Press release submitted by the Nashua River Watershed Association
The Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) is offering a free “Forest Landowner Forum on MA DCR’s Working Forest Initiative” on Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the NRWA River Resource Center, 592 Main Street (Rt. 119) in Groton. This forum is most appropriate for landowners with more than 10 acres of forest in Massachusetts. Our guest speaker will be Mike Downey, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Forest Stewardship Program Coordinator. MA DCR currently has a cost-share reimbursement program available to landowners with more than 10 acres of forest that could provide financial assistance in developing a Forest Stewardship Plan for your property. These cost-share monies are limited and applications are reviewed on a first-come basis each fiscal year. Mike will provide details about the program and answer any questions.
The NRWA is working with the Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) on a multi-year partnership project funded by the US Forest Service — “Expanding Riparian Buffers”. Riparian buffers are streamside lands that if properly managed can protect the waterways from polluted run-off. One of the project’s goals is to encourage forest landowners to participate in the MA DCR Forest Stewardship Program. The Forest Stewardship Program offers free technical assistance and financial incentives to forest landowners and municipalities, encouraging good stewardship on these properties. Your forestland does not have to abut a river or stream in order to participate.
As part of this same project with MRWC, we are offering free plantings of native shrubs and trees along certain streamside areas. Details are available by contacting the NRWA.
This forum is free and open to the public. A snow date of Thursday, Feb. 25th has been set in case of bad weather. Pre-registration is appreciated for planning purposes. To pre-register, or for questions, please contact Al Futterman, NRWA Land Programs Director at 978-448-0299, or email AlF@NashuaRiverWatershed.org.
