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.
Mystic River Herring Run & Paddle Draws Record Crowd
Photo by Paul MarottaOn Sunday, May 19th, the 17th annual Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle drew the largest number of participants yet. Thanks to all who came out to run, paddle, bike, volunteer and spectate! Photos are coming soon.
See the full list of events for the Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle here.
Summer Job Opportunity
The Mystic River Watershed Association is hiring a Part-time Summer Office Manager. Come join us for the summer and learn how to run a small non-profit office to best inform and engage new members and donors. You will work with our team of volunteers and staff to assume responsibilities for general office administration including purchasing, handling incoming phone calls and maintaining paper & e-files. You will also provide administrative support to Water Quality Director, Outreach Coordinator and Executive Director. Regular work hours are Monday through Friday 9-2pm with some possible additional hours over weekend or evening. Basic skills needed: familiarity with web searching, excel, word, calendar management and basic bookkeeping. Ideal candidates will also have skills in timesheet software, HTML, Filemaker, Giftworks and Google Apps. Please send your resume and statement of interest to jobs@mysticriver.org. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
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!
The Herring Are Back!
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Come witness the annual herring migration at the DCR Upper Mystic Lake dam! Open houses are scheduled for the following dates, and the public is encouraged to attend. If you would like to coordinate a group visit, please contact Beth at 781-316-3438. Read more about the Herring Monitoring Program here.
- Sunday, May 19th, 11am to 3pm
- Thursday, May 23rd, 3pm to 7pm
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!
Flatbread Pizza Doughraiser
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Save the date for a fun and tasty MyRWA fundraiser on Tues. June 18th! Eat at or get take-out from Flatbread Pizza, 45 Day Street, Somerville, between 5pm and 11pm on June 18 and a portion of your flatbread will automatically be donated to MyRWA.
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.