AMHERST — Culverts and bridges in the Fort River watershed will be examined in the coming years to find ways to improve the aquatic habitat, enhance flood resiliency and increase their capacity.
Using a $427,700 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant from the state, culverts will be assessed in Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Pelham and Shutesbury by people who will be hired and trained for the task.
The project is formally known as the Fort River Watershed Culvert Assessment and Prioritization Plan.
Bruce Stedman, a member of the town’s Conservation Commission, said at a recent meeting that by next spring the people trained for this work, some from the University of Massachusetts, will be assessing as many of the public way culverts as they can.
“It will take a couple of years to do them all,” Stedman said. “The information goes into a database UMass manages, and the state uses that database to determine money for design and construction.”
Stedman said this also will help to get problems fixed before they arise on what is the longest free-flowing tributary of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts.
“This enables them to get ahead of it and put in something that will be appropriate for wildlife connectivity and that will last for a long time,” Stedman said.
The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission partnered with the towns to seek the grant, and support also came from the Nature Conservancy and the Fort River Watershed Association.
“This collaboration promises to produce many positive outcomes for the Fort River Watershed,” said Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek.
Condition assessment and the aquatic passability of road stream crossings will use protocols developed by the North Atlantic Aquatic Collaborative.
“The holistic approach of this project not only addresses current environmental challenges but also positions our communities to thrive in an uncertain climatic future,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman.
The watershed contains all the reservoirs for the town of Amherst, and the origin of the river itself is the Intake Reservoir in Pelham.
Election events
A month before the town election, a random drawing this week, coordinated by Town Clerk Amber Martin, will determine the placement of names on the Nov. 4 ballot.
On Monday, candidate statements will be posted on the town website, in the order the candidates for Town Council, School Committee, Library trustees, Housing Authority and Elector under the Oliver Smith Will appear on the ballot.
Then, on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at the high school library will be the first forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters, preceded at 6:15 p.m. by a meet and greet with the candidates.
District 1 and At Large Councilor candidates will be at the first forum, followed by Districts 2, 3 and 4 candidates at an Oct. 15 forum and then School Committee candidates on Oct. 23.
Each candidate will answer questions submitted by Amherst voters, and audience members are encouraged to submit questions either in advance by emailing them to lwva@lwvamherst.org or writing them on index cards provided.
Meanwhile, Saturday at 3 p.m. on the north side of the Amherst Town Common, recent high school graduates Marisol Pierce Bonifaz and Julian Hynes will be joined by the head of the Amherst College Democrats for a youth listening session, where a progressive slate of candidates for Town Council and School Committee will be paret of a youth-led conversation on the town’s future, including demands on climate, school funding and local government accessibility to build a representative government.
Light refreshments and snacks will be served. To RSVP, go to:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3dtPSQDEHswztJGSDmab9PKb9v3_cAojUKSNoAgitTRf9xg/viewform
UMass Homecoming
Homecoming at the University of Massachusetts, highlighted by a football game between the Minutemen and Western Michigan Saturday afternoon, begins Friday evening with Community Spirit Central taking place at Kendrick Park at the north end of downtown.
There, starting at 5 p.m., will be athletic team meet-and-greets, hands-on activities and carnival-style games, along with a wine-tasting presented by Aster + Pine Market.
UMass Downtown will also be open for what is being called Hometown Homecoming.
Peace Pagoda 40th
The New England Peace Pagoda, at 100 Cave Hill Road in Leverett, will mark its 40th anniversary Sunday.
Ceremonies begin at 11 a.m. by honoring the late Slow Turtle, supreme medicine man of the Wampanoag Nation, and conclude at 3:30 p.m. with a stomp dance. Throughout the day will be sacred ceremonies, interfaith prayers, messages of peace and music.
Song & Story Swap
Terry Kitchen, a singer-songwriter, will perform at the Song & Story Swap Saturday at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 165 Main St.
The event is sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society of Western Massachusetts.
For information, contact Paul Kaplan at 413-687-5002.
Meetings
MONDAY: Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
TUESDAY: Amherst School Committee, 6:30 p.m., high school library.
WEDNESDAY: Planning Board, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY: Public Art Commiossion, 6 p.m., and CDBG Advisory Committee, 7 p.m.