EARTH DAY REPORT CARD - APRIL 22, 2005

GOAL
Preserving aquifer land along the Canoe River.


HOW ARE WE DOING '08 B+ '09 A- '00 A '01 A '02 A '03 A '04 A '05 A+
WHAT CAN WE DO ?
Continue to work with other communities to acquire more land bordering the Canoe River and its tributaries. Continue to reclaim land taken by the State for I-495.

BENEFITS
Preserves and protects the sole source of town water and water quality.

GOAL
Preserving habitat for the birds and animals (wetlands, woodlands and meadows).


HOW ARE WE DOING '08 C- '09 C+ '00 B '01 B+ '02 B+ '03 A- '04 A- '05 A-
WHAT CAN WE DO ?
Encourage donations of land and funds to purchase land, and continue to encourage cluster type development that preserves land with conservation elements.

BENEFITS
Makes Norton a more desirable place to live.
Increases property value.

GOAL
Promoting educational and recreational use of preserved land.


HOW ARE WE DOING '08 B- '09 B '00 B '01 B+ '02 B+ '03 A- '04 A- '05 A-
WHAT CAN WE DO ?
Work with the schools and various organizations such as The Mass. Audubon Society to teach young people
to use the open land responsibly.
BENEFITS
Provides an opportunity to see plants, birds and animals in their natural habitat.

GOAL
Using state self-help money for preservation.

HOW ARE WE DOING '08 D '09 B '00 B '01 B '02 B+ '03 B+ '04 C '05 C
WHAT CAN WE DO ?
Utilize the open space plan to make the town eligible for self-help funds and appropriate needed matching funds when land is available. Collaborate with Mansfield and Easton, because both are experienced in securing state funds.
BENEFITS
Matching funds at the state 66% reimbursement rate will allow Norton to buy far more land to preserve.

REMARKS

The Land Preservation Society of Norton is proud to report that the Town of Norton remains committed to maintaining a high standard for land preservation and environmental health. The Conservation Commission has continued to set high standards for monitoring the preservation of Norton's land and habitat. Norton's Open Space Committee has received conditional approval for the open space plan. Approval of this plan is vital in obtaining state funds for land preservation. Public and private educational institutions have accepted t he preservation challenge.
Maintaining Norton's ongoing high standard of land preservation and environmental health can be directly attributed to Norton's Conservation Agent, Jennifer Carlino. Ms. Carlino has demonstrated that responsible government can achieve critical social goals without compromising fiscal responsibility. Under Ms. Carlino's leadership LPS's number one goal in this report, preserving aquifer land along the Canoe River, reached a milestone achievement with the state placing 126 acres of surplus Route 495 (I 495) land under a permanent care and protection agreement. Repair of damaged land and water ways in Norton is of critical importance. The Shpack Super Fund Site, and the Norton Reservoir Dredging Project are examples of the need to repair prior environmental damage. The Conservation Commission continues to play a a vital role in promoting and monitoring these cleanup efforts. Norton's Open Space Committee (OSC), with Ms. Carlino as its staff person, plays an important role in promoting educational and recreational use of preserved land. The Committee's primary responsibility is the updating of the town's Open Space and Recreation Plan. This plan inventories the town's open space and evaluates the use of open space.
Heather Graf is Norton's most dedicated volunteer activist on issues affecting land usage and preservation. Ms. Graf has shown unquestionable dedication in demonstrating to Norton citizens the risk and dangers associated with the Shpack Super Fund Site. She has single-handedly lobbied local, state, and federal government officials and lawmakers to undertake a proper clean up of the Shpack site.
The Norton Public School System has developed programs for grades K - 12 that focus on practical application an benefits of environmental health and preservation of natural resources. The high school curriculum includes case studies on ground water contamination in Massachusetts as well as remedial efforts. Elementary school students examine the significance and history of Earth Day. Practical application projects include school grounds clean-up, planting flowers, water pollution experiments, recycling, and collecting bottles and cans to raise money for the purchase of land in the rain forest.
The Norton Public Library extends to its patrons a vast array of books, films, and hand-outs to satisfy their intellectual appetites. Library Park provides a convenient location to experience first-hand the joys of nature's gifts.
The Land Preservation Society of Norton (LPS) undertakes this report card to remind Norton citizens of the importance and vulnerability of the land we occupy. Our land is a nonrenewable resource that is in the care and trust of all citizens. Open space protects our water sources, provides recreational opportunities, shelters our wildlife and plants , and refreshes the very air we breathe. This report card is further intended to chronicle progress and/or shortcomings in protecting open spaces for all Norton citizens. LPS contributes to protecting Norton's open space by accepting gifts of land to be held by LPS in the land's natural state. LPS attempts to enhance gifts of land by purchasing additional key parcels needed to connect one parcel to another. The officers and members congratulate the many people who have adopted positive attitudes toward our land and have taken steps to protect it.
 
Thank you to Jan and Bob Burkhart for preparing and distributing the 2005 Earth Day Report Card