Looking Back, Planning Ahead: A Landmark Year for Conservation

Transcription

1 Dig deeper at nature.org/ctupdate fall 2012 Looking Back, Planning Ahead: A Landmark Year for Conservation special issue 2012 Year in Review

2 from the director 2012 Y Partners for Nature In Stonington, Connecticut, just minutes from the Rhode Island border, the waters of Anguilla Brook slip past clustered trees and tumble over weathered rocks. Named for Anguilla rostrata, the American eel, the brook was noteworthy to our scientists for two reasons: an unneeded century-old dam and the scarcity of its namesake species. For owners Bill and Linda Rutan, the dam had become a safety hazard, especially worrisome during heavy rains. When they partnered with us to remove the structure this summer (Page 4), they were surprised to learn their benefit from the project would be equaled by its benefit to nature increased fish passage, larger fish populations and, of course, the return of native eels. And that s the wonderful thing about conservation: No matter who you are, where you live or what you care about most, what s good for nature is good for people. As we look back in these pages on a year of great successes, I hope you feel a sense of pride in the crucial conservation you made possible. It is an honor to partner with you in caring for the natural world that sustains us, and I look forward to the next year of community and progress. Dr. Frogard Ryan, State Director Above: Frogard Ryan in Africa. f.ryan. At right: Infographic. mccabe, duval + associates. Cover: Protecting shorebird nests. c.chancellor. FRESH WATER We re ensuring there is clean water, enough water and connected habitat for aquatic species. LAND We care for our 14,000-acre preserve network while adding strategic new parcels. 215 INTERNATIONAL We share our expertise and resources with the world to help combat environmental problems abroad that will impact us here at home. 75 american elms resistant to Dutch elm disease planted at three sites to help restore elm populations, as well as the species and ecological processes they support 1, ,000 seedlings (native and invasive floodplain tree and shrub species) studied at Sunny Valley Preserve to learn how river flooding affects their survival hours put in by 240 volunteers on Saugatuck Forest Lands acres newly protected in Old Lyme (40 acres), Haddam (48 acres) and Thompson (124 acres) with the help of the Old Lyme Land Trust, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wyndham Land Trust acres of invasive phragmites treated through an Ecosystem Management and Habitat Restoration grant administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection $50,000 i n g r a n t f u n d i n g secured to help protect Brazil s Atlantic Forest and support the Plant a Billion Trees program 2 fall 2012

3 E A R I N R E V I E W Mattabesset River 30 american eels tagged and released in the Aspetuck Reservoir, then tracked as they headed downstream to better understand how they respond to manmade obstacles miles Anguilla Brook of river opened by dam removal and new fish ladders on Anguilla Brook 63miles and the Mattabesset River 1 st national blueway designation given to the Connecticut River by President Obama s America s Great Outdoors initiative for the river s national importance to conservation, recreation and education MARINE We re working with partners to protect habitats, restore water quality and help people and nature adapt to climate change local eelgrass plants analyzed in a study that identified excess nitrogen and warming ocean temperatures as the biggest regional threats to this important species 937 horseshoe crabs tagged in Fairfield to track their movement and preferred habitats Connecticut communities have gone through our climate preparedness planning process 200,000 i n f e d e r a l g r a n t f u n d i n g secured for coastal resilience to advance nature-friendly solutions, such as tidal marsh migration» conservative 60 m e m b e r s of Africa s Green Belt Movement took part in a Central Kenyan watershed management workshop led by our Connecticut conservation staff. The work is part of a larger effort to establish the first conservation water fund on the African continent ON the WEB» Delve deeper into our 2012 successes and discover what s next for Connecticut nature at nature.org/ctupdate. The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut nature.org/ctupdate 3

4 A Landmark Year : Fresh Water Letting Rivers Run Rivers are the lifeblood of New England powering our historical manufacturing industries, feeding our priceless commercial fisheries and shaping our communities. But for every hundred miles of stream that flow through our states, an average of seven dams and 106 roads interrupt the progress of millions of migratory fish that once used these rivers as superhighways. Since these dams were built (some more than 200 years ago), salmon, eels, sturgeon and river herring have all suffered population declines so precipitous that they ve been listed or proposed for federal endangered species protection. Connecticut is home to more than 5,000 dams, many of which are privately owned. A key focus of dam removal in the Nutmeg State is working with residential landowners to educate them about the danger of deteriorating dams and the benefits of removing dams that no longer serve their historical purpose was a landmark year for removing dams and restoring rivers to their natural states. With your support, we can continue to heal New England s waterways. Pushaw Pond Hudson, me The new fishway installed this fall at the entrance to Pushaw Pond, just 11 miles from the Penobscot River, will restore access for alewives. In time, the Pushaw run is expected to grow from zero to more than 1.3 million returning adult fish. Whittenton Pond Dam StanChem Dam Berlin, ct After more than 10 years of planning and negotiations, a fish ladder is scheduled to be installed this fall that will open 50 miles of the Mattabesset River and its tributaries to migrating fish. See more details, far right. Hartford Rutan Dam Stonington, ct The Anguilla Brook is flowing free for the first time in nearly a century, following an August dam removal that benefits both native brook trout and the river s namesake eels. Stone from the dam is being recycled to create a pool-and-weir fishway downstream that will open additional river miles. Boston taunton, ma By spring 2013, we ll start removing the Mill River dam that infamously failed during storms in 2005, prompting the evacuation of a nearby neighborhood and drawing national attention to the risks of aging dams. 4 fall 2012

5 Veazie Dam bangor, me Just downriver from Great Works, this dam removal, slated to begin in summer 2013, will advance the Penobscot River Restoration Project. Great Works Dam old town, me This summer saw removal of this first dam in the larger Penobscot River Restoration Project, which will help return tens of thousands of migrating alewives, eels and salmon to Maine s largest watershed. Hopewell Mills Dam taunton, ma Removal of this dam in August will help restore river herring passage to the Mill River, a tributary of one of the longest undammed rivers in the region, the Taunton. Viewing the dam removal and fish passage work in Connecticut alongside similar projects across New England reveals an inspiring picture of regional renewal. 50 Miles of New Habitat After a decade of work, a new fish ladder aids species on the Mattabesset While our primary goal, dam removal isn t always possible. For example, in the case of the StanChem Dam on the Mattabesset River, landowners use the reservoir created by the dam for emergency fire suppression. Instead of removing the dam, Sally Harold, the Conservancy s director of migratory fish projects, is working ON the WEB» See a video on fish ladder construction and meet Sally at nature.org/ ctupdate. with StanChem to install a fish ladder that, starting this fall, will allow shad and herring to bypass the structure. The StanChem project is unique not only for its impact opening 50 miles of prime upstream habitat but also for its long history, which has spanned 10 years of working with multiple landowners and partner agencies. Above: New England map. D.COKER/tnC. Top right: Sally Harold stands above the StanChem Dam S.fItzpatRICK. Lower right: Sally Harold C.Chancellor. Sally points out plans for the fish ladder at StanChem. S.fItzpatRICK.

6 A Landmark Year : People & Nature We earth day Picnic for the Planet Bikers Elm Planting with DEEP People & Nature Our conservation work is centered on people, and 2012 brought exciting new connections that will help our efforts grow. State Director Frogard Ryan, planting disease-resistant elm trees with Susan Frechette, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. F.Maglione/tnC. Community dialogue on climate preparedness at a coastal resilience workshop in Bridgeport, Connecticut. A.Whelchel/tnC. Our team of riders raised more than $20,000 for Long Island Sound, thanks to supporters donations and a matching grant from team captain and trustee Todd Miranowski. F.Maglione/tnC. Green Belt Movement staff Rueben N duati taking part in a watershed conservation workshop led by local Conservancy scientists. H.DRInkuth/tnC. Four Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future (leaf) summer interns and their mentor, on a sustainable shellfishing expedition in Long Island Sound. C.Chancellor/tnC. Climate Workshop Our LEAF interns Watershed Conservation in Kenya Notebook graphic with frames. istockphoto.com/hatman12; Tickets. istockphoto.com/onurdongel. 6 fall 2012

7 A L andmark Year : Conservation Across Borders con N ecticut n ews Published by The Nature Conservancy, 55 Church Street, 3rd floor, New Haven, CT 06510, ( 203) TR USTE ES John Levinson, Chair Jason G. Cahilly, Vice Chair J. Michael Sconyers, Esq., Vice Chair John A. Zaro III, Treasurer Frances Ashley Peter J. Auster, Ph.D. Leigh A. Bonney W. Michael Brown Michael J. Donnelly, Esq. James H. Heym, Ph.D. David Jaffe Bruce Kenyon John Todd Miranowski Sen. William H. Nickerson Alanna Rathbone Allen Rosenshine R. Scott Warren, Ph.D. Sarah Kimberly Welch Michael L. Zea Wilbur Araujo (Yale Board Fellow) Paull Randt (Yale Board Fellow) Locations Maine New Hampshire Massachusetts Rhode Island New York Washington, D.C. Florida Puerto Rico Iowa New Mexico Oregon Washington Delaware Bay Potomac River Upper Mississippi River Great Lakes Colorado River Colombia (Magdalena River) Brazil China (Shanghai) Indonesia Kenya (Aberdares Region) New Zealand (Auckland) NEWsletter design McCabe, Duval + Assoc. COR R ECTION In a previous publication, two labels in an eelgrass graphic were reversed. The graph should have shown that water with lower organic matter results in more eelgrass shoots. We regret the error. Pr i nti ng Printed on 80% recycled (including 30% PCW), process chlorine-free paper, creating the following benefits: 16.1 trees preserved for the future 46.7 lbs. waterborne waste not created lbs. solid waste not generated 1,495 lbs. net greenhouse gases prevented You are HERE Conservation across BoRDers From across the Northeast to across the globe, The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut shares new strategies and staff expertise with developing programs that protect some of the world s most important natural resources. Thanks to you, we ve been able to make a difference in the following places in the last 12 months MRCE CTFall12_2 The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut nature.org/ctupdate 7

8 The Nature Conservancy 55 Church Street, Floor 3 New Haven, Connecticut NON PRofIT ORG U.S. Postage paid Eureka, mo Permit #101 Your is enclosed Dig deeper and stay connected online: nature.org/ctupdate facebook.com/ct.natureconservancy in this issue» Discover the best of Connecticut nature in 2012 All photos. f.maglione.