Westfield River Watershed Association

Home
United States
Westfield, MA
Westfield River Watershed Association

Directions Website Contact the organization

To promote the conservation of natural resources, opportunities for responsible recreation, and appreciation of the Westfield River and its watershed.

10/12/2026

Tree of Heaven vs Staghorn Sumac -How you can "spot" the Spotted Lanternfly's favorite food.

The Spotted Lanternfly has a secretion that makes many local crops, including winery grapevines and hops, especially susceptible to a rotting mold. Besides squashing the adults, that we have seen recent swarms of in our Watershed, another less-gruesome task is to reduce its favorite food source-the Tree of Heaven. The Tree of Heaven is a non-native plant introduced from China in the late 1700s for shade (etc. etc.), and looks similar to our native Staghorn Sumac. By identifying and properly eliminating the Tree of Heaven, we can help slow the spread of these pests, and THIS is the time of year to do it!

Please note, you cannot simply cut down the tree/stalks. It will simply encourage the aggressive root system to trigger root sprouts, thereby increasing the spread of the original plant. After cutting, applying an herbicide with a swab or spray to the cut stalk is imperative.

More non-AI info here: https://extension.psu.edu/tree-of-heaven
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/tree-heaven/
https://bplant.org/compare/318-1228

Photos taken from posted links for public use

Westfield River Wildwater Races Wild & Scenic Westfield River Southwick Land Trust - SLT Appalachian Trail Conservancy

10/09/2026

Annual Source To Sea cleanup will happen TOMORROW at Pynchon Point in Agawam 9am-1pm. Yes, the "official" Source To Sea date was in September, but due to Big E traffic, we always postpone this location cleanup.

Meet at Pynchon Point off River Road in Agawam
contact Sheryl Becker to preregister and for more information. [email protected] 413-374-1921

Volunteer to help clean up our watershed. All ages welcome (kids must be with a responsible adult).
We welcome Scouts, teams, clubs, and business friends!
Bring your water bottle, hat/sunscreen as needed, and your helpful self!

We'll have trash bags, gloves, a few grabbers, and some snacks.

Work Hard! Make a Difference! Have Fun!

Connecticut River Conservancy
Westfield River Wildwater Races
Western Mass Paddlers
Agawam Lions Club

08/10/2026

Today is National Connecticut Day!
Here are a few river walks to explore, (and some for swimming!).
Of course, you should check online for the most up-to-date accessibility information of each of these locations, before venturing out.

Appalachian Trail along the Housatonic River, Cornwall
Medicine Rock Loop on the Bantam River, Litchfield
Black Bridge Road Trail along the Farmington River, New Hartford
Shepaug Crossing Preserve along the Shepaug River, Woodville
Zoar River Trail along the Housatonic River, Sandy Hook
Steep Rock Preserve along Shepaug River, Washington
Meriden Linear Gorge Trail along the Quinnipiac River, Meriden/Cheshire
River Road Loop, Roxbury
Scantic River Trail, Enfield
Fisher Meadows Recreation Area, Avon

Feel free to share and add your favorite nature spots in Connecticut!

07/28/2026

We LOVE this day!
From the air we breathe, to the water we drink, the sea and ocean we play in, ponds, rivers and lakes we fish in, the sun, soil, minerals, forests, and wildlife, oh my!
(Check the comments for info and location of each of these pics)

Today, (and everyday), is about raising awareness for using resources wisely and adopting sustainable, eco-friendly practices that balance our needs with environmental preservation...
Here's some simple actions that you can take to move this goal forward, courtesy of PiedmontMasterGardners.org:
Volunteer for community cleanups - We host several throughout the year, and are always looking for other events to participate in and share on our page! Like and share our page and send us YOUR scheduled cleanups so we can spread the word!

Conserve water - Fix leaky faucets, shut off the faucet during teeth brushing, take shorter showers, set up a rain barrel system for outdoor irrigation.

Plant native plants, especially trees - Native plants have adapted to our soils and climate, coevolved with our insects and wildlife, and, once established, take less water and help prevent erosion, effectively reducing stormwater runoff.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - the EPA estimates the average American generates about 4.9 lbs of waste a day. Donate/buy secondhand, avoid products with excessive packaging or that isn't recyclable or compostable, and reuse or repair before you discard.

Shop locally for produce, food and goods - If you aren't growing your own produce, visit Farmer's Markets to access locally-grown produce, meats, plants or goods, grown or created by local vendors (some locally grown are now accepting EBT/SNAP benefits). Not only will you benefit from fresh, more nutritious foods, you will decrease the carbon footprint from the transportation of our food supply.

Reduce or prevent food waste - Growing food that ends up as waste eats up 21% of our freshwater, 19% of our fertilizer, 18% of our cropland, and 22% of our landfill volume. Huge amounts of energy and other resources are expended for calories never consumed. Plus, throwing away food is throwing away your hard earned bucks. Let's try to shop smarter, and never go food shopping while hungry!

Of course, this is not a complete list, please share your own Enviro Saving Hacks in the comments - We're all in this together!

Like and share our page to get involved.

Thank Youuuuuuuu!!!

07/27/2026

**POSTPONED to 8/6 due to heavy rains predicted all day

New WRWA paddle event, this Thursday 7/30 @ 5:30 PM at the Woronoco Potholes. Join us for another relaxing after-work paddle event-Details under "Events". Email [email protected] to Register.

Westfield River Wildwater Races Western Mass Paddlers YMCA of Greater Westfield Aerial-MA Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife

07/15/2026

UPDATED EMAIL!

LAST DAY FOR REGISTRATION! Did you want to join our Watershed Wind-Down Paddle at Russell Ponds? Registration will close today at 6:00 PM so that we can make sure we get our waivers in order.

Registration Email [email protected]
Please note your first and last name and contact phone #

Happy Paddling!

07/13/2026

A Choice Was Made. On the 4th of July, families and friends could be seen gathing in a local park at the Westfield River. Several groupings of people were parked appropriately, and were wading in the River, sharing snacks and laughing together. Up a ways, some younger teens were exploring on the north side of the River, safely exploring on a downed tree. Further down River, a small group of college-aged rafters were floating under the bridge and over the tricky rocks down stream.

On this day, a choice was made. The decades-old sign saying "no trespassing" is buried under foliage, covered by vines, but it is there. It could have been enforced.
We believe that if people look after each other, an make smart decisions about picking up trash (theirs and that of others), River use here could be left to the discretion of those who use it safely.

A reminder-leave no trace sometimes means picking up after others. (Dunkin' and nips are the worst offenders, yet easy to grab). Thank you for helping keep our River open!

07/10/2026

DID YOU SEE OUR NEW EVENT? 🛶🌞 Join the WRWA on July 16th for a Watershed Wind-Down after-work paddle. Whether you have been working at a desk, on your feet or in your yard, this is an excellent way to end your day. Details are in the event post. A reminder that all participants will need to pre-register by 7/15/26 at 6:00 pm by emailing us here: https://westfieldriver.org/contact/

Western Mass Paddlers Westfield State University YMCA of Greater Westfield
Westfield River Wildwater Races Wild & Scenic Westfield River Russell Ma Hilltown Family Center

07/09/2026

The 4th is over, but all the litter remains at Pynchon Point. Please join us if you can THIS SUNDAY, July 12th, 9-1, for another river cleanup and some landscaping work! An Eagle Scout is working with the Agawam Conservation Commission and DPW to make Pynchon Point a more beautiful and healthier wildlife habitat/recreational area and we could use some helping hands! Help clean up all the 4th of July trash, clean out some invasive species, vegetative debris, and add a new fishing line dispensary and trash bin.
Supplies and refreshments will be provided, but feel free to bring your own gloves.
Meet at Pynchon Point (take South End Bridge Circle to River Road, towards Six Flags). For more information, contact Sheryl Becker at 413-374-1921 or [email protected].
* Kids and teens are welcome--under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
* Gloves, bags, and hand sanitizer will be provided.
* Boots or sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended. Wear clothes that you don't mind getting grungy.
* Please bring your own reusable water bottle, if possible
* Please try to arrive by 9:00 for orientation
Our watersheds are critical resources that must be protected and preserved, so we give certain areas along the riverbank a good cleaning a few times a year. If we don't no one else will! So please join us and unite with fellow river-lovers for this fun, rewarding event.
Thank you!

Address

P. O. Box 1764
Westfield, MA
01086

Website

http://www.westfieldriver.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Westfield River Watershed Association posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Westfield River Watershed Association:

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in Westfield?