Learn more about conservation via these informative workshops and webinars.

Trout Unlimited, the US Forest Service and the US Fish & Wildlife Service are hosting 2 events in March focused on stream restoration, flood resiliency, disaster preparedness and post-disaster best management practices. The purpose of these events is to provide stream restoration education to highway administrators, planning professionals, local and state decision makers, and others who make decisions on the ground pre- and post-disaster. Here are some event details:

Event 1: An Introduction to Basic Stream and River Functions

  • Meeting Type: Webinar
  • Date: March 1, 2017
  • Time: 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm EST
  • RSVP by: February 22, 2017
  • Please register via the ReadyTalk platform at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/h7w6om5i53ot&eom Webinar details will follow registration.
  • Click here for additional information.
  • This webinar is meant to be an introduction to the topics that will be covered in the Workshop (see below for more information), and is recommended for those who plan to attend the Workshop, or those who simply wish to learn about streams and rivers, and their relation to infrastructure.
  • Cost: Free!

Event 2: Flood Resiliency & Stream Restoration Workshop

  • Meeting Type: In-Person Workshop
  • Date: March 8, 2017
  • Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm EST
  • Location: US Fish & Wildlife Service – Northeast Regional Office, Hadley, MA
  • RSVP by: February 22, 2017
  • Please register by replying to this email with your first and last name, email, and affiliation. Workshop registration is limited to 80 attendees.
  • Additional information is provided here .
  • The workshop will consist of informational presentations in the morning and early afternoon, followed by an afternoon Q&A session between audience members and presenters. Directions and agenda will follow.
  • Cost: Free! Breakfast and lunch also provided at no cost.

Continuing Education Credits:
· TU is currently in communication with the American Public Works Association (APWA) on how we can partner on these events so that we may offer highway managers, public work officials, etc. continuing education credits. We’ll follow up this email once we’ve confirmed we can offer education credits.
· TU is also pursuing being able to offer continuing education credits for Certified Floodplain Managers through the Association of State Floodplain Managers. We’ll follow up on this as well.

Funding for these events has been provided by the US Department of the Interior and US Fish & Wildlife via a Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Grant, and the US Forest Service.

Save The Date: March 18 – Mass. Div. of Fish and Wildlife Forum

Learn about the resources that MassWildlife has to contribute to coldwater fisheries resource management and habitat protection and hear highlights of the cooperative efforts between MassWildlife and Trout Unlimited. This is a morning meeting that will conclude by early afternoon. Registration information and agenda to follow.

Save The Date: March 25 – Mass. Land Trust Coalition Conference

A Conversation with E. O. Wilson
MLTC is pleased to announce that Edward Osborne Wilson, usually cited as E. O. Wilson, an American biologist, researcher, theorist, naturalist and author will be the Plenary speaker at the 2017 Mass Land Conservation Conference, scheduled for Saturday, March 25 at the Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, MA. Learn more about E. O. Wilson here .

Low head Dam Removal Resources

The U.S. Army Corps recently issued a new nationwide permit to streamline the review process for low head dam removal . Similarly, a new Environmental Protection Agency FAQs on dam removal was released with very useful information to guide dam removal permitting conversations and processes.