Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc

MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY WILL SUPPORT COASTAL MARSH RESTORATION IN SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS BY PRIORITIZING RESTORATION SITES AND RESTORING WETLANDS DEGRADED THROUGH HISTORIC CRANBERRY FARMING. COASTAL MARSHES ARE AT SEVERE RISK DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE. RETIRED, LOW-LYING CRANBERRY FARMLANDS PROVIDE A POTENTIAL SPACE FOR COASTAL WETLANDS TO MIGRATE INLAND TO AVOID DISAPPEARING. THIS EFFORT WILL IMPLEMENT TWO PILOT RESTORATION PROJECTS TO INFORM SIMILAR, FUTURE PROJECTS ACROSS THE REGION AND SUPPORT SUSTAINED CULTURAL LAND USES FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

CONTROL OF INVASIVE PLANTS IN THE SUDBURY RIVER

AS DIRECTED BY THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012 (P.L. 112-74) AND CONFERENCE REPORT 112-331, THIS PROJECT IMPLEMENTS PRIORITIES OF THE SOUTH

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY, INC. (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS MASS AUDUBON) TO CONDUCT ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES IN BUZZARD'S BAY, MA AS PART OF THE SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND PROGRAM (SNEP) STORMWATER AND NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS PROGRAM. THIS AWARD BUILDS ON PREVIOUS WORK AND WILL AID IN THE PLANNING, PERMITTING, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF 160 ACRES OF SALTMARSH AND COASTAL UPLAND RESTORATION AT SANCTUARIES ON THE SOUTH COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS. ADDITIONALLY, MASS AUDUBON AND PARTNERS WILL PROVIDE EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN THE FORM OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND PEER-TO-PEER WORKSHOPS TO AID IN REGION-WIDE ADOPTION OF SALTMARSH MIGRATION AND RESTORATION PRACTICES.ACTIVITIES:SPECIFIC TASKS THAT WILL ADDRESS THE PRIORITIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE PLANNING, PERMITTING, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SALT MARSH RESTORATION PRACTICES. THIS WILL INCLUDE PREPARATION FOR SALTMARSH MIGRATION FOR 90 ACRES OF UPLAND MARSH MIGRATION, RESTORATION OF 70 ACRES OF SALTMARSH BY RESORTING TIDAL HYDROLOGY, ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT OF INVASIVE FIDDLER CRABS, COMPLETION OF AN INLET POND AND BARRIER BEACH STABILIZATION MANAGEMENT PLAN, HOSTING KNOWLEDGE SHARING WORKSHOPS, AND PROVIDING EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR 15,000 STUDENTS, YOUTH, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.SUBRECIPIENT:THE GRANTEE HAS BUDGETED FOR A SUBAWARD TO SAVE THE BAY FOR TIDAL HYDROLOGICAL RESTORATION, INCLUDING PERMITTING SUPPORT, PLANNING, MONITORING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND AIDING IN TWO PEER-TO-PEER WORKSHOPS; ANOTHER SUBAWARD TO DARTMOUTH NATURAL RESOURCE TRUST FOR PERMITTING AND IMPLEMENTATION, VOLUNTEER COORDINATION AND SUPPORT, AND OUTREACH, AND INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL; AND A SUBAWARD TO THE WAREHAM LAND TRUST FOR OUTREACH, PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING, VOLUNTEER COORDINATION AND SUPPORT, PLANNING AND PROMOTING WORKSHOPS AND STAFF SUPPORT AT THE WORKSHOP.OUTCOMES:DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE BUZZARDS BAY REGION WITH A FOCUS ON DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN NEW BEDFORD, FALL RIVER, AND WAREHAM. ADDITIONAL BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE THE SALTMARSH AND COASTAL UPLAND ECOSYSTEMS AND USERS OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN AND AROUND THE PROJECT AREA.

DESCRIPTION:THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY TO CONDUCT PLANNING, OUTREACH, AND CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS AS OUTLINED IN THE APPLICATION. THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF THIS AWARD IS TO SUPPORT 1) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR RESTORATION AT BROAD MEADOW BROOK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND UPPER WATERSHED GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER INTERVENTIONS IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS; 2) ASSESSMENT AND MODELING OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND LAND-USE POLICIES TO REDUCE FLOODING IN THE UPPER BROOK WATERSHED, TO DEMONSTRATE PRACTICES RELEVANT FOR FLOODING INTERVENTIONS ACROSS WORCESTER; AND 3) CAPACITY BUILDING TO SUPPORT MASS AUDUBON'S STAFFING FOR INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN WORCESTER AND TO GATHER RESIDENT AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT ON THE RESTORATION PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY NEEDS RELATED TO GREEN OPEN SPACE AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.ACTIVITIES:THE AWARD WILL FUND PLANNING FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE FLOODING PREDICTED TO CONTINUE TO WORSEN DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF WORCESTER AS IDENTIFIED IN ITS 2019 MUNICIPAL VULNERABILITY PREPAREDNESS PLAN, BASED ON RESIDENT INPUT AND DATA ANALYSIS. IN ADDITION, BUILDING ON THIS PROPOSED WORK, MASS AUDUBON SEEKS TO COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, RESIDENTS, AND MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS TO LAUNCH ITS NATURE IN THE CITY INITIATIVE IN WORCESTER. THE AIM OF THIS STATEWIDE MASS AUDUBON PROGRAM IS TO CO-CREATE CITY-WIDE APPROACHES THAT SURFACE SHARED CONCERNS AND DEVELOP A COLLECTIVE VISION FOR GREEN AND OPEN SPACES WITH THE COMMON GOAL OF INCREASING ACCESS TO NATURE AND PROMOTING RESIDENT-IDENTIFIED NEEDS, SUCH AS IMPROVING WATER QUALITY, REDUCING FLOODING AND HEAT ISLANDS, ENHANCING CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND RESTORING GREEN SPACES IN URBAN SETTINGS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES WILL BE TO 1) REDUCE WORCESTER'S ENVIRONMENTAL BURDEN AS IT UNDERTAKES CITYWIDE MITIGATION ACTIONS, WHILE STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF ITS LAST UNDEVELOPED WETLAND SYSTEM, 2) CO-CREATE A SHARED VISION FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE IN WORCESTER IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS THROUGH NATURE IN THE CITY, AND 3) PROVIDE A CITY WHERE RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO GREENSPACES THAT CONNECT THEM TO THE NATURAL WORLD AND ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

LANDSCAPE SCALE RESTORATION ACCELERATING IMPLEMENTATION OF CLIMATE RESILIENT FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN MASSACHUSETTS

"RIVERS TO SEA", IS FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME, UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS. ITS PURPOSE IS TO EMPOWER THEM TO RESOLVE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR LOCAL WATERSHED, TO ENSURE THE WATERSHED REMAINS HEALTHY FOR THE HUMAN AND WILDLIFE COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE THERE, AND TO BUILD THE FOUNDATION OF A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY LITERATE CITIZENRY IN NEW ENGLAND. IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED WITH SEVEN TITLE 1 PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERS IN NORTHEASTERN, SOUTHEASTERN, AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. A TOTAL OF 1,410 4TH- AND 5TH-GRADE STUDENTS WILL EACH RECEIVE 16 CONTACT HOURS OF PROGRAMMING (22,560 STUDENT CONTACT HOURS), AND APPROXIMATELY 40% OF THAT CONTACT TIME WILL BE OUTDOORS. OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES FOR THE 3-YEAR PROJECT INCLUDE: (1) DEVELOPMENT OF A 4-MODULE RIVERS TO SEA CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON SOLVING PROBLEMS IN THE LOCAL WATERSHEDS. (2) ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH STEWARDSHIP ACTION LEARNING EXPERIENCES. (3) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING (40 CONTACT HOURS/EDUCATOR) F

SANCTUARY TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AND PHRAGMITES CONTROL AT ALLEN'S POND

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO NATURE-BASED EDUCATION

MASS AUDUBON WILL WORK WITH EDUCATORS IN MASSACHUSETTS TO DEVELOP AND PILOT THE CLIMATE DEMOCRACY PROJECT: A PLACE-BASED, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS GRADES 8–12 IN THREE PREDOMINANTLY LOW-INCOME PUBLIC SCHOOLS.  A PROJECT MANAGER WILL BE HIRED TO COORDINATE PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS DEVELOP AN ONLINE TOOLKIT AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE. WORKING WITH THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS, A MASS AUDUBON EDUCATOR, AND AN EDUCATOR FROM LOCAL LIBRARIES OR MUSEUMS, STUDENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE JUSTICE, RESEARCH LOCAL IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS WITH MENTORS, LEAD LOCAL CIVIC ACTION PROJECTS, AND PRESENT THEIR PROJECTS AT A PUBLIC EVENT.  MASS AUDUBON WILL EVALUATE AND SHARE PROGRAM FINDINGS THROUGH HOSTED GATHERINGS FOR PARTICIPATING EDUCATORS, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES, WITH THE OVERALL GOAL TO BUILD A STATEWIDE FOUNDATION FOR A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY LITERATE CITIZENRY IN MASSACHUSETTS.

DELIVERING MEANINGFUL WATERSHED AND FISH EXPERIENCES THROUGH SCIENCE FOR SOLUTIONS

CONTROL OF INVASIVE PLANTS IN THE SUDBURY RIVER AND DELLIVERY OF RIVERSCHOOLS PROGRAMS

AT THE 101,000 HECTARE RIO BRAVO CONVERSATION MANAGEMENT AREA (RBCMA) IN NORTHWESTERN BELIZE, WHERE PROGRAMME FOR BELIZE (PFB) CONDUCTS A SUSTAINABLE TIMBER PROGRAMME ON 37,000 HA., RESEARCHERS WILL QUANTIFY KEY DEMOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS (E.G., SURVIVAL) FOR PRIORITY MIGRANTS ALONG GRADIENTS OF SILVICULTURAL INTENSITY AND WILL IDENTIFY FORESTRY TREATMENTS AND STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS THAT ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST VALUES FOR THESE PARAMETERS. FINDINGS WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO THE SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND FORESTRY STANDARDS WILL ALSO BE FORMALIZED INTO AN OUTREACH DOCUMENT. TO SUPPORT ONGOING AND FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY, AND THE CONSERVATION OF NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRDS AND OTHER TAXA IN BELIZE, PARTNERS WILL HOLD 80 HOURS OF BANDING WORKSHOPS, THREE DAYS OF TELEMETRY AND HABITAT MEASUREMENT TRAININGS, ONE WORKSHOP ON DATA ANALYSIS, AND ONE WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY IN BELIZE AND TO DISSEMINATE THE OUTREACH DOCUMENT AND OTHER FINDINGS.

REDUCING ROSEATE TERN COLLISION MORTALITY

INCREASING MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL ADAPTIVE CAPACITY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO SEA LEVEL RISE

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MASS AUDUBONS COASTAL WATERBIRD PROGRAM WILL CONDUCT PROTECTIVE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR PIPING PLOVER, LEAST TERN, RED KNOT AND MIGRATORY SHOREBIRD CONSERVATION NEEDS AND MEASURES AT THE HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, FOURTH CLIFF RECREATION AREA IN SCITUATE, MASSACHUSETTS. THE WORK WILL INCLUDE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO MAINTAIN COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR CONSERVING SHOREBIRDS AND INFORMING VISITORS TO FOURTH CLIFF ABOUT SHOREBIRD CONSERVATION AND RE-ESTABLISH BLUE MUSSELS ON THE TIDAL FLATS NEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTH AND SOUTH RIVER WATERSHED ALLIANCE FOR MIGRATORY BIRD NOURISHMENT.SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES IN 2023: 1. MEET THE GUIDELINES FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION ON RECREATIONAL BEACHES 2. DOCUMENT PREDATOR ACTIVITY AND VANDALISM FOR POTENTIAL CONTROL MEASURES 3. ENGAGE AND EDUCATE VISITORS TO FOURTH CLIFF IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DISTURBANCE TO NESTING PIPING PLOVERS AND LEAST TERNS 4. DOCUMENT MIGRATORY SHOREBIRD USE OF THE SITE TO ASSESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR HABITAT IMPROVEMENT AND 5. RESTORE BLUE MUSSEL BEDS AS A FORAGING RESOURCE FOR PROTECTED MIGRATORY SHOREBIRD SPECIES SUCH AS THE RUFA RED KNOT.

AS OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ADVANCES THROUGHOUT LARGE AREAS OF THE U.S. ATLANTIC OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF (ATLANTIC OCS), INFORMATION ON OFFSHORE MOVEMENTS AND HABITAT USE OF MIGRATORY BIRDS IS NEEDED FOR RISK ASSESSMENTS. THE COMMON TERN (STERNA HIRUNDO) IS A HIGH-PRIORITY SPECIES FOR MONITORING AT EXISTING AND POTENTIAL OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY AREAS (WEAS) IN THE U.S. ATLANTIC OCS DUE TO ITS OFFSHORE HABITAT USE, STATE CONSERVATION STATUSES, AND LIFE HISTORY SIMILARITIES WITH THE FEDERALLY ENDANGERED ROSEATE TERN (STERNA DOUGALLII). THIS STUDY WILL ASSESS MOVEMENTS AND HABITAT USE OF STERNA TERNS USING NESTING AND STAGING SITES LOCATED WITHIN THE VICINITY OF WEAS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.THIS STUDY WILL USE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM RADIO FREQUENCY (GPS-RF) TECHNOLOGY TO COLLECT NEW INFORMATION ON OFFSHORE MOVEMENTS OF COMMON TERNS RELATIVE TO OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY AREAS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. USING GPS-RF WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON BREEDING AND STAGING MOVEMENTS OF TERNS AND POTENTIALLY FULL ANNUAL CYCLE MIGRATORY INFORMATION DEPENDING ON LONGEVITY OF TAG ELECTRONICS AND THE TAG ATTACHMENT METHOD, AND RECAPTURE SUCCESS THE FOLLOWING SEASON. THE GPS-RF ASPECTS OF THE STUDY WILL BE LED BY THE USFWS WITH FIELD AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE MASS AUDUBON.THIS STUDY WILL ALSO USE SURVEYS AND ACOUSTIC MONITORING TO DOCUMENT USE OF STAGING SITES BY STERNA TERNS LOCATED IN PROXIMITY TO WEAS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. MASS AUDUBON WILL HIRE AND OVERSEE FIELD CREWS TO CONDUCT SURVEYS AT KEY STAGING SITES IN MASSACHUSETTS (NORTON POINT, MARTHAS VINEYARD MUSKEGET ISLAND, NANTUCKET AND MONOMOY NWR, CHATHAM) TO ESTIMATE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF COMMON AND ROSEATE TERNS DURING THE STAGING PERIOD. SURVEYS WILL TAKE PLACE THREE TIMES PER WEEK IN JULY, AUGUST, AND SEPTEMBER AT NORTON POINT, ONCE PER WEEK ON MUSKEGET, AND TWICE A WEEK AT MONOMOY NWR TO DETERMINE THE PRESENCE OF STERNA SPECIES. THESE SURVEYS WILL INCLUDE EVENING DUSK SURVEYS WHEN POSSIBLE. NIGHT VISION WILL BE UTILIZED WHEN LIGHT CONDITIONS ARE POOR TO DETERMINE DISTRIBUTION AND AGE CLASS OF COMMON AND ROSEATE TERNS. WHEN DUSK SURVEYS ARE NOT POSSIBLE, DAYTIME OR MORNING SURVEYS WILL TAKE PLACE TO UNDERSTAND DIURNAL STAGING ACTIVITY AT THESE SITES.ON NORTON POINT AND MUSKEGET, MASS AUDUBON WILL OPERATE ACOUSTIC MONITORING DEVICES STARTING UPON THE FIRST SURVEY VISIT IN JULY. AT EACH SITE, MASS AUDUBON WILL RETRIEVE AND SWAP A NEW SD CARD FOR THE ACOUSTIC(S) UNITS EVERY TWO WEEKS AND UPLOAD DATA USING A MUTUALLY AGREE UPON WORKFLOW FOR ANALYSIS. ACOUSTIC MONITORING DATA WILL PROVIDE PRESENCE AND ABSENCE DATA FOR STERNA SPECIES WHEN MONITORS ARE NOT PRESENT. FIELD CREWS LED BY THE MASS AUDUBON WILL ALSO WORK WITH USFWS TO PLACE BASE STATIONS ON NORTON POINT, MUSKEGET, AND MONOMOY NWR. BASE STATIONS WILL BE PLACED ON OBSERVATION BLINDS WITHIN COLONIES AND ON SYMBOLIC FENCING AT STAGING AREAS. BASE STATIONS SHOULD BE PLACED AS CLOSE TO AREAS OF HIGH TERN USE AS POSSIBLE. FIELD CREWS WILL DOWNLOAD DATA FROM THE BASE STATIONS DURING EACH SITE VISIT AND SUBMIT DATA TO THE USFWS FOR PROCESSING.INFORMATION FROM THIS EFFORT WILL BE USED TO INFORM NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) ANALYSES AND ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (ESA) SECTION 7 CONSULTATIONS ON THE RISK OF OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TO TERNS WHILE EVALUATING THE UTILITY OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY FOR TRACKING TERNS DURING THE STAGING PERIOD AND MIGRATION.

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES OF SPRINGFIELD, WORCESTER, AND ATTLEBORO. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO SUPPORT EDUCATOR EFFICACY AND CONFIDENCE RELATED TO CLIMATE EDUCATION. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL THE RECIPIENT WILL PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING SERVICES TO EDUCATORS AS WELL AS IN-CLASS LESSONS AND FIELD TRIP PROGRAMMING RELATED TO CLIMATE-CHANGE AND CLIMATE-ACTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL COLLABORATE WITH EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP A TOOLKIT FOR TEACHERS TO IMPLEMENT STUDENT CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN ATTLEBORO, SPRINGFIELD, AND WORCESTER AND PROVIDE TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND INFORMAL EDUCATORS WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE: CO-PLANNING WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, 6 HOURS OF ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL PARTICIPATING TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, IN-CLASS CLIMATE-SCIENCE CLASSES FOR STUDENTS, STUDENT CLIMATE-ACTION FIELD TRIPS, STUDENT CLIMATE CIVIC ACTION PROJECTS, A POST-SCHOOL-YEAR SUMMER LEARNING INSTITUTE FOR ADULT PARTICIPANTS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLIMATE DEMOCRACY PROJECT TOOLKIT. SUBRECIPIENT:THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE 8 SUBRECIPIENTS: WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ATTLEBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY, WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY, SPRINGFIELD SCIENCE MUSEUM, THE MASSACHUSETTS CIVIC LEARNING COALITION, AND THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY RESEARCH. THE RECIPIENT WILL PROVIDE WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND ATTLEBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH $3,500 EACH IN THE FORM OF A FIXED AMOUNT SUBAWARD. THIS WILL INCLUDE A $2,500 STIPEND FOR ONE CLASSROOM TEACHER'S PARTICIPATION IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND A $1,000 TOTAL STIPEND TO EACH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE CLASSROOM TEACHER WILL PARTICIPATE IN AN ONLINE LEARNING COURSE, UP-FRONT PLANNING, SUPPORT FOR STUDENT ACTION PROJECTS, PARTICIPATION IN THE SCHOOL SESSIONS AND THE SUMMER INSTITUTE, AND PROVIDE INPUT AND REVIEW OF THE TOOLKIT. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR DISTRIBUTION AND PAYMENT OF THE TEACHER STIPEND, PROVIDE INPUT ON PLANNING, AID IN SCHEDULING FIELD TRIPS AND/OR CLASSROOM VISITS, SPACE AND TIME FOR STUDENTS TO MEET OUTSIDE OF CLASSROOM TIME IF NEEDED AND PROVIDE INPUT AND REVIEW OF THE TOOLKIT. THE RECIPIENT WILL PROVIDE THE ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY, WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY, SPRINGFIELD SCIENCE MUSEUM, MASSACHUSETTS CIVIC LEARNING COALITION, AND MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY RESEARCH WITH A $2,900 FIXED AMOUNT SUBAWARD EACH. EACH OF THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL EACH PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE LEARNING, UP-FRONT PLANNING, SUPPORT FOR STUDENT ACTION PROJECTS, PROVIDING FEEDBACK AT THE SUMMER INSTITUTE, AND PROVIDING INPUT AND REVIEW OF THE TOOLKIT. THE TOTAL OF SUBAWARD FUNDS IN THIS PROJECT IS $25,000 AND MEETS THE 25% SUBAWARD REQUIREMENT. OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: 6-12 IN-CLASS INSTRUCTION SESSIONS PROVIDED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY, DEVELOPMENT OF A 'READY-TO-IMPLEMENT' TOOLKIT FOR TEACHERS WHICH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FREE, 6 HOURS OF ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING EDUCATORS, AND 120 STUDENTS COMPLETING CIVIC ACTION PROJECTS. MAJOR OUTCOMES: A MAJOR OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT IS TR

STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ODONATES AT CACO

THIS PROJECT DEVELOPS A REGIONAL MODEL TO BUILD THE CLIMATE LITERACY OF STAFF AND INCREASE PROGRAM CAPACITY TO INTEGRATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS REGIO

BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN AT PARKER RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, NEWBURYPORT, MA

IMPORTANCE OF CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE TO STAGING ENDANGERED ROSEATE TERNS

MONITORING AND PREDATOR CONTROL AT DEAD NECK SAMPSON'S ISLAND AND ALLENS POND, MA

ONE OF THE MAJOR THREATS TO COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS IS ACCELERATED RELATIVE SEA LEVEL RISE SLR , A PREVALENT IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE NEW ENGLAND IS FACING SLR RATES THREE TO FOUR TIMES THE GLOBAL AVERAGE MAKING THIS REGION PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO SLR EFFECTS INCREASED FLOODING CAUSED BY SLR, STORM SURGE, AND INCREASED PRECIPITATION EVENTS HAS LED TO THE LOSS OF COASTAL WETLANDS COASTAL WETLANDS, SUCH AS SALT MARSHES, ARE CRITICAL TO MITIGATING IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOODING, BUT ARE FACING COMPLEX DEGRADATION IMPACTS SALT MARSHES SERVE AS A CARBON SINK, FOOD SOURCE, BREEDING HABITAT, AND NURSERY GROUND FOR BIRDS INCLUDING THE VULNERABLE SALTMARSH SPARROW, AMMODRAMUS CAUDACUTUS , FISH, AND SHELLFISH HANSON AND SHRIVER 2006 THESE ENVIRONMENTS ALSO PROVIDE FLOOD ABATEMENT AND HELP PREVENT COASTAL EROSION BARBIER ET AL , 2011 HISTORICALLY, LATERAL TRANSGRESSION AND VERTICAL ACCRETION OF NEW ENGLAND SALT MARSHES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP PACE WITH SLR RAPOSA ET AL , 2017 HOWEVER DUE TO INCREASED COASTAL DEVELOPMENT, LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS, REDUCED SEDIMENT SUPPLIES CAUSED BY URBANIZATION, DAM CONSTRUCTION, AND REFORESTATION , AND ACCELERATING RATES OF SLR, NEW ENGLAND MARSHES ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO MIGRATE OR ACCRETE AT A RATE FAST ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND SLR IMPACTS SALLENGER ET AL , 2012 HISTORIC HUMAN IMPACT, SUCH AS DITCH CREATION, HAS ALSO LOWERED SALT MARSH RESILIENCY TO SEA LEVEL RISE, PREVENTED MARSH DRAINAGE DUE TO DITCH CLOGGING, AND PROMOTED MARSH SUBSIDENCE BURDICK ET AL 2020 AS A RESULT OF THESE IMPACTS, NEW ENGLAND SALT MARSHES HAVE SUFFERED FROM INCREASED DIEBACK AREAS, CHANGES IN VEGETATION COMPOSITION, VEGETATION LOSS, PEAT SUBSIDENCE, WATERLOGGED SOILS, AND PONDING RAPOSA ET AL , 2017 THESE COMBINED EFFECTS FURTHER DECREASE SALT MARSH RESILIENCY TO STORMS AND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS, WHICH THE NORTHEAST IS PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CROTTY ET AL , 2017 RESTORATION EFFORTS LIKE DITCH REMEDIATION AND RUNNEL IMPLEMENTATION ARE VALUABLE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE RESILIENCE OF SALT MARSHES TO SEA LEVEL RISE IMPACTS, PREVENT ANY FURTHER MARSH SUBSIDENCE, ENHANCE SALT MARSH ACCRETION, AND PROMOTE VEGETATION RECOLONIZATION THIS PROJECT FUNDING WILL SUPPORT A PORTION OF THE OVERALL DESIGN FOR SALT MARSH RESTORATION FOR THE 1100 ACRE SALT MARSH WITHIN THE SANDY NECK BARRIER BEACH SYSTEM BARNSTABLE GREAT MARSH , WHICH WILL INCLUDE A VARIETY OF INNOVATIVE PRACTICES SUCH AS DITCH REMEDIATION, RUNNELS, AND MICRO TOPOGRAPHY THE LOW RISK DITCH REMEDIATION METHOD INVOLVES THE HARVESTING OF SALTMARSH HAY ADJACENT TO DITCHES AND ITS PLACEMENT IN SELECTED DITCH BOTTOMS WHERE IT IS SECURED WITH TWINE AS THE DITCH BOTTOM IS ELEVATED, NATURAL SALT MARSH VEGETATION COLONIZES AND COMPLETES THE RESTORATION OF THE DITCHES, STOPPING EXCESSIVE DRAINING AND MARSH SUBSIDENCE RUNNELS ARE SHALLOW CHANNELS USED TO DRAIN WATER IMPOUNDMENTS THAT FORM ON THE MARSH SURFACE DUE TO SEA LEVEL RISE IMPACTS THEY DRAIN STANDING WATER INTO NEARBY CREEKS OR DITCHES AND ENHANCE DRAINAGE PARTICULARLY WITHIN HIGH MARSH AREAS WHERE STANDING WATER IS CAUSING VEGETATION LOSS THE DRAINAGE THAT RUNNELS PROVIDE ALLEVIATES FLOODING STRESS AND PROMOTES VEGETATION RECOLONIZATION MICROTOPOGRAPHY OR MICRO ISLANDS IS AN INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUE USING SEDIMENT EXTRACTED FROM RUNNELS TO CREATE PEAT MOUNDS OF HIGHER ELEVATION THAT SALTMARSH SPARROWS CAN USE AS NESTING HABITAT FREE FROM FLOODING STRESS RESTORATION DESIGN UTILIZING THESE TECHNIQUES WILL BE CONDUCTED STRATEGICALLY TO REPLICATE NATURAL HYDROLOGY, RESTORING MARSH HEALTH AND ITS ABILITY TO KEEP PACE WITH SLR THROUGH REVERSING MARSH SUBSIDENCE AND INCREASING ACCRETION RATES

THE NEST: A NATURE INSPIRED SPACE, DESIGN WORKSHOP, AND ART STUDIO IS A NEW PROJECT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY?S MUSEUM OF AMERICAN BIRD ART DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A DEDICATED SPACE AND ROBUST MOBILE COMPONENT FOR PRE-K TO GRADE 5 AGED CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND EDUCATORS. WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE MUSEUM WILL CREATE AN INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION INTEGRATING NATURE, ART, AND SCIENCE, USING EXISTING UNDERUTILIZED SPACE AT THE MUSEUM. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL TEST AND DEVELOP PROTOTYPES OF CONTENT, MATERIALS, AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEST, ALONG WITH CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES. THROUGH THE IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION AND SUPPORTING PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES, THE MUSEUM WILL BETTER SERVE AN EXPANDED GROUP OF LEARNERS WITH NATURE-BASED STEAM PROGRAMS.

THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY (MASS AUDUBON) WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PD) TRAINING PROGRAM FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 MASS AUDUBON EDUCATORS WORKING OUT OF 19 NATURE CENTERS AND AN ART MUSEUM TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, ENVIRONMENTAL-FOCUSED STEM AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. ONCE TRAINED, THESE EDUCATORS WILL WORK WITH SCHOOLS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS DELIVERING APPROXIMATELY 54 DIFFERENT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM SERIES. THE RESULTING PROGRAMS PROVIDE OUTDOOR NATURE PROGRAMMING FACILITATED BY EDUCATORS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SPECIAL TRAINING TO HELP WITH THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC RECOVERY FOR STUDENTS FROM COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

R5 DEAD NECK SAMPSON'S ISLAND & ALLENS POND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

MANAGING SHOREBIRD PREDATORS ADMIST THE BEACH GOING PUBLIC

FROSTED ELFIN HABITAT RESTORATION IN SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS

MAP INVASIVE PEPPERWEED AND RESTORE 280 ACRES OF SALTMARSH AND UPLAND HABITAT

"THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY WILL DEVELOP, PILOT, AND IMPLEMENT AN EVALUATION FRAMEWORK FOR NATURE-BASED STEM PROGRAMMING THAT SERVES K-12 STUDENTS VISITING ITS NETWORK OF NATURE CENTERS AND MUSEUMS. WORKING WITH AN EXTERNAL CONSULTANT, THE SOCIETY WILL DEVELOP THE FRAMEWORK COMPRISED OF A LOGIC MODEL AND THEORY OF CHANGE FOR FIELDTRIPS, AND DEVELOP A TOOLKIT OF EVALUATION DATA COLLECTION METHODOLOGY SUITABLE TO VARIOUS CHILD DEVELOPMENT STAGES. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL DESIGN AND CONDUCT THREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING SEMINARS TO HELP MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SCHOOL EDUCATORS DEVELOP A WORKING UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEW EVALUATION FRAMEWORK FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND GAIN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT PROTOCOL IMPLEMENTATION. THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION OF A UNIVERSAL PROTOCOL TO GUIDE THE COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT, AND REPORTING OF EDUCATION PROGRAM EVALUATION DATA ACROSS THE 19 NATURE CENTERS AND MUSEUMS IN THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SYSTEM."

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MIGRATORY SUCCESS STUDY OF RIVER HERRING IN THE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE

PREDATION MANAGEMENT BMP IMPLEMENTATION MA

CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF HARDY KIWI IN THE BERKSHIRES

MASS AUDUBON WITH GROUNDWORK LAWRENCE WILL DEVELOP A NATURAL RESOURCE EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT TO ENHANCE STEWARDSHIP OF THE SPICKET RIVER

GREAT MARSH PERENNIAL PEPPERWEED COORDINATION AND CONTROL

WETLAND CREATION, UPLAND HABITAT RESTORATION, AND TEACHER TRAINING WORKSHOP

VERNAL POOL RESTORATION, LONG PASTURE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY