Outings

A tour of Amherst’s watershed at the Atkins Reservoir and a tour of the waste-water treatment plant are scheduled for October 24th, at Noon. The tour is limited to 25 people, on a first-come first-accepted basis. More details will be sent to you after you register for the tour. Please e-mail John White at johnr.white3@gmail.com with your wish to attend.

We all depend on water to live, grow, clean with and play in, but do you know where your water comes from or how much of it there is? Do you know what happens to it once you’ve used it and filled it with all sorts of unmentionable (hopefully biodegradable) material? How does it get to us in the first place? We tend to take water for granted, because it seems so plentiful while flowing from the tap. But water is one of the essential gifts of this world that is being endangered by pollution, overused by all segments of society from farmers to school children, and is quickly diminishing as a natural resource. In some parts of our country, aquifers are drying up or empty, and rivers and streams are so polluted that poison signs are posted. Recent droughts in the mid-west and south have dried up lakes and reservoirs. This is not even to mention what is happening in the oceans.

Access to water is on the Defense Department’s list of resources that are expected to diminish in years ahead and be a cause for regional conflicts, or outright war. Climate change here we come! Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee are among the US states fighting court battles over water rights. We probably won’t be warring with Belchertown or Shutesbury, or the communities where the sources of the Connecticut river originate, but we do rely on water that passes through these communities. This tour of the watershed and the treatment plant is an opportunity to gain an understanding of where our water comes from, how it gets to our homes, its condition and how it is treated after use, and where it goes from here. There will also be opportunities to ask questions: about how we can treat it better and conserve, about other sources of water such as from wells, about the impact of bottled water on the environment, or what ever is on your mind. A waste-water plant is a fascinating experience that you will long remember, and it may make you more appreciative of the gift of water. This tour is organized by Transition Amherst.

A tour of the Amherst waste water plant and water treatment facility will be offered on October 24th at Noon. Preregistration is required. Go to www.transitionamherst.org/tour for more information, or e-mail johnr.white3@gmail.com to register. Sponsored by Transition Amherst.

When: August 26, Sunday, 1-3pm (Rain Date: September 16, Sunday, 1-3pm)

Where: Leverett road in Shutesbury, before Montague road. Exact location to be announced, and a sign will mark the parking area just off the road.

What/Description: During our walk in the sutainably managed Brushy Mountain or the Paul C. Jones Working Forest, Kate Marquis, Forestry Technician for W.D. Cowls, Inc., will discuss sustainable forestry and planning for the future. We will hike through recently harvested areas and discuss how foresters plan harvests in line with ecosystem management, hydrology, and public demand for timber resources. We will discuss the current status of our forests and how see them stay healthy as we move into the future and how forest research is underway to determine how to maintain forest health in line with changes such as climate change and invasive species introductions.

Kate will answer questions during our approx. two hour walk, and is willing to stick around for additional questions at the end of the walk.

Other Logistics: The hike is very easy, there are some very gentle slopes. Bring bug spray. I find Cedar Later and Badger Balm work well and do not bother people with chemical sensitivities. Long pants, high socks, and light colored clothing help people keep the ticks off.

The walk is free, but please be on time, otherwise you may miss us.