A History of the Deerfield River Watershed Association
There was a group in existence prior to the creation of the Deerfield River Watershed Association (DRWA). That group was trying to protect the Deerfield River from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who proposed in 1970, building a 260-foot-high dam in the Stillwater area as flood control of the Deerfield River. The intent was to protect communities downstream on the Connecticut River, particularly East Hartford from flooding. At the first public hearing, this proposed “Meadows Dam" sounded like a necessary evil. There would be no permanent water stored behind the dam, which could not be used for recreation because of the steepness of the valley. When the dam was full, (100-year flood) it would flood the Bardwell Ferry Bridge and all the way back to the foot of the pot holes in Shelburne Falls.
A group of citizens calling themselves the Deerfield River Valley Conservation Association (DRVCA) began to meet to analyze what the Corps of Engineers was telling us. The group included Winston "Bob" Healy, our State Representative; Frank Kaminski, University of Massachusetts faculty; D. Day Lee and Mimi Miller of the Deerfield Academy; and Marion Taylor and Polly Bartlett of Shelburne and Buckland. Most of the local citizens supported this group. Along with the numerous connections, the organizers had successfully "out-engineered” the Corps of Engineers by showing that the Deerfield River crested before the Connecticut River crested and that the flooding in the Deerfield Meadows in Greenfield was caused by the Connecticut River flowing into the mouth of the Deerfield River as the Deerfield flowed north to the Connecticut and the Connecticut flowed south. DRVCA also advocated for zoning in flood prone areas downstream to prevent damage in those areas. DRVCA gradually disbanded after the Meadows dam was withdrawn by the Corps of Engineers.
In 1989, the Federal Energy regulatory commission (FERC) started hearings in Greenfield leading up to the relicensing of most of the hydroelectric dams on the Deerfield River. Most of the dams were owned by the New England Power Company at that time. At that meeting the Deerfield River was represented by Maria Van Dusen from the Division of Mass Fish and wildlife, (because the Deerfield was the only watershed in the state without a Watershed Association.) Also at that meeting were Bill Latrell and Michael Linde who had been starting to form an Association. Polly French, Polly Bartlett, Will Kiendzior, Bambi Miller, Bruce Lessels, representatives from the power companies and many others were also there. The fisherman and the whitewater companies expressed their different needs, some even wanting all of the dams to be removed. From these meetings the Deerfield River Watershed Association (DRWA) was formed in 1994, in an attempt to keep all interests represented.
DRWA was instrumental in the formation of the Deerfield River Comprehensive Management plan as well as the Deerfield River Agreement of 1994.
By: Polly Bartlett
DRWA History and Projects from 1999 to 2021
1. Volunteer Wetland Monitoring Project: Wrote and received grants to design and conduct a three-year wetland monitoring project; with volunteers, surveyed marsh birds and calling amphibians at 27 wetlands in the Deerfield River watershed; published newsletters for volunteers and several reports. This started in 1999 while I was on the board of the Green River Watershed Preservation Alliance. In 2000 the project was transferred to the DRWA; it ended in 2001.
2. Published a booklet with four educational nature walks: In 2004, designed and published a manual with four educational nature walks and activities for use in the DRW (a grant-funded project).
3. Japanese Knotweed Surveys and Inventory: In 2003, 2005, and 2006, we conducted surveys of Japanese Knotweed in the tributaries of the Deerfield River; held a 1- day knotweed management workshop sponsored with the Conte Fish and Wildlife Refuge; designed a brochure on knotweed, etc. Conducted several knotweed removal experiments using non-chemical methods. Received several grants for this project.
4. Vernal Pool Project
2008 and 2009: Trained volunteers to identify and certify vernal pools throughout watershed. Also sent in four pools for certification; all were certified.
2010 and 2011: Collected information necessary to certify 10 vernal pools in the watershed; the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program certified all.
2012: Initiated a vernal pool monitoring project in the watershed; 21 volunteers monitored 16 pools in seven towns.
2012: Pat and Marie Francoise Hatte, developed the website on vernal pool ecology on the DRWA's website in 2012. These projects were funded by both the DRWA and grants.
5. Hurricane Irene
2011: Following Hurricane Irene, DRWA supported an intervention that helped to restore the Chickley River, which had been dredged and bermed by a large civil engineering contractor.
6. Annual Meeting Speakers
2011 – Richard Little
2012 – Mike Cole
2013 – Brian Yellen
2014 – Elizabeth Chilton
History since 2017
General, Annual:
Continued trail maintenance work along the Mohican-Mohawk Trail.
Continued financial and labor support of the Annual Green River Cleanup.
Initiated Science Mini-grants ($250 each) to school science programs in support of projects related to the Deerfield River system.
Engaging in the Federal and State hydroelectric relicensing process for projects along the Deerfield River.
Pursuing responsible recreational development, management, and sanitary facilities along the Deerfield River, including River Recreation Planning.
2017: The DRWA entered into an Affiliation Agreement with the Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) in 2017. The affiliation provides a number of benefits to both DRWA and CRC. For example, the CRC provides membership, administrative, and financial services to the DRWA. This allows the DRWA volunteers the time to focus on what they do best, individual projects and advocacy in support of the Deerfield River Watershed. DRWA members are automatically members of CRC and the DRWA pays CRC a small percentage of the funds it raises to help cover the cost of CRC's Administrative support
2017: Reinitiated funding support for a river water quality monitoring program in VT and MA in partnership with CRC and other watershed groups, foundations, and agencies.
2020: Began pursuing Wild & Scenic River status for certain sections of the Deerfield River and its tributaries.
2020: Completed river bank restoration work on a section of the East Branch of the North River under a grant from the US Natural Resource Conservation Service and in partnership with the CRC. The restoration consisted of five parts: 1) stabilization of 1,150 linear feet eroding stream banks by construction of three sections of wood buttress, 2) establishment and/or enhancement of 2.1 acres of forested and herbaceous riparian buffer habitat, including invasive species treatment and removal, 3) relocation of 325 linear feet of farm road away from the stream bank, 4) removal of two failing tributary culverts and replacing one crossing with the construction of a stabilized stream ford, and 5) restoration and stabilization of the lower reach of the tributary just above its confluence with the East Branch North River.
2021: Developed “New & Improved!” DRWA website.