22 February 2012

Annual Westfield River Symposium

18th Westfield River Symposium:

WRWA's annual river symposium is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, 2012 in the Scanlon Banquet Hall on the campus of Westfield State University.

The program begins at 8:30 a.m. with introductions and the keynote address "A Resilient Future for the Westfield Watershed", by Andy Finton, the MA Director of Science & Conservation for The Nature Conservancy. Half a dozen speakers will fill out the morning program, with talks on migratory fish restoration, invasive plants, road crossings, coldwater fisheries, dam removal, and the effects of Tropical Storm Irene. A half hour is set aside mid-morning for viewing of exhibts from approximately 20 local and state organizations.

There will also be a raffle and a showing of The Watershed Waltz, a new DVD version of Marmalade Productions' puppet show on healthy watersheds. Afternoon field trips will offer opportunities to visit the West Springfield Fish Ladder or the Flood Control Dams on the Westfield River. You'll find the tentative program in the Symposium section of the website.