NortheastWelcome to the Northeast Chapter of the River Management Society! The most recent RMS newsletter with a Northeast Chapter focus was Spring 2016. All journal back issues are archived online, available with other Society publications on the members-only side of the website. Northeast Chapter Officers (2018-2020)A new 2017 member of the River Management Society, Emma brings a background in environmental science and geomorphology. She received a BA in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College (2013) and an MS in Geology from the University of North Dakota (2016). Emma is currently in her second term working with the National Park Service as a Wild and Scenic Rivers fellow in Concord, NH. For her fellowship, Emma is working with the Interagency Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council to develop publications, tools, and other guidance material about Wild and Scenic Rivers for transportation and infrastructure project proponents as well as river managers.
"During the 50th anniversary year in 2018, I would like NE Chapter events and trips to focus on the Wild and Scenic Rivers in the Northeast. Many of the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers will be holding 50th anniversary celebratory events throughout the year, and these would be great opportunities for RMS to share in a joint float trip or other river related event." Dr. John Field, President of Field Geology Services, LLC, received a Ph.D. in 1994 from the University of Arizona with concentrations in fluvial geomorphology and hydrology. During eight years as a university professor, Dr. Field received two excellence in teaching awards and was active in training teachers and government agency personnel on techniques for identifying flood and erosion hazards and assessing the stability and habitat conditions of rivers. Dr. Field has over 20 years of professional experience related to river restoration and has designed and installed numerous projects throughout New England utilizing large wood to improve river function and aquatic habitat. John has also been involved in international work, most recently in Nepal working to prevent irrigation canal intakes from being eroded away by the Karnali River, the largest in Nepal.
Not always choosing the easiest path to knowledge Walter learned how to paddle at an early age by taking a lake canoe through freshet rapids. A lover of the landscape and curious to understand the human creative and industrious impact on the natural environment. This curiosity directed Walter to attend Unity College in Maine where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in the Environmental Sciences. Recreation trails would not allow him to enter the field of education and for nearly two decades he has been steeped in this ever evolving world working at the private, non-profit, state, and federal levels. Nearly a decade was spent as Trail Director for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail stewarding a 740-mile water trail from the Adirondacks of New York to the northern reaches of Maine. This position exposed him to one of the most dynamic environments known; where the water meets the land. Currently Walter works for the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation as a Field Recreation Specialist supporting and managing recreation trails on Vermont’s State Land. Walter feels very fortunate to have a wonderful wife Kyle, a joyful newborn Haley, and an always watchful collie named Chloe. They reside in the hills of Adamant, Vermont where they like to look out the south facing windows and watch the apple trees go through the seasons.
Welcome to 2018!Join us March 21, 2018 at the 2018 Environmental Film Festival as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (WSR50) by sharing stories that celebrate the spectrum of our nation’s federally designated ‘wild’, ‘scenic’ and ‘recreational’ rivers protected by legislation that changed the face of river stewardship and is the worldwide model for river protection. These beautifully produced films describe efforts required to establish Partnership and ‘regular’ Wild and Scenic Rivers and showcase spectacular values for which designation has been sought. They follow subsistence dwellers in Alaska, river professionals, and urban dwellers seeking an appreciated break from busy lifestyles on a free-flowing rivers that define how they live, work and play. March 21, 2018 - Washington, DC Environmental Film Festival Evening Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Wild and Scenic Rivers https://dceff.org/event/protecting-wild-rivers/ 4:30-6:00 Wild and Scenic Rivers Happy Hour - Stop by to meet other river professionals and fans before heading to the show. 6:30 – 8:00 pm Yates Auditorium, Department of Interior Main Building, Price: FREE but folks need to register here. 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240 These films represent a unique partnership among the national river organizations American Rivers, American Whitewater, River Network and River Management Society and Wild and Scenic Rivers administering agencies – Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Forest Service.
Speakers: Leslie Weldon - Deputy Chief, National Forest System, US Forest Service and Wm. Robert Irvin - President, American Rivers Panelists
Moderators: Corita Waters – National Park Service and Risa Shimoda – Executive Director, River Management Society 8:30-10:00 Meet the WSR50 Producers After Party - Before heading home, speak to the filmmakers, agency leaders, and those who seek to add miles to the Wild and Scenic River System Old Ebbitt Grill 675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005 - A short walk past the White House. Contact [email protected] with questions.
Contact any Northeast Chapter officer to contribute to regional or national RMS activities!
2017 Northeast Chapter TripsPotomac River Mather Gorge - September, 2017 2016 Northeast Chapter TripsAnacostia River, MD/DC - October 23, 2016 Bronx River Trip - NY, Bronx River Alliance 2015 Northeast Chapter TripsNational Board Meeting Piscataqua River Trip - NH, October 11-12 Missisquoi River Trip - VT, June 27-28 (after Pedal / Paddle Race) “Celebrate the Mississquoi!” with the Northeast Chapter! The Missisquoi River in northern Vermont recently became Vermont’s first Wild and Scenic River. It is also one of the rivers that comprise the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). On Saturday, June 27 the NFCT collaborated with the Town of Richford’s Conservation Commission to put on a River Fest and a Paddle & Pedal Race. The Paddle Pedal Race involved a 6 mile paddle and a 5 mile bicycle ride on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail. The local library hosted a BBQ afterwards, and RMS Executive Director Risa Shimoda was the guest speaker at the River Fest event. After the race the NE Chapter, led by member Walter Opuszynski paddled downstream and stayed at an official Northern Forest Canoe Trail campsite, enjoying a campfire and cameraderie as we learned about the river improvements that have been completed, challenges that have been overcome along the way, and future river management efforts. On Sunday we paddled approximately 8 miles to the town of Enosburg Falls. 2014 Northeast Chapter Trip - Connecticut River (NH, VT)
Thomas J. Christopher, RMS Member - Mr. Christopher is a founding director and current Secretary of New England FLOW, the first organized coalition of recreational boating groups in the northeast. In addition, he is a former board member of American Whitewater, serving for 14 years and was its Conservation Chair from 1997 until 2004. He helped to organize the Hydropower Reform Coalition (HRC) in Washington, D. C. in 1991, and sits on the HRC Steering Committee, pursuing changes in hydropower policy and rulemaking through the FERC relicensing process. He is a signatory to multiple FERC relicensing settlement agreements throughout New England and is currently working on the relicensing of five dams on the Connecticut River in Vermont and Massachusetts. Andrew Fisk, Ph.D., Executive Director, Connecticut River Watershed Council - Prior to joining CRWC in 2011 Andy served as Director of the Land and Water Quality Bureau at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for seven years. As Maine’s land and water quality director, Andy worked with municipalities, industry, and citizens to develop, finance, and implement clean water requirements that eliminated algae blooms, sewer overflows and maintained stream and river flows. He was also actively involved in enacting and implementing scientifically-based protections for hundreds of thousands of acres of significant wildlife habitats for tidal and inland waterfowl as well as protections for vernal pools. Norman Sims, Ph.D. - Norman recently retired as an honors professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was a founding member of New England FLOW in 1988 when dams on the Deerfield River in Vermont and Massachusetts came up for relicensing. He later spent 12 years on the Board of Directors of the Appalachian Mountain Club, including several years as chair of the AMC Conservation Programs Committee. Along with Tom Christopher of FLOW and Ken Kimball of the AMC, Norm has worked on several hydropower relicensings in New England. As a volunteer, Norm currently represents the AMC in relicensing five hydropower facilities on the Connecticut River. He is also writing a book on the history of the North American canoe. Thank you Lelia Mellen, Paul Beaulieu for coordinating the trip, and others for attending! 2013 Northeast Chapter Trip
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Emma Lord (NH) - President - 
John Field, PhD, PG (ME) - Vice President - 
Walter Opuszynski (VT) - Trip Coordinator - 
Join RMS-NE Chapter for a trip on the Connecticut River! On Saturday, October 4, paddled 7 miles from Cornish, NH Boat Launch to Wilgus State Park, VT. Along the way and at a group dinner, heard from the RMS members and other regional experts about the river management topics that both define the river today and which will impact the watershed immensely in the years to come. Here are our special guest experts:
The Great Egg Harbor River Council, hosted the North East Chapter of the River Management Society (RMS) and Friends to an overnight camping and paddle event on the Great Egg Harbor River in New Jersey September 28-29, 2013.. 
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