Pioneer Valley Conservation Compact

PIONEER VALLEY CONSERVATION COMPACT

Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) Grant

FY2012

$132,455

FinalReport

Pioneer ValleyPlanningCommission

June1, 2013

CompactMembers:

Pioneer ValleyRegionalVenturesCenter

Town of Southampton

Town of Hatfield MinnechaugLandTrust OpacumLandTrust

WindingRiver LandConservancy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SECTIONI:PARTNER COMMUNITIES

SECTION2:GOALS

SECTION3:IMPLEMENTATIONPLAN

SECTION4:BUDGET

SECTION5:CHALLENGES ANDSOLUTIONS

SECTION6:OUTCOMES

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TheCompact forPioneerValleyConservation offers an efficientand effectivemodel for affordabletechnical assistanceto communities to support and enhancenatural resource protection activities. The PioneerValleyPlanning Commission’s existingtax-exempt 501c3 organization, thePioneerValleyRegional Ventures CenterIncorporated, has been expanded via an amendment to theArticles ofIncorporation (pendingapproval bytheIRS)to takeon the role ofproviding regional land protection and conservation services.

Communities across the regionarestrugglingwiththeloss ofopen space and natural resources dueto continued low densitysprawl. Communities with all volunteerboards and no professional staff arenot ableto handletheburden of environmental conservation needstheyface, the environmental regulations to be enforced, andalso arenot abletorespond quicklyenough to

land conservation challenges. The result is theloss ofimportant farmlandsand natural resource areas, poorlydesigned developments, missed opportunities forland conservation, and delays in permittingofdevelopment projects. Similarly, manysmall land trusts areover-burdened and need help with land conservation, in some cases just to monitor and maintain theprotected land theycurrentlyhold.

In our firstyear, wehaveprotected 134 acres in Southwick and a4.3 milerail corridor fora greenwayin Southampton. Technical landconservation and stewardship services havebeen performed on thirteen properties in Hampshireand Hampden Counties. Two new trails have been designed, permittedand constructed. Technical capacityforCompact members has been improved throughaseries oftraining workshops and development ofguidancedocuments included as attachments to this report.

Funding for continued operation oftheCompactremains a challenge. PVPChas identified severalexistingprograms and grants that could beused as matchingfunds to Compact member dues to continuewith priorities identified forFY14. PVPCwill continuetooutreach to nonprofits and foundations to seek fundingto capitalizeaRevolving LoanFund to establish bridgeloans forconservation projects.

SECTIONI:PARTNER COMMUNITIES

TheMemorandum ofUnderstanding(MOU) formingthePioneerValleyConservation Compact has been signed bysix entities: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), Town ofHatfield,Town ofSouthampton, WindingRiverLand Conservancy, Minnechaug LandTrust, and OpacumLand Trust.Operational oversight oftheCompact forPioneerValleyConservation hasbeen established underthe501c3 PioneerValleyRegional Ventures Center (pendingapproval bytheIRS), the non-profit arm ofthePioneerValleyPlanningCommission. In addition to performing operational oversight and coordination of the Compact, PVPC initiated the formation of the Compact out of a recognized need for increasing the capacity for land conservation and stewardship in the Pioneer Valley, particularly in Hampden County, documented in a 2011 feasibility study conducted by PVPC for regionalizing conservation services.

Several other communities remain interested in participatingintheCompact howeverlack the funding resources at this timeto support the$1,500 annualdues fee. Communications with oneother land trust regardingtheirpotential interest in theprogram remains on-going.

SECTION2:GOALS

ThepurposeoftheCompact forPioneerValleyConservation is to providetechnicalassistanceto thePioneerValleyregion’s communities and land trusts forland conservation, open space and wetland protection. Someofthemain objectives oftheCompact forPioneerValley Conservation include:

•Providemorequalified, affordable, professional conservation services bypooling resources and expertise;

•Improvethecapacityofmunicipalities and land trusts to protect important open space, natural resourceareas and wetlands, improvingthequalityoflife forall residents;

•Improvethescope and qualityof conservation services availabletoresidents and achieve maximumimpact with limited resources;

•Increased capacityto applyforgrants and bemorecompetitivein grant applications, bringingadditional resources to their communities, and;

•Avoid municipal liabilityforproblems arisingfrom unmet statutoryresponsibilities.

•Conservation commissions and land trust board members are abletofocuson policy makingandguidanceinstead ofservicedeliveryand enforcement.

SECTION3:IMPLEMENTATIONPLAN

An Implementation Plan for the project was developed based on a list of services and assistance identified by the Compact member communities and land trusts. PVPC staff met with each member board or committee to prioritize the services and develop a detailed scope of work, budget, and timeline. A Request for Proposal was issued for a conservation specialist to work as a sub consultant. Through this process, Conservation Works LLC of Hatfield, MA was hired.

In addition to performing many of the site-specific Baseline Document Reports (BDR) and Conservation Restriction Monitoring Reports, Conservation Works conducted a training workshop for the Compact on how to perform these services. A PVPC staff person was assigned to each site specific project and assisted in the site inspection and field data collection, and final report development. The purpose of this training was to increase the capacity for PVPC to perform these services for the region.

The followingservices and work products were completed undertheCompact forPioneerValley

Conservation:

Conservation Related Services

•Performed Conservation Restriction monitoringat 8 properties

•Completed BaselineDocument Reports at 5 properties

•Developedaland management plan for1 property(250 acres)

•Completed boundarymarkingwith land trust signageat 2 properties

Grant writingfor2LAND Grants forconservation land acquisition, both awarded: 134 acres in Southwick, 4.3milegreenwayrail corridorin Southampton –totalfunding awarded $582,120

Conservation Stewardship Services

•Designed, permitted stream crossings and constructed 1 trail including3 stream crossings

•Constructed 1 trail along designedalignment

•Conservation land inventoryand mapping, includingbrochuredesign forTown of

Southampton

•Conservation land inventoryand mappingforTown ofHatfield

•Developed Request forQuotes (RFQ)forperformanceofaPhaseIAll Appropriate

InquiryfortheSouthampton Greenwayacquisition

Educational Services

Conducted workshops forCompact members on:

•PerformingBaselineDocument Reports

•Conservation Restriction Monitoring

•Trail construction

•Resources andfundingopportunities forland conservation

Developedguidancedocuments on the following topics:

•Organizational efficiencyforland trust boards

•How to recruit and keepvolunteers forconservation land stewardship

•Conservation Restriction stewardshipguidance

•How to structurealegaldefensefund

•Trail buildingand maintenanceguide

Wetland PermittingReview Assistance

•Assisted with review of2NoticeofIntents forTown ofHatfield

Compact Administration

•Developeda frameworkforaRevolving LoanFund (RLF) for conservation funding

•Outreach to potentialfunders includingnon-profitfoundations to capitalizeRLF

•Outreached to towns andland trusts in the region about participation in Compact

•Established operational oversight oftheCompact forPioneerValleyConservation under the501c3 PioneerValleyRegional Ventures Center

SECTION4:BUDGET

Theproject budget is provided herein. Theprimarychangeto thebudget was in a reallocation of funds forwetland protection technical assistanceand consultants into land conservation technical assistance andconsultants. At the start of the project, funding was set aside for wetlands protection technical assistance under the assumption that the Conservation Commission didn’t know what projects would be filed in the coming months and therefore could not say how much assistance would be needed. However, as the program proceeded, it became clear that assistance with wetland permit review was not needed to the degree originally sought, and funds were reallocated to the long list of conservation related priorities identified by Compact members. Theoriginal travel budget was in excess ofwhatwas needed, thus the excess travel funds werealso allocated to land conservation technical assistance.

ITEM / TOTALCOST / AMOUNT
EXPENDED / ITEMCOST
Formalization ofMOU / $8,675 / $8,675 / $8,675
Wetlands protection technical
assistance / $25,004 / $5,000 / $5,000
Wetlands protection consultants / $27,047 / $0 / $0
Landconservation technical assistance / $25,004 / $74,602 / $74,602
Landconservation consultants / $27,047 / $31,200 / $31,200
Establishment of revolvingfund
framework / $1,000 / $1,000 / $1,000
Sustainabilityofcompact / $6,900 / $6,900 / $6,900
Project management / $4,578 / $4,578 / $4,578
Travel / $7,200 / $2,000 / $2,000

TOTAL BUDGET:$132,455

SECTION5:CHALLENGES ANDSOLUTIONS

TheprimarychallengetothePioneerValleyCompact forConservation is fundingforcontinued operation ofservices.Land trusts and municipalities haveno shortageofwork to beperformed in the comingyears. Annual monitoringof existingconservation restrictions and on-going stewardship forconservation lands can keep volunteerboards and committees busyfull-time. Without paid staff, this work inevitablyis not performed in atimelymanner, if at all in some cases.

In communications with other towns and land trusts in the region about the concept of regionalizing land conservation and stewardship, and participation in the Compact, great support for the concept was expressed. However, consistently, communities repeatedly stated they simply lacked the funding to appropriate to either general land conservation planning or site specific stewardship activities. Furthermore, the concept of paying annual “dues” into a program seemed to be an obstacle. Therefore, for FY14, the Compact will be offering fee for service type contracting. A programmatic brochure is under development detailing the types of services available and will be distributed to communities in Hampshire and Hampden counties, targeting Conservation Commissions, Open Space Committees, Trail Committees, Tree Committees/Warden, Planning Boards, and the Chief Elected Official.

Through participation intheCompact in FY13, members were ableto catch up on asignificant backlogofmonitoring and other conservation stewardship services.In addition, Compact members were ableto prioritize activities forthecomingyearto beperformed bytheCompact. This prioritization was based on consideration ofthetasks to beperformed bythemembers themselves.In workingcooperativelywith theCompact, continued technical services will be performed that will allow theCompact memberorganizations to focus theirefforts on thetasks and project that best meet theskill set oftheirboards and committees. Additionally, the momentum established through theCompact this year, particularlyrelatedto the conservation land inventories, is enablingCompact members to proactivelyseek funding forseveral land protection projects.

SECTION6:OUTCOMES

Threeoutcomes wereidentified at theoutset oftheproject:

•Increased protection ofwetlands

•Increased protection ofopen space

•Increased communityaccess to open space

Each oftheoutcomes identified wereachieved. Asnoted aboveunderImplementation, $582,120 inLAND Grants forlandprotection were receivedfor134 acres in Southwick (WindingRiver Land Conservancywill hold theConservation Restriction), and a4.3 milegreenwayalongarail corridorin theTown ofSouthampton.In addition,the conservation land inventoryin theTown

ofHatfield hasresulted in communications with theKestralLand Trust and theMassachusetts

Department ofFish andGame regardingprotection ofland prioritized as part oftheinventories.

Increased access to communityopen spacehas been accomplished through performanceofthe stewardship services identified above. Specificservices ofnoteincludecreation and mappingof trails at theRunningGutterWatershed in Hatfield,and Goat Rock in Hampden. Performanceof theConservation Restriction monitoringfortheKnittel Conservation Areain Blandfordalso included creation ofamap ofthe extensivetrail network to bemade available at thekiosk at the parking area. Theupdated ConservationLands Brochure fortheTown ofSouthampton will be availablein hardcopyand online forthepublic. Thebrochuremaps all publiclyaccessibleland in Southampton, allowableuses, and parking.

The followingservices are availableto Compact members forFY14:

Service/ Technical Assistance / Potential Matching Funds
(PVPCexisting grants/programs)
Project development andgrant writing
services:
•Land protection
•Parks and otherrecreational facility development (i.e. riveraccess, trails)
•Open spacestewardship
•Land ownercommunications
•Identifyconservation partners (state, federal, local, non-profit) / HUD SKCGrant;Local Technical Assistance
Conservation Stewardship:
•Conservation Restriction Monitoring
•BaselineDocument Reports
•Boundarymarkingon surveyed properties (not pin setting)
•Trail mapping
•Brochure, kiosk, signagedesign

ConservationLandsInventory:
•Identifyownership, protection status, condition, and stewardship status
•GISmapping
•Brochure, kiosk, signagedesign
Expand public access toparks and open space
in Environmental Justiceareas / HUD SKCGrant
Municipal Open Space and Recreation Plans / DistrictLocal TechnicalAssistance (DLTA)
Technicalassistance forculvert and stream
crossings upgrades to meet MA Stream
CrossingStandards / HUD SKCGrant; CT RiverStormwater
Committee; Hazard Mitigation Grants
Wetland Protection Act PermittingReview
Assistance

CONTACTINFORMATION

AnneCapra, Principal Planner, PVPC(413)781-6045

Chris Curtis, ChiefPlanner, PVPC(413)781-6045

REFERENCES

Compact forConservation Memorandum ofAgreement (included below)

RESOURCES

The following guidancedocuments weredeveloped fortheCompactforPioneerValley

Conservation:

•Conservation Restriction Stewardship

•Recruiting and Keeping Volunteers

•Legal DefenseFunds

•Organizational Efficiency

•Framework foraRevolving LoanFund forLandConservation

•Trail Building and MaintenanceGuide

COMPACTFORPIONEERVALLEY CONSERVATION

dated April12,2012

AMEMORANDUMOF AGREEMENT Byand among

theLandTrustsandMunicipalitiesofthePioneerValleyRegion

and the

PioneerValleyRegional VenturesCenter, Inc.

WHEREAS, thePioneer Valleyregion is inneedofassistancein effortsto protectimportantopen space, naturalresourcesand wetlands inthe faceofongoing developmentand sprawl;

WHEREAS, manyPioneerValleycommunitieshavevolunteerConservation Commissions, with no professionalstaffassistance, and need technicalassistanceforprotectionofwetlands, includingsuch areasas:wetlandspermittingand planreview; wetlandspermitsiteinspection;stormwaterpermit compliance;and land protection services;

WHEREAS, landtrustorganizationsin thePioneerValleyhavevolunteerboardsand are inneedof assistanceandsupportfor land conservation,includingsuch areasas:holdingandmonitoringof Conservation Restrictions;grantwriting;baselinestudies;mappingand prioritization ofparcels for protection;and landowneroutreach;

WHEREAS, thePioneer ValleyRegionalVenturesCenter, Inc. wasestablished for thecharitableand educationalpurposesofmanagementand programdirection forprojectsdesignedto alleviatethe socioeconomicproblemsofthePioneerValleyRegion ofWesternMassachusetts;

Now, THEREFORE, ITIS HEREBY RESOLVEDthat thecommunitiesand landtrustsofthePioneer Valley region andthePioneerValleyRegionalVenturesCenter, Inc. agreeto establish theCompact for PioneerValleyConservation as anon-profit servicebureau to assist local land trusts and municipal Conservation Commissions in thePioneerValleyregionand surroundingareas;

ITIS FURTHER RESOLVEDthattheCompact forPioneerValleyConservationwill work with any signatoryregional land trusts and municipal Conservation Commissions ontheirprojects to acquireand manageimportant natural areasas protected open space,and to protect wetlands resources;

ITIS FURTHER RESOLVEDthattheland trustsandmunicipalConservation Commissions ofthe PioneerValleyand thePioneerValleyRegionalVenturesCenter, Inc. agreeto worktogether topromote protectionofopen space, naturalresourcesand wetlands.

Section 1.Purposes of the Compact

ThepurposesofthePioneerValleyConservationCompactare:

a.Toconserve land inthePioneerValleyregion,includingimportantnatural resourceareas, farmlands, scenicareasandwater resourceareas;

b. To providetechnicalassistanceto land trustsinlandconservation work, includingbutnotlimited to conductingbaselinestudies, holdingand monitoringConservation Restrictions,grantwriting

and mapping;

c.To providetechnicalassistanceto municipalConservation Commissionsinwetlandsprotection and land conservation work, includingbutnotlimitedto wetland permittingand plan review,and site inspections.

Section 2. Role of the Communities

Thecommunitiesof thePioneerValleyregion, signatoryto thisagreement, shallhave thefollowingroles:

a.Toidentify, through theirConservation Commissions,neededtechnicalassistanceand services;

b. To workwith Compactannuallyto craftascopeofservicesandbudgetfordesired technical assistanceandservices, asneeded.

c.Tocontractwith Compactforservices, asneeded.

Section 3. Role ofthe Land Trusts

Theland trustsofthePioneerValleyregionshallhave thefollowingroles:

a.Toidentifyneeded technicalassistanceand services;

b. To workwith Compactannuallyto craftascopeofservicesandbudgetfordesired technical assistanceandservices, asneeded.

c.Tocontractwith Compactforservices, asdesired.

Section 4. Role of the CompactforPioneer ValleyConservation

TheCompact forPioneer ValleyConservation shallhave the followingroles:

a.Toassistcommunitiesandlandtrusts incraftingscopesofservicesand budgetsfordesired technicalassistanceandservices;

d. To provideprofessionalstaffsupportand technicalassistanceinthefollowingareasofland conservation work:

•Baselinestudies

•Holdingand monitoringof Conservation Restrictions

•Grantwriting

•GIS Mappingoflandparcels

•Inventoryofdataregardingland parcels

•Prioritization ofland parcelsusingcriteria, map datalayers

•Outreachto landownersonland protection

•Land ownernegotiations

b. To provideprofessionalstaffsupportand technicalassistanceinthefollowingareasofwetlands protection work:

•Wetlandpermittingandplan review

•Wetlandpermitsiteinspection and enforcement forconstructionsiteerosionandsediment control

•Assistancein meetingNPDES MS4 StormwaterPermitcompliance

•Land protection and conservation services

c.Toadvisethe PioneerValleyRegional VenturesCenter, Inc. Board ofDirectorsonallmatters associated withthisagreement;

d. To directlyoverseeallprojectsandcontractsassociated withthisagreement;

TheCompact also advises its members on non-profit administration, tax, and legal questions. Becausemost local trustsaremanaged byvolunteers, theyfind the full-timestaffsupport provided byTheCompact crucial to fulfillingtheirland conservation goals. As a regional organization, TheCompact also conducts researchand promotes land projects that fostera regional approach to open spaceprotection. The Compact is supported bydues from member land trusts, donations, and grants from privatefoundations.

Section 5. Role of thePioneer Valley RegionalVenturesCenter, Inc.

ThePioneerValleyRegionalVenturesCenter, Inc. shallhave thefollowingroles:

a.Toserveas thefiduciaryagentfortheCompact forPioneer ValleyConservation,including handlingbilling, record-keepingand audits.

b. Tocontractwithcommunitiesand landtrusts forservicesonbehalfoftheCompact forPioneer

ValleyConservation;

b. Tosubcontractwith consultants, whereneededto provideneeded serviceson behalfofthe

Compact forPioneerValleyConservation.

Section 6. Structure of the Compact

Themanagementstructureof theCompactwillconsistof twolevels:

a.PioneerValleyRegional VenturesInc. BoardofDirectorsrepresentation:Two membersofthe PioneerValleyRegional VenturesInc. BoardofDirectorsshallbeappointed bytheCompact for PioneerValleyConservation, fromthesignatoriestothisCompact;

b.Compact forPioneerValleyConservationrepresentation: Each signatoryto thisCompactshall appointonerepresentativeto serveontheCompactforPioneerValleyConservation

Section 7.MembershipPolicies

TheCompact forPioneer ValleyConservation willhave thefollowingmembership policies:

a. Voting Members

(1)VotingMembersinTheCompactarelimitedto municipalConservation Commissionsand 501c3

non-profitorganizationswhich areempowered toholdlandforconservationin thePioneerValleyregion and surrounding areas.Theseconservation groupsincludeboth publiccharitiesand privateoperating foundations, providedthat theyarenon-profitandtax-exempt, accordingtotheInternalRevenueService. Recently-formed groupswhich havenotyetreceived tax-exemptstatus,butwhich canreasonablybe expectedbyTheCompact to receivesuch status, areeligibleforVotingmembership. Othernon-profit groupswhosechiefmissionmaybewildlifeassistance,waterqualityprotection,orpubliceducation,

advocacyor researchrelated to environmental issuesareeligibleforVotingmembershipiftheyinclude land-holdingamongtheirstatedfunctions.

(2) EachVotingMemberhasonevoteonallappropriatebudgetaryand policymattersandregional projectsofTheCompact.Each Member isentitledtodirecttechnicalassistance fromTheCompactonits own organization'sprojects. Membersreceiveallagendas, minutes, reports, maps,publicforum invitationsand discounts on otherCompactmaterials.MembersappointaDelegate (Director)and Alternateto representtheirorganizationsatBoard meetingsofTheCompact.TheCompactmay

representMembersatregionalforums.

(3)VotingMembersmust joinforafull12-month period in orderforTheCompactto setitsannual budget. Attheend ofeach year, Membersmaydecideto rejoin orwithdrawfromTheCompact. For duespurposes,TheCompact'soperating yearbeginseachJuly1.

(4)MinimumannualduesforVotingMembersis$1,500.Thereisno maximumamount. Theamountof duescontributed determines therelativeamountofdirecttechnicalassistancethattheMemberisentitled to receive fromTheCompact. Membersthatpaymoreduesareentitledto morehelp. Beforeeach year MembersprovideTheCompactwithan estimateofhowmanyhours theywilllikelyneed and payfor.

(5)Thefirst$1,000 ofeach Member'sdues ispooledto covercommon administrativeexpensesand regionalprojectsofTheCompact. DirectservicebyTheCompacton aMember'sprojectsisassessedat an hourlyrateto beestablished bytheCompactannually. Each Member isentitled to 20prepaid hoursas apartofitsannualdues. Hoursaccumulated overthe20-hour levelareassessed at thehourlyrate.

(6)Membersthathaveoverspenttheirduesattheend ofthefiscalyearmustpaytheirdeficitinaddition to nextyear'sdues. Duesarepaidin twoequalinstallments, one-halfinJanuaryand one-halfinJuly.

(7)Membersreceivesemi-annualstatementsregardingtheirexpenditures.

b. AssociateMembers

(1) Organizationsmeetingtheeligibilitycriteriain paragraph A(I)abovemayalternativelyjoinThe Compactasan Associate Member. Publicagenciesmayalso becomeAssociatesofTheCompact. Associatesdonotpayduesand do notvoteon Compactmatters.TheAssociatesmaybe represented by TheCompactat regionalforums.

(2) Associatesreceiveallagendas, minutes,reports, mapsand publicforuminvitations. Theydo not receivedirecttechnicalassistanceonprojectsordiscountsonotherCompactmaterials.Theyare represented bya Delegateand/or Alternateat BoardmeetingsofTheCompact.

(3) Associatesarerequested to makeadonation of$300 -$1,000 each yeartowards thecommon expensesofTheCompact.

c. Non-VotingMembers

Organizationsnotmeetingtheeligibilitycriteria inparagraph A(1)above, orpublicagencies, corporations, foundationsand individualswhich areinterestedintheaffairsofTheCompactmaybecome Non-VotingMembers.They may/ormaynotmakeadonationtoTheCompact.They receiveselected materialsfromTheCompact.Theydo notreceivedirecttechnicalassistanceoranydiscounts. (Theymay, however, contractforCompactservicesseparately;seeparagraph Dbelow.)Theyarenotrepresented by TheCompactat regionalforums.

d. Consulting ServicesOfferedby TheCompact

(1)Organizations, publicagencies, businessesand private individualsthatarenotvotingMembersofThe CompactmayindependentlycontractfortechnicalservicesofTheCompact, dependingon time availabilityofTheCompact'sstaff. Outsidecontractswillbeidentified atBoardmeetingsofThe Compact.

(2)Contractualserviceswillbeprovidedatan hourly rateestablished annuallyforpublicconservation agenciesand non-profitconservation organizations. Allcontractswillprovide forreimbursement for traveltime andfortravelcosts. Allratesaresubjecttochangebased onamajority voteoftheVoting Members.

Section 8. Amendments

ThisMemorandummaybeamended atanytimewiththeapprovalofallsignatories. Anysignatoryto thisMemorandummayrescindtheirparticipationthrough amajority voteofthe signatory’sgoverning body, includingtheBoardofSelectmen foratownand theMayorforacity.

Section 9. Effective Date/Authorization

ThisMemorandumwillbecomeeffective forsignatorieswhen itissigned bytwo ormoreparticipating parties.

PioneerValleyRegional VenturesCenter, Inc.Date

MinnechaugLandTrustDate

WindingRiverLand Conservancy,Inc.Date

OpacumLand TrustDate

Town ofSouthamptonDate

Town ofHatfield