Kingston, MA Conservation & Open Space

06/12/2026

Sorry, haven't posted in a while. Here are some baby Tree Swallows for you 😁 Their parents were constantly returning to the nest boxes with beakfuls of flying insects to feed them. Shows the importance of healthy insect populations, they're not just a nuisance!

04/27/2026

Just a PSA that spring turkey hunting season has started as of Monday, April 27th, and will last through May 23rd. Couple things I thought should be pointed out:

1: It's best to wear hunter orange or other bright colors while using the trails (good idea to put an orange vest on your canine companions as well).
2: On those canine companions, there is a town-wide leash law, which extends to conservation properties.
3: Harassment of hunters is illegal in MA and EPOs take notice. See MGL Chapter 131, Section 5C.
4: The Kingston Conservation Land Rules & Regulations detail which conservation properties are closed to hunting- see the Conservation tab at kingstonma.gov for more details.

Happy hunting, and more importantly, happy spring! 🌱

04/22/2026

Ahh, the beauty of Kingston's coastal amenities... I'm assuming there must be a feral dog problem at Gray's Beach, because noone would let their dog "go" on a public beach and not pick it up, right? RIGHT? Some comments:

1: It's just gross.
2: F***l contamination is a public and environmental health issue. Causes beach closure, shellfishing closure, and has the potential to affect our oyster industry.
3: It's not "natural." Your dog's waste is entirely different from wild animal waste, from its bacterial contents to chemical inputs- bacteria and medicines or treatments they take may be passed into the natural environment through waste.
4: Leashed dogs are allowed at Gray's Beach Park on grassed areas & walkways only, not on the beach itself.

The solution? Bag it. Also, bagging it has an exciting and important second step, which is throwing it in the trash! Since there are no trash receptacles at Gray's Beach, that means pack in, pack out. If you bag the waste and then leave it on the ground, you're polluting twice- f***l contamination and plastic pollution. Town departments work hard at minimizing f***l contamination of Kingston Bay through installation of stormwater control measures, please help us by controlling dog waste in town!

We'll work to spread the word on this with hope that people will be more careful, but if nothing changes soon we will prioritize enforcement, with the issuance of citations. If a citation is issued under the Kingston Wetlands Protection Regulations (dumping within jurisdictional wetland buffers), the fine will be $300 for dog waste. If it's bagged and left behind, an additional $300 fine will be issued for the plastic pollution. Please pick it up! Much appreciated.

04/14/2026

Please contact your local senator today!

ACTION ALERT 🚨

This Wednesday, April 15, the State Senate will vote on whether to adopt a proposal to phase out the use of anticoagulant rodenticides that are harming wildlife and pets.

An amendment to the Mass Ready Act is pending, and if it’s adopted, it will help ensure that our state phases out the use of rodenticides that are poisoning thousands of wildlife and pets in Massachusetts every year.

Please contact your legislators today! We need them to hear from as many supporters as possible before they vote this Wednesday. Let’s get this amendment passed to protect our wildlife and pets!

TAKE ACTION 👉 https://web.massaudubon.org/site/Advocacy?page=UserAction&cmd=display&id=369

04/08/2026

Stop by Calista Farm to see the new wayside exhibit, learn a little about the property and our habitat management goals. This project was made possible through Community Preservation Act funding and installation is thanks to the Kingston Facilities Department. ---Just steer clear of that giant cherry limb in the background, it'll be removed shortly.

We mow a walking path around the perimeter of the field, which connects to a short trail leading through coastal forest towards the salt marsh. It's a great site for a quick walk, particularly as the weather warms. The parking area is suitable only for two vehicles, so if it's full you may want to check out Patuxet Park down Main Street off Basler's Lane. It's been a looong winter, time to prioritize getting outside!

03/24/2026

Jones River Watershed Association is looking for help counting herring this year. If you haven't counted before, it's pretty easy, laid back, forces you to get out for a few minutes and enjoy nature. Helps with long-term population tracking, particularly important as we attempt to reestablish perennial breeding in Silver Lake. They're doing an in-person training at the Landing on Sunday, March 29th at 1:00 PM (55 Landing Road), or see jonesriver.org for more information.

The Osprey have already begun their surveys, so the herring are staging now for their return!

03/16/2026

Skip the drive tonight?

Tonight (Monday, March 16) is panning out perfectly for our annual spring-breeding amphibian migration. The combination of high temperature, significant rain, and darkness should be irresistable, even with the high winds. Every year, salamanders and wood frogs travel from overwintering sites to wetlands to breed, and often travel back to the uplands for the rest of the year. Unfortunately for them, we have built roads all over their domain, and they are crushed every year by vehicles in large numbers. If you want to help amphibian populations, consider staying home tonight. The driving conditions may be pretty bad anyway. If you have to drive, try to avoid roads adjacent to wetlands or forested areas.

Other ways you can help? Volunteer to certify vernal pools, support the purchase of conservation land, limit chemical use including lawn fertilizer (particularly where driveways and roads drain into wetlands), leave the leaves (maintain some unmanicured habitat on your property- give them a comfortable place to pass the hot summer and cold winter).

Frogs and salamanders aren't just cute, they're important! The breeding of amphibians provides a major food source in our terrestrial food web- lots of nutritious eggs and larvae for all sorts of species to snack on. Every dead adult female on the road means at a minimum there will be thousands less eggs and larvae in the future. Consider that spotted salamanders, as pictured here, often live longer than 20 years, with the oldest wild specimen on record living to 32 years!

01/06/2026

Bald Eagle lording over Gray's Beach this morning. Look at that beak! Hopefully they're staying away from sources of rodenticide poisoning...

12/24/2025

❄️ Salt Smart for Cleaner Water

In Kingston, salting helps keep surfaces safe in the winter, but using too much can cause problems when it washes into storm drains. That runoff doesn’t just disappear — it carries pollution to nearby streams, rivers, and is especially damaging in vernal pools!

Before the next storm, remember a few simple steps. Shovel early to reduce the need for salt. Apply only where needed. Track your usage and store materials away from drains.

These small adjustments can help protect water quality and biodiversity while still keeping your property safe.

🔗 Learn more at https://www.kingstonma.gov/290/Stormwater

12/15/2025

There are Better Ways to Melt Ice and Snow!

There are safer ways to melt ice and snow, and environmentally safe methods are available.

Chemicals from ice melt eventually find their way into rivers and streams, permeating our groundwater and posing potential risks to water supplies, pets, plants, and aquatic life. Some de-icing chemicals harden the soil and make it too salty for plant growth, others overload it with nutrients that can reduce oxygen levels in nearby streams and ponds. Still, other products corrode concrete, roadways, bridges, and cars.

That’s why using a safe method for ice and snow removal is important, as well as choosing an ice melt that won’t harm our environment.

Our de-icing suggestions:

• Avoid Sodium Chloride or “rock salt” – Traditional rock salt (sodium chloride) is pretty much the worst of all available options.
• Look for “Pet Safe” and “CMA” – Products marketed as “Pet-Safe” will also be eco-friendly. Products containing a significant amount of calcium magnesium acetate or “CMA” are some of the most benign options commonly available.
• Apply in advance of a winter storm – Early attention before a storm will help prevent the formation of ice. When the snow starts falling, the ice melt will create a brine solution, helping to prevent ice from bonding to the surface.
• Disperse ice melt properly – Contrary to popular opinion, using large amounts of ice melt does not affect the speed in which ice and snowmelt. Using too much product can damage surfaces and harm the environment.
• Use a mechanical spreader for accurate coverage – The proper coverage rate is about one cup per square yard. This coverage will fan out and undercut the ice so that you can shovel the walkway clear.
• Continue to disperse ice melt during a storm – This helps to prevent snow from becoming hard-packed on surfaces.
• Don’t use salt as a substitute for shoveling – Sometimes a better shoveling job upfront will eliminate the need for ice melt altogether or let you get away with a bit of sand instead (though overuse of sand can also be a problem).
• Make your own salt brine – Salt brine is a liquid that prevents snow and ice from freezing to hard surfaces, making it easier to shovel or plow. It is a low cost and more environmentally friendly alternative to solid salt. Salt brine uses less salt and works better than solid salt in most conditions. Pet-safe ice melts can be used in salt brine, however, all ice melts can be hazardous to pets, so it’s important to use them carefully. Download the instructions for making salt brine here.
https://www.nsrwa.org/better-ways-to-melt-ice-and-snow/