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| This week in conservation September 8 - 14, 2008 |
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| Calendar | |||||||||
| Nature Tours | |||||||||
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| Guided Kayak Tour | |||||||||
 Mon, Sept. 8, Guided Kayak Tour begins at Felix Neck at 10 a.m. for ages 11 and up with an adult. Cost is $35 or $28 for Mass Audubon members. Registration required; call 508-627-4850. |
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| Marine Discovery Tour of Oak Bluffs Harbor | |||||||||
 Mon, Sept 8, Marine Discovery Tour of Oak Bluffs Harbor with Felix Neck 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Also Thursdays. For ages 4 and up. Cost is $40, $30 for Mass Audubon members, $4 for children 8 and under. Registration required, call 508-627-4850. |
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| KAYAK QUEST | |||||||||
 Mon, Sept 8, KAYAK QUEST, Felix Neck Sanctuary, Monday—Friday thru the month of Sept., times vary- Enjoy Sengekontacket at your own pace on this self-guided tour. On your Quest discover the pond’s people, places, and wildlife and find the hidden Quest box. Kayaks, paddles, lifejackets, and Quest materials are all included. Call for availability 508-627-4850 Fee: $30M, $40NM per boat (all equipment included) |
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| Creature Feature: Scallops | |||||||||
 Tues, Sept 9, Creature Feature: Scallops kid's program includes story, craft, and live creatures from 10 to 11 a.m. at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary for ages 3 to 5 with a parent or friend. Cost is $9, $6 for members. For details, call 508-627-4850. |
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| WILD WEDNESDAY – Seaweed | |||||||||
| Wed, Sept 10, WILD WEDNESDAY – Seaweed, Felix Neck Sanctuary 10:00 -11:00 Come and meet the natives! Martha’s Vineyard has an exciting array of native flora and fauna; join us each week as we highlight different island species. Fee: $6M, $9NM per child For children ages 5 and up with an adult. |
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| Friends of Sengekontacket have their annual meeting | |||||||||
 Wed, Sept 10, Friends of Sengekontacket have their annual meeting at 9:30 a.m. at the Rod and Gun Club. For details, call 508-693-9629. |
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| DOWN BY THE SHORE | |||||||||
| Wed, Sept 10, DOWN BY THE SHORE, Felix Neck Sanctuary,1:00 – 2:30 pm Learn about some amazing creatures of the sea. Take a short walk to a protected beach, where you will explore shallow waters with nets. Wear clothes and shoes that can get wet. Fee: $6M, $9NM per person- For adults and children of all ages. |
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| Wastewater Treatment Workshop Series | |||||||||
 Wed, Sept 11, Wastewater Treatment Workshop Series - On September 11 from 9:00 a.m. to noon, the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold the workshop Centralized Wastewater Treatment: Sewer Systems, the third in a series of free monthly workshops on comprehensive wastewater management planning for municipal officials (Wastewater Committees, Planning Boards, Health Boards, Conservation Commissions, and Public Works) and consultants. Centralized wastewater treatment is a primary method to tackle with excess nitrogen loads from wastewater sources on Cape Cod. This workshop will provide up-to-date information on the different types of sewers available, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how to choose between the various options. Registration is required. |
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| GUIDED KAYAK TOUR | |||||||||
| Fri, Sept 12, GUIDED KAYAK TOUR, Felix Neck Sanctuary, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Join a naturalist on a kayak around Sengekontacket Pond. We’ll see a variety of birds on Sarson’s Island and in the salt marsh as we learn about the nature of this coastal salt pond. Fee: $28M, $35NM per person Ages: 11 and up with an adult Registration required. |
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| Serene and Sensuous Plants for the Garden | |||||||||
 Fri, Sept 12, Serene and Sensuous Plants for the Garden, Polly Hill Arboretum, 7:30pm at the Far Barn. Ferns, mosses, and grasses are the canvas on which nature paints its portraits. Whether it is a lush forest floor, boggy carpet, or rustling prairie, these plants create a subtle backdrop for nature’s showier offerings. Join William Cullina, curator of the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, for a visual tour of some of his favorite native ferns, mosses, and grasses. He will also share ideas for using these plants in our own gardens to create a level of sophistication unmatched by any flowers. Cullina is an award-winning author of several popular books including his newly published Native Ferns, Moss & Grasses: From Emerald Carpet to Amber Wave, Serene and Sensuous Plants |
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| Wee Farmers on The FARM | |||||||||
 Sat, Sept 13, Wee Farmers on The FARM, The FARM Institute will offer three Saturday sessions this fall for tots (ages 2 to 4) on September 13th; September 20th & October 11th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Sign-up for one or all three. Each Wee Farmer session will offer a different garden and/or animal focus. Cost is $15 per session with a parent. Space is limited so register today to avoid disappointment. Call 508 627-7007x106 or visit www.farminstitute.org to learn more about what’s on The FARM. The FARM Institute is located at Katama Farm in Edgartown, 14 Aero Avenue. |
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| Plant Sale and Seed Workshop | |||||||||
 Sat, Sept 13, Plant Sale and Seed Workshop Stop by for our annual fall plant sale. Arboretum staff have chosen and grown plants that are noted for their superior ornamental qualities and their adaptability to Island conditions. Staff will be on hand to help you with your selections. We will have Island natives, ornamental trees, choice shrubs, and fall-blooming perennials. Growing Wildflowers from Seed, 9am - noon Growing plants from seed was Polly Hill’s passion: she loved observing the process of growth from seed to mature plant. Join William Cullina, curator of the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, to learn how to collect, process, and grow your own wildflowers from seed. Please pre-register, space is limited to 12. $40/$35 for PHA members. |
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| Say it’s just a dandelion | |||||||||
| Sun, Sept 14, Say it’s just a dandelion, Felix Neck Sanctuary, 1:00 - 2:30 pm Join author, teacher/naturalist, and plant enthusiast Hilary Hopkins for a walk around the Sanctuary . Hilary is known for her enthusiasm and she guarantees you’ll have a good time, and that you’ll look at dandelions--or any other plant--with new eyes. Fee: $6M, $9NM per person. |
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| PADDLE BY MOONLIGHT | |||||||||
 Sun, Sept 14, PADDLE BY MOONLIGHT, Felix Neck Sanctuary, 6:30—8:30 pm See the moon rise over Sengekontacket Pond as we kayak under the full moon. Fee: $32M, $38NM per person Ages 11 and up with an adult. Registration required. |
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| Save The Date | |||||||||
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| Wee Farmers on The FARM |
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| Wee Farmers on The FARM, The FARM Institute will offer three Saturday sessions this fall for tots (ages 2 to 4) on September 13th; September 20th & October 11th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Sign-up for one or all three.Each Wee Farmer session will offer a different garden and/or animal focus. Developed to engage young eaters in fresh food and how it gets to their table, little ones with their caregiver will join farmer/teacher Mary Baker on The FARM to harvest, cook, eat & visit the animals with leftover treats. Cost is $15 per session with a parent. Space is limited so register today to avoid disappointment. Call 508 627-7007x106 or visit www.farminstitute.org to learn more about what’s on The FARM. The FARM Institute is located at Katama Farm in Edgartown, 14 Aero Avenue. The FARM Institute is a non-profit teaching farm whose mission is to education children and adults about sustainable agriculture through the efforts of a diverse working farm. | |||||||||
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| Announcement | |||||||||
| Volunteers needed |
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Volunteers needed for the Living Local Harvest Fest event at the new Ag Hall on September 27th please call Signe at VCS 508-693-9588. |
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| Grant Opportunities | |||||||||
| StormSmart Coasts Technical Assistance - This fall CZM will be seeking coastal cities and towns that are interested in becoming host communities for StormSmart Coasts (SSC) implementation. Communities will be asked to commit to working with CZM to choose, apply, and implement a minimum of two SSC tools and strategies to achieve local floodplain management goals. CZM is looking for host communities from various regions of the coastline and with varying levels of community technical capacity. The host communities will be models that provide an example for all other Commonwealth communities to move forward with SSC. CZM will provide technical assistance, planning, guidance, and individualized outreach materials. The effort will be headed by Daniella Hirschfield, CZM’s NOAA Coastal Management Fellow (see CZM Staff & People above). For details, contact andrea.cooper@state.ma.us. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants - The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is inviting communities to submit applications for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grants. These competitive grants are available to assist communities with hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of hazard mitigation projects prior to a disaster. Applications are due by November 21. |
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| MVTV | |||||||||
| ‘Edgartown Great Pond 2008’ |
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| Be Prepared! | |||||||||
| Hazard Training for Local Officials |
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| Island Plan Update | |||||||||
| Martha's Vineyard Commission growth forum raises many questions, provides few answers |
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| Wind Update | |||||||||
| Wind Energy Bumps Into Power Grid’s Limits |
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 When the builders of the Maple Ridge Wind farm spent $320 million to put nearly 200 wind turbines in upstate New York, the idea was to get paid for producing electricity. But at times, regional electric lines have been so congested that Maple Ridge has been forced to shut down even with a brisk wind blowing.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/ business/27grid.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin |
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| Transportation Update | |||||||||
| Want a Better Way to Power Your Car? It's a Breeze. |
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| Water Update | |||||||||
| Biologists Identify Algae as Invader Threatening Pond |
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| Smelly algae crowd into prime pond on Vineyard |
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| A stinking apron of green algae is clinging to the shores of Edgartown Great Pond this summer, a mysterious ropey bloom that poses problems for small boats and that is a sign of disruptions in the pond's sensitive ecosystem. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/ 2008/09/02/smelly_algae_crowd_into_prime_pond_on_vineyard/ |
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| Climate Change Update | |||||||||
| Canada's Arctic ice shelves break apart, drift away |
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| Industry groups file lawsuit over polar bear rule |
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| WASHINGTON - Five industry groups have sued the Interior Department over a rule to protect the polar bear that they say unfairly singles out business operations in Alaska for their contribution to global warming. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26445489/ |
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 Email Subscription InformationThe Almanac is provided as a public service by the Vineyard Conservation Society with the intent of providing quick and easy access to the Island's government process and environmental community. You are recieving this free email service because you have subscribed to the Vineyard Conservation Almanac. More information about island conservation issues, meetings and events can be viewed at http://almanac.vcsmv.org. If you do not wish to continue receiving these emails please click here to unsubscribe. Thank you for subscribing to the Almanac! |
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Have ideas for content for the Almanac? Please send them along to: |
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Martha’s Vineyard is blessed with a wondrous group of coastal ponds that rim the entire Island. From Squibnocket Pond on the western shore to Pocha Pond in the east, these special natural resources offer fishing, shell fishing, water sports and natural beauty. As a group, they represent the Vineyard’s greatest environmental asset. The tourism and shell fishing industries, as well as property values, also depend on healthy ponds and points out the natural linkage between the economy and the environment when it comes to their protection.
The lights in Boston's tallest office buildings will be turned off tonight at 11 as part of a two-month-long city initiative to conserve electricity by darkening familiar silhouettes such as the Hancock building and Prudential Tower. 
Mon, Sept 8, Nature Tours with The Trustees of Reservations on Chappaquiddick are offered daily, including Fishing Discovery tours, Cape Pogue Natural History, Lighthouse or Quest tours. For details and reservations, call 508-627-3599. 
Witness the algae bloom which has taken over 90% of the pond. Channel 13, Monday Sept. 8 at 6:30 PM and Wednesday Sept. 10 at 8:30 PM
A community can improve its ability to prepare for and respond to storm events by taking advantage of available training for municipal officials. The following is a list of some of the best sources for (generally free) training. 
The good news is that Martha's Vineyard's water supply is ample to meet the Island's needs for many years. The bad news is that without creative, imaginative planning, thousands of new homes and buildings will further affect the Island's lifestyle. 
Legendary Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens is half right. We do need to harness this country's wind resources for a homegrown source of electricity, as he has been urging this summer in expensive television ads. And we do need to reduce the $700 billion we may soon be paying annually for imported oil. But part two of Pickens's plan -- to move natural gas out of electricity production and use it to fuel cars instead -- just doesn't make sense. 
Were it not for the smell, you might mistake the light, fibrous, grayish stuff in Bob Woodruff’s shed for the material they make egg cartons from. But the low-tide aroma is the giveaway. What we have here is dried slime. Or, more correctly, dried algae of the species Enteromorpha clathrata, which this summer grew in unprecedented profusion over much of the Edgartown Great Pond. 
OTTAWA (AFP) — Two ice shelves in Canada's far north have lost massive sections since August while a third ice shelf now is adrift in the Arctic Ocean, said researchers Wednesday who blamed climate change.