Under the Cover of Snow

This time last week we were shoveling snow -- 20" of it in my neighborhood. With today's rain and 50 degree temperature, the snow is rapidly melting, thus revealing the networks of tunnels made by meadow voles. The extent and complexity of their trail systems is impressive. The cover provided by snow keeps them buffered from extreme cold and protects them from predators. Follow a vole runway long enough and you will find domes or tubes of cut grass. Food, warmth, and out of harm's way -- life is good under the snow.

Bradford Dam - A Challenging Site

For more than 6 years, WPWA has diligently worked to repair the fish ladder and portage path at the Bradford Dam. Thankfully, those repairs are nearly complete, or are they? In late 2008 the initial repair was completed which included modifying the entrance to the ladder and replacing all the ladder's baffles and racks. No formal portage path had existed prior to this project which left boaters at the site to navigate around or over the ladder. With an engineered path installed and a fence to keep the public off the ladder, all involved thought the project was complete. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans.

Mere days after the December 2008 repair was completed and before any vegetation could be established, a 10 year rain event occurred which inundated the entire site. So fierce were the flows that the ladder itself was totally submerged underwater. The Pawcatuck River knocked down the fence, washed away the fresh topsoil, and destabilized the path. Thankfully there was no ill effect on the ladder improvements but the portage path setback sent WPWA back to the drawing and fundraising table.

A design more respectful of the river's power was created by WPWA and funding was secured from the USDA's NRCS and the US Fish & Wildlife Service to implement the new portage plan. The latest improvements, now underway, included bordering (or armoring as we call it) the path with large boulders and crushed stone and replacing the fence with grating that will cover the entire ladder and prevent anyone from accidentally falling into the workings of the ladder.

Instead of working against Mother Nature, we are now working with her. Over the coming years we expect her to flood the site again and bring in sediment that will serve as the catalyst for natural vegetation to once again cover the site. But underneath that vegetation will be a stable engineered path built to withstand even the most extreme flooding events. The next time you're portaging around the Bradford Dam, WPWA hopes you'll never know we were there!

Our goal is to provide you safe public access to our rivers by implementing projects that appear to be as all natural as possible. We hope these photos will help give you a better understanding of the project and we will bring you more photos and information over the coming weeks when the project is 100% complete. So keep close tabs on this blog and your local newspaper!

Before 7/31/09

After 12/02/09

A Trail in the Woods

I am amazed at the wildlife traffic at a nondescript game trail in the forest near Arcadia Management Area. A few months of camera trapping has yielded a steady supply of pictures of our common forest mammals.

Fishers remain the most common predator and always appear in a picture or two a month.

An an occasional raccoon adds to the nocturnal trail traffic.


This handsome pair of young deer is destined to become the campus couple a few Autumns from now when their frisky genes kick in.





Ouch, that has to hurt! Look at the nasty swelling on this old boy's left knee and the see how those shoulder blades jut out. It is going to be a long winter for him!





I am still waiting for the some pics of our forest canids -- coyote and fox. As the camera is only a hundred meters or so from the Wood River, an otter is a possibility too. Stay tuned ...

WPWA Lecture -- 1 November

Greg Bonynge the RI Geospatial Extension Specialist at URI and Elise Torrello from the WPWA will give a terrific presentation on exciting new web technologies that provide information about our watershed. Come join us for an afternoon of Fall colors, friendship, and an interesting lecture. Time: 4-6 PM, Sunday 1 November. Place: WPWA office in Barberville. Please RSVP online at www.tinyurl.com/wpwa-lectures or by calling (401) 539-9017. This event is for members of the WPWA. Not a member? What a great time to join. See www.wpwa.org for membership information.
(Photo, Upper Wood, Fall 2009)

Bluefish Bonanza Begins

The waters around Watch Hill are filthy with bluefish; if these toothy critters are to your liking, now is the time to be out on the water or patrolling the beaches with a rod in hand. Bluefish large and small are everywhere, feeding heavily along the beaches by day, in the surf, beyond the surf and on the reefs. Toss bait at them, or hardware, they are amenable to either.

If striped bass are your pleasure though, things are a bit slow at the moment. Some school bass are along the beaches, and some larger specimens deep on the reefs, but until the bait moves out of the shallows and along the shoreline in force, the bass will play hard to get.

False albacore and bonito are still around too, with Watch Hill Point and the beach behind the Ocean House appearing the be a focal point for these speedsters. But don't delay too long---coastal waters are slowly cooling and these species will not hang around for much longer.

Baitfish Are Moving

Baitfish are beginning to move out of the shallow water coves, inlets and salt ponds, and predatory striped bass, bluefish, bonito and false albacore are all taking advantage. Baby bunker are moving along the coastline, as are schools of anchovies and butterfish, with some small squid here and there. The bait is somewhat scattered, and so are the predators. Because of the scatter, the fishing around Watch Hill area is a real mixed bag. But the fish are out there, and things will only improve. This is the time to go out in search of that elusive New England "Grand Slam."

For the Wood River, David at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry tells me that Trout Unlimited recently did a float stocking and there are plenty of very nice rainbow trout in the river. Conditions are a bit tough with water levels being so low and the fish being bunched up, though weekend rainfall may provide an assist by adding a bit of water. Some small black caddis flies are providing surface action sporadically, terrestrials maintain their dominance as best producers. David notes that water temperatures are in the mid-50 range, ideal for trout. As they continue to slide downwards, try some streamer patterns to attract bigger fish who are fattening up for the winter months ahead.

Fishing Update

The action has cooled somewhat in the Watch Hill area, at least for bonito and false albacore. The bait that was thick a week ago has either scattered and/or been gobbled up, and the speedster twins have scattered as well making for frustrating fishing for either. The fish are still around, but they don't stay up long and are inconsistent at best. If you like tangling with toothy bluefish though, there is no lack of them, in all sizes and at all places. School bass are still around as well, but also scattered. Big bass are still lying deep on the reefs and other structure, though fishing fresh cut bait along the beaches is improving as water temperatures slowly decline.

Dave at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry tells me the Wood River could use a bit of water to get levels up a bit. The trout are bunched up in the deeper holes and are therefore a bit skittish and more difficult to entice to a fly or other offering. They are however still feeding, and terrestrials continue to be a best bet. Trout Unlimited Narragansett Chapter anticipates doing a float stock in the near future, but no specific date is set yet. Stay tuned.

Little Tunny/Bonito Bonanza!

Little Tunny (false albacore) and bonito have been thick as thieves in and around Watch Hill Point and all the way west to The Race, and as I am now hearing, beyond that to Bluff Point, Avery Point and all the way into the western end of Long Island Sound. Lots of boats out after these speedsters, and unfortunately, not all of them practice good on-the-water etiquette, so have patience if you can or find less crowded waters (though perhaps less fishy) if you cannot. These fish have been feeding on quarter-sized baby bunker and/or butterfish in the Watch Hill area, so have some flies of this nature. Small to medium sized Deadly Dick's are hard to beat if you are spin casting. The fish are getting increasingly picky and skittish as time goes on but to high boat traffic and heavy pressure.

Dave at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry tells me the water level of the Wood River is actually a bit lower than ideal, and that because of this the fish are bunched up and a bit skittish; proceed with caution along the banks and when in the water. Terrestrials remain your best bet, though occasional caddis flies are on the water. Trout Unlimited will be doing another float stocking soon, and hopefully a bit of rainfall will boost water levels.

Getting To Know Your Watershed Lectures at WPWA

There are a lot of exciting projects happening in the watershed these days! To help keep the community informed, the WPWA has organized a series of brief lectures to review various activities in the watershed. The first two presentations will be at the WPWA campus in Barberville and the third will be a special presentation at our annual meeting in May 2010.

Lectures are free for members of the WPWA and their guests. The schedule and RSVP instructions can be found at www.tinyurl.com/wpwa-lectschedule. Be sure to RSVP if you want to attend because space is limited.

The lecture topics and speakers are:

___________________

November 1, 2009, 4:00 - 6:00 PM, WPWA Headquarters, Barberville

"Getting To Know The Watershed - Electronically: New Breakthroughs in Web-based Information for RI's Watersheds"

Greg Bonynge, RI Geospatial Extension Specialist, URI
Elise Torello, WPWA

Greg and Elise will demonstrate some incredible new web technologies that are free and simple to use to explore the watershed's natural resources.

___________________

January 24, 2010, 4:00 - 6:00 PM, WPWA Headquarters, Barberville

"Restoring Our Connections To The Sea For Migratory Fish"

Christopher Fox, Executive Director, WPWA
James Turek, NOAA

Chris and Jim will brief us all on the dam removal projects underway in the watershed.

___________________

May 2010, WPWA Annual Meeting, Location TBA

"The Natural History of Trout and Trout Fishing in the Wood River"

Ed Lombardo, WPWA Trustee

Fishing legend Ed Lombardo will give a special lecture at the annual meeting on recreational fisheries in the Wood River. This is not to be missed!

Little Tunny Arrives!

There were good numbers of bonito around Sugar Reef at the end of the ebb tide, which is when I happened to get out there. Despite several chases and half-hearted hook ups, none were landed and the fish disappeared at the end of the tide.

Caught the start of the flood tide at Watch Hill Point and the place got real busy with fish breaking the surface between the bell buoy (a nice shiny new one replacing the one lost when Hurricane Bill came by the area) and the point. The fish turned out to be Little Tunny (false albacore), and they continued to feed heavily for about a half hour after which everything just turned off. I managed to land 3 small fish, in the 6 to 8 pound range, before the action shut down.

Both speedsters are in the area now, and hopefully they will stay a while.

Bonito Alert, Again

It looks as if the 2 consecutive weekends of big offshore swell from tropical systems has finally calmed, and with that, the bonito have moved back into the area. Dave at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry as well as Mike at Watch Hill Outfitters both had confirmed catches of this speedster at Sugar Reef, and to the west on the south side of Fishers Island. Dave also had reports of false albacore on the south side of Fishers, but couldn't confirm that until this evening. I will be heading out tomorrow late afternoon to see if I can locate either of these small tuna-like species.

The Wood River continues to be in good shape, but Dave notes that the trout are wary and spread out. A planned float stocking by Trout Unlimited did not happen due to bad weather, but will in the next week or so and that will add some nice fish to the mix. Green inchworms are the fly to have on hand.

August 28 Fishing Update

The storm last weekend put tons of weed and sand into coastal waters, making for a slow start to the week. Things have picked up significantly, and the striped bass have been providing hot surface action out and around Sugar Reef at the start of the ebb tide since mid-week. On the down side, the area is VERY crowded with boats (picture opening day of trout season on Meadow Brook Pond) so either have patience or go explore some other likely areas. Bait has moved into the area --- it looks like 1 - 1/2 inch long sardines --- and the bass are feeding heavily at the head of the rips over the reefs as the tide runs hard. Some slammer blues in the 10 to 12 pound class have moved in as well, so be sure your terminal tackle is ready for tangling with these toothy critters! Bonito? I keep hearing rumors but I have yet to bump into any personally. The other thing NOT around is the bell buoy at Watch Hill Point; it must have broken free during the big swells last weekend.

David at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry tells me the Wood River is still in good shape, but with the heat set to high over the past week, early and late in the day has been best. Targeting the deeper holes and shaded banks will improve your odds for success. Terrestrials are the way to go so be sure you have ants, inch worms and some hoppers in your fly box.

Bonito have arrived!

Reports from Block Island, Charlestown, Watch Hill and Madison (CT) all are saying bonito have arrived in the area. Best bet for these speedsters at the moment is Block Island in the Coast Guard Channel, though Plum Gut and The Sluiceway are generating good reports as well. Frequent sightings along the Watch Hill area suggest the fish have just arrived and should become more common through the weekend. No reports of Little Tunny anywhere in the region.

Dave at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry reports a bit of a slow down in the action on the Wood River over the past week, no doubt due to the intense heat we have been experiencing. Early or late in the day is best. Expect limited insect hatches so your focus should be on terrestrial patterns. Seek out the shaded, deeper pools.

Fishy News

Bad news for all you "hexagenia" junkies---David at River & Rip Tide Anglers in Coventry tells me the hatch has about petered out for the year. On the plus side, water levels have receded and the river is quite fishable. With water temperatures still in the mid to upper 60s, the trout are loving it and are well dispersed about the river. Terrestrials are the way to go, with lots of green inch worms hitting the water from over hanging trees. Look to the deeper pools and shadowy areas as the heat stays turned on and water temperatures climb.

In the salt, the action had tapered around Sandy Point over the following week, and I had little luck scaring up a fish anywhere between Napatree Point and the outer Stonington breakwater. Things were pretty quiet out on the Watch Hill reefs as well, on either tide. But David was out Tuesday morning at Sandy Point and found lots of well fed school bass that provided some hot action for the first few hours of the day. Hopefully this is a harbringer of good news for the reefs as well.

Rumors of bonito off of Block Island, but no confirmed reports for the Watch Hill region.

Hex Hatch Update

According to David at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry, the Hexagenia flies have made a bit of a resurgence early in the week in response to the heat and slowly receding water levels. If you need one final "hex fix" before it ends --- and it will end very soon --- get out there now.

Fishing Update

Heavy rains have put the Wood River nearly over its banks, and this has put off the Hexagenia hatch according to David at River & Rip Tide Angler in Coventry. Look for water levels to recede over the weekend and expect a resurgence in the hex hatch, though it is nearing its end point. Morning caddis provide dry fly action, with terrestrial rounding out the daylight hours. Some Light Cahills create a limited evening hatch.

In the salt, the western side of Sandy Point has been hot for schoolie striped bass feeding heavily on sand eels. Watch for feeding terns to clue you in on location of the feeding school. Bluefish in the 2 to 4 pound range have made an appearance, so if you are tossing flies go well stocked. Action on the reefs off of Watch Hill has been hit-or-miss over the past week, with a big offshore swell making things unconfortable at times, and churning sand and weed into the water nearshore. Expect this too to improve over the weekend.

Did I hear someone say bonito? Nope, not yet but keep your eyes open as they are due to arrive in the next week or so according to my calendar. If you can get there, Block Island is hot, hot, hot for large striped bass (a number of 50 pounders have been taken with lots of 30s and 40s) being taken by day on eels, cut bait and even surface plugs----yes, surface plugs by day to 30 and 40 pound striped bass.

River Runs High

What a wet year this has been. River watchers have their own benchmarks to judge the amount of water in the Wood River. Some of mine include how far I have to walk my kayak in the summertime shallows of the Upper Wood, how the water flows over the falls in Barberville (does it dribble, spill, or rage), and my favorite, the USGS gaging station for the Wood. The graph tells no lies, look what the flow is now (line) versus the 67 year average (triangles). There is a lot of water in that river (flow data as of 4:00 PM, Friday, 24 July 2009)!

Not just another Stinkpot!

In addition to seeing the little Stinkpot again today, there was yet another reptilian visitor to the WPWA campus, though much larger. Chelydra s. serpentina was spotted digging around the flower garden, like the stinkpot, locating a safe spot to lay her clutch.

The Sapping Turtle is common to the eastern United States west to the Rocky Mountains and south from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and into Central America. They will inhabit any permanent and many semipermanent bodies of water, both fresh and brackish. Like most turtles, they are bottom dwellers. They are almost entirely aquatic, though they will travel overland. One amazing feature of the snapper is the fact that, after breeding, sperm may remain viable in females for several years. In our region they usually lay one clutch per year, with typically 20 to 30 eggs per clutch. Hatching occurs about 90 days after egg deposition. However, nests are often destroyed by mammalian predators. DeGraff and Rudis, 1983.

Last year, at the WPWA campus, Denise and I encountered a female who seemed a little displaced. Instead of digging in the dirt, which there was evidence of, she had trapped herself up our deck which looks out onto the Wood River. Knowing that it would be best to move her closer to water, as she was looking very much overheated, we devised a plan. The aggravated turtle, who weighed close to 20 pounds, was in no mood for relocation. In order to safely move her without risking injury to ourselves we had to gently cover her face with a towel. Not knowing what was going on caused her to go along for the ride without objecting.

This years visitor created no fuss at all except for a few upturned stones in the driveway! After surveying the area she found a safe spot in the dirt and went to business. She was here and gone in the course of the morning.

Hopefully in a few months we'll be able to greet her little ones after they hatch before they make their way to the river!

Amphibians and Reptiles of New England, DeGraff and Rudis, 1983

Photos taken by Chris Fox, 6/04/09

Stinkpot Sighting

One of my favorite things about working at the WPWA campus is greeting a visitor. Many times throughout the spring and summer months members will stop by to say hello and renew their memberships. Other times people driving by will finally take the time to come into the office and check it out, often mentioning that they'd thought of stopping many times before. It is always a pleasure to see a friendly face and even better to see them return! Some of my favorite visitors though, are the ones that call the Wood River their home.

Today I was visited by Sternotherus odoratus, who I have not seen for almost a year to the day. However, she did not arrive by car, or by boat as many others do. She simply walked out of the water and up onto the riverbank, most likely looking for a safe spot to lay her eggs.

The Stinkpot Turtle is restricted to the Americas and is common to the Atlantic coast. Their habitat range is from Ontario down to Florida, though there are few in northern New England. They inhabit permanent bodies of water: lakes, ponds and rivers, and have even been found in reservoirs. They prefer areas with abundant aquatic vegetation and feed along the bottom for various foods, their favorite being dragonfly nymphs and caddisfly larvae (DeGraaf and Rudis, 1983).

Though they are also called the musk turtle, because of their musk glands, I do believe that name is misleading. When these little reptiles feel threatened they omit an odor quite unlike musk. Perhaps instead they could have been called the sulphur turtle, or even the burned rubber turtle. This afternoon, while Denise and I were enjoying the small visitor, I fetched a pair of gloves, which Denise happily traded me for the camera. Within seconds the familiar smell was apparent! Knowing we were interrupting a very important task Denise safely returned the stinkpot to the ground.

I know I will be fortunate enough to see another stinkpot on the grounds of the WPWA campus. However, what would really be a treat would be to witness the hatch of our visitor's clutch within the next few months!

Amphibians and Reptiles of New England, Richard M. DeGraaf & Deborah D. Rudis, 1983

Harbingers of Healthy Forests?

What do you think is one of the most common mid-sized predatory mammals roaming our Wood-Pawcatuck watershed woodlands at night? Raccoons? Foxes? The neighbor’s cat? Nope, the right answer might be fishers. Fishers are in the mammal family Mustelidae, the same as weasels and skunks. They are not cats, although they appear cat-like. They are a large (males can be 15-18 pounds) forest predator and feed on rabbits, mice, squirrels, and other small prey. When the Mammals of Rhode Island was written in 1968, there were no authenticated reports of fishers in RI. Today, fishers are common in our forests. This is probably a result of a number of factors; including the extent of forest habitat in the RI as well as the availability of prey.


The photographs here were taken along the Upper Wood River in the Spring of 2009.

Opening Day 2009

Bubblas, grinders, and the opening day of trout season -- uniquely Rhode Island! Opening Day 2009 at the WPWA campus was, as usual, a festive event. WPWA program staffer Danielle Aube and her stepdad Bob Perry had complimentary coffee and cocoa (free for anyone with reusable mugs!) ready at the crack of dawn (special thanks to Honey Dew donuts in Westerly for providing the hot drinks). The threat of rain kept the crowds to a comfortable level and at 6:00 AM, the lures, power bait, and worms were launched with hopes of landing the big lunkers. Fishing was good as the picture below attests. From my vantage point in the WPWA activity center, the first trout landing was at 6:10 AM by a darling 4-year old fishing with her family. Her beaming smile lit up Barberville. This is what Opening Day is all about.

PVA

Belted Kingfisher

This time of year is a delight, as I slowly start to see returning or emerging species that haven't been around for the winter. In the past couple of weeks, a belted king fisher has become a daily visitor on the Wood River in front of my office window. These boisterous birds make their presence known by conspicuously flying back and forth low over the water while giving out a long, rattling cry. They are a little larger than a robin, with blue gray backs and heads and a blue gray belt across their otherwise white chests and bellies. Both sexes have a ragged crest on their heads, looking a little like an unkempt punk hairstyle. The females have an extra rust colored belt lower on their chest, making it easy to distinguish the sexes.

A search through a couple of the birding books in the WPWA library uncovered an interesting book printed in 1958 called "1001 Questions Answered About Birds" by Allan and Helen Cruickshank. Some of the fun facts about belted kingfishers I gathered from this book are:

• Kingfishers are one of the few families of birds where the female is considered more colorful than the males.
• Their nests are built in tunnels which they excavate along the banks of rivers and lakes.
• Both the males and females take active roles in caring for the young.
• The young emerge from their eggs completely naked, with no natal down at all. They grow right into their juvenile plumage.
• Kingfishers will patrol a regular stretch along a river, protecting it from others of their species and keeping it as their own feeding grounds. This stretch may be up to a mile in length.
• When hunting for fish, the kingfisher will often hover above the water before plunging in and grabbing the fish with their beaks.
• Besides fish, kingfishers will eat crayfish, salamanders, frogs, tadpoles, mice and insects.

I am looking forward to spending the summer with these industrious, noisy birds.

Common Mergansers

... are common on the Wood River in the winter time. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) are diving ducks with spikelike bills and saw-edged mandibles. They dive under water for extended periods of time, swiming after fish. I'll often watch them swimming serenly on the water's surface, then suddenly pop under, only to resurface at a distance from where I first saw them.

Today I spotted three of them swimming in front of my office window - a female and two males. It looked like the female was already paired with the male in front. The male in the back was probably being opportunistic, watching for a chance to steal the lady away.

Males are beautiful large sized ducks, with a kelly-green heads and white breasts and sides. The females are distinctively different, with red crested heads and grayish bodies. The pairs will be forming right about now, with breeding taking place in a month or two.

In this second photo they were starting to fly away. The water is so calm you can see their reflections as they lift off, making it look like double the number of birds.

Photos 3/17/09 by Denise Poyer

March Minkness

When your desk faces out the window onto the Wood River, you can't help but notice patterns of animal behavior. One of the interesting animals we have noticed out and about every March is the mink (Mustela vison). Today, as if right on schedule, I saw a beautiful dark brown mink running along the bank across from my window. He ran in hopping motions through the brush, then swam the short span across the outlet to Baker Brook, before hopping back onto land and heading towards the dam. It is unusual to see them out and about at 2 in the afternoon, since they are mostly nocturnal or crepuscular (out at dawn and dusk). Yet every March we have noticed one or two of them running along the river banks. Since their mating season is from late February to early April (Mammals of New England by A. J. Godin, 1977) we have surmised that they be out during the day for some extra curricular activities. And since we see them every March, it must mean that they are successful in these activities.

Mink are a member of the weasel family, about the size of a house cat though much thinner, according to Godin. Well adapted to living near wetlands, they are wonderful swimmers and skillful hunters. Godin also notes that they are ... "restless and curious, some mink are bold enough to try to steal fish caught by fisherman." While I have never heard any complaints about them from the local fisherman, I am always glad to see them in March.

Photo is from: http://suny.albany.k12.ny.us/spring2007/hudsonriver/Hudson_River_SectionA/Mink.htm

A Familiar Sight?

Does this picture look familiar? With the extended snow cover this winter many residents in the watershed have suffered severe damage to their ornamental plantings from Whitetail Deer. The snow cover has limited the available food sources that deer rely on through the winter months such as acorns and grasses. As each year passes more and more RI and CT Whitetails are discovering that your backyard provides them with great habitat. Deer are creatures of habit. When they discover a food source they like they stick to it and often “invite” their friends.
Many hunters of our state lands are growing increasingly frustrated as they drive by deer on the way to their hunting grounds, only to find many deer have moved off the state lands and into our neighborhoods. There are multitudes of ways to combat this ever growing problem. For those of you not quite ready to take up arms but are losing patience with these “pests” there is help out there. To find out how to combat deer damage on your property visit http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/deerdamg.pdf . To learn more about the overall behavior of our watershed’s Whitetail Deer go to http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/deer.pdf.
Many of us enjoy watching deer feed in our yards while sipping our morning coffee but remember; it is ILLEGAL to feed deer or any other wildlife species. Why? For starters, feeding wildlife can promote the spread of illness. How? Feeding stations, such as bird feeders, are much the same as sharing a drink with a group of friends. If one is sick, chances are the others will soon be too. Wildlife also come to rely on the food you provide. Much like a pet, who will feed them when you are away on vacation? Please help keep our wildlife wild, don’t feed the animals!

Ice Flows, A Sign Spring is Coming

Ice flowing by the WPWA headquarters at Barberville Dam is a sure sign that spring is rapidly approaching. This shot was taken as a large ice sheet made its way over the Barberville Dam this week. An impressive sight that pictures alone can’t convey. The ice originates from Frying Pan Pond just upstream of our office on the Wood River. If you’re looking for something to do outside this weekend, consider a trip to our campus to watch the ice migrate downstream.

Bald Eagle Sighting on the Wood River

A big thrill for me last week was to see my first bald eagle sighting on the Wood River. I know that others had reported seeing an eagle in this area in previous years, but I had never positively ID'd one myself.

It happened Friday morning when Danielle was givening me a ride to the WPWA campus from Hope Valley. As we drove up Arcadia Road, I saw a very large, dark bird with white head and tail flying over one of the fields. Realizing that it was not one of the usually turkey vultures we normally see in this area, I had Danielle drive down Skunk Hill Road and back down Rt. 3 until we (meaning Danielle with her eagle eye sight) spotted the bird sitting on a tree leaning over the west side of Wyoming Pond. We were able to drive up one the back roads and have a great look at the eagle, just sitting calmly watching the river. There was no doubt about it being an adult bald eagle. Of interest to me were the crows flying nearby and landing unperturbed near this very large avian predator. After allowing us to take a few pictures, the eagle spread its wings and majestically flew up river again.

When I got into the office I looked information on the ASRI website. Several people had reported recent sightings of bald eagles all over the state. Thanks to conservation measures taken to protect large bird predators, such as banning DDT, it is now not unusual for eagles to winter in areas like RI where there is plenty of open water for fishing. (Photo by Danielle Aube)

Winter Wildlife

RI’s mustelids (except perhaps skunks) are a big prize for keen-eyed naturalists, and winter is the time to spot them. This week my daughter and I were awed by a beautiful mink that dashed across the road at the Barberville dam (WPWA global headquarters) as we were driving by. A mahogany-colored mink on a backdrop of fresh new snow is an easy target to see. Winter wildlife viewing is sure a lot easier when the contrast between the animal and environment is so stark. So, my Wood River mustelid scorecard this winter is multiple otter observations and one mink. A fisher sighting (RI’s largest and orneriest mustelid) would be great, but a weasel or ermine sighting would be even better. (Photo: USFWS)

Water Quality in the Watershed

Citizen scientists working with the WPWA and the URI Water Watch program collect critical data on the water quality of the rivers, streams, and lakes in the watershed. The resulting datasets are large and complex. A URI Computer Science student Elise Torello (and 2008 WPWA Volunteer of the Year!) has been working to make the water quality data easily accessible and understandable to everyone over the Internet. Elise needs your help on this project. She has put two interfaces to the monitoring data on a web site and needs to know which one users find best. If you are interested in water quality in the watershed and can help Elise by giving her feedback (via an on-line survey), please visit her web site at: www.edc.uri.edu/personal/elise/mapdataviewer