October, 2019

We're In!

We have finally made the big move to our new headquarters at the Head of Westport. About 250 people came to our ribbon cutting and open house to make it official on Saturday afternoon, October 19. Here are some of the highlights: The building is very energy efficient, with high R-value insulation, and has LED lighting throughout. There will be solar panels on the roof, which will provide over 90% of our electrical needs. Composting toilets are installed to minimize impact on River water quality. We have reused much of the wood salvaged from the old attic. The first floor "public space" features aquariums with local species, and a special Seahorse tank. Local artist Barbara Healy painted the floor with a map of the Westport River watershed. There will be various audio-visual attractions throughout the year, as well as information and illustrations about the watershed and opportunities and challenges that we are addressing.

Photos from Open House and New River Center

Board President Tom Schmitt was joined by State Senator Mike Rodrigues, State Representative Paul Schmid, and Executive Director Deborah Weaver for the ribbon cutting. We are so grateful to all our generous donors, our general contractor Page Building Construction Company, DSK Architects and Planners, and the talented workers who have worked so hard all this year to bring us to completion of this wonderful project! We are very close to our fundraising goal. Please help us cross the finish line with a donation in any amount. We have published a commemorative booklet, showing the history of the old "Head Garage," and the process of transforming the building into the new River Center. Copies are available for free at our offices.

The second floor kitchen area also serves as a comfortable informal meeting space.

All the rear windows overlook the lovely scene of the River and Town Landing.

The third floor has offices for the Science and Education Directors, and a common space for interns and volunteers to work.

Over 250 guests joined us for our ribbon cutting and open house on Saturday, October 19.

New aquarium tanks display native fish species from three different areas of the River.

Education Director Shelli Costa demonstrates the new microscope, looking at a razor clam shell.

Annual Fund Appeal

Dear Friends, Greetings from the new headquarters of the Watershed Alliance—the River Center. It has been a long journey to get here, but definitely worth it! As we unpack our things and walk around in amazement, we have to take a moment to say thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. This is a moment to express the depth of our gratitude. If we hadn’t had the vision of the Board, the financial support of our members, and the determination of the ‘facilities” committee, this incredible resource would not have been possible. We are only starting to imagine how this new space can support expansion of the services and scope of WRWA, how we can set our roots in this vibrant community, and how much more welcoming we can be to the public and casual visitor. This is truly a “watershed” moment for the Alliance. This letter launches our Annual Fund Drive. We ask you, and all of our members, to give to the fullest of your abilities so that we can continue to do the work that we have been doing for more than 44 years: championing the health of the Westport Rivers and the vast watershed that surrounds them. This pristine natural resource is the single most important asset to the financial vitality and beauty of this magnificent estuary. Whether you are a day visitor or a home owner on the river, you know the pleasures of boating, swimming, walking and observing nature, and can appreciate the fragility of the environment. For all these years the Alliance has been the “voice of the river”- monitoring and leading restoration efforts, working with children to encourage their love of the natural world, working with town leaders to advocate for informed scientific decisions and reasoned actions to protect the watershed. We ask and encourage you to support us so we can continue and expand our work to maintain the richness of our watershed, which gives us so much peace and pleasure. Thank you for your support and generosity as we join together in our alliance.

Make a contribution!  Thank you.

Research on Salt Marsh Loss Continues Roberta Carvalho, Science Director   Last year the Westport River Watershed Alliance collaborated with researchers from the University of Connecticut and Providence College to determine what is driving salt marsh loss in the Westport River. This year work continued to test several potential factors that could be affecting salt marsh loss in the River. A second year of data collection allowed the researchers to assess the plants in field experiments as they go through a full annual cycle. Last spring the researchers presented their first-year study results, which indicated that Spartina growth is nutrient-limited in both branches of the river, despite elevated water column nitrogen levels. This suggests that the plants are somehow unable to use nitrogen in the water column to grow taller shoots. The results point to sediment compaction as causing poor Spartina growth in the lower parts of both the East and West branches while also making the banks susceptible to disturbance or calving. Sediment compaction may arise due to increased water flows and/or changes in sediment dynamics possibly due to shoreline development. We plan to have a presentation of results from the scientists this spring.

 Dr. Catherine M. Matassa assessing the experimental plots. Dr. Patrick J. Ewanchuk taking salt marsh cores.

Thank You, Volunteers Some of our many volunteers joined us in late September at the home of Tom and Johanna Robinson to celebrate their contributions of time and energy to WRWA throughout the year.

Volunteers make it happen! Recent events include two that we host twice a year, beach clean ups and electronics recycling.

Long-time Friend and Member Bonnie Stropp Passes WRWA mourns the unexpected death of long time member, friend and volunteer Bonnie Stropp. Bonnie and her husband Sandy retired here to Westport in 2003, and she became involved with WRWA education programs, continuing her life-long dedication to teaching children. Her volunteerism and teaching skills were an invaluable part of the field studies with local children, who affectionately knew her by her nature name, “Bunny.” She also served on the WRWA Education Committee. She worked as an elementary school teacher for Kent Place School in Summit, NJ for over thirty years. In retirement, she loved the beach at Elephant Rock, playing sports at the Spindle Rock and Acoaxet Clubs and traveling. Bonnie had a great sense of joy and humor, she danced with Gay and other friends for over 20 years at the Westport Grange. She lived and loved life to its fullest.  We will all miss Bonnie very much, and so appreciate her kindness and generosity. Winter Art Show - Call for Artists! WRWA will be hosting the 7th annual Winter Art Show at the Dedee Shattuck Gallery from February 22 through March 7, 2020. This year's theme is "Wooden Boat Parts." We will be hosting a meeting soon, at a time to be announced, for artists to come and pick up parts of wooden boats that we are collecting. Do you have an old wooden boat that can be disassembled? Please call us! For more information, and to sign up, call us at 508-636-3016 or email outreach@wrwa.com.   WRWA 2020 Photo Calendars Available Now We have our new 2020 photo calendars available now, featuring local tide graphs and photos of Westport scenes.  This year’s photos are the winners chosen from over 80 entries in WRWA’s photo contest held this past spring. An independent group of volunteer judges viewed the photos and selected the winners last May. The photographs, donated by area photographers, represent the most beautiful of Westport landscapes throughout the seasons, along with some remarkable wildlife shots.  “We had so many photos of beautiful scenes that are uniquely Westport, and some distinctive native wildlife shots for our photo contest,” says Deborah Weaver, WRWA Executive Director. “The submissions just seem to get better each year. Our thanks to all the talented photographers!”  The winning photos were provided by local photographers Kim Brittain, Rich Castenson, Jane Dahill Flanagan, Mark Goulding, Joanne Humphrey, Brian Mullaney, Norma Pineault, Greg Stone, Betsy Szel, Amelia Tripp and Michael Wrightington. The calendars are on sale now at the WRWA headquarters at 493 Old County Road, on line at www.westportwatershed.org, and locally at Partners Village Store and the Dedee Shattuck Gallery.

Creature Feature - Eastern Box Turtle by James Austin and Jess Mattos, Commonwealth Corps Educators

The Eastern Box Turtle ( Terrapine carolina ) is a species native to the Westport River ecosystem. Members of this species range along the east coast; from New Hampshire down to Georgia, and as far west as Illinois. The Eastern Box Turtle is a terrestrial species - meaning it spends a majority of its life on land. Their habitat mainly consists of open woodlands and forests, as well as wet meadows and wetlands. The Eastern box turtle can be uniquely identified by its dome-like shell (carapace), which is taller than it is long. The shell itself is coated in shades of black, orange, yellow, or brown. With such a high and rounded shell, one might wonder where it earns the “box” part of its name. Towards the rear of the undershell (plastron), there is a hinge that allows the turtle to fully retract its front and hind legs. This ability allows the shell to act as a kind of protective “box” against predators. When it comes to food, the eastern box turtle is an omnivore, making it capable of eating both animals and plants. Most commonly, the diet for this species of land turtles includes, but is not limited to: species of mushrooms, fruit, eggs, some fish species, insects, and decayed animal remains. Younger box turtles begin with a more carnivorous diet to help them with their early development and growth, and then change over to a more herbivorous diet after 5-6 years of life. A low metabolic rate helps younger turtles survive time periods of scarce food. On average, a turtle with this lifestyle can live between 25 and 35 years, but some individuals have been found to live for over 100 years. The Eastern Box Turtle is a protected species in the state of Massachusetts. Hatchlings and younger turtles are less common to see than adults; it does not mean that humans and other predators are not able to find them. Natural predators of this species of turtle include: racoons, foxes, owls, and snakes, who prey on both younger turtles, and those who have not hatched from their eggs yet. Some casualties among turtles are caused by strikes from unaware car drivers, who fail to notice the turtle crossing a road. If you happen to notice a Box Turtle in the road, and if the setting is appropriate, please pull over and relocate the turtle to the side of the road safely, and face it in the same direction it was traveling!

Renew Your Membership! Thanks to everyone who renewed their WRWA Membership for 2019. If you haven't renewed yet, now would be a great time! Just click on the link above, or send your donation to WRWA PO Box 3427, Westport, MA 02790.

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Thank You to our Corporate Sponsors