVA & ESS GroupLocation: Pittsfield, Lee, Lenox, SheffieldSummary: 4 public access sites developed along the Housatonic River Status: Complete

Old Mill TrailHousatonic Valley Association (HVA)Location: Dalton and HinsdaleSummary: 1.5 miles of public trail developed along the East Branch of the Housatonic River Status: Complete


Housatonic Environmental Literacy Program (HELP) for the RiverMass Audubon with HVALocation: Housatonic River Watershed in MASummary: Over 6000 people reached through outreach and educational programming including development of a student curriculum, teacher workshops, and free public canoe tripsStatus: Complete

Berkshire Conservation Agent ProgramBerkshire Regional Planning AgencyLocation: Housatonic River Watershed in MASummary: Direct support and technical assistance for Housatonic River watershed Conservation Commissions, including 18 Conservation Commission trainingsStatus: Complete


Habitat Continuity ProjectHousatonic Valley Association with Berkshire Environmental Action Team and City of PittsfieldLocation: 20 Municipalities in Housatonic River Watershed in MASummary: 487 stream crossings inventoried and 1 culvert replacement design developedStatus: Ongoing

Invasive Species Control in the Housatonic River WatershedNative Habitat RestorationLocation: Stockbridge and SheffieldSummary: Invasive species control at 6 sitesStatus: Complete


Bartholomew’s Cobble Floodplain Forest Restoration and Habitat ImprovementThe Trustees of ReservationsLocation: SheffieldSummary: 85 acres of habitat restoration and enhancementStatus: Complete

Sackett Brook Restoration Project(Education Component)Mass AudubonLocation: PittsfieldSummary: 1,200 students, teachers and members of the public reached through educational programmingStatus: Complete


Green River – Rawlings Land AcquisitionMassachusetts Dept. of Fish and GameLocation: EgremontSummary: 23 acres of open space protected, including 2500 linear feet of frontage along the Green RiverStatus: Complete

Hinsdale Flats – Duquette Land AcquisitionMassachusetts Dept. of Fish and GameLocation: HinsdaleSummary: 90 acres of open space protected in the Hinsdale Flats ACEC and abutting the Hinsdale Flats Wildlife Management AreaStatus: Complete


Thomas and Palmer Brook Conservation ProjectBerkshire Natural Resources CouncilLocation: Great BarringtonSummary: 219 acres of open space protected including 1,400 linear feet of frontage along Thomas and Palmer BrookStatus: Complete

Jug End Fen Conservation AreaMassachusetts Dept. of Fish and GameLocation: EgremontSummary: 59 acres of open space protected adjacent to the Jug End Fen Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and Wildlife Conservation Easement (WCE) and within the Karner Brook Watershed ACEC.Status: Complete


Parsons Marsh Conservation ProjectBerkshire Natural Resources CouncilLocation: LenoxSummary: 149 acres of open space protected at Parsons MarshStatus: Complete

Lime Kiln Farm Wildlife SanctuaryMass AudubonLocation: SheffieldSummary: 119 acres of open space protected near Barnum Street Swamp wetland complexStatus: Ongoing

Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Overview of Project Locations in the WatershedRound 1 - 3 Projects are located throughout the watershed including:

• Pittsfield• Great Barrington• West Stockbridge• Stockbridge• Sheffield• Lee• Lenox• Dalton• Hinsdale• Egremont• ...and multiple watershed-wide projects

Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Summary of Restoration BenefitsRound 1 - 3 Projects have resulted in:• 835 acres of habitat protected• >30 acres wetland habitat enhanced & restored• >87 acres riparian habitat enhanced & restored• 241 tons of waste removed• 2 miles of trails developed and enhanced• 487 stream crossings inventoried• >13,250 linear feet of river frontage protected• >15,000 native plants planted• 21 newly documented rare species occurrences• 4 enhanced public accesses to Housatonic River• 1 curriculum guide published for teachers• 18 trainings for offered for Conservation Commissions• >8,100 people participated in educational outreach &

public programming

Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Restoration Project PartnersThank you to the Rounds 1-3 Restoration Project Proponents and Project Partners including:• Berkshire Natural Resources Council• Berkshire Regional Planning Agency• City of Pittsfield• Great Barrington Land Conservancy• Housatonic Valley Association• Mass Audubon• Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, MassWildlife• Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration• Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program• Native Habitat Restoration• Project Native• The Trustees of Reservations• ESS Group• ...and over many more, including over 450 volunteers

NRD RESTORATIONFUNDING SUMMARY

Remaining NRD Restoration Program FundsTotal Funds Remaining in DOI Account $2,257,541

Committed Funds Not Yet Transferred to Projects (Rounds 1-3) $429,356

Contingency for Rounds 1-3 Projects $100,000

Projected Restoration Planning & Oversight $250,000

Projected Amount Remaining for Round 4 $1,478,185

NRD Restoration Funding Summary:Remaining Restoration Program Funding

ROUND 4

Round 4:BackgroundRestoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)• Planning document developed in 2005 that proposed the timing for funding rounds

and anticipated at least three rounds of funding spaced at least 2 years apart.• Stated that the solicitation for the final round of funding would be posted “after the

finalization of the Record of Decision [Remedy Decision] for the Rest of River reach of the Housatonic River” (anticipated to be approximately 2009) and reserved the right for the MA SubCouncil to adjust the timing for funding rounds.

Round 4 Planning• The timing of the Remedy Decision for the Rest of River Reach is significantly past the

date anticipated in the RPSP and remains uncertain.• Potential project proponents have expressed interest in proceeding with Round 4, and

the Trustees are interested in initiating remaining restoration as soon as possible.• In response to community interest and uncertainty regarding timing of the

Remedy Decision, the Trustees propose to initiate Round 4 Restoration Planning.

Round 4:Proposed ApproachTimeline• MA SubCouncil proposes to post the solicitation for Round 4 Restoration Project

proposals in 2018.

Eligible Restoration Projects for Round 4• Round 4 will solicit proposals in all 4 Restoration Priority Categories (similar to

Round 1), including:o Aquatic Biological Resources and Habitato Wildlife Resources and Habitato Recreational Uses, ando Environmental Education and Outreach

Final Round of Funding• Round 4 will be the final round of funding through the Massachusetts

Housatonic River Restoration Program.

Round 4:Next Steps and Approximate TimelineSolicitation and Selection of Round 4 Restoration Projects• Summer 2018: Grant Announcement and Application (GAA) released by MassDEP

soliciting proposals for Round 4 restoration projects

• Summer/Fall 2018: Applicant’s Conference

• Fall 2018: Proposal submittal deadline

• Winter 2019: Proposals evaluated by Grant Review Team

• Spring 2019: Announcement of MA SubCouncil Preferred Alternatives

• Summer 2019: Draft Round 4 RP/SEA released and Public Meeting

• Fall 2019: Final Round 4 RP/SEA

• Winter 2020: Begin Awarding Round 4 Grants

Additional Information:Restoration Program Planning Documents

Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include:• Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)• Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)• Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)• Rounds 1, 2, and 3 RP/SEAs

References are available at the Restoration Program Website:

www.ma-housatonicrestoration.org

http://www.ma-housatonicrestoration.org/

OPEN FORUM / Q&A