Vineyard Conservation Almanac

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In This Issue:

Local News:
Partners In Conservation;
GROW A VINEYARD LAWN

Feature:
Everything you always wanted to know about the Waxman-Markey energy/climate bill—in bullet points

Calendar:
Public Hearing;
Landscape History of Martha’s Vineyard;
Toddler Time;
More...

Save The Date:
New Views of Ocean Life at the VCS Annual Meeting;
Australia's Undersea Mysteries - The Great Barrier Reef to Tasmania

Announcement:
Environmental Science Research Grant;
EEA Launches Climate Change Advisory Committee (C-Z Mail)

Grants:
Conservation Partnership Grants

Job Opportunity:
Coastal Scientist

MV Commission Update:
Ocean Management Plan Coming Soon;
Ocean Planning Process Continues (from C-Z Mail);
Agriculture and Food Self-Sufficiency (MVC)

Island Plan Update:
Island Plan Steering Committee

Energy Update:
Green Promise Seen in Switch to LED Lighting

Sustainable Update:
Island Grown Initiative reports: Ethnic Crop Sales;
With green home venture, Sierra Club mixes profits with passion

Climate Change Update:
MELTING ICE COULD LEAD TO MASSIVE WAVES OF CLIMATE REFUGEES

Environmental Education Update:
Paul Hawken's Commencement Address to the Class of 2009 University of Portland

Wind Update:
Cape Wind is Moving Ahead

Water Update:
Eelgrass Makes A Comeback In Katama Bay

LOCAL NEWS

Partners In Conservation

VCS will strengthen its business membership program this Summer. This undertaking is called Partners in Conservation, and its objective is to engage the Island business community in the work of VCS.

Membership as a VCS Partner will signal an individual business’ commitment to environmental protection and conservation through support of VCS initiatives and programs. The satisfaction of being a supporter of the Island’s environmental community is the primary benefit of Partners in Conservation membership. But there are other benefits as well. VCS will recognize participating business through listings and website links on our new website and in our Newsletters. Participants will also receive an attractive Partners in Conservation window decal and certificate of membership for display to the public.

Visit our website at www.vineyardconservation.org to learn more about the Partners in Conservation program.

GROW A VINEYARD LAWN
By Geraldine Brooks, VCS Board Member

“When I moved to Vineyard Haven, I inherited a ‘junkie’ lawn that had been shot up twice a year with toxic chemicals. It also had been flooded twice a day in summer with gallons of precious drinking water from an over-the-top sprinkler system which mostly served to water the pavement, and unlucky pedestrians. There were no earthworms anywhere, and the soil had no texture. It took two years for organic methods to bring back the microbes and earthworms, and the lawn, during that time of “withdrawal,” was a sorry sight. But patience pays. By year three I had a diverse, low-maintenance Vineyard lawn where my kids and dogs can safely frolic. And last June, the lightning bugs came back.”

-Geraldine Brooks

Imagine mowing much less frequently, saving gallons of water, and not needing lawn care chemicals... Go to the Sustainable section for the rest of the article

Feature

Everything you always wanted to know about the Waxman-Markey energy/climate bill—in bullet points
June 3, 2009
by Kate Sheppard

You keep hearing about the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill—aka the American Clean Energy and Security Act, ACES, H.R. 2454—but what’s actually in it? We combed through the 946-page beast so you don’t have to.

Here are the highlights of the bill, which is sponsored by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and was passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on May 21.

http://www.grist.org/article/
2009-06-03-waxman-markey-bill-breakdown/

Laundry Tips
Many people assume that they’re getting extra cleaning power by washing in hot water, but in most cases washing clothes in cold water is just as effective as washing clothes in hot water.*Hot water is sometimes beneficial when you’re trying to remove oily stains or sanitize heavily soiled items, but otherwise wears out clothes quickly, causing them to fade, stretch, and wrinkle. *Always wait to wash until you have a full load *Spin clothes at high speeds-- this will reduce the time needed to dry your clothes in an electric dryer. *Use a drying rack or clothesline rather than an electric dryer whenever possible. *If purchasing a clothes washer, choose one certified by ENERGY STAR®; you may cut energy use by a third and water use by half. You may also be eligible for a rebate.

Courtesy of the Harvard Office for Sustainability

Calendar

Public Hearing

Mon, June 8, Public Hearing 2 pm, Chilmark Town Hall. Advisory board of M.V. Land Bank discusses draft management plan for Quansoo Preserve.

Landscape History of Martha’s Vineyard

Wed, June 10, Landscape History of Martha’s Vineyard, Polly Hill Arboretum 7:30pm at the Far Barn, Every landscape is shaped by the historical interaction between humans and the natural environment. Understanding this history provides strong guidance for both land management and conservation planning. Join David Foster, forest ecologist and director of the Harvard Forest, to learn more about the landscape history of Martha’s Vineyard and nearby coastal islands. He will draw on many sources to reveal the historical factors shaping the Vineyard landscape over the past thousand years. Foster will also discuss ways that knowledge of our landscape history can guide future conservation efforts. This lecture sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts.$10/$5 for PHA members.

Toddler Time

Wed, June 10, Toddler Time, 10 a.m. to noon at Native Earth Teaching Farm, 94 North Road in Chilmark, with animal visits and farm crafts. Weather permitting. For details, call 508-645-3304 or see nativeearthteachingfarm.org.

GUIDED KAYAK TOUR

Fri, June 12, 19, & 26, GUIDED KAYAK TOUR, Felix Neck Sanctuary, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Join a naturalist on an exciting kayak adventure. Travel by Sarson’s Island to see nesting shorebirds. Watch American oystercatchers, cormorants and yellowlegs feed and frolic. Enter the salt marsh and search for great blue herons and egrets. All trips focus on the natural history of saltwater communities found on Martha’s Vineyard. Registration required. Fee: $28 Members, $35Non Member per person, Ages 11 and up with an adult 508.627.4850.

Planter Box Workshop

Sat, June 13, Planter Box Workshop, Polly Hill Arboretum, 9am–noon Once again Janice Shields of Cut It Out will be at the Arboretum for one of her popular workshops. This year participants will build a rustic planter box. This structure is designed to hold container plants and features a trellis to accommodate climbing plants. Janice has been designing and building rustic furniture using recycled wood products and invasive species for more than ten years. Janice will provide the wood and instruction; you provide the energy to create your one-of-a kind planter. $95/$85 for PHA members. Please pre-register; space is limited. Tool list provided upon registration.

Save The Date

New Views of Ocean Life at the VCS Annual Meeting

New Views of Ocean Life the Census of Marine Life is the most ambitious program in the history of marine biology and you will have a chance to preview it at the VCS Annual Meeting this year. The Census of Marine Life began in the year 2000 and involves thousands of scientists from more than 80 nations. The program will report the first census of marine life in October 2010.

Jesse Ausubel, co-founder of the program and VCS Board member will preview some of the major findings and discoveries of the program, which span diversity, distribution, and abundance, from microbes to mammals. The presentation will include still and moving images of the astonishing beauty of ocean life.

Click here to visit Census of Marine Life website

The VCS Annual Meeting will be held on June 30, at 5:30 p.m. at the Wakeman Conservation Center; a light dinner will be served. Call VCS for information 508 693 9588

Australia's Undersea Mysteries - The Great Barrier Reef to Tasmania

Thursday June 25, 2009
6:30 PM until 8:00 PM

Join us for a photo and video presentation of Michael Wooley's undersea imagery highlighting the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania. It will be a fascinating evening of Sea Dragons, Walking Cucumbers, Lionfish, Sea Snakes, Sharks and more!

Michael Wooley is a local artist, swim instructor, and diving enthusiast. This will be the third adventure/educational undersea program he has offered at the library, featuring all new footage of some of the world's most interesting inhabitants of our undersea world. Location: Meeting Room, Refreshments will be served!

Announcement

Environmental Science Research Grant (ESRG)

EDGARTOWN, Mass.— The Vermont Institute of Natural Science and the Student Conservation Association (SCA) have awarded Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary an Environmental Science Research Grant (ESRG). This grant is intended to support field research in the conservation, biological, and ecological sciences, and to support the growth of environmental science research as a whole. This grant provides funding for a SCA Conservation Intern to work on wildlife research projects led by Mass Audubon scientists, including horseshoe crab monitoring, odonate (dragonfly and damselfly) inventories, and breeding bird and salamander surveys.

Zoe Turcotte, from Lisbon Falls, Maine, will be the Ecological Science Intern for Felix Neck for the summer of 2009.

Citizen science depends on the research of dedicated volunteers working to generate natural history data to further our knowledge of the natural world. The citizen science projects at Felix Neck provide exciting opportunities for volunteers. For more information on becoming involved in any of these projects, contact Mass Audubon’s Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary at 508.627.4850.

EEA Launches Climate Change Advisory Committee (C-Z Mail)

In response to the Global Warming Global Warming Solutions Act, EEA Secretary Ian Bowles has appointed a Climate Change Advisory Committee, which will begin work on June 4 to analyze strategies for adapting to the predicted impacts of climate change in Massachusetts. The committee includes representatives with expertise in: transportation and built infrastructure; commercial, industrial, and manufacturing activities; low-income consumers; energy generation and distribution; land conservation; water supply and quality; recreation; ecosystems dynamics; coastal zone and oceans; rivers and wetlands; and local government.

http://community.csc.noaa.gov/climateadaptation/

Grants

Conservation Partnership Grants

Conservation Partnership Grants - EEA's Division of Conservation Services (DCS) is seeking proposals for the Conservation Partnership Grant Program, which provides funds to non-public, nonprofit corporations to acquire and hold lands suitable for conservation or recreation. To view the RFR, see the Comm-PASS website and search for document number "ENV 10 DCS 03." Applications are due by July 13.

Job Opportunity

Coastal Scientist

Coastal Scientist: Perform project work and research for coastal jobs, particularly as the work relates to analysis of environmental monitoring data and impact analyses. The candidate will assist senior scientists and engineers with related tasks in an independent manner. General Information-The position is a full time, salaried position. The Woods Hole Group offers a full time benefit package that includes a 401(K) program, health insurance benefits, and competitive vacation and sick time policy. This position is based out of Falmouth, MA office. Contact Human Resources: hr@woodsholegroup.com

MV Commission Update

Ocean Management Plan Coming Soon

The Ocean Management Plan, due to be submitted to the Legislature in draft form by June 30, could have a very significant impact on Martha's Vineyard. Previously, most development in state waters -- within three miles of the shore – had been prohibited in what had been protected as an ocean sanctuary. The Ocean Plan will set out areas for development, with management strategies, for previously prohibited uses such as wind farms, aquaculture, and sand and gravel mining. A number of Vineyarders participated in the latest local workshop held in Woods Hole on May 2, bringing important insight from the birding, commercial fishing, conservation, Tribal, and renewable energy perspectives. After the workshop, the MVC submitted preliminary comments. MVC Coastal Planner Jo-AnnTaylor is the MVC representative to the Oceans Advisory Commission, Contact her with questions: Jo-Ann Taylor, taylor@mvcommission.org

Ocean Planning Process Continues (from C-Z Mail)

In May, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) continued work toward meeting the June 30, 2009, deadline for submittal of a draft ocean management plan to the Massachusetts Legislature. Continuing the public participation process, EEA hosted two well-attended Ocean Advisory Commission (OAC) public workshops. At these workshops, EEA presented preliminary spatial analysis results and conceptual management measures for implementing the ocean management plan. The OAC also met on May 28 to review a further-refined set of management measures, building on the discussion at the earlier May workshops. The Science Advisory Council met on May 26 to discuss proposed scientific and research priorities for ocean management in Massachusetts in the future. For more on the ocean planning process, see EEA's Massachusetts Ocean Plan website. To receive periodic ocean plan updates, send an email to join-env-oceanplan@listserv.state.ma.us.

Agriculture and Food Self-Sufficiency (MVC)

The MVC is carrying out a study of agriculture, in conjunction with the Island Plan. The aim is to estimate how self-sufficient Martha's Vineyard is today with respect to food, and how self-sufficient it could be. For more information go to mvcommission.org

Island Plan Update

Island Plan Steering Committee

There was an Island Plan Steering Committee yesterday afternoon at which we outlined the program for the next few months. We are aiming to have a draft version of the Plan in late July and will seek feedback on the draft in the subsequent few months. The final version of the document should be ready by the end of the year. Look for more information in the next newsletter.

Energy Update

Green Promise Seen in Switch to LED Lighting
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL and FELICITY BARRINGER
Published: May 29, 2009
NY Times

To change the bulbs in the 60-foot-high ceiling lights of Buckingham Palace’s grand stairwell, workers had to erect scaffolding and cover precious portraits of royal forebears. So when a lighting designer two years ago proposed installing light emitting diodes or LEDs, an emerging lighting technology, the royal family readily assented. The new lights, the designer said, would last more than 22 years and enormously reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions — a big plus for Prince Charles, an ardent environmentalist.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/
science/earth/30degrees.html?ref=science

Sustainable Update

Island Grown Initiative reports: Ethnic Crop Sales

We've extended the Ethnic Crops sale and more plants will be arriving on June 5. The crops are also going into the school gardens.

Poultry Project has a new Coordinator
Pastured Poultry Project, networking island producers with one another and working with them to develop locally-based, humane slaughter and processing solutions, has a new Poultry Coordinator, Richard Andre. Richard is a farmer (Cleveland farm, West Tisbury), a dad, and is terrific. He is a great addition to this program and it is moving strongly forward with him at the helm. If you would like to meet/speak with him his contact information is richard@richardjandre.com 774-563-8640

Go to the Sustainable section for the rest of the report

With green home venture, Sierra Club mixes profits with passion
John Muir, Green Building Consultant
June 1, 2009
by Todd Woody

It’s not unusual these days for big green groups to get in bed with business, but one of the oldest and most-respected environmental organizations—the Sierra Club—is going them one better by getting into business itself.

The San Francisco-based Sierra Club has launched a for-profit online venture called Sierra Club Green Home as a one-stop shop for information and services to green up your lifestyle and decarbonize your abode.

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-01-sierra-club-green-home/

Following is the link to the Sierra Club Green Home site:
http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/

Climate Change Update

MELTING ICE COULD LEAD TO MASSIVE WAVES OF CLIMATE REFUGEES
Lester R. Brown

As the earth warms, the melting of the earth’s two massive ice sheets—Antarctica and Greenland—could raise sea level enormously. If the Greenland ice sheet were to melt, it would raise sea level 7 meters (23 feet). Melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet would raise sea level 5 meters (16 feet). But even just partial melting of these ice sheets will have a dramatic effect on sea level rise. Senior scientists are noting that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections of sea level rise during this century of 18 to 59 centimeters are already obsolete and that a rise of 2 meters during this time is within range.

http://www.earthpolicy.org/Books/Seg/PB3ch03_ss5.htm

Environmental Education Update

Paul Hawken's Commencement Address to the Class of 2009 University of Portland
May 3rd, 2009
by Paul Hawken

When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was "direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful." No pressure there.

Let's begin with the startling part. Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Kind of a mind-boggling situation... but not one peer-reviewed paper published in the last thirty years can refute that statement. Basically, civilization needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/23-2

Wind Update

Cape Wind is Moving Ahead
By MIKE SECCOMBE
Vineyard Gazette

It has been 2,755 days since the Cape Wind project was first formally proposed. It is a controversy older than the war in Iraq. Hostilities began only a few weeks after the war in Afghanistan.

And, as in those other conflicts, indeed in any protracted battle, it’s crucial to maintain morale of the troops, particularly when your allies are dropping off and it looks as if you’re losing. Surveys show public opinion in the state is strongly in favor of the wind farm, and the Patrick administration in Boston, too.

http://www.mvgazette.com/article.php?21267

Water Update

Eelgrass Makes A Comeback In Katama Bay
By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL
Vineyard Gazette

Pulling up grass by the rakeful - a sign of good health in the bay. The decline of eelgrass on the Vineyard and along the eastern seaboard has been known and documented for many years. Eelgrass is key to the health of a coastal pond ecosystem, and its disappearance has had a significant impact on sea life, fish and shellfish.

http://www.mvgazette.com/article.php?21272

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