The North Street Neighborhood Association recently engaged Hyla Ecological Services to compare Northampton’s new wetlands buffer zones to those found elsewhere in Massachusetts. As a refresher, here are the buffer zones in Northampton (Municipal Code, Chapter 337-10-E-2). Note the multiple zoning districts where encroachment to within 10 feet is permitted: The City’s general policy is […]
Wetlands
Mike Kirby: “The Meadowbrook Chronicles Part One”
We are pleased to reprint the latest article by Mike Kirby, former city councilor. You can also find it on his blog, Kirby on the Loose. The Meadowbrook story has many important facets. Of particular interest to us are the consequences that can follow from building homes near wetlands.The Meadowbrook Chronicles Part OneFor some time, […]
Conservation Commission Approves LEC Vernal Pool Assessment; No Pools To Be Certified
Last summer, Northampton’s Conservation Commission voted to request vernal pool assessment on Kohl Construction’s property off North Street. Vernal pools are rare and fragile environments that enjoy special protection in Northampton’s Wetlands Ordinance.This spring, Kohl hired LEC Environmental Consultants to determine if his vernal pools merited certification. This work was monitored by Hyla Ecological Services, a […]
Habitat Loss and Pollution Pummel Amphibians
Giving wetlands their space is crucial to easing environmental pressures on amphibians. Defenders Magazine reports on the current state of affairs: Slipping Away: Frogs, salamanders and other amphibians are sliding into oblivion (Spring 2008) …It’s not just the colorful, exotic rainforest species that are disappearing, but also the common frogs, toads, newts and salamanders that […]
Water, Water Everywhere: A Forum on Water Issues in Northampton, May 15
It is our pleasure to publicize these announcements from the Ward Three Neighborhood Association… Water, Water Everywhere A forum on water issues in Northampton JFK Middle School Community Room 100 Bridge Road, Florence Thursday, May 15th 6:30-8:30 pm Free and Open to the Public The Northampton Department of Public Works and the Ward Three Neighborhood […]
Gazette: “Changes predicted for Connecticut River”
An article in the April 10 Gazette suggests that trees and wetlands will be increasingly important in the years ahead to moderate wet and dry periods and preserve water quality in the Connecticut River watershed… Changes predicted for Connecticut River “…Typically, we see precipitation held as snow throughout much of New England in winter, and […]
Video Guide: Certifying a Vernal Pool in Massachusetts
On April 12, Northampton’s Broad Brook Coalition hosted a presentation and nature walk by Heather Ruel of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Heather presented this 15-minute video on vernal pools and their certification in Massachusetts, then led a tour through vernal pools in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. According to Broad Brook, “Vernal pools […]
Just Released: Planner’s Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments
The Environmental Law Institute has just made available a Planner’s Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments as a free 25-page PDF download. This survey of today’s buffer management regimes holds several lessons for Northampton. Among them, the 10-foot buffer zones in our new Wetlands Ordinance are extremely narrow. Buffer zones in ELI’s survey range […]
Polluted Runoff Helps Trash Two Ponds in South Hadley
As The Sustainable Sites Initiative reports, pollution from water runoff is no joke. “Contaminated stormwater runoff from developed land is the leading cause of water quality problems[23] and accounts for 70 percent of water pollution in urban areas.[29] Runoff from developed areas can contain oil, grease, excessive nutrients, pathogens (e.g., E. coli, hepatitis A), persistent […]
Vernal Pool Assessment Protocol for Wetlands Off North Street
Here are excerpts from the Vernal Pool Assessment Protocol (PDF, 204KB) prepared by LEC Environmental Consultants for Kohl Construction. Kohl needs to assess the probable vernal pools on its property off North Street before attempting to proceed with its plans to build 26 condo units in the area. Northampton’s Conservation Commission approved this protocol on […]