An Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is a special designation given by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to a region that has high quality, unique, and significant natural and cultural resources. Nominations for ACEC designation are made at the community level and proceed through a process of compiling nomination papers detailing the area and its valuable assets, public outreach and education, review by the state's Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), public hearings, and finally, if appropriate, designation by the Secretary. According to the terms of the ACEC program, the purpose of an ACEC designation is "to preserve, restore, and enhance critical environmental resources and resource areas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The goals of the program are to identify and designate these ecological areas, to increase the level of protection for ACECs, and to facilitate and support the stewardship of ACECs." ACEC regulations require "EOEEA agencies to acquire useful scientific data on ACECs, ensure that activities in or impacting an area minimize adverse effects on the resources, and apply close scrutiny to the environmental review of projects subject to their jurisdiction." For more about the Commonwealth's ACEC program.
A view of the Nashua River valley looking west from Harvard to Mt. Wachusett. |
There are currently twenty-eight ACECs designated in the state, three of which lie within the Nashua River watershed. The Central Nashua River Valley ACEC was designated in 1996 and includes 12,900 acres in the communities of Bolton, Harvard, Lancaster, and Leominster. For details and maps of the Central Nashua River Valley ACEC. The Squannassit and Petapawag ACECs, designated in 2002 are the two largest ACECs to date, with Squannassit covering 37,450 acres and Petapawag covering 25,630 acres in the communities of Ashby, Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, and Tyngsboro. For details and maps of the Squannassit ACEC; for details and maps of the Petapawag ACEC.
The Squannacook River in Townsend, MA. |
The NRWA was a key partner in the nomination process for the Squannassit and Petapawag ACECs. The many unique qualities of the region led to their designation. The Squannassit/ Petapawag region contains one of the most remarkable concentrations and varieties of glacial landforms in New England. These landforms contributed to the highly variable nature of soils and complex hydrologic systems within the region. Combined with regional geography, these characteristics resulted in a diversity of habitat types and rich biodiversity. Remarkable concentrations and varieties of wildlife, including rare and endangered and/or threatened plant, animal and fish species, reside in the Squannassit/Petapawag region. Both ACECs contain eighteenth and nineteenth century structures and landscapes which provide significant historical resources. In addition, both Squannassit and Petapawag ACECs contain extensive conservation lands and recreation areas.
E.O.Wilson participating in a Biodiversity Days walk in the Petapawag ACEC. |
NRWA currently serves as facilitator for the Squannassit-Petapawag ACEC Stewardship Committee. The Stewardship Committee is a group of local citizens who meet on a monthly basis at the NRWA River Resource Center to "to foster cooperation and awareness amongst diverse environmental, historical, cultural, and other land interests" of these two ACECs. The Committee focuses on public outreach and education, with a current focus on the topics of controlling invasive species and landscaping for backyard ecology. For example, the Committee is partnering with the NRWA and the state Office of Coastal Zone Management on a project to raise galerucella beetles for release to control invasive purple loosestrife. For more about the beetle project.
Members of the public in the ACEC communities are invited to participate in the committee and its projects. For more information about the Squannassit-Petapawag ACEC Stewardship Committee or Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, please contact Rick Muehlke, NRWA's Land Programs and Outreach Assistant, at 978/448-0299 or e-mail
Rick Muehlke.
|
