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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: thomas.potter@state.ma.usphone: (617) 292-5628
Molly Sperduto, USFWSTrustee Representativefor the DOI / USFWSU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service70 Commercial Street, Suite 300Concord, NH 03301email: Molly_sperduto@fws.govphone: (603) 227-6415
Dave Cameron, MassDEPState Trustee Representative AlternateMassachusetts Department ofEnvironmental Protection,Western Regional Office436 Dwight Street, Suite 500Springfield, Massachusetts 01103email: david.cameron@state.ma.usphone: (413) 7552138
Andrew Major, USFWSDOI / USFWS Representative AlternateU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service70 Commercial Street, Suite 300Concord, NH 03301email: Andrew_major@fws.govphone: (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
Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 1 Projects (con’t)
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
Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 1 Projects (con’t)
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
Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 1 Projects (con’t)
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
Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 2 Projects
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
Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 2 Projects (con’t)
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
Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 3 Projects
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
Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 3 Projects
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
Rounds 1-3 of the Restoration Program:Round 3 Projects (con’t)
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
OPEN FORUM / Q&A
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