Insights from Outside May 2021 - Wellesley, MA
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Insights from Outside
May 2021
Tread Often, but Tread Lightly Mandatory Outdoor Watering
Restrictions Now in Place for
Wellesley
Alternate day outdoor watering
You are the greatest asset for protecting restrictions are now in effect throughout
Wellesley's wild, infinitely interesting and town. Please take action to reduce water
delicate places. These spaces belong to all consumption:
of us, and it's up to us to keep them open Limit or stop lawn irrigation
to all for passive recreation, wildlife plant native plants which are
habitat, and water protection. The Town naturally drought-tolerant
recently sent this message about the buy a rain barrel
importance of properly enjoying our fix leaks, and
town's open spaces. Please enjoy the follow the DPW's new Twitter page
recreation opportunities offered by our for more ideas on water
parks without disturbing the landscape. conservation.
Thank you. Also, please read the DPW's letter to
residents to learn more about how our
town is responding to the elevated levels
Lights on Hunnewell Field of PFAS recently detected in our water
supply.
Before You Pay to Spray,
Get the Facts About Keeping
Mosquitos at Bay
The NRC hired independent lighting
consultant Bob Parks, who assisted the Please research before you spray for bugs
Town during the 2018 street light and mosquitoes. The Town of Wellesley
conversion to LED's, to advise the NRC on proactively manages mosquito populations
upgrading existing lights at the tennis by treating catch basins to prevent larvae
courts and the Reidy and Warren fields, as from developing into adulthood, and traps
well as to advise on proposed lighting at adult mosquitoes to test for mosquito
the WHS Track and Field, which the borne diseases like Eastern Equine
Wellesley Public Schools is exploring. Encephalitis (EEE).
Watch the consultant's Pesticides used by mosquito elimination
presentation to the NRC. companies are non-discriminate, meaning
Read the draft report. they not only kill mosquitoes - they also
kill dragonflies, fireflies, tadpoles - the very
The Schools are hosting an: species that keep mosquito populations in
Abutters/neighbors exploratory check naturally.
meeting on lights via Zoom tonight
(May 27) at 7:00pm, and a Please research on your own, and be
Community forum on Wednesday informed by the following information
June 2nd before you contract with a pest company.
The Schools are also suggesting residents Healthy Yards video featuring former NRC
visit the new lighting installation at Commissioner Dr. Regina LaRocque
Newton South football field, located at
140 Brandeis Road. Health Department: Mosquitos and Ticks
Joint letter from the Board of Health and
Natural Resources Commission on the
The Recognitions
dangers of pesticides
Keep on Coming!
Health Department FAQ's on mosquito-
borne illnesses, including how to take
personal precautions
NRC Letter to the State's Mosquito Task
Force requesting the development of a
science based, ecological mosquito
management policy.
Know before you spray!
Help Protect Our Trails
NRC's Lisa Moore and
WHS Climate Action Club Members Our dedicated Trails Committee works
Receive Project Green Schools' Awards hard to develop and enhance over 28
miles of interconnected network for our
Congratulations to Lisa Moore, the NRC's enjoyment. Please help them out by
Environmental Education and Outreach practicing good trail etiquette when out on
Coordinator, on receiving Project Green the trails by adhering to the Trail Use
Schools' 2021 Green Difference Awards Guidelines. Thank you!
for Outdoor Learning and Education.
Congratulations are also in order for WHS Centennial Reservation
Climate Action Club members Vaani
Kapoor, Kaitlin Braun, and Catherine
Smith, who took home a Community
Engagement Award for their work on
Solar Power and other initiatives.
Thanks to Wellesley Green Schools for
taking the time to nominate these
outstanding individuals. Way to go,
Wellesley!
The Trails Committee is in the process of
closing off a handful of trail segments for
restoration at Centennial Reservation to
mitigate erosion issues in problem areas
and habitat fragmentation in
redundant pathways. Centennial
Reservation is one of Wellesley's most
popular outdoor spaces, offering terrific
walking trails and views. We kindly ask
that you excuse any inconvenience -
please avoid walking on closed off trails
Pollinator Week is June 21 through 27, TREES GROW IN WELLESLEY
and what better way to celebrate than to
plant native species to help our critical
birds and insects? Here's how:
Milkweed Sale, Free Planters,
and More
Sustainable Wellesley will be
holding a Milkweed for
Monarchs sale with plants
from the Native Plant Trust.
Supplies will be limited,
contact Sustainable Wellesley to get
notified.
The Department of Public Works Tree
No space or bandwidth Planting crew installed dozens of trees
for a traditional garden around Town this spring (including the red
but still want to help our maple pictured above), much to the
essential pollinators? The delight of many residents. It's never too
NRC will be distributing soon to get on next year's list - contact the
all needed supplies to NRC for a consult site visit to discuss a free
build your very own tree for your yard! Your new tree could be
native planter. Free kits will be home to a new visitor like the chipmunk
distributed on Saturday, June 26. pictured below, in a Red Buckeye tree
planted in 2018.
What's the catch? We're asking recipients
to take photos of "visitors" at least twice For more information about the Town's
weekly, and share them as part of a tree population, see the online Public Tree
citizen-science data collection project. This Map.
project is suitable and fun for all ages!
Contact Lisa Moore for more information And a reminder to Call Before You Cut a
and to reserve your kit. tree on the perimeter of your property to
determine if it's a public shade tree. The
unauthorized cutting of a public shade tree
Did you miss the carries costly fines and damages. A simple
Wellesley phone call is the easiest way to avoid
Conservation Land them. Reach the NRC at: 781-431-1019
Trust Flower Power x2294.
Speaker Series, How Native Plants Can
Save Our Bugs and Birds? We've got you
covered! Watch the talks here.
Get inspired!
Visit Cronk's Rocky
Woodland Garden
to view beautiful
native plants in a
peaceful, natural setting.
Keeping a pesticide-free
yard is crucial to hosting
these delicate pollinators.
Request a "Pollinator
Corridor" sign for your
yard to spur conversation
in your neighborhood. Your Moment of Nature
(Already have last year's
sign? Request a new
label!)
Keep up-to-date with new Pollinate
Wellesley Events by following our
FaceBook Page. Pollinate Wellesley is a
joint initiative of Sustainable Wellesley,
Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, and
the NRC.
Thanks to resident Howard Hersey for this
truly amazing photo of two bald eagles at
Morses Pond. Send us your nature photos!
Climate Planning In Action
Happy Memorial Day
To all who serve and served, thank you!
The Town of Wellesley is developing
a Climate Action Plan to engage the
community, set goals for greenhouse gas
emissions reduction, define and prioritize
actions, and create a blueprint for building
resilience and achieving net-zero emissions
by 2050.
How We Move is a big piece of the Plan.
Participate by taking all of the quick
mobility surveys here, found under the
"Wellesley Wheelhouse" tab.
It is the mission of the Natural Resources Commission to provide
stewardship of, education about, and advocacy for the Town of Wellesley’s
parks, conservation, recreation and open space areas so the full value of
the Town’s natural assets can be passed onto future generations.
MEETING CALENDAR
Agendas are posted 48 hours prior to meeting time.
Upcoming NRC Meetings:
Thursday June 3, 7:00 PM @ Online remote
Thursday June 17, 7:00 PM TBD
Upcoming Wetlands Protection Committee Meetings:
Thursday June 3, 6:30 PM @ Online remote
Upcoming Trails Committee Meetings:
Wednesday June 16, 7:00 PM @ Online remote
Connect with us Town of Wellesley Natural Resources Commission
Phone: 781-431-1019 x 2294
Email: nrc@wellesleyma.gov
Website: www.wellesleyma.gov/nrc
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