{"id":2939,"date":"2013-11-25T12:59:57","date_gmt":"2013-11-25T17:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=2939"},"modified":"2013-11-25T12:59:57","modified_gmt":"2013-11-25T17:59:57","slug":"a-stream-set-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-stream-set-free\/","title":{"rendered":"A Stream Set Free"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After months of preparation\u2014and a nail-biting pause during the government shutdown\u2014Mass Audubon and its partners have removed a deteriorating bridge and dam at <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/get-outdoors\/wildlife-sanctuaries\/canoe-meadows\" target=\"_blank\">Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary<\/a><\/strong> in Pittsfield. Now Sackett Brook flows wild and free, alongside a newly planted forest. The project is good news for wildlife, and it\u2019s also fun to watch:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"625\" height=\"352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PdW_fjYgBWk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>About the Dam<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><b><\/b>The dam at Sackett Brook was built in the 1930s to make a private reservoir for swimming and fishing. The altered streamflow eroded riverbanks in places, and caused sediment to build up in others, impairing the quality of the brook for plants and animals.<\/p>\n<p>Fast-forward to recent years; the dam was now obsolete and the bridge was in poor condition, and, said Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries director Ren\u00e9 Laubach, these structures had \u201cdisrupted habitats for 80 years\u201d. It was time to set Sackett Brook free.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Restoring the Stream<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Removing a dam\u2014even a little one\u2014is no small task. To complete the Sackett Brook Restoration Project, Mass Audubon worked with state and local partners, and funding was provided by the City of Pittsfield. Timing was important: the structure had to be removed before wood turtles, a state-listed rare species, settled into the brook to overwinter.<\/p>\n<p>The project was planned for October 2013. In late September, the final federal permit was on the way. But then came the government shutdown. Mass Audubon and its partners waited nervously; the window of opportunity was rapidly closing. Fortunately, the Army Corps of Engineers came through in time to begin the project in earnest. Heavy construction was done by October 29, and a new streamside forest was planted in early November.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Benefits for Wildlife\u2014and Beyond<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>The restored brook and forest will provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. It\u2019s hoped that the free-flowing water, shaded by new trees, will support a healthy population of wood turtles, and enable the brook to stay cooler even as the climate changes.<\/p>\n<p>The project helps fisheries, too. Sackett Brook has several trout species, including native brook trout. With the dam gone, these species can now travel freely throughout the watershed. White sucker, slimy sculpin, and small fish like dace will also benefit from this new freedom.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a big win for students, too. Mass Audubon also worked with nearby schools to use the project as a teaching tool. Elementary students explored the stream\u2019s ecology, and high school students recorded before-and-after footage. Armed with newfound knowledge, they will help encourage a healthy future for all our waterways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After months of preparation\u2014and a nail-biting pause during the government shutdown\u2014Mass Audubon and its partners have removed a deteriorating bridge and dam at Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsfield. Now Sackett Brook flows wild and free, alongside a newly planted forest. The project is good news for wildlife, and it\u2019s also fun to watch: About [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-project-updates"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-Lp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4482,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/mass-audubon-by-the-numbers-2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":2939,"position":0},"title":"Mass Audubon By the Numbers: 2014","author":"Hillary T.","date":"December 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This holiday season we\u00a0have much to celebrate! This was a great year for wildlife and wild lands in Massachusetts because of people like you. Here, a look at the past year by the numbers. For more on the year's accomplishments, check out our Annual Report. #1 is Mass Audubon's ranking\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Stuff We Love&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Stuff We Love","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/stuff-we-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/12\/Stony-Brook_Camp_2014_Heather-Cooper-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/12\/Stony-Brook_Camp_2014_Heather-Cooper-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/12\/Stony-Brook_Camp_2014_Heather-Cooper-7.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15502,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/three-nature-restoration-projects-you-can-watch\/","url_meta":{"origin":2939,"position":1},"title":"Three Nature Restoration Projects You Can Watch","author":"Rishya N.","date":"April 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We\u2019re celebrating Earth Day\u2019s theme of restoring our earth, and we want you to celebrate with us. Here are\u00a0three\u00a0restoration projects you can check out by visiting one of\u00a0Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0wildlife\u00a0sanctuaries. Get outdoors, connect with nature, and learn more\u00a0about what nature restoration in Massachusetts looks like!\u00a0 Tree Planting in Western Massachusetts\u00a0 In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Climate&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/20210106_143553.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/20210106_143553.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/20210106_143553.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/20210106_143553.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6349,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-broad-meadow-brook-wildlife-sanctuary\/","url_meta":{"origin":2939,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary","author":"Rosemary","date":"October 12, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"In the coming weeks we'll be featuring intriguing portraits of our wildlife sanctuaries that were captured by past participants in our Photo Contest. Enjoy these five\u00a0images\u00a0from\u00a0Broad Meadow Brook in\u00a0Worcester!","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/10\/Ilya-Schiller-2014.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/10\/Ilya-Schiller-2014.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/10\/Ilya-Schiller-2014.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15575,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-hit-the-trails\/","url_meta":{"origin":2939,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Hit the Trails","author":"Ryan D.","date":"April 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Earth Month is wrapping up this week and it's been terrific seeing so many people get involved, explore Mass Audubon's sanctuaries, and learn about what you can do to combat climate change.\u00a0Thankfully, we don't have to stop celebrating nature and all its wonders after April ends! Our statewide network of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary \u00a9 Lorie Brownell","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/3436Lorie_Brownell33989-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/3436Lorie_Brownell33989-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/3436Lorie_Brownell33989-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/3436Lorie_Brownell33989-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6386,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-five-stony-brook-wildlife-sanctuary\/","url_meta":{"origin":2939,"position":4},"title":"Take 5: Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary","author":"Hillary T.","date":"October 19, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Known for its extensive boardwalk system that goes through forest, fields, and wetlands, Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Norfolk offers up-close views of wildlife above and under the water. Check out five photographs\u00a0of this sanctuary captured\u00a0by past participants in our Photo Contest\u00a0and come visit to\u00a0see it for yourself.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/10\/Kristine-Moore-20141.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/10\/Kristine-Moore-20141.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/10\/Kristine-Moore-20141.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16505,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-boardwalk-trails\/","url_meta":{"origin":2939,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: Boardwalk Trails","author":"Kelly R.","date":"November 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We're shining a light on the joys of hiking all month long and encouraging everyone to join us outside for Hike-a-thon, November 26-28. To get ready, tune in online for Hiking 101 & Hiking 101 for Families, at a free guided hike the last weekend of November, or make your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Get Outdoors&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Get Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wellfleet Bay","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_2665-750x500-925f61e0-4169-4df9-8110-5db5b471cd28.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_2665-750x500-925f61e0-4169-4df9-8110-5db5b471cd28.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_2665-750x500-925f61e0-4169-4df9-8110-5db5b471cd28.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_2665-750x500-925f61e0-4169-4df9-8110-5db5b471cd28.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2939"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2971,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2939\/revisions\/2971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}