Res Bird Walk led by Chris Floyd (and 4 Swans)

Blog
This morning (5/4/24) Chris Floyd led a bird walk with about twenty people around the Res & LexFarm.  We saw a wide variety of birds of all types from hawks to to swallows to warblers to swans and ducks. Chris pointing out some birds up in the trees. We saw ducklings and goslings on the water. We also saw four swans - one pair and two singletons.  For a full list or what we saw here is a link to the eBird checklist with Susan Packard’s photos added https://ebird.org/checklist/S171921468 This event was jointly sponsored by the Arlington Open Space Committee and the Arlington Reservoir Committee. (All photos by Brian McBride.)
Read More

Garlic Mustard Harvesting (and 3 Swans)

Blog
On a somewhat drizzly morning six people showed up to pull garlic mustard and celandine from along the north side of the Res next to Lex Farm. Garlic Mustard harvesters Megan, Fred, Johanna, MaryRose & Emily stand behind their work. (Photo by David White who also pulled up some.) A pair of swans has come to the Res to supplement the single male who was here before.
Read More

Scouts at Work (and 1 Swan)

Blog
On a rather cool Sunday of April 7 Scouts from Troop 313 and others gathered to get the Res ready for spring. One big accomplishment was removing invasive Water Chestnut seeds from along the shore near the boat ramp to get ready for another season. Another activity was removing weeds from the Habitat garden. We also saw one swan at the Res on that day.  But many ducks of different types.
Read More

Five Swans a-Swimming

Blog
February 20th, 2024, the Arlington Reservoir committee shared observations like the five swans seen on February 19th, while Ann observed geese, ruddy ducks, and various smaller animals. The reservoir appears to be half-frozen and half-open, with a noticeable decrease in water levels compared to usual. Additionally, recent weather patterns have led to a rapid melting of snow and thin ice, making on-the-ice activities unfeasible. We are updating the sketch for a sign near Trader Joe's to increase visibility for the reservoir-related activities. Upcoming activities such as invasive species removal March 16th with Elaine Crowder & ArMI. The next meeting is scheduled for March 19th, with a focus on Apr 2oth EcoFest:the Annual Garlic Mustard Pull.
Read More

Volunteer Water Chestnut Harvesting – Saturday July 8

Blog
The mechanical harvester in June collected huge amounts of the invasive water chestnut plants from the Res.  But there were still some left that it couldn't reach. About thirty volunteers in canoes and kayaks with shore-side helpers collected 169 baskets of what remained.  There are still more left though for future volunteer efforts. This event was organized by the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and the Arlington Reservoir Committee.  The water chestnut harvesting work is the responsibility of the Conservation Commission through its Water Bodies Working Group.
Read More

Earth Day at the Res

Blog
Celebrating Earth Day on April 22, 2023, the Reservoir Committee members, along with about 30 volunteers, worked to maintain the health of the Reservoir. Splitting into three groups, they (1) removed invasive plants such as Garlic Mustard, (2) put new plants in the Habitat Garden, and (3) did a spring cleanup on other parts of the garden. These teams were led by Johanna Meyer, Jennifer Tidwell, and George Stephans respectively. Johanna led a group of dedicated workers pulling Garlic Mustard, an invasive species seen proliferating, which has begun to flower. This plant’s removal leads to a more balanced ecosystem as its absence allows noninvasive species to grow, including the Canadian Anemone and the May Apple. The group cleared most of the Garlic Mustard near the shade garden. Volunteer families filled…
Read More

April Workday at the Res

Blog
Last Saturday (4/8/2023) at Arlington Reservoir, our activities continued with work done by amazing volunteers and two determined scout troops. [caption id="attachment_1597" align="alignnone" width="657"]              Garden planting team with Jenifer and Scouts.[/caption] First, Jenifer Tidwell and 6-8 volunteers worked together in the native species garden, bringing in more native species and increasing the diversity of plants. Regarding the garden, Jennifer created the garden designs and brought plants funded by donations to the Reservoir Committee. With her leadership, they cleared the paths for easier access today and planted the following: Little Bluestem grass (Schizachyrium), wild strawberries, Perennial sunflowers, swamp milkweed, Penstemons, groundnuts, and coneflowers. Secondly, one of the groups with 4-6 volunteers led by Michael Ratner cut oriental bittersweet, an invasive species that tend to be destructive to trees/shrubs. By cutting…
Read More

Mill Brook Restoration Grant Sought

Blog
Buffer and Beautify Mill Brook - The Conservation Commission has requested a Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant for a feasibility study for the preservation of Mill Brook between Arlington Reservoir and Hurd Field in keeping with a commitment made to the Recreation Department to buffer both recent improvement projects and beautify the area. The full application is available here.
Read More

Habitat Garden Spring Plans

Blog
Jenifer Tidwell Lends a Hand at Arlington Reservoir - Residents of Arlington, MA recently witnessed an amazing transformation at the town’s reservoir with Parks and Recreation's new beach and native plant rewilding. Now local landscape designer Jenifer Tidwell of Autumn Light Landscape Design is 2023 Lead gardener for the Envision Arlington Reservoir Wildlife Habitat Gardens. Her designs will take parts of the Wildlife Habitat Garden from overgrown to vibrant and inviting. Let’s look at how she plans to do it! Transforming an aspect of the garden into something beautiful may take more than just a little bit of elbow grease. Tidwell worked with the Envision Arlington's Reservoir Committee to come up with a design that would bring more native wildlife into the area while enhancing its visual beauty. The goal…
Read More