Conservation Commission Hearing

13 Oct, 2011 Author: Glorianna Davenport

On Tuesday, September 27,  we presented our request to the Plymouth Conservation Commissionmake to make the drawdown of the former reservoir (a.k.a. Beaver Dam Pond) permanent. In this effort, we were well represented by Alex Hackman, the restoration specialist from Mass Fish and Wildlife, Division of Ecological Restoration who is coordinating our technical team for engineering design and permitting of the restoration effort. Approximately 22 people, most of whom are abutters, attended the session to listen to proceedings and voice their concerns. Their concerns have been document on video and will help inform our process as we move into engineering-design phase of the restoration. Susan Robinson, a PHD candidate at Georgia Tech, joined us for this meeting and, using a new mobile application, began what will be an on-going study of views about this project. Susan will be posting a synopsis of her findings on this blog later this fall.  We encourage anyone who would like to receive updates, to express their views, or to act as a volunteer on the project to register at our site, tidmarshfarms.com, under “contact us” or “volunteer”.

Birding with Darcy and Ryan

21 Sep, 2011 Author: Glorianna Davenport

This past Sunday I went birding for the first time with my friends, Darcy and Ryan. They brought their spotting scope, better binoculars than I have, and their fantastic experience in learning to spot and identify birds in the bush or in flight. Walking, pausing, looking for life in the trees and sky gave me a new appreciation for the property. The pace is so gentle, entirely different from walking to get from here to there. Our walk began at the farm-stand; from there we followed the river, stayed to the west side of the 13 acre, climbed the island, and then followed its eastern edge.We crossed between the 35 acre and the 32 acre, then circled the grassy knoll where we admired a pair of Whimbrel! A beautiful species. A one moment walking toward the dam on the eastern edge of the 14 acre, 3 blue herons took flight. We then followed the eastern edge of the headwater area admiring many goldfinches. Returning home through the woods, a black otter surprised us as he moved himself into the safety of the understory. In all we managed to identify 25 species. Many thanks for the great introduction.

Moving Along

21 Aug, 2011 Author: Glorianna Davenport

The Tidmarsh Farms/Beaver Dam Brook restoration project has gained significant momentum with the award of 3 grants that will be used for Engineering Design and Permitting. The project, which includes 2 dam removals on Beaver Dam Brook, will restore about 3.5 miles of stream and 250 acres of coastal wetlands to a more natural state, allowing fish to migrate from the ocean to their headwaters and stream-side forests to grow.

The grants were awarded by:

American Rivers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center to Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration, $75,000.

The Gulf of Maine Council (GOMC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Habitat Restoration Grant Program to Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration, $80,000.

The Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET), which is funded by the sales of environmental license plates, to American Rivers, $75,000.

Tidmarsh Farms would like to thank our partners, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration, American Rivers, Gulf of Maine Council (GOMC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) for their support.