Repairing Damaged Land and Restoring Rattlesnake Brook

We have been trying, since December of 2012, to work with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in repairing and restoring what was once a beautiful wooded hillside above Rattlesnake Brook in the Freetown State Forest portion of the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve (SMB). It’s been difficult to get beyond “trying” because DCR initially ignored our concerns and our suggestions.

After forest allies and environmental advocates, from across the state, came to our assistance DCR became more attentive to the issue, but it has been over one year since we brought this to their attention and little has been done to repair the damage or solve the problem of illegal and unmonitored off-highway vehicle (OHV) activity on our public forest lands. We’re also requesting creation and implementation of a Forest Biodiversity Stewardship Plan that will guide future SMB management and prevent similar outrages from occurring in the future.

Here are some photos of the damage, caused by DCR’s negligence, we’d like to see repaired.

Notice one of our members in deep rut, left of center.

Big erosion rut with trees that have fallen.

Egregious erosion and narrowed shallow brook.

Eroded material washing into brook and pipeline.

GF President Tim Bennet in erosion depth.

 

Read DCR’s “mission statement” –

DCR Mission

To protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

In meeting today's responsibilities and planning for tomorrow, DCR's focus is on:

• Improving outdoor recreational opportunities and natural resource conservation
• Restoring and improving our facilities
• Expanding public involvement in carrying out DCR's mission, and
• Establishing first-rate management systems and practices.

The health and happiness of people across Massachusetts depend on the accessibility and quality of our green infrastructure - our natural resources, recreational facilities, and great historic landscapes. The DCR continues to improve the vital connection between people and the environment for the well being of all.

Is DCR living up to its mission statement? 

 

Can You Help Us? 

We are trying to repair and save public forest land within the Freetown State Forest, especially the Rattlesnake Brook Corridor and also set up a forest management plan for the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve of which Freetown State Forest is a part.

We are seeking the Boards of organizations (SEE LIST) who support this effort (SEE PROPOSED MOTION) to vote and notify GREEN FUTURES (info@greenfutures.org) by e-mail or (Green Futures, POB 144, Fall River, MA 02724-0144) by postal system of their support.

We plan to submit letters of support to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). If you know of any organizations and/or board members please contact them and let us know too.

If you know of any organization or association not on the list, below, please solicit their support and let us know at info@greenfutures.org. Doesn’t have to be only environmental/land trust organizations, but also neighborhood, religious, fraternal, civic, etc. that you might be familiar with or a member of.

Here’s a sample of what we need:

On (month, date, 2014), the (Board, Committee, Directors, Membership, etc.) of the (organization or group’s name) voted to (support, sign on to, etc.) Green Futures’ proposal to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation regarding the Fall River-Freetown State Forest, Rattlesnake Brook and forest management planning within the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve dated December 30, 2013.

Thank you!

 

Motion:

RE: FALL RIVER/FREETOWN STATE FOREST

We propose MA DCR

1. Repair damage to hillside and Rattlesnake Brook caused by illegal OHV activity, now.
2. Create a long-term forest, stewardship management plan with the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve Partners and stakeholders.
3. Massachusetts DCR fund all law enforcement, management, and damage repair if OHV are allowed anywhere on DCR managed property within the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve. This part of the plan be incorporated in #2 above.
4. Match OHV use to the available management and enforcement capacity (funding and staff). This will assure that resources exist to guarantee adequate legal enforcement.

 

Seeking Their Support:

*Westport River Watershed Alliance – 1151 Main Rd., Westport, MA 02790 – director@wrwa.org

*Taunton River Watershed Alliance – POB 1116, 1298 Cohannet St., Taunton, MA – advocacy@savethetaunton.org

*Massachusetts Audubon Society - 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 – jclarke@massaudubon.org

*Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust - 404 Elm St., Dartmouth, MA 02748 – info@dnrt.org

*Greater Fall River Land Conservancy – Tel: 508.672.8217

*The Trustees of Reservations - 830 S Drift Rd, Westport, MA 02790 - Tel: 508.636.4693 - jdubois@ttor.org

*Conservation Law Foundation – 62 Summer St., Boston, MA 02110-1016 - Tel: 617.350.0990 - sreid@clf.org

*Sierra Club Massachusetts -10 Milk St., #632, Boston, MA 02108 – Tel: 617.423.5775 - office@sierraclubmass.org

*Environmental League of Massachusetts -14 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108 – Tel: 617.742-2553 – info@environmentalleague.org

*The Nature Conservancy Massachusetts - 99 Bedford St., 5^th Floor, Boston, MA, 02111 – Tel: 617.532.8300 - massachusetts@tnc.org

*Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition - PO Box 1024, Newburyport, MA. 01950 – Tel: 508.538.1857

*Environment Massachusetts - 44 Winter St., Ste. 401, Boston, MA 02108 – Tel: 617.747.4400

*Wildlands Trust – PO Box 2282, 165 West St., Duxbury, MA 02331 – Tel: 781.934.9018 – info@wildlandstrust.org

*The Trust for Public Land - 10 Milk St., #810, Boston, MA 02108 – Tel: 617.367.6200

*Ducks Unlimited - One Waterfowl Way, Memphis,TN 38120 Tel. 901.758.3825

 

*Save the Bay - 100 Save The Bay Dr., Providence, RI 02905 – Tel: 401-272-3540

 

*Westport Fishermen’s Association - PO Box 83, Westport Point, MA 02791 – wfa@westportriver.org

*Buzzards Bay Coalition - 114 Front St., New Bedford, MA 02740 – Tel: 508.996.6363 – info@savebuzzardsbay.org

*Natural Resources Defense Council - 40 West 20th St., New York, NY 10011 – Tel: 212.727.2700 – nrdcinfo@nrdc.org

 

Others

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