Our 2025 interns will be sharing their discoveries and accomplishments. Come hear about Mapping Westfield Brook in Cummington, more research on Depot Brook and how many Barberry plants we removed with your help from the watershed. . Hear updates on three designated Wild & Scenic headwater streams projects and meet new fces on the committee and new hires connecting our towns to the funding they need to move important crossing projects forward. All this preparation allows us to assist you, community members and landowners with invasive Plant removal and river restoration. This beautiful river needs all of us to be River Stewards.
Huntington MA Stanton Hall (26 Russell Rd on the Corner of Rt 20 and 112)
Remarkable River Potluck Celebrate the Wild & Scenic Westfield River
Potluck feasting From 6:30 - 7:00pm Presentations 7:00 - 8:30pm Let us know your coming, who's coming with you and what wonderful thing your bringing!! email westfieldriver@gmai.com
Wild & Scenic Has TOOLS
Benefits of the Wild & Scenic Designation
The national designation of “Wild & Scenic River” provides many benefits. Communities along the designated National Wild & Scenic Westfield River have access to resources to help all the partners achieve the protection of the watershed’s outstanding resource values. Such support can bring a host of positive outcomes to all, including:
- Tools to protect water quality and watershed hydrology for local residents.
- Protection of rural character and opportunities to conserve stream banks, large wildlife habitats and important open space areas which help maintain the qualities of local communities.
- Access to funding and grants to help towns achieve open space and conservation goals and opportunities to leverage additional funds and support, saving communities money.
- Healthy ecosystems – widely recognized as one of the highest priorities for biodiversity conservation in Southern New England, the Westfield River’s miles of free-flowing streams and intact forest corridors represent one of the best opportunities for river conservation in the region. The Wild & Scenic designation provides dedicated technical assistance, funding and research to protect and restore the river’s ecosystem.
- Technical support, monitoring and research to guide sound decision-making for local communities, saving time and money while preserving irreplaceable natural resources.
- Outreach and education opportunities to enhance understanding of the watershed and its characteristics. Publications, programs, workshops, and trainings promote resource values and best management practices offered for a range of audiences from school-aged children, to landowners to local highway departments and municipal commissions.
- Prevents federally funded or permitted projects determined to be adverse to the watershed’s outstanding resource values. Designation creates a specific mandate that no federally permitted or funded “water resource development project” shall be allowed that would have a “direct and adverse” impact upon the outstanding resource values that made the river eligible for designation.
- Forum to provide different perspectives and to share concerns, local knowledge and expertise. Every community has a representative who serves as a liaison for municipal boards and residents on issues important to the river and their community. They are a resource to you and someone you can talk to about issues such as riverbank erosion, ways to improve wildlife habitat, and availability of technical and funding resources.