West Springfield Environmental Committee

Directions Website Contact the organization

West Springfield Environmental Committee The West Springfield Environmental Committee is an ad-hoc, incorporated, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization focused on environmental issues. to 1:30 p.m.

The West Springfield Environmental Committee is a non-profit, environmental organization founded in the fall of 2005. Today, one of our main goals is promoting responsible management and protection of the 1,700 acre Bear Hole Watershed, one of West Springfield's unique open space areas. The Committee is also dedicated to environmental education. Each year we hold the SEEC (Student Environmental Educational Classroom) program which exposes every third, fourth, and fifth grader in the public and private schools in town to environmental education both in the classroom and out in the field. Students visit the Bear Hole Watershed, Mittineague Park, and the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility. The Environmental Committee covers all costs including transportation, professional teaching staff, and supplies which would not be possible without grants and donations. The Environmental Committee is also an active contributor to the annual Earth Day fair in West Springfield. This year, the fair will be held on April 25th on the Town Common across from the Senior Center from 10 a.m.

Bear Hole Trail RaceSaturday, Nov 7th 10am start7 miles over challenging terrainLink for registration and additional in...
10/16/2026

Bear Hole Trail Race
Saturday, Nov 7th
10am start
7 miles over challenging terrain

Link for registration and additional info:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cPoRwM4zcCZyVrlmt5RtM4x_-LuzIH2Z/view?usp=sharing

Link for 2025 race results:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G4y0vh8ULJXas1sr9v1PyDC_CevaV8fw/view?usp=sharing

Bear Hole's trails will remain 100% open to the public for everyday use such as hiking, biking and dog walking during this event. The race follows trails at the immediate reservoir area.

Parking may be a challenge depending on how many race participants and spectators show-up. Parking will be at the end of Bear Hole Road. If you want to avoid possible inconveniences with parking or trail use, it's recommended parking at alternative locations such as Four Corners, end of Quarry Road or the Morgan at Great Plain gate by the turnpike underpass. Eye using trails outside the immediate reservoir area if you're concerned. The race should conclude by noon.

2025 Bear Hole Conservation Restriction property inspection report. This intensive walking tour of Bear Hole happens at...
10/08/2026

2025 Bear Hole Conservation Restriction property inspection report. This intensive walking tour of Bear Hole happens at least one annually and is done to help ensure the property's management is upheld per the Conservation Restriction document. This 2025 inspection document was obtained via submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request via the Town of West Springfield and is a public facing document.

The Conservation Restriction was finalized in 2021 and is held by Mass Audubon and MA DCR who more or less paid the town to keep Bear Hole as we know it today. The "CR" ensures Bear Hole's acreage will remain as protected habitat and not sold off for development or altered outside its natural state. This land protection piggy-backs pre-existing legalities set forth by state's Wetland Protection Act and Endangered Species Act (MESA).

DCR contributed $700,000 and Mass Audubon contributed $350,000 (totaling over $1 million) to acquire the restriction, alongside a $50,000 trust fund contribution for long-term land maintenance. Town of West Springfield still owns, maintains and patrols the property.

Google Doc pdf link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kJ_QBFwKGR5xDm6gB-s5zV2Qs-19X2jM/view?usp=sharing

Do you know the truth behind "beeline"?"Beeline" refers to the route of travel honey bees and wasps take to and from the...
09/08/2026

Do you know the truth behind "beeline"?

"Beeline" refers to the route of travel honey bees and wasps take to and from their hive. Wasps may zig zag when on site of whatever interests them, but coming to and from that site, like honey bees, they travel in a straight line to/from the hive.

On average a honey bee travels up to 3 miles from its hive foraging. Traveling a straight route is the most efficient.

Massachusetts hosts close to 400 distinct wild bee species. Honey bees are pollinators and pollinators are critical to agriculture, flowers and more. They maintain a chain reaction situation for healthy habitats. Take a look around your yard and notice what bees, butter-files and hummingbirds are attracted to. Sometimes it's the flowers on clover, jewel w**d or golden rod. Think twice about mowing clover with flowers, cutting down or spraying with a herbicide w**dy plants if you see bee activity. Herbicides *Round Up" can be detrimental to pollinators. Wasps, use discretion because they can be quite aggressive and set-up a hive in areas dangerous to humans and pets. Sometimes there's no choice but to exterminate.

So when someone says "I made a beeline", it means they went the most efficient, straight route.

Photo c/o Al LaFleche

Bear Hole Prospect Bridge rehab. June 2026 the Town of West Springfield received a $500,000 state grant to overhaul the ...
08/16/2026

Bear Hole Prospect Bridge rehab.

June 2026 the Town of West Springfield received a $500,000 state grant to overhaul the currently closed / barricaded Prospect bridge in Bear Hole that dates to 1926. The bridge is currently supported by large timber beams and a deteriorated wood deck that's thick with vegetation. The bridge has been closed for at least a decade due to structural issues. Decades prior it was closed to all vehicle traffic for the same reason.

This location can be accessed via the Bear Hole entry at the end of Old Holyoke Road in Westfield and/or "Four Corners" in Bear Hole. Junction of Morgan Rd, Prospect and Millville Road. Follow the gated end of Prospect to the end near the cell tower.

This project will create passive, not motorized interconnectivity to and from Westfield as well as a pathway to the New England Trail (aka: M&M Trail) on East Mountain. Trailhead is near the Westfield line. A few proposals have been considered over the years and rehabbing the bridge has proven to be the least environmentally intrusive. Pioneer Valley Railroad, based out of Westfield, maintains an active track under the bridge. The track was built in the 1800s and back in the day transported passengers, miscellaneous freight as well as brownstone to build the Holyoke canals via a quarry at the end of Quarry Road. Currently freight only.

Monday, August 17th, 7pm, West Springfield town hall auditorium the Town Council will review a request for $400,000 in CPA funds (Community Preservation Act) to complete project funding. If you support this endeavor and/or have comment, consider attending the Council meeting and/or submit comment to [email protected]. This e-mail goes to all Councilors.

Photos show the bridge via the railroad track this past week as well as the fenced / barricaded access via Prospect and an archived photo showing a broader overview.

Town link explaining the project:

https://www.townofwestspringfield.org/Government/Mayor-Reichelts-Office/Bear-Hole-PATH-Connecting-Communities

06/12/2026

Helping snapping turtles. They can get up to 75 # in the wild but weighing around 40 to 50 is the typical maximum. This video shows techniques to move 'em. Good to know. Using a sled like in the video is probably safer than carrying. Load them and drag.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18duTij7AT/

Environmental Committee thanks West Springfield Rotary Club for awarding us $1,582 via their community grant. The Commi...
06/12/2026

Environmental Committee thanks West Springfield Rotary Club for awarding us $1,582 via their community grant. The Committee will use the money to purchase professional grade VHF two way radios to help with what we do in the woods and elsewhere such as during Clean Up Day and the annual Bear Hole trail race where instant communications is needed. The radios will be 5 watts VHF, which will pe*****te thick wooded terrain and provide long distance coverage elsewhere. This is compared to the typical radios purchased at Wal Mart or Dick's Sporting Goods, where the radios offer 1/2 watt to 1 watt and deliver limited performance.

This grant cycle there were 14 applicants of which 11 prevailed.
Rotary is community committed. Events such as their summer concert series, proceeds support community grants.

Mittineague Park wildlife The bear was young and curious. No sign of mom. Location was along the wood line by the Ta...
05/17/2026

Mittineague Park wildlife
The bear was young and curious. No sign of mom. Location was along the wood line by the Tatham Soccer Fields at the park.

c/o Nicki Berry

Clean Up Day 2026 recap. Another successful town wide clean up. At least 100 volunteers from elementary aged to senior...
04/27/2026

Clean Up Day 2026 recap.
Another successful town wide clean up. At least 100 volunteers from elementary aged to senior citizens took to the town's public areas removing litter and bulk.

Volunteers are what make this event a success. Taking pride in the community and helping maintain a healthier environment.

This year there were approximately 30 sites that received a clean-up. Some light duty and others heavy duty.

Thank you to Councilor LaFlamme, Connor, Forfa and Coyne for helping as well as Mark Noonan from the WS Conservation Department. DPW is a huge asset picking up what's collected and working with us to acquire gear such as safety vests, gloves and litter grabbers. Park & Rec provides us a home base to set up at, this year it was the middle school. Custodian "Rich" at the middle school shadowing us for the day ensuring we were well taken care of.

Village Pizza provided pizza for lunch, Donut Dip for morning donuts and coffee, Costco manager Jon Hager for a $50 gift card for cases of Snapple and juice.

It's that time of year...West Springfield Clean Up DaySaturday, April 25th. We're at the middle school as a home base b...
04/09/2026

It's that time of year...

West Springfield Clean Up Day
Saturday, April 25th. We're at the middle school as a home base because the Morgan Road Pavilion has construction. On average, upwards of 100 volunteers participate and remove tonnage.

This year marks the 16th year where volunteers spread out throughout town and clear litter and bulk from public spaces.
Roadside, school grounds, parks, conservation areas etc..

Environmental Committee hosts this event in collaboration with the West Springfield DPW and USA Waste. Parks & Recreation provides a "home base" for us at no cost.

This year we'll have a free raffle for gift cards to the Butcher Shop c/o Councilor LaFlamme. Lunch will be c/o Village Pizza. Three party sized pizzas. Free thank you to volunteers. Donuts and beverages in the morning.

See this link for more info and to register.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLUc4GxIZPyFG9ry9YRz4aeZSxqLBs5Tkw1jUN8HZHMtNRIg/viewform

Black bears get creative with their winter dens. You could walk right by one and not even know! Photos show where they ...
04/08/2026

Black bears get creative with their winter dens. You could walk right by one and not even know! Photos show where they den. Each photo is a legit den site. These photos are from winter, however as you trek through the woods this spring, no vegetation so you can see the guts of the forest, you may see something that catches your eye where you ask "what did that"...possible you're looking at a den. Black Bears do not use a den year round. This being said, it's not encouraged you explore one at least through April. Could still be in there. By May they've vacated.

Do they den in MIttineague Park? No. Bear Hole / East Mountain? Yes. Prospect Hill...probably not, landscape isn't conducive. Robinson State Park? No. Provin Mountain? Yes.

Den stats:

Blowdowns 37%
Stumps 21%
Brush piles 11%
Ground nests 11%
Excavations 5%
Tree dens 5%
Rock dens 5%
Other 5%

Address

PO Box 388
West Springfield, MA
01090

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when West Springfield Environmental Committee 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 West Springfield Environmental Committee:

Shortcuts

Share