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This week in conservation
December 25 - January 7, 2006
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In This Issue:

Local News:
Offshore Aquaculture for the Vineyard Waters

Island Plan:
Another Steering Committee work-session

Feature:
EPA's rules on pollution reporting loosened

Calendar:
Last Day Walk;
Martha's Vineyard Water Alliance Meeting;
Moonrise Meander;
Island Plan Livelihood and Commerce WGC

Save The Date:
6th Annual NOFA Course in Organic Land Care

Wildlife Update:
Effluent changes gender of fish

Wind Update:
Cape Wind hails SJC ruling

Land Conservation Update:
Land Bank buys Aquinnah beach, Chilmark field;
Land Bank Authorizes Beach Management Plan Despite Neighbors' Doubt

LOCAL NEWS
Offshore Aquaculture for the Vineyard Waters
By Marnie Stanton, Vineyard Conservation Almanac

A salty crowd gathered at the Chilmark Library to hear ocean aquaculture specialist Dr. Richard Langan speak on “Opportunities for Ocean Mussel Farming in New England”. Concern for the future of the Martha’s Vineyard fishing industry motivated Chilmark Shellfish Constable Stanley Larsen, Chilmark Selectman Warren Doty, and Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group Director Rick Karney to persuade Dr. Langan to come to the Vineyard.

Go to the Sustainability, In the News, section for the rest of the article.

Island Plan

The Steering Committee held another work-session Saturday morning, December 9, at the VTA building at the Airport Business Park. The committee is shifting focus from procedural issues and broad goals to the very tangible issues of development – How much should the Island plan for? Where should it be located? What form or density should it be? The committee decided to examine over the next few months several different neighborhoods and areas of the Island to identify possible characteristics for the community to consider that might serve to guide the answers to the development questions? Also, the Water Resources Work Groups held its first meeting of the entire group December 12 to discuss initial goals and the primary concerns it should focus on. All five active work groups have now met.

William Veno, AICP Senior Planner, Martha's Vineyard Commission.
Energy Tip
A "phantom load" is the energy that's sapped by appliances when they're plugged in, but not on. Use power strips or manually unplug DVD players, computers and cell phone chargers to save electricity from disappearing without a trace.

 

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FEATURE
EPA's rules on pollution reporting loosened
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
By JEFF MONTGOMERY
The News Journal

Some Del. plants can emit 4 times as much in '07 under the radar

Dee Whildin wants to know more, not less, about pollution from the troubled Claymont Steel plant south of her home.

But under changes to reporting standards approved Monday, the company won't have to report most of the toxic compounds it emits.

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/
pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061219/NEWS/612190339
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CALENDAR
Last Day Walk
Sun, Dec 31, 2006, 1 pm
Felix Neck Sanctuary
It is your last chance to visit Felix Neck in 2006! Close out the year with a guided walk at Felix Neck led by naturalist Susie Bowman. Members – Free, Nonmembers - $5.
Martha’s Vineyard Water Alliance Meeting
Wed. Jan 3, 2006, 12:30 pm
MV Commission, Oak Bluffs
Moonrise Meander

Wed, Jan 3, 2006, 4 pm
Felix Neck Sanctuary
Bundle up and come out to greet the full moon rising over Sengekontacket Pond. Felix Neck’s trails provide the views and Suzan Bellincampi will be your guide on this brisk early evening walk. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight in case of clouds. Members Free, Nonmembers - $5.
Island Plan Livelihood and Commerce WGC

Wed, Jan 3, 2006, 4 pm
Cronig's Market, State Road, Vineyard Haven

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Save The Date
6th Annual NOFA Course in Organic Land Care

A five-day professional course offered on:

January 9, 10, 11, 16 & 17, 2007 in Leominster, MA
Directions - Printable Registration Form for MA - Register Online

January 31, February 1, 2, 5 and 6, 2007 in New Haven, CT
Directions - Printable Registration Form for CT - Register Online

*THE COURSE*
Growing public awareness of pesticide use hazards and new legislation mandating least toxic and non-toxic alternatives are fueling a new market opportunity for professionals with knowledge of organic land care. This 30-hour course for professionals will provide the education needed for an understanding of organic land care design and maintenance. The curriculum is based on NOFA’s Standards for Organic Land Care: Practices for Design and Maintenance of Ecological Landscapes, written by NOFA’s Organic Land Care Committee. These Standards, published in 2001 and revised annually, extend the vision of organic agriculture to the care of the entire landscape, both private and public. At the end of the course attendees will be able to incorporate methods and materials that respect natural ecology and the long-term health of the environment.

*ACCREDITATION*
An optional exam will be given at the conclusion of the course.
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Wildlife Update
Effluent changes gender of fish
By BOONSRI DICKINSON and TODD NEFF
Scripps Howard News Service

In 2004, David Norris reported that fish just below the Boulder, Colo.,Wastewater Treatment Plant's outflow pipe were changing sex. Two years later, the University of Colorado integrative physiology professor has expanded his study, which now involves one "Fish Exposure Mobile" research trailer in operation and a second on the way. Science done in the trailer has verified Norris' 2004 study and shown that surprisingly low concentrations of treatment-plant effluent can change male fish into females.

http://www.trib.com/articles/2006/12/12/
news/regional/87a0a21fccb3d8a587257241006d1666.prt
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Wind Update
Cape Wind hails SJC ruling
December 19, 2006
By PATRICK CASSIDY, STAFF WRITER
Cape Cod Times

The state's highest court yesterday upheld the conditional approval of 18 miles of power transmission lines as part of the wind farm proposed for Nantucket Sound.

Project supporters hailed the finding by the state Supreme Judicial Court as a victory, while the wind farm's principle opponent - the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound - downplayed it as just one piece of the large and contentious project.

''Certainly in our view the Alliance case was weak,'' said Cape Wind Associates spokesman Mark Rodgers.

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/
capewind19.htm
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Land Conservation Update
Land Bank buys Aquinnah beach, Chilmark field
By Nelson Sigelman
MV Times

The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank this week added an Aquinnah beachfront property and a Chilmark field to its inventory of Island properties that are available for public enjoyment.

http://mvtimes.com/news/2006/12/21/
land_bank_purchases.php
Land Bank Authorizes Beach Management Plan Despite Neighbors' Doubt
By IAN FEIN
Vineyard Gazette
Longtime Tisbury Great Pond beach owners told the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank this week that its plans for the barrier beach will drastically alter the traditional use of that stretch of the south shore.

http://www.mvgazette.com/news/
2006/12/22/land_bank_plan.php
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