In early November 2024, a low intensity brush fire burned roughly 60 acres at the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area (Northampton, Massachusetts). Most of the affected acres were dry, rocky uplands, but wetter margins near Broad Brook also burned. In all of these areas, the brush fire “damage’ was fairly minimal; the top leaf litter was consumed, the base of the trees were scorched, the crowns of many understory shrubs and saplings died back, and a 2-acre patch of cattails was blackened. This spr

In 1972, the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and its accompanying regulations identified 7 functions that freshwater and coastal wetlands provide that benefit the interests of the public; they include: (1) flood control, (2 & 3) prevention of pollution and storm damage, and (4-7) protection of public and private water supplies, groundwater supply, fisheries, and land containing shellfish. In 1987, an 8th value was added to the list: wildlife habitat. This compilation (3 weeks in 3 minutes)