Up along the ridge line trails, across wetlands, vernal pools, fields, woods, from ancient pines, along the polluted river, the troubled lake, or sailing the thermals high above, thousands of eyes are upon us. To the wildlife of Stockbridge, land is not money. “By right” means nothing in the great scheme of things. Wildlife got here before us, knowing that the land belongs to everyone and no one. Nobody outlives the land.
But money and power shape the land. Let’s build housing developments, businesses, we need people, jobs. This will lower taxes! We have heard this for years, a claim for Stockbridge that sounds more like a reason to move out than stay. We already have low taxes, and once we stop being Stockbridge, the whole region will suffer. Yea, that’s right, exceptionalism. Based on character, history, natural features, attractions — and preservation. Look around.
Are we all aware of wildlife zones, wetlands, threats to the reservoir, runoff on the lake, etc.? We have permitted some extraordinary new buildings, not quite comprehending the impact of scale they bring. Two outspoken, well-informed members of our Conservation Commission resigned this spring over our inability to regulate and enforce — tools the town needs to retain our core identity.
But wait! Now you too can “see” some of what the thousands of eyes on us, the wildlife of Stockbridge, see! Check out critical habitat areas, overlapping areas for imperiled species, and core habitat area connectors — the highways wildlife use to move and survive in critical zones. Check out the land west of the Bowl. Hey, looks like there might already be plenty of full and part-time residents there. Who knew!! Includes soothing photos, here:
https://www.naturesnetwork.org
(Thanks to Planning Board Chair Kate Fletcher for awareness of this website).
And learn about NE wildlands conservation from the latest study, extensively documented by top professionals, with no consulting fees, here:
There’s more!! This handy info can be a source of data for Conservation and Planning boards, policy makers. It could even help us revise our very own Dead Sea Scrolls. That’s right -the town’s Master Plan, written in the last century, maybe on a typewriter. Let’s head back to the future and talk about where we are going now…Act now… you’ll be glad you did!
