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September 2018
Walk: Fungal Partnerships at Fitzgerald Lake
Walk/talk with Pat McDonagh Mushrooms are visible outgrowths of fungal networks that make our forest ecosystems possible. Take a walk in the woods to learn about the essential role that mushrooms play as recyclers and symbiotic partners to other forest life forms. Collecting edible mushrooms will not be a major focus of this walk, but…
Find out more »Walk: Fungal Partnerships at Fitzgerald Lake
Walk/talk with Pat McDonagh Mushrooms are visible outgrowths of fungal networks that make our forest ecosystems possible. Take a walk in the woods to learn about the essential role that mushrooms play as recyclers and symbiotic partners to other forest life forms. Collecting edible mushrooms will not be a major focus of this walk, but…
Find out more »Volunteer: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Last year saw the implementation of a new approach for controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake known as "Pull Early, Pull Often". As we began with a haul of over 400 lbs of this aquatic invasive in June and wound up with less than 10 lbs in September, we were cautiously optimistic about the effectiveness…
Find out more »Volunteer: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Last year saw the implementation of a new approach for controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake known as "Pull Early, Pull Often". As we began with a haul of over 400 lbs of this aquatic invasive in June and wound up with less than 10 lbs in September, we were cautiously optimistic about the effectiveness…
Find out more »Walk: History of Land Use at Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area
Walk/talk with Laurie Sanders From colonial times to the damming of Broad Brook in the late 1980s that created Fitzgerald Lake, the 850 acres of FLCA have undergone momentous changes. Laurie Sanders will lead a walk along Boggy Meadow Rd. to the dam and Cooke’s Pasture, focusing on the economic, social, and environmental history of…
Find out more »Walk: History of Land Use at Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area
Walk/talk with Laurie Sanders From colonial times to the damming of Broad Brook in the late 1980s that created Fitzgerald Lake, the 850 acres of FLCA have undergone momentous changes. Laurie Sanders will lead a walk along Boggy Meadow Rd. to the dam and Cooke’s Pasture, focusing on the economic, social, and environmental history of…
Find out more »October 2018
Autumn Tree Walk with Bob Leverett at FLCA
by Bob Leverett Join Bob Leverett, co-founder of the Native Tree Society, for a walk through the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area to learn about our eastern woodlands. The leaves may have mostly fallen, but trees can still be identified by their bark, their buds, their shape, and their habitat. And once identified, each species tells…
Find out more »Autumn Tree Walk with Bob Leverett at FLCA
by Bob Leverett Join Bob Leverett, co-founder of the Native Tree Society, for a walk through the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area to learn about our eastern woodlands. The leaves may have mostly fallen, but trees can still be identified by their bark, their buds, their shape, and their habitat. And once identified, each species tells…
Find out more »November 2018
BBC 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting
The Broad Brook Coalition 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting Schedule: 4:30pm Social and Refreshments 5:15pm Business meeting 5:45pm Kathie Fiveash poetry reading from her new *book of poems about Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area 6pm Featured speaker Laurie Sanders on History of Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area *Kathie Fiveash will have copies of her book of poems available…
Find out more »BBC 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting
The Broad Brook Coalition 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting Schedule: 4:30pm Social and Refreshments 5:15pm Business meeting 5:45pm Kathie Fiveash poetry reading from her new *book of poems about Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area 6pm Featured speaker Laurie Sanders on History of Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area *Kathie Fiveash will have copies of her book of poems available…
Find out more »Support BBC on Giving Tuesday
Please remember to support Broad Brook Coalition and other Pioneer Valley organizations on #ValleyGivingTuesday. Broad Brook Coalition provides management and stewardship for Fitzgerald Lake Conservation area for the City of Northampton, Massachusetts. Make your gift at this URL. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/brobrocoa/ Many thanks to all!
Find out more »Support BBC on Giving Tuesday
Please remember to support Broad Brook Coalition and other Pioneer Valley organizations on #ValleyGivingTuesday. Broad Brook Coalition provides management and stewardship for Fitzgerald Lake Conservation area for the City of Northampton, Massachusetts. Make your gift at this URL. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/brobrocoa/ Many thanks to all!
Find out more »April 2019
Spring Bird Walk
Led by Marcia Merithew and Betsy Higgins (rain date Sun. 4/28) Meet at North Farms Rd. entrance Spring is in the air –time to get out and go birding! At this time of year residents and returning migrants alike are bursting with song as they busy themselves with the urgent task of finding mates and…
Find out more »Spring Bird Walk
Led by Marcia Merithew and Betsy Higgins (rain date Sun. 4/28) Meet at North Farms Rd. entrance Spring is in the air –time to get out and go birding! At this time of year residents and returning migrants alike are bursting with song as they busy themselves with the urgent task of finding mates and…
Find out more »May 2019
Walk: Beavers at Nightfall
Led by Laura Beltran (rain date Sun. 5/5) Meet at Cooke Ave. entrance Early evening is the ideal time to observe beaver activity. We’ll meet at the Cooke Ave. entrance (former Moose Lodge parking lot) and take a walk along Boggy Meadow Rd., with a short off-trail segment, to a place where beavers have recently built…
Find out more »Walk: Beavers at Nightfall
Led by Laura Beltran (rain date Sun. 5/5) Meet at Cooke Ave. entrance Early evening is the ideal time to observe beaver activity. We’ll meet at the Cooke Ave. entrance (former Moose Lodge parking lot) and take a walk along Boggy Meadow Rd., with a short off-trail segment, to a place where beavers have recently built…
Find out more »Vernal Pool Walk
Led by Brad Timm Saturday, May 11 Meet at North Farms Rd. entrance Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area is fortunate to contain several confirmed vernal pools just a short walk in from the North Farms Rd. entrance. Join biologist Brad Timm as we visit these pools and discover their truly unique ecology. We’ll learn about the wide…
Find out more »Vernal Pool Walk
Led by Brad Timm Saturday, May 11 Meet at North Farms Rd. entrance Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area is fortunate to contain several confirmed vernal pools just a short walk in from the North Farms Rd. entrance. Join biologist Brad Timm as we visit these pools and discover their truly unique ecology. We’ll learn about the wide…
Find out more »Walk: Trees and the Forest
Led by Bob Leverett Meet at North Farms Rd. entrance Forests may feel timeless as you walk through them, but they are complex, dynamic ecosystems, and each has its own distinct history. Join Bob Leverett for an examination of the New England forest as represented in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. We’ll learn to identify individual…
Find out more »Walk: Trees and the Forest
Led by Bob Leverett Meet at North Farms Rd. entrance Forests may feel timeless as you walk through them, but they are complex, dynamic ecosystems, and each has its own distinct history. Join Bob Leverett for an examination of the New England forest as represented in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. We’ll learn to identify individual…
Find out more »Volunteer: Shrubland Habitat and Native Plants
Several years ago, we established three 'islands' of native shrubs in Cooke's Pasture to provide food and habitat for shrubland birds and small mammals. We return every year to prune the shrubs, cut back competing undergrowth, and replace plants that have not survived the winter. Tools will be provided, though additional clippers are always welcome.…
Find out more »Volunteer: Shrubland Habitat and Native Plants
Several years ago, we established three 'islands' of native shrubs in Cooke's Pasture to provide food and habitat for shrubland birds and small mammals. We return every year to prune the shrubs, cut back competing undergrowth, and replace plants that have not survived the winter. Tools will be provided, though additional clippers are always welcome.…
Find out more »Volunteer: Annual Cleanup at the North Farms Road Entrance
Each year we devote one day in the spring to cleaning up the North Farms Road entrance to the FLCA including clearing winter debris from the path to the bridge and boardwalk, picking up trash in the parking lot, and removing by hand invasive plants such as garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed and multiflora rose in…
Find out more »Volunteer: Annual Cleanup at the North Farms Road Entrance
Each year we devote one day in the spring to cleaning up the North Farms Road entrance to the FLCA including clearing winter debris from the path to the bridge and boardwalk, picking up trash in the parking lot, and removing by hand invasive plants such as garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed and multiflora rose in…
Find out more »June 2019
Walk: Improve Your Nature Photography
Led by Michael Jacobson-Hardy Meet at North Farms Rd. entrance A walk in nature is always inspiring, but capturing that feeling with a camera is not always so easy. Join photographer and film teacher Michael Jacobson-Hardy on a walk at the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area to learn techniques for taking better pictures outdoors. Michael will…
Find out more »Walk: Improve Your Nature Photography
Led by Michael Jacobson-Hardy Meet at North Farms Rd. entrance A walk in nature is always inspiring, but capturing that feeling with a camera is not always so easy. Join photographer and film teacher Michael Jacobson-Hardy on a walk at the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area to learn techniques for taking better pictures outdoors. Michael will…
Find out more »Volunteer: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Two years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake but in 2018 the yield was down to 300 lbs., so we believe the new protocol is effective. Nonetheless, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Volunteer: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Two years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake but in 2018 the yield was down to 300 lbs., so we believe the new protocol is effective. Nonetheless, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Volunteer: Removal of Invasives on Boggy Meadow Road
The margins of roads provide excellent habitat for the growth of invasive plants. We have surveyed and located many patches of invasives along Boggy Meadow Road, which connects the former Moose Lodge parking lot at the end of Cooke Avenue with the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will work our way along the road, removing invasive…
Find out more »Volunteer: Removal of Invasives on Boggy Meadow Road
The margins of roads provide excellent habitat for the growth of invasive plants. We have surveyed and located many patches of invasives along Boggy Meadow Road, which connects the former Moose Lodge parking lot at the end of Cooke Avenue with the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will work our way along the road, removing invasive…
Find out more »- North Farms Rd. entrance is off Bridge Rd., N. off Mountain St. or N. Maple St. in Florence.
- Cooke Avenue entrance is off Hatfield St., which runs behind the WalMart/Big Y shopping center, to the end of Cooke Avenue (former Moose Lodge). Park only on the right side.
- Coles Meadow Road entrance is on the eastern end of FLCA, about 0.7 miles from North King Street (Routes 5/10). Park carefully on the street.