Welcome! Here's what's new at MyRWA...
The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) works to protect and improve environmental conditions for the more than one half million residents within the 22 community Mystic River Watershed. Read more here.
Polar Plunge Kicks Off 40th Anniversary
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Over 55 people attended the first-ever Mystic Polar Plunge, held at Constitution Beach in East Boston on Saturday, January 28th. 21 people braved the icy waters on the mild winter day to kickoff MyRWA's 40th Anniversary year - a year to celebrate and promote the recreational opportunities of the Mystic as well as the water quality testing and environmental policy efforts that MyRWA has led over its forty year history.
MyRWA Celebrates 40 years in 2012
2012 marks MyRWA's 40th Anniversary - a year to celebrate and promote the recreational opportunities of the Mystic as well as the water quality testing and environmental policy efforts that MyRWA has led over its forty year history. Throughout the year MyRWA is hosting Anniversary events, listed here. Thank you for your support and we hope to celebrate with you!
List of Supplemental Environmental Projects Now Available
Village Landing Park, EverettMyRWA is working to assemble a list of Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) that may fulfill needs by corporations, institutions or community organizations required to or who wish to fund projects to restore environmental conditions in the Mystic River Watershed. These projects may serve as SEPs for State or Federal environmental regulations. Do you have a project that may not fit the criteria of many grants but is vital to the health and enjoyment of the watershed? This may be your chance to get it funded!
Submit your project and learn more here.
New Green Infrastructure Heads to Chelsea
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MyRWA, Charles River Watershed Association, Chelsea Collaborative, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the City of Chelsea hope to begin work soon to reduce stormwater pollution and improve environmental conditions through development of a Green Infrastructure Retrofit Plan in Chelsea. This project is pending final approval for funding made possible by MAPC and the Metro Boston Consortium for Sustainable Communities through a substantial U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant.
Photo Contest Winners Announced
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Best Overall photo by George McLean.Over 200 photos were submitted by 53 photographers during the 2011 Photo Contest! Contest categories included Plants, Wildlife, Landscape, Recreation & Appreciation and Best Overall. Thanks to all who submitted and congratulations to the winning photographers!
View the contest winners here.
Explore the Mystic with the new URBAN TRAIL MAP & ACTIVITY GUIDE
A canoe tour was held on July 28 to bring attention to the Map & Guide.MyRWA is happy to announce a new resource that underlines the beauty of the Mystic River: The Mystic River Watershed Urban Trail Map and Activity Guide. The map and guide is available in English and Spanish and can be purchased at MyRWA events and at local fairs and festivals.
More information here including how to purchase the MAP.
US EPA ANNOUNCES MYSTIC RIVER REPORT CARD
Ken Moraff of the US EPAThe Mystic River Watershed received a grade of "D-" for water quality conditions for the calendar year 2010 as part of the US EPA's annual Mystic River Report Card. The grade is based on bacterial contamination, and the monitoring data is collected by MyRWA’s trained water quality monitors as part of the Baseline Monitoring Program. This grade indicates that water quality met swimming standards only 28 percent of the time, while boating standards were met 70 percent of the time.
STUDENT-PRODUCED FILM: "THE MYSTIC UNSEEN"
Over the fall 2010 semester four students from Emerson College undertook a project to make a documentary film about the Mystic River Watershed as part of a Documentary for Social Action course. These students worked with MyRWA staff and volunteers to develop a beautiful and professional 10 minute film about Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) in the Mystic. MyRWA would like to thank Sarah Ginsburg, Julie Hook, Chris Bianrosa and Kelly Wessel for their hard work throughout this project. Enjoy the film!
DCR RELEASES MYSTIC RIVER MASTER PLAN
DCR Mystic River Master PlanThe DCR's 162 page Mystic River Master Plan provides steps for preserving and restoring the area surrounding the Mystic River. The comprehensive plan, which took years to complete, aims to promote recreational use of the land around the river, preserve wild habitats, develop additional pathways, link open spaces, and develop guidelines for future management of the park.
View the DCR Mystic River Master Plan here.