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2015 Conservation Commission 2015 Land Stewardship Program/AmeriCorps The Conservation Commission has remained The Mashpee Land Stewardship Program will be consistent in its membership; however, there has been managed by the Assistant Conservation Agent. We are some turnover in membership titles. Bob Anderson is currently going through our list of current volunteers the current Commission Chairman with Bud Shaw as to assess who is still part of the program. We have Vice Chair and Dale McKay as Assistant Vice Chair and many dedicated volunteers who have consistently I Secretary. Current Associate Member,Lou DiMeo has provided parcel reports to the Conservation Department recently requested to become a full time member of the so we can be kept abreast of the condition of these commission. This move will bring the total number of parcels and make improvements when and where full-time commissioners to 7, which is the maximum needed. The Assistant Agent is currently working on allowed. The commission is currently seeking additional a variety of initiatives to entice more volunteer Associate members. Anyone who is interested injoining involvement, with projects ranging from trail and the Conservation Commission should contact the parcel maintenance to citizen science projects including Mashpee Conservation Department for details. our annual herring count program. Please contact the Conservation Department for details on how to join the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge Partnership land stewardship program or check the link on the Conservation page of the town of Mashpee website The Mashpee Conservation Commission has here: continued to work very closely with the partners in the http://www.mashpeema.gov/Pages/MashpeeMA_Con Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge servation/stewards partnership(comprised lands owned by the Mashpee and Falmouth Conservation Commissions,the US Fish and The Mashpee Conservation Commission would Wildlife Service,MA State Division of Fisheries and like to thank the Building Department,Board of Health, Wildlife,Masssachusetts Department of Conservation Zoning Board,Harbormaster and Shellfish Warden for and Recreation,Waquoit Bay Research Reserve,Orenda their continued cooperation in maintaining cross- Wildlife Trust,the Falmouth Rod and Gun Club and the departmental permitting compliance. The Commission Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe) has been working to would also like to thank Cynthia Bartos, our new improve refuge lands in terms of wildlife habitat Administrative Secretary. Cynthia has been a perfect enhancement and wildfire control. A recently revised fit for the Conservation Department with her Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") has been unmatched enthusiasm and positive energy. We would drafted and signed by most of the partners of the Refuge. also like to welcome Judy Daigneault,our new Board This MOU provides a comprehensive framework for Secretary. Additional thanks to Tom Fudala,our Town cooperative management of all refuge lands, including Planner, Catherine Laurent, our DPW Director and the sharing of resources and man power. The MOU is a Clayson Nicholson, our GIS Coordinator for their non-binding agreement and allows for the US Fish and continued assistance with various conservation Wildlife Service to offer assistance in prescribed burning projects, maintenance issues, mapping needs, on all refuge partnership lands at no cost to the partners. administrative duties and grant opportunities for land Prescribed burning is a very effective habitat acquisitions and other funding opportunities. management and wildfire fuel reduction tool. Many areas within the refuge have been identified as key Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Agent and habitats for the endangered New England Cottontail. the Commission, Habitat improvement projects that involve selective Robert Anderson,Chairman pruning of over-story trees and prescribed burning of Ralph Shaw, Vice Chairman understory brush have allowed for vigorous regrowth of Mark Gurnee early successional habitat,which is critical not only for Brad Sweet the New England Cottontail,but a variety of other rare John Rogers species (animals and plants) that depend on this habitat Dale McKay type. For more information on the Mashpee National Lou DiMeo Wildlife Refuge and to find out how you can get Steve Cook involved, please visit the Friends of the Mashpee Andrew McManus (Agent) National Wildlife Refuge website at: Katelyn Cadoret(Assistant Agent) http://firiendsofmashpeenational wildl iferefuge.com. 96