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Home My WebLink Aboutconservationofficee-newsletterjuly2021Lexington Conservation Caring for our public land July 2021 Leave No Trace With warmer days full of sunshine, more people are using our trails. Please practice proper trail etiquette and Leave No Trace Principals on our Lexington Conservation Properties. This allows everyone to have a positive outdoor experience. Questions? Contact Amber Carr, Conservation Coordinator. Comment period extended! The Willards Woods Ecological Land Management and Design Plan is ready for public review! Watch the recording while Land Stewardship Inc. describes their proposed management actions for Willards Woods in our June 17th Public Forum. Review the draft Ecological Land Management and Design Plan and provide feedback by midnight on Sunday 7/18/2021 . We appreciate your feedback! Questions? Contact Conservation Coordinator Amber Carr at acarr@lexingtonma.gov Find out more here! Our new seasonal staff are onboard! Join me in welcoming them to our team by saying hello when you see them in the field :) Nick Rommel Nick is a Lexington native that just finished his first year as a student at the University of Chicago. He is still deciding between History, Environmental Studies, and Economics as majors. He spent last summer and spring working at a garden center and making many trips to protected lands around Lexington, Massachusetts, and New England in his free time, camping, hiking, and IDing plants and animals. His other interest include playing and writing music. This summer, he hopes to learn a lot more about the ecology of Eastern Massachusetts and spend time in some of his favorite conservation lands, like Dunback Meadow and Idylwilde. Martin Landis Martin has lived in Lexington his whole life, and is going into his senior year of high school at LHS. He spent most of the previous summers exploring the woods and waters of Maine, where backpacking and canoe camping became some of his favorite activities. In school, Martin is involved in Make Lex Green, a sustainability club, and the Conservation Club. He also enjoys programming and playing volleyball. He doesn't yet know what exactly he wants to study in college, but environmental studies and policy are high on the list. This summer, Martin is excited to learn more about wildlife in Lexington as a Summer Conservation Crew Worker. Jack Brenner Jack is another local heading into his senior year at Lexington High School. He is fascinated by ecology and is excited to develop his skills in identifying plants and helping ecosystems thrive. Jack spent this past year as a founding member and organizing leader for the high school's conservation club, facilitating trash pickups and coordinating student volunteer groups to help with town conservation efforts. Last summer, he took the free time that the pandemic gave him and explored the Lexington conservation lands, and is now excited to get to know them in a greater depth as a field crew member this coming one. Bee-come a Citizen Scientist Sunday July 18th 10am-12pm 10am-12pm @ Wright Farm@ Wright Farm Wild pollinators have declined in abundance, diversity, and geographic distribution at an alarming rate over recent years. These declines pose a significant threat to ecosystem health and biodiversity, yet we currently lack critical ecological information needed to develop effective conservation and restoration strategies for threatened species. The 'Beecology Project' aims to fill this gap by recruiting citizen scientists from across the region to digitally collect and submit ecological data on native pollinator species using our freely available smartphone and web apps. As a Beecologist, you will contribute valuable information on the diversity and health of pollination systems in your local area and importantly, help to keep our native ecosystems buzzing for years to come! Parking is limited; please consider (safe) carpooling, walking or biking. Parking on Carriage Drive is allowed. Just bring a smart phone or digital camera. The Beecology app is a webapp so no need to download anything! Questions? Contact Amber Carr, Conservation Coordinator Daisy Wilson Meadow Preservation The Conservation Commission will begin field edge restoration work on the meadows at Daisy Wilson Meadow from fall 2021 to spring 2022; this project is being funded by the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and was approved at Town Meeting 2020. The nature of this preservation work will involve removing encroaching vegetation-trees, brush, and invasive species-which have overtaken the field edges and have degraded the quality of the field both for wildlife and human enjoyment. The result of this work will be habitat improvements for wildlife in both the meadow and wooded areas and a glade like appearance at the Moreland Street entrance. I expect the work to take approximately two weeks, though there will not be activity every day and only during normal business hours Monday-Friday. This is of course entirely dependent on the weather. The majority of the work in the fall will be focused on invasive plant removal while plantings of native species will take place the following spring. Find out more here! Citizen Science for MassWildlifeCitizen Science for MassWildlife Report wild turkey sightings - Participate in MassWildlife's Annual Turkey Brood Survey by reporting sightings of hens, poults, and males (both juvenile and adult) from June 1 through August 31. This information helps MassWildlife biologists monitor the turkey population. Learn how to report turkeys now! Report Summer fish kills - As lakes and ponds warm up in the summer, you may find dead fish. The vast majority of fish kills are natural events caused by low dissolved oxygen levels as water temperatures increase. Learn how to report a fish kill here! Moth vs Swallow-wort: Year 2 In the hope/expectation of a new generation of the hypena opulenta moth and in cooperation with the researchers at URI we have put the tent back up at the same location at West Farm. Hopefully the pupae survived the winter and a new generation of moths will emerge within a few weeks. The tent will provide them with some protection from predators and ease of monitoring their development. Please do not disturb the site. Contact the our Lead Steward Stephen Perkins with any questions. Calling All Volunteers! Join us on Stewardship Saturdays for volunteer work and camaraderie Next Event: Hoop House Raising @Next Event: Hoop House Raising @ Native Plant Nursery ( LVB )Native Plant Nursery ( LVB ) July 17th July 17th 9 A.M.-12 P.M.9 A.M.-12 P.M. We are continuing to build our new native plant nursery, and ready to raise the Hoop House! Come join us as we build the Native Plant Nursery structure to house our nursery stock. Bring your own gloves, snack and water all other materials will be provided. Park along East Emerson Road and head south towards the bike path. Looking forward to seeing you there! Leader: Holly Samuels Find out more details and register for upcoming events! Have Something to Share? This is the place for all things stewardship in Lexington, including upcoming volunteer work events, newly completed projects, local trainings and educational events, as well as news from the Lexington Conservation Office. Please e-mail landstewards@lexingtonma.gov, with submissions for our next edition. Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Sign up here by choosing Conservation News and Events! Stay up to date on COVID-19 See the Town's COVID-19 Information webpage Lexington Conservation | 781-698-4532 | landstewards@lexingtonma.gov | www.lexingtonma.gov/conservation/conservation-stewardship STAY CONNECTED: