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.
Community Water Chestnut Removal Dates Set
MyRWA will host water chestnut community hand-pulling events on Sat. July 13th and Aug. 3rd. Grab your friends and neighbors for these fun events to help clean-up the Mystic River in Medford and Somerville! All supplies are provided. Canoes are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Find out more about water chestnuts and register for the events here.
Oil Spill to the Mystic River
Photo courtesy of David MussinaOn May 31, 2013, a tanker truck carrying up to 10,000 gallons of fuel oil overturned at the intersection of Mystic Valley Parkway and Medford Street in Arlington. The fuel ran into the storm drains which discharged directly into the Mystic River. Clean Harbors is overseeing the cleanup under the supervision of MassDEP, and expect to be on site for approximately a week.
MyRWA friends, members and local residents are urged to allow DEP and other emergency cleanup responders do their work. It will be very useful to document conditions in the river. If you have time and/or you are near the Mystic please note what you see and smell, take pictures and report back to the Mystic River office at 781-316-3438.
River Herring Return
The annual herring migration at the DCR Upper Mystic Lake dam is being monitored by volunteers through the second year of the Herring Monitoring Program. To date, more than 23,000 herring have been recorded passing through the fish ladder to reach spawning grounds in the Upper Mystic Lake.
Read more about the Herring Monitoring Program here.
Mystic River Watershed Named as new Urban Waters Federal Partnership Location
The Mystic River Watershed is one of eleven newly selected locations for the nation’s Urban Waters Federal Partnership. This partnership will reconnect urban communities with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies and collaborating with community-led revitalization efforts to improve our nation’s water systems and promote their economic, environmental and social benefits.
Read more about the Urban Waters Federal Partnership here.
Herring Run & Paddle Draws Record Crowd
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On Sunday, May 19th, the 17th annual Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle drew the largest number of participants yet. Thanks to our sponsors and all who came out to run, paddle, bike, volunteer and spectate!
RACE RESULTS HERE. Photos here.
See the full list of events for the Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle here.
Rain Gardens in Arlington Planted
Dozens of volunteers helped plant two rain gardens in Arlington, MA. These specially designed gardens collect, absorb and clean stormwater runoff from parking lots. Check out the rain gardens at Hurd Field off of Drake Road and at the Hardy Elementary School at 52 Lake Street!
Did you see the Mystic featured in the Boston Globe?
MyRWA was very pleased to see the Mystic River featured on the front page of the Boston Globe on Feb. 18th. The article by Beth Daley, A steady flow of troubles for the long-foul Mystic: River draws scrutiny, but cleanup a complex challenge, details the plight of the Mystic and offers a comparison to nearby urban rivers. Please feel free to circulate the article, and your comments to the editor are encouraged and most welcome!
Read the Boston Globe article here.
Mystic River Clean Water Campaign Launched
The Mystic River Clean Water Campaign advocates for unimpaired water quality in the 22 community Mystic River Watershed and is supported by MyRWA’s new Water Quality Policy Statement. This policy statement outlines clear objectives that will, when implemented, move the Mystic River Watershed toward much improved water quality. The new Policy states that human sewage will no longer be discharged to the Mystic River and that all stormwater discharges to the river shall meet established State and Federal water quality standards.
Read more about the Mystic River Clean Water Campaign and get involved here!
Suffolk Downs Funds Mystic River Water Quality Programs
Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC (Suffolk Downs) delivers the first of three $165,000 annual payments in support of Mystic River water quality monitoring programs. The Mystic River Watershed Association’s ongoing monthly Baseline and Hot-Spot Monitoring Programs will be funded under an agreement recently endorsed by both parties. Suffolk’s provision of funding toward this project was undertaken in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action, United States v. Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, LLC, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act.
MyRWA Partners with Viridian Energy
Doug Turner, a former MyRWA Board member, is now working hard to bring financial benefit to MyRWA through Viridian Energy. MyRWA is proud to support sustainable energy sourcing and use through Viridian. This unique program provides you the opportunity to sign up for greener energy at affordable prices, while also helping MyRWA earn money to support our mission and programs.
Learn more about Viridian Energy and sign up today!
US EPA ANNOUNCES MYSTIC RIVER REPORT CARD
The Mystic River Watershed received a grade of "D" for water quality conditions for the calendar year 2011 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 46 percent of the time, while boating standards were met 87 percent of the time.