Welcome to Our New Conservation Administrator

Jordan McCarron joined the Conservation Department as our new Conservation Administrator in early May. He comes to us with municipal conservation experience in Lexington, where he served as the Conservation Stewardship Program Coordinator from 2014-2020, and in Westborough, where he served as the Conservation Director from April 2020-April 2021. His Weston roots run deep- Jordan worked as the Land Manager and Forestry Programs Supervisor for Land’s Sake between 2010-2014 and then served on the Land’s Sake Board of Directors from 2015-2018.
 
In his first year here in Weston, Jordan hopes to focus on drafting a local wetlands by-law, a priority of Weston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan, as well as develop a coordinated and strategic approach to invasive plant management in Weston. These are no easy tasks, and along with our office’s current permitting and land management responsibilities, Jordan will be busy! As he gets settled here in Weston, Jordan hopes to be able to offer more regular volunteer opportunities for residents to get involved in our invasive plant, trail maintenance, and habitat management work; these new opportunities will be well publicized so stay tuned...
 
Jordan can be reached at mccarron.j@westonma.gov and 781-786-5068.

Also Welcome to Weston’s Sustainability Coordinator

Kortni Wroten graduated from Clark University with two master’s degrees – Business Administration and Environmental Science & Policy. Her thesis project at Clark was in sustainable procurement with the City of Cambridge. She has worked for National Grid, the Town of Concord, and Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission on topics of energy, sustainability, and grant writing. Kortni is passionate about making the business case for sustainability and implementing concepts in circular economy. Kortni is working on implementing the Weston Ahead Climate Action and Resilience Plan, with initial priorities of reducing energy, waste, and water in Town.

Water Conservation

Weston has the highest water use per capita rate in the state and 90% of the Town’s water use comes from residents. Reducing our water consumption is critical, not only because of the importance of clean water to our health, but also because water treatment and distribution requires significant amount of energy—an estimated 840 MWh per year.

Weston’s water reduction target is to meet the 2015 state average by 2050. That would mean reducing our current potable water usage per capita by 48%. Here are some ways Weston residents can help us achieve that goal and move #WestonAhead:

Inside the Home

• Install WaterSense certified shower and faucet heads, and look for the certification on any new dishwashers or washing machines. Shorter showers and full washing loads can increase water efficiency as well
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and doing dishes, and save up to 200 gallons a month, an amount enough to hold a tank full of 6 small sharks
• Fixing a toilet leak can save as much as 200 gallons of water a day. That would be like flushing your toilet over 50 times for no reason

Outdoors

• Install a rain recapture system like a rain barrel or a rain garden.
• Plant regionally appropriate, low water-using and native plants.
• Raise your lawnmower cutting height. Longer grass promotes deeper root growth and creates more drought resistant lawns.
• Minimize or eliminate fertilizer use. Fertilizers promote thirsty growth that requires more water than more established plants.
• Minimize watering when it is hot outside. Water use is often five times higher in the summer than during the winter.

Unwanted Invasive Species

Non-native invasive species are a big threat to our healthy ecosystem. These unwanted plants outcompete and displace native plants, creating a monoculture that does not provide food and habitat for wildlife, erosion control, or temperature regulation. Some of these undesirable pervasive plants include:

• common and glossy buckthorn
• oriental bittersweet
• black and pale swallow-wort
• multiflora rose
• Japanese knotweed

Each species has its own characteristics and requires a different approach and methods to effectively address. These often include a combination of mechanical, cultural, biological, or chemical controls over time. The Conservation Department, along with other interested organizations, is working on developing a comprehensive plan to address various invasive plants. A key component will be public education so that residents can help control or eradicate these unwanted plants on their own property. Keep a lookout for more detailed information on how you can help and check out this video by Weston Media Center starring Conservation Administrator Jordan McCarron and Tree Advisory Group (TAG) Chair Lori Hess about Japanese knotweed. Also visit MassAudubon's invasive plants website. 

Speaking of Invasive Species…

Thank you to the Weston Wayland Rotary Club for their continued dedication to the Rejuvenation for Pollinators project.

The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is a community service organization dedicated to doing good in the community. The Rotary recently formed a Conservation Committee to define and execute plans to help protect the environment in our local communities. The Rejuvenation for Pollinators project at the Sears Driveway Field focuses on removal of invasive species and creating pollinator and wildlife habitat over a five-year period.

In June, volunteers initiated mechanical removal of invasive oriental bittersweet and garlic mustard plants along the eastern border of the field. The focus at this time is to eradicate invasive species at the field edges. Next, the Rotary will concentrate on remediation and regeneration in the field itself. Please join for a time of fun and good work! Contact charlie1288@gmail.com if you would like to help on upcoming work days.
Additionally, next Spring bionatural methods of weed eradication will be piloted. This work is not only great for the environment, but it is a great education opportunity for young and old. 

How to Help Young Wildlife

from MassWildlife

Every spring, the lives of many young animals are disturbed by people who take them from the wild in a misguided attempt to “save” them. In most cases, the best thing you can do for young wild animals is leave them alone. Learn what to do if you find young wildlife from MassWildlife.