LOWER MYSTIC INITIATIVE
Youth Workshop with the Chelsea Collaborative.
The Mystic River Watershed Association is pleased that the Boston Foundation supports our work in the Lower Mystic communities of Chelsea and East Boston. Our work consists of the expansion of monitoring and outreach efforts in these communities. Specifically, the Lower Mystic Initiative consists of:
- Expansion of the Mystic Monitoring Network to include 2 new sites in the Lower Mystic that will provide additional opportunities for volunteers from Chelsea and East Boston, and valuable data from the salt water reaches of the Mystic River Watershed.
- Volunteer recruitment from Chelsea and East Boston through MyRWA’s Citizen Scientist Training Workshops.
- Community engagement through collaboration with community groups and media outlets.
Citizen Scientist Training Workshop in Chelsea.
- Engage local youth in water quality monitoring though three Water Quality Workshops during the summer of 2009 and 2010. In 2010 MyRWA expanded the program to include Mystic River Boat-based Science Explorations.
- Presentations of results of water quality monitoring during 2009 to local stakeholder groups through Chelsea and East Boston.
- In the fall of 2010 MyRWA staff collaborated with Chelsea High School's Environmental Science class. This included four classroom visits by MyRWA staff and a two hour boat-based scientific exploration of the Mystic and Chelsea Rivers. Data was collected along four transects, including dissolved oxygen, water clarity and temperature, pH, and ammonia. Additionally, site observations and the GPS location were recorded and plankton
MyRWA's Patrick Herron assists a student in measuring dissolved oxygen.collected. The students then analyzed their findings and had a poster on display at MyRWA's 2010 Annual Meeting on October 28th.
- Conduct Hot Spot Monitoring with youth from Chelsea and East Boston.
For more information in a powerpoint presentation click here.
MyRWA thanks The Boston Foundation for their generous support in both 2009 and 2010!
Chelsa High's Environmental Science students enjoy a boat based exploration of their watershed.