LAND PRESERVATION SOCIETY
OF NORTON

EARTH DAY REPORT CARD
ON
PRESERVATION OF LAND IN NORTON

REPORT CARD April 22, 2004-04


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
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-
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-
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
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 citizens of Norton remain interested in maintaining a high standard for land preservation and environmental health. The efforts of the Tournament Players Club of Boston have turned promises into demonstrable results in 2003. The Conservation Commission has continued to set high standards for monitoring the preservation of Norton's land and habitat while engaging in new initiatives for future open land protection. Norton's' Open Space Committee has undertaken the important task of updating the 1999-2004 Open Space and Recreation Plan. Public and private educational institutions have accepted the preservation challenge. The five year string of improving report card grades has been unfortunately reversed in 2003 as State and Town funding vanished prohibiting any additional land purchases. The failure of Town Meeting to approve the Community Preservation Act inhibited access to remaining State funds available for land purchase.
Tournament Players Club of Boston (TPC) has performed in an "A+" manner as a private sector citizen. With development, construction and more than twelve months of operation this 362 acre PGA Golf Course has set the standard in practicing conservation thus protecting natural habitat and native species. In 2003 Audubon International named TPC an "Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary". TPC received this designation by showing excellence in six key areas including: site assessment, water conservation, water quality management, chemical use reduction and safety, wildlife habitat management, and educational outreach. One practical example of TPC's efforts was the installation of bluebird nesting boxes, a program which fledged twelve bluebirds and fourteen tree swallows in the first year. If Norton's other citizen groups maintained TPC's performance, this report card would no longer be necessary.
Jennifer Carlino, Norton Conservation Agent, remains Norton's most energetic and productive individual advocate for land care and environmental health. Ms. Carlino has made the above report card goals an important part of her job responsibilities. She has assisted the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee, (CRAAC), and their efforts are expected to gain permanent protection for 126 acres of land adjacent to the Canoe River. This land was originally purchased by the State for the construction of Interstate 495. The Canoe River aquifer is the sole water source for Norton's water supply. In addition, Ms. Carlino has certified eleven vernal pools and documented three rare species locations. Vernal pools are the only breeding habitat for certain endangered amphibians and reptiles. With the lack of funding for land acquisition, Ms. Carlino has focused her attention on advocating for environmental and conservation protection of projects including the Canoe River Aquifer, Norton Reservoir Revitalization, Open Space Plan, Lake Winnecunnet Clean Up and Leo Yelle Conservation Area.
Wheaton College increasingly facilitates student involvement in land preservation and environmental health. Course work focuses on practical application and field work. One project mapped Norton's forest loss over recent years. This information is critical in understanding the effect on habitat loss on animal, birds, and other living organisms. This particular study can be a valuable addition to the Open Space and Recreational Plan currently being produced. Wheaton students continue to assist LPS in the maintenance of walking trails in the Woodward Forest. Other environmental projects include: conversion from gasoline powered campus service vehicles to battery power; low flow toilets and shower heads; and recycling of waste products.
Norton Public Schools have developed curriculum for grades K - 12 that focuses on practical applications and benefits of environmental health and preservation of natural resources. The High School offers special blocks of study on this subject which continue to be well attended. A practical example of a fourth grade project is a "Recyclable Hat Parade". Students, teachers, and staff wear hats made of recyclable materials to celebrate the importance of Mother Earth. A parade of hats is held and a collection is made to help purchase acres of rain forest in South America. Under the direction of Mr. Charles Brown, the Norton Middle School participated in an Earth Day Poster Contest with the poster being submitted to the Funding Factory Recycling Program.
Norton Public Library's highly trained staff happily assists Norton patrons utilize its increasing collection of books and related materials to assist in the identification and benefits of land preservation. Environmental programs, including speakers, have been well attended. The library park provides a convenient location to experience first hand the glory of natures gifts and is well used by the children during the "Summer Reading" program.
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 breath. 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 lands 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. For further information about LPS please visit our web site at http://home.comcast.net/~NortonLPS.
Compiled by Jan and Bob Burkhart for Earth Day 2004