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Did You Know?

Over 4,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat were protected for wildlife and the public by MassWildlife from July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007. Key wildlife habitat was protected through the efforts of MassWildlife and the Department of Fish and Game in 35 towns. Properties ranged from.1 of an acre to in Wareham to 400 acres in Leyden. These lands will be added to the list over 160,000 acres currently under the care and control of MassWildlife, most of which are Wildlife Management Areas (WMA).

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Resources & Links

Sharon Government Resources

Sharon Conservation Commission
The Conservation Commission is responsible for the protection of wetlands. The purpose of the Commission is to protect the water resources and adjoining land areas in Sharon by controlling activities deemed by the Conservation Commission as being likely to have a significant or cumulative effect upon wetland values. Visit the Sharon Conservation Commission website…

Sharon Energy Advisory Committee
The Sharon Energy Advisory Committee was appointed by the Selectmen in October 2006 to find ways to save energy (gas and electricity) within our town. Visit the Sharon Energy Advisory Committee website…

Sharon Mercury Recycling — Required
Don't throw mercury products in the trash — recycle them. It's the law. The Sharon DPW accepts mercury products at its office, 217R South Main Street, behind the Police Station. Mercury products include thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, thermostats, flat panel display screens, and button cell batteries. Look for a mercury label or Hg symbol on newer products.

Sharon Water Conservation Program
The Town of Sharon Water Department has partnered with the Neponset River Watershed Association and EPA WaterSense program to create a Water Conservation Program in the Town of Sharon. Visit the Sharon Water Conservation Program website…

Sharon’s Washing Machine Rebate Program
The Sharon Water Department offers a rebate (as a water bill credit) of up to $200 for modern high-efficiency washing machines. These front-load machines use only about one third of the water and energy that older top-load models typically use, so they reduce your energy and water bills. They also use less detergent and cause less wear on clothing. They even wring out more moisture in the spin. Contact the Water Department at 781-784-1525, ext. 4, to obtain a list of washing machine models that qualify for a rebate.

Secrets of a Waterless Lawn
This 2-page PDF (106k) from the Water Management Advisory Committee, Sharon Water Dept. shows how you can grow a nice lawn without taxing our local rivers, lakes, and streams. Also included are tips for saving water indoors. Download Secrets of a Waterless Lawn…


Sharon Nonprofit Resources

Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
The Mass Audobon Society's oldest sanctuary has more than a dozen trails traversing its nearly 2,000 acres of forest, grassland, swamp, and bogs. Visit the Moose Hill website…

Moose Hill Farm
Owned by the Trustees of the Reservations, Moose Hill Farm has two miles of trails leading to summit fields, where grassland birds are again finding a home. The property’s wooded hillsides still shelter some mature specimens of the American chestnut tree, a formerly dominant forest species now sadly reduced by a bark fungus. Visit the Moose Hill Farm website…

Borderland State Park
Borderland is one of the most historically significant tracts of publicly owned land in the Commonwealth. Created in the early 1900s by artist and suffragist Blanche Ames and her botanist husband Oakes, Borderland offers many of the same pleasures that the Ames family enjoyed: walking and horseback riding on woodland trails, fishing and canoeing in the ponds, or, in winter, ice-skating and sledding. Visit the Borderland State Park website…

Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Links
Sharon's Atlantic white cedar swamp, the water purification system of our town's drinking water, is endangered. Here are links to more information on this important natural resource.

Canoe River Greenbelt

Cedar Swamp Description

BioMap and Living Waters: Guiding Land Conservation for Biodiversity in Mass.: Core Habitats of Sharon (339k PDF)

Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Communities


Local Resources

Bikes Not Bombs
Bikes Not Bombs promotes bicycle technology as a concrete alternative to war and environmental destruction. For 25 years, BNB has been a nexus of bike recycling and community empowerment both in lower income neighborhoods of Boston and in the nations of the Global South. BNB's programs involve young people and adults in mutually respectful leadership development and environmental stewardship, while recycling thousands of bicycles. Every spring, SFOC teams up with Bikes Not Bombs to collect unwanted bicycles and give them a new home elsewhere. Visit the Bikes Not Bombs website…

Neponset River Watershed Association
Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA) works to protect and restore the Neponset River, its tributaries and surrounding watershed lands for the benefit of present and future generations. Visit the NepRWA website…

Bay Circuit Trail Alliance
The Bay Circuit Trail Alliance maintains the Bay Circuit Trail and Greenway, a permanent recreation trail and greenway corridor extending through 34 towns in Eastern Massachusetts and linking the parks and open spaces surrounding metropolitan Boston. Visit the Bay Circuit Trail Alliance website…

Crystal Spring Center for Earth Learning
Crystal Spring Center for Earth Learning, 76 Everett Skinner Rd, Plainville. The Center is committed to a sustainable, bioregionally appropriate way of life. Easy trails. Interesting programs. Drive: I-95 South to I-495 North (Exit 6B) to Rte 1 South (Exit 14B), 1.5 miles, turn right on George St., which becomes Everett Skinner Rd. 508-699-7167.


Regional Resources

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Riverways Program
River Instream Flow Stewards (RIFLS) is a program that enables local groups to learn about the importance of healthy streamflow, document streamflow on otherwise ungaged rivers and restore more natural flow regimes in rivers suffering from abnormal flow alterations. Visit the Riverways website…

Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
The Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition is an informal organization of Massachusetts land trusts and conservation organizations. Subscribe to the very useful e-mail letter, MassLand E-News, by sending an e-mail request to info@massland.org.

Adopt a Stream
The Adopt a Stream program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Riverways Program works with citizens to support and develop projects in watersheds across the state that restore habitat and natural stream structure, protect flow and identify and prevent non-point source pollution. Adopt-A-Stream provides a suite of monitoring and restoration tools that help citizens become active stewards of their watersheds.

Refuse to Use ChemLawn
A project of the Toxics Action Center in Boston, Refuse to Use ChemLawn outlines the possible dangers of the pesticides that the largest U.S. lawn-care company sprays on lawns every day. A highlight of their website is their page of tips on growing a truly organic (and green!) lawn.

Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters
Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters is a statewide, non-partisan organization dedicated to making environmental protection a top priority for Massachusetts elected officials, candidates, and voters in order to protect our environment and health.

40-B? 40-R? CH. 61? MEPA? HAC? MACC?
The new Audubon book, Shaping the Future of Your Community by Heidi Ricci, Senior Policy Analyst for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, is an excellent compass for navigating through the maze of local boards, committees, State departments and laws when dealing with development or trying to preserve land for conservation. Sharon Friends of Conservation highly recommends this up-to-date, clearly written book for both new and veteran conservation activists. The entire book can be downloaded from:
www.massaudubon.org/shapingthefuture.

White Mountain Guidebook
The Appalachian Mountain Club's White Mountain Guidebook is now available online. The venerable guide contains information on over 500 trails and detailed maps that you can use to plan your next hike. An annual subscription is available for $15 ($12 for AMC members) and a free 14-day trial lets you try the guide before you buy.


National Resources

WaterSense
The mission of WaterSense, a program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is to protect the future of our nation's water supply by supporting for water-efficient products and services. Saving water is easy; many products are available for use, and it doesn't require changing the way most of us live or do business. By choosing products labeled through the WaterSense program, you know you'll be saving water for future generations.

Local Government Environmental Assistance Network
The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN) is a "first-stop shop" providing environmental management, planning, funding, and regulatory information for local government elected and appointed officials, managers and staff. LGEAN enables local officials to interact with their peers and others online. In an effort to reach all local governments, LGEAN also manages a toll-free telephone service (877/865-4326).

Federal Duck Stamps
Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, commonly known as “Duck Stamps,” are pictorial stamps produced by the U.S. Postal Service for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. They are not valid for postage. 
Duck stamps for 2008 - 2009 went on sale June 27 and cost $15.00. All wildlife watchers should consider buying one to support the National Wildlife Refuge System. Buy Federal Duck Stamps…

Community Source Water Protection Initiative
The Community Source Water Protection Initiative offers mini-grants for projects that support the protection and restoration of drinking water sources. Info: Eddie Scher at 202/298-2395.


Water Conservation

High Efficiency Toilets (0.8 to 1.28 gallons per flush)**
Flushing power of High Efficiency Toilets
Dual-flush conversion kit
0.8 gallon per flush toilet

Washing machines (EnergyStar water factor of 5.0 or less)**
Energy Star

Shower heads (1.5 to 1.75 gpm)
Overview video
How to change a shower head
EPA WaterSense
Heat sensing shutoff valve

5-minute shower timer

Faucet aerators (0.5 gpm in the bathroom to 1.5 gpm in the kitchen)
How to change a faucet aerator
Source for faucet aerators of various flow rates

Household leaks
Overview

Rain-only lawns
Overview
Rain-only lawn presentation
Drought-tolerant grass seed

Etc.
Teaching Kids about Water Conservation

*DISCLAIMER – Sharon Friends of Conservation does not endorse or recommend any products mentioned on these web sites, either implicitly or explicitly.

**Call the Sharon Water Department (781-784-1525) to find out about rebates.


Et Cetera…

Osprey Webcam
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute operates an Osprey Cam.

Barred Owl Webcam
Check out the exploits of Mama Barred Owl and her owlets, Sarah and Percy living in a camera-equipped box in the backyard of Wild Birds Unlimited founder and owner Jim Carpenter.

Hand-feeding Birds on NPR
Hugh Wiberg liked birds and growing big pumpkins. The author of “Hand-feeding Backyard Birds,” Mr. Wiberg died on October 2nd. In tribute, NPR re-broadcast a Living on Earth favorite from the year 2000 where he teaches host Steve Curwood the finer points of feeding wild birds out of the palm of one’s hand.

Squirrel Nest Webcam
The squirrel nest webcam site can really get you up close and personal. It gives a new picture every 3 seconds. The squirrel nest webcam is designed to give a close-up view of the inside of a squirrel nest where a mother squirrel is raising its babies. This nest is located in a kestrel box mounted some 20 feet up in a silver maple tree in a suburban back yard. The squirrel cam is live or recorded depending on the season.

Living on Earth from National Public Radio
Sunday from 7:00-8:00 a.m. on WBUR, 90.9 FM, you can hear Living on Earth, NPR's environmental news and information program. Check out their website…

Encyclopedia of Life
The Encyclopedia of Life is a global effort by natural history museums, botanical gardens, other research institutions, and dedicated individuals to create the most complete biodiversity database on the web.

Eagle Cam website
The Massapoag eagle cam, located in north central Massachusetts, is new as of 2/19/11.

Eagle Cam II
The BioDiversity Research Institute's live eagle webcam is 70 feet up in a white pine tree on the coast of Maine, and provides live video of a nesting pair of bald eagles, 24 hours a day. In season, there is also a loon webcam.

Environmental Action and Learning Center
"e"—The Environmental Action and Learning Center science education paired with community action leads to environmental change in urban communities. Their mission: To educate parents and children, elders, educators, and community leaders about the science that underlies our unique and complex environment and then involve them in the important and exciting actions required to restore and retain our communities' and our earth's environmental balance.