12Jul 2023 by wp_admin

Volunteer Water Chestnut Harvesting – Saturday July 8

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
29Apr 2023 by wp_admin

Earth Day at the Res

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
13Apr 2023 by wp_admin

April Workday at the Res

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
23Feb 2023 by wp_admin

Mill Brook Restoration Grant Sought

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
23Feb 2023 by wp_admin

Habitat Garden Spring Plans

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