On September 19, Prof. Twining's Conservation Biology lab took a canoe trip up the Indian Head River and Herring Brook Valley in Pembroke, Massachusetts. The trip was led by Jessica Schultz, Stewardship Director for the Wildlands Trust of Southeastern Massachusetts, accompanied by Sarah Grady, the ecologist for the North and South Rivers Watershed Association. The Herring Brook Valley is an important ecosystem, because it represents one of the few tidal freshwater marshes in Massachusetts, an ecological community that is also rare globally. The banner for this page is a view of the marsh and its associated uplands from the Indian Head River.
The class is studying the biodiversity of the Willow Brook and Fleetwood Farms Preserve, which lies in the Herring Brook Valley, and has an observation tower from which you can observe the entire valley, much of which has been conserved as open space or conservation land. The class will be creating ideas for an educational sign for the observation tower that will inform visitors about the Herring Brook Valley and its importance as conservation land. The canoe trip allowed the students to see this vitally important ecosystem firsthand so the students could share what they have learned as they develop ideas for the sign.
The Indian Head River at
the Canoe Launch
Enjoying nature, kayaking style!!!!
Our fearless leader - Jessica Schultz of the Wildlands Trust