A first for plymouth

In July 2022, the Town of Plymouth hired Mark Reil as the first Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Planner. As part of outreach and engagement, this newsletter will be released seasonally and will exhibit the work the Town is doing on environmental, energy, and climate related issues. Please take a moment to sign up to receive these newsletters through this LINK.

Climate Action Plan

The Town of Plymouth has contracted with Kim Lundgren Associates, Inc. to develop the Town’s first climate action plan. This document will provide a roadmap not only for the Town government, but also for all residents and businesses of Plymouth. The development process is underway and is expected to be finalized by the end of this calendar year. As part of the planning process, we have created a brief survey for folks to take part in. Please use this link below to access the survey and be heard.

Climate Action Survey

Electrifying the Town Vehicle Fleet

Over the past several months, the Town of Plymouth has been diligently working to incorporate electric vehicles into the municipal fleet. By utilizing federal funds and accessing grants, we have added 5 electric vehicles. We have been awarded $37,500 from the Mass EVIP program, administered by the MA Department of Environmental Protection. The acquired vehicles consist of 4 -Chevrolet Bolts and 1- Ford F-150 Lightning. The vehicles were trialed by multiple departments and proved to be well received. The Inspectional Services Department is using the 4 Bolts for inspector’s vehicles. The Department of Marine and Environmental Affairs has been assigned the Ford F-150 Lightning utilizing it for their staff for the work they do on the Beach and around the community.

DMEA Director, David Gould said "As an environmental department here in Town having the Ford Lightning aligns well with our mission. In addition, it’s an EV that is a great work truck that can handle field work in some tough places. We hope it’s the first of many EV’s going forward." These vehicles help to reduce harmful tailpipe emissions that impact residents’ health, reduce the release of greenhouse gases, and save the Town valuable taxpayer dollars on gasoline and vehicle maintenance. Climate Resiliency Planner, Mark Reil stated " The Town has an opportunity to be a leader on electric vehicle integration. We have the ability to incorporate these vehicles responsibly while meeting the needs of our staff. These purchases help meet our green communities and climate goals while upholding our responsibility to taxpayers in being stewards of their tax dollars."

Climate Action Net Zero Advisory Committee

A Message from Dale Bryan, Chair

In early 2022, the Plymouth Select Board appointed interested resident to the Climate Action Net Zero Advisory Committee (CANZ). The CANZ Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the Town’s Climate Resiliency, Sustainability Planner, is helping to organize efforts to create and initiate a climate action and adaptation plan for the Town. Together, we will engage existing planning practices and partnerships across all sectors and networks in Plymouth, foster creative and innovative responses to disruptive climate impacts, and help guide implementation of the preparations and collaborations necessary for a low-carbon and resilient future. Currently we are working with Kim Lundgren Associates to streamline an organizing and communications approach. Residents are encouraged to attend our regular meetings and to participate in our efforts. You can sign up to receive alerts to our meeting postings here.

It's your turn

Biodiversity in Your Back Yard

Biodiversity is defined as all the life forms you find in a given area, whether that is local or global. Having biodiversity is without question, critical to the vitality of our local, regional, and global ecosystems. It plays a critical role in our long-term resilience in the face of a changing climate, but as our Earth warms, habitats change, and a variety of species struggle to adapt.

Some species rely on other singular host species to survive, such as the Monarch Butterfly. Monarch caterpillars only survive on milkweed and without milkweed the Monarch Butterfly population dwindles. According to the international Union for Conservation of Nature, the eastern population that migrates to New England each summer is estimated to have decreased 84% between 1996 and 2014. Additionally, the Monarch is currently being considered for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.

To assist this fragile species with survival, we must act to provide them with their required host plant. Milkweed has become less and less available due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticide use, and mowing. Take the opportunity to plant native milkweed in your gardens and help to protect our biodiversity for a stronger, more resilient environment.

Here are some resources:

Milkweed Finder

About Monarchs

Plymouth Invasive Plants Guide

Our vast and varying landscape comes with challenges. Invasive species impact our ecosystems across the world and Plymouth is no exception. Invasive plant species wreak havoc on our native plant species and reduce biodiversity, which in turn increases our vulnerability to the impacts of disease, damaging insects, and climate change. The Town of Plymouth, in partnership with community members, organized a guide on popular invasive plant species that you may have in your own back and how to help reduce and eliminate them. It takes all of us to make an impact and we hope you will review this GUIDE to help achieve a more resilient and healthy ecosystem.

Changing Tides: Teen Sustainability Club

Plymouth Public Library

Changing Tides: A Teen Sustainability Club is a safe space for young adults, ages 13-18, to have meaningful discussions about sustainability, climate change, and the natural world. Since the pandemic there's more interest in eco and sustainable living among all ages. But, with teens being a valuable asset to our future, this club is a space for young adults to enjoy! We discuss current topics surrounding sustainability from a local and global standpoint. We also have fun activities and crafts, such as intricate weaving projects, simple t-shirt bags, reusable beeswax covers, and worry stones.

Since the term sustainability is so broad, each month we focus on a specific topic under the umbrella of sustainability. Our introductory meeting was each member conversing about their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about climate change. In future meetings, the conversations will be more specific. This includes zero waste, mental health surrounding climate change, greenwashing products, and how crucial pollinators are to the natural world. We meet the last Tuesday of each month from 6-7pm at the Plymouth Public Library.

Upcoming Meetings:

Tuesday, June 20 @ 6-7pm- Greenwashing

Tuesday, July 25th @ 6-7pm- Mental Health and Climate Change

Tuesday, August 29th @ 6-7pm- All About Bees

Contact Natalie Bennington for additional info at: nbennington@plymouth.ocln.org

DMEA CORNER

Message from Director David Gould

As spring makes its way into summer our focus shifts from herring and eel migration work to shorebird and land management activities. But before we complete that shift from spring to summer work, we continue to make progress on a couple of long-term diadromous fish projects including the Jenney Pond Bypass and our eDNA study.

Jenney Grist Mill Nature-Like Fishway Bypass

DMEA will be applying for NOAA funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), for the construction of the Jenney Grist Mill Nature-Like Fishway Bypass. The proposed nature-like fishway bypass will circumvent the historic Jenney Pond Dam, improving passage for alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), and American eel (Anguilla rostrata) at all life stages. Additionally, this project will include the dredging of Jenney Pond (an artificial impoundment created by the Jenney Pond Dam) and repairs to the Jenney Pond Dam. The bypass will provide passage of additional flow volumes, which will improve climate resiliency and public safety in catastrophic storm events.

eDNA
DMEA has begun to utilize Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding (biodiversity monitoring) methods to measure restoration/adaptation action efficacy within the Town Brook watershed. The eDNA survey has been designed to sample several locations on the Town Brook main stem. The study began in Spring of 2022, establishing a pre-restoration action biodiversity baseline for aquatic vertebrates (fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians), invertebrates, and the microbial community of the Town Brook watershed. Through collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Maine, preliminary biodiversity findings are being completed.

Summer Work and Play

As our spring projects wind down, we all know how important it is to soak up the sun and enjoy the long days of summer as they go by way too quickly. While staff will be enjoying their personal time this summer kayaking, fishing, swimming, and hiking we will also be working outdoors at our coastal properties, coastal plain ponds, and the cool shaded forest lands. This summer we will continue to advance projects through the engineering and permitting phases and closer to actual implementation to enhance and protect these habitats.

Among the summer activities folks can do is to take advantage of a couple of new trail projects that were recently completed. It is now possible to walk from Brewster Gardens to Morton Park along the Town Brook Trail and/or sidewalk safely. You can follow the path of the herring all the way from the harbor to Billington Sea over a new footbridge and through some new pollinator meadow habitat planted in the area. This is a great walk for the summer with water always in sight and the cool breeze of the harbor and the shaded canopy of Morton Park.

The second walk is to try out the extended Seaside Trail running from Lothrop Street to Nelson Park. The new section has a nice, forested canopy that opens to the existing trail at Nelson Park. From there you can continue along the trail out to Hedge Road. Beautiful views and summer breezes make this a great walk, especially in the morning and evenings.