AMWS
LIBRARY
Our library
is a valuable resource for Massachusetts wetland scientists. In addition to PDFs of PowerPoint presentations that may be of interest to our members,
critical and hard-to-find documents are added periodically
to this permanent collection. In addition, we list "must
have" books recommended by AMWS members for the well-appointed
wetland library.
REVISED AMWS BYLAWS APPROVED AT 11/04/11 ANNUAL MEETING
The AMWS Bylaws were originally drafted in 1991 and were amended on several occasions between 1993 and 2003. As AMWS moves into its third decade, the Board of Directors (“BOD”) determined that revisions to the AMWS Bylaws were both necessary and overdue. In June 2011, the AMWS BOD established a non-standing Bylaws Review Committee to review the current AMWS Bylaws and provide appropriate, necessary, and timely revisions. President Heidi Davis appointed John Rockwood as Chair; the balance of the Bylaws Review Committee consisted of Patrick Garner, Ruth Ladd, Mickey Marcus, and Glenn Wood. Based upon analysis, it was decided that an overall redrafting rather than selective amendments were necessary to bring the AMWS Bylaws up-to-date. In August 2011, the Committee delivered the Proposed Revised Bylaws to the BOD for their review and approval. The BOD voted unanimously to approve the proposed revisions and to pass them on to the membership for a vote at the November 4, 2011 AMWS Annual Meeting.
AMWS BYLAWS 11.04.2011
* * *
The 9/30/11 AMWS workshop, Riverbank Stabilization Techniques, showcased the recent Haverhill, Mass., project. Presenters Dwight Dunk (CDM) and Chad Sumner (SumCo Eco-Contracting) discussed the design, permitting, construction and monitoring involved, plus the "on the ground" decison-making that controlled costs as well as the riverbank.
The back story: The northern bank of the Merrimack River was subject to significant erosion after storm events which threatened to undermine a roadway and expose and rupture a 54" diameter sewer line. Haverhill needed to act quickly to avoid a raw sewage discharge. Boat wakes and tidal influence complicated the problem of near-veritical slopes and toppled trees. The Haverhill Riverbank Stabilization Project is a great example of multiple complementary stabilization techniques used in an unstable and complicated riverine situation.
CDM Design, Permitting, Monitoring
SumCo Eco-Contracting Construction
* * *
The 9/09/11 AMWS Ferns workshop had a bonus treat--an abundance of mushrooms and fungi! Treat yourself to AMWS member Emily Sullivan's Powerpoint rendition (give it time to load!):
2011 Mushrooms and Fungi
***
8/05/11
For the latest Mass. General Permit Modification (07.28.11) as well as the copy provided by the Corps with the changes highlighted, see:
MA GP 07.28.11 Changes
Highlighted MA GP 07.28.11 Changes
* * *
3/11/11
See photos of the 3/11/11 AMWS workshop, Winter Botany to recall your experience or remind yourself to sign up next time that this practical and fun workshop is offered! (Large file/33MB)
3-11-11 Winter Botany Photos
* * *
The 2/17/11 AMWS workshop, Federal & State Regulations for Wetlands & Waterways, included presentations on the Federal Clean Water Act Jurisdiction, the Mass General Permit and Policy Issues by Karen Adams (Chief, Permits & Enforcement, COE); MassDEP Policy Changes by Lealdon Langley (Director of Wetlands & Waterways, MassDEP), and; Legal Subtleties in the WPA by Gregory Sampson, Esq. (Land Use & Environmental Attorney, Robinson & Cole). Please see below:
2-17-11 COE Wetlands %26 Waterways
2-17-11 DEP Wetlands %26 Waterways Regs
2-17-11 Legal-Sampson-Wetlands %26 Waterways
* * *
The 11/12/010 AMWS Annual Meeting covered Emerging Wildlife Issues in Massachusetts Wetlands. Of particular interest was Karen Adams' presentation, "Vernal Pools & the Corps' Recent Changes to the General Permit." Her Powerpoint (below) may be helpful to those who did not attend the meeting or would like a refresher.
2010 AMWS-Corps Vernal Pool Changes
Additionally, Glenn Wood, Esq., gave an overview of 2010 wetland legal cases & issues. To learn more, click box below.
2010 Wetland Legal Cases
* * *
Hoosac Wind Project - AMWS filed an Amicus Curiae Brief on 2/16/10. To see the brief and background documents, see below.
Hoosac Amicus 02/16/10 (PDF)
Hoosac_Appeal 04/14/07 (PDF)
Hoosac_DEP 06/20/07 (PDF)
* * *
The 6/08/09 LSP/AMWS workshop, "Wetlands, Wetlands Regulation & the Mass. Contingency Plan" included the following DEP and Corps PowerPoint overviews of the Wetlands Protection Act and wetlands vegetation:
LSP-COE Wetland Vegetation
LSP-DEP WetlandVegetation
* * *
The Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program amended the guidelines for certifying vernal pools in 4/2009 as follows:
NHESP VP Guidelines
* * *
The following presentations were given at the 3/20/09 Corps of Engineers workshop entitled Rapanos & Mitigation Guidance Regulatory Update. The "takeaway" message from the guidance is that jurisdiction through "ecological connection" extends to most isolated wetlands, regardless of distance from navigable waterways.
Revised Rapanos Guidance and RGL 08-02 (USCOE)
Compensatory Mitigation Regulation ("Mitigation Rule") (USCOE)
Implications of Mitigation Rule for Massachusetts Applicants & Consultants (by Richard Claytor, P.E., Horsley Witten Group)
Regionalizing the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual-New England Field Testing (USCOE)
"MUST
HAVE" BOOKS IN YOUR WETLAND LIBRARY,
compiled by AMWS
"Here
is a preview of the top five picks in four categories, with
additional entries listed below.
The survey is based on responses from 10% of membership."
Read
More (PDF)
LIST
OF SELECTED WETLAND PUBLICATIONS ,
Composed by Ralph Tiner (USFWS)
"The
following are a list of selected reports, articles, and books
dealing with a variety of wetland topics. Most of these publications
are produced by and available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Northeast Region and the Service's National Wetlands
Inventory Project."
Read
More (PDF)
**Permanent
Collection of Relevant State and Federal Documents**
Please
check regularly for updates.
DEP STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT REGULATORY REVISIONS (1/02/08)
Summary of WPA & WQC Revisions:
http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/strmreg.pdf
Revised Wetlands Protection Regulations: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/regulati.htm#wl
Revised Water Quality Certification Regulations: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/regulati.htm#wqual
Stormwater Handbook (including Report Checklist): http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/policies.htm#storm
Note: Volumes 1 &
2 may be purchased from the State House Bookstore. Vol. 3
is not yet available in hard copy.
LYME DISEASE INFORMATION (from 4/2006 AMWS Newsletter)
http://amws.org/documents/lymewisesurprises.pdf
PERTINENT
MASS. ETHICS COMMISSION'S PRIMERS (3/23/06):
The
Top Ten Rules Municipal Employees (defined here as any wetland
scientist who works for a town) Need to Know About the Conflict
of Interest Law
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/toptenrules_municipal.html
Frequently
Asked Questions & Answers
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/Q&A.html
Ethics
Primer: Officials Appearing before Town Boards
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/primer_17.html
Ethics Primer: Self-Dealing, Financial Interest and Rule of
Necessity
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/primer_19.html
Ethics
Primer: Financial Interests in Contracts
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/primer_20.html
Ethics
Primer: Former Municipal Employees
http:www.mass.gov/ethics/primer_18.html
Summary
of Conflict of Interest Law - No. 9 (Conservation Commissioners)
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/sum9.htm
Brochure on Conflict of Interest Law
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/intro-trifold.pdf
Consultants
& Attorneys Advisory (draft)
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/adv0601.htm
Ethics
Commission Enforcement Action Summaries http://www.mass.gov/ethics/ENFORCEMENTACTIONS.htm
Summaries
of Advisory Opinions
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/coi-sum.htm
MISC.
DOCUMENTS
11/09/07 Annual Meeting - "Climate Change in New England: Projections & Policy"
PowerPoint Presentation
by Dr. Peter Frumhoff , Union of Concerned Scientists
Link to: Union
of Concerned Scientists
NHESP
Overview Letter of MESA Regulatory Changes
(11/17/05)
MESA
Regulatory Changes
(07/01/05)
Massachusetts
River and Stream Crossing Standards: Technical Guidelines
(03/01/06)
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