Lynne Hamjian, US EPA, and EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, MyRWA

“This year’s grade shows that persistent impairment of water quality caused by ancient sewer and stormwater systems continues to bedevil the Mystic River Watershed,” said EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, Executive Director of the Mystic River Watershed Association. “These water quality problems will be severely compounded by the increased flooding and larger numbers of severe storm cycles that are anticipated to occur as a result of New England’s changing climate. Fortunately the solutions to the problems we face are well understood and implementation of these solutions will produce honest work and good jobs for local residents. The Mystic River Watershed Association, through its Monitoring Network, is working to develop a clear understanding of the watershed’s current physical and environmental conditions.  This understanding will insure that precious financial and human resources engaged to restore our area infrastructure and the local natural environment will be deployed effectively.”

Read the full report here.

This Workshop allows interested volunteers to learn about water quality monitoring methods and concepts. By completing this workshop, you’ll be prepared to join MyRWA’s Baseline Monitoring Program. The Baseline Monitoring Program requires a monthly commitment between 6am and 8am. No experience is necessary - all are welcome!

You have to register for this event.

When: Wednesday, June 13^th, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
Where: Mystic Learning Center, 530 Mystic Ave., Somerville, MA

Space is limited! Please register today by emailing Beth@Mysticriver.org or call 781-316-3438.

Learn more about MyRWA's water quality monitoring programs here.

Event Details:

Malden

75 volunteers helped clean-up the Malden River Walk, Plaza 188 riverfront trail, and Northern Strand Community Trail areas along the Malden River on both Canal Street and Commercial Street in Malden. In total, the volunteers in the area removed more than 100 bags of trash, brush, and other debris from the area. A group of Malden Youth from the Wah Lum Kung Fu Center and Youth A.C.T. also painted wayfinding signs at the entrance to the Plaza 188 Trail and planted native shrubs at the entrances to the Plaza 188 riverfront trail and Northern Strand Community Trail. At the end of the event, the Malden Department of Public Works disposed of the trash, enough to fill 4 dump trucks. The event was organized by Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP), Bike to the Sea, Groundwork Somerville, and Cambridge Health.

Medford

Medford's Earth Day Celebration and Medford Square Cleanup

Medford's Green Awards 2012Mayor McGlynn and members of the Medford Energy Committee attended the Earth Day celebration and Medford Square Cleanup on Saturday April 28th.  At the event the Mayor announced the creation of the Green Awards program which is being co-sponsored by the Medford Energy Committee and the Chamber of Commerce.  The Green Awards is a program to recognize businesses (non-profits included) and residents who have implemented energy efficient and environmentally friendly initiatives.  The application can be found at www.medford.org/greenawards.  We are accepting applications until June 29, 2012.  If you have any questions contact Carey Duques 781-393-2137 or cduques@medford.org.

Medford Clean UpThe Medford Square Cleanup was a huge success.  Over 100 in attendance, including about 85 volunteers that participated in the cleanup, picking up trash and debris from various places around the Square, and planting the flowers in the large pots located along Riverside Avenue.  Xtreme Ninja Martial Arts & Fitness Center had a large presence at the cleanup with over 30 students and parents helping with activities throughout the morning.  Community service projects are a large part of Xtreme Ninja's curriculum and core values and students are taught the importance of giving back selflessly.  One of the areas that was cleaned up was a municipal parking lot located off of Salem Street in Medford Square.  The group filled approximately 10 bags with trash and debris that was removed from the lot.

Friends of the Mystic River CleanupFriends of the Mystic River held its 17^th Annual Mystic River Spring Cleanup on April 28. Seventy volunteers, ranging in age from Boy and Girl Scouts to senior citizens, picked up trash at Mystic Riverbend Park, MacDonald Park, the Condon Shell Park, and adjacent to the river along Mystic Valley Parkway and Auburn Street in Medford.

Somerville

Groundwork Somerville's Earth Day Farm RaisingIn Somerville, over 50 volunteers including Mayor Joe Curtatone turned out to help Groundwork Somerville and Green City Growers build Somerville's first farm. The Groundwork Somerville Green Team built 13 raised beds, and volunteers filled them with soil and planted melons, lettuce and 12 other vegetables. The group also removed invasives species and prepared existing soil for perennials to be planted later in the month. The Green Team will be maintaining the farm throughout the summer and fall, and the public is welcome anytime to visit this unique site.

MyRWA and Gentle Giant Rowing Club had over 50 volunteers remove trash from the banks of the Mystic River at Assembly Row. A special thanks to Somerville's Boy Scout Troop #3 and MA Department of Conservation and Recreation. View MyRWA's photos here.

Karen McGuire (EPA), Patrick Herron, Curt Spalding (EPA Region 1 Administrator)

Patrick Herron, Water Quality Monitoring Director of the Mystic River Watershed Association, has improved the lives of more than a half million residents living in Mystic River communities. The Mystic Monitoring Network, which uses volunteers to gather data, has been integral to the association's work for more than a decade. Patrick, a dedicated scientist, has used data collected through the network to raise awareness about discharges that pollute the Mystic River and other resources in its watershed. He drew attention to the problem of sanitary sewer overflows in the watershed because he believed that rain and snow were causing contamination of the river and neighboring waters. With help from university interns and dedicated volunteer monitors, Patrick monitored and calculated the impact of discharges on river ecology and water chemistry. He created an online sewer overflow reporting form that made data collected easily available. This information helped the association inform citizens and helped local officials identify overflow points. His conversations with local water and sewer officials influenced the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to study the pipe system and facilities in the Mystic River district to determine if they could prevent ongoing overflows. Patrick also created a Mystic River Herring Monitoring Network to be launched this spring, and advocated for installation of green infrastructure in the Mystic River Watershed. He has partnered with local officials, community organizations, environmental advocacy groups and a variety of academic partners in the watershed. Through these collaborations, he has brought hope and direction for the concerns of residents and decision-makers in the Mystic River watershed.

Congratulations Patrick!

Herring as seen from the viewing platform at the Mystic Lakes Dam, 4/18/12.

Mystic Lakes Dam Open Houses
Thursday, April 26, 3-7pm
Sunday, May 20, 12-3pm
Thursday, May 24, 3-7pm
Upper Mystic Lake Dam, Medford (Head to the dam between the upper and lower Mystic Lake)

American Eel collected at the Mystic Lake Dam:

Magnolia Warbler

On Saturday, May 5th from 8am to 10am MyRWA Board Member Michael Fager will lead a bird walk in DCR Torbert MacDonald Park, paying special attention to migrating birds. Please join us! All levels of birders are welcomed. Bring your own binoculars and a bird book if you have them. Please wear comfortable shoes. Meet in the parking lot.

View DCR Torbert MacDonald Park, Medford, MA in a larger map

Free and open to the public!

When: Tuesday, April 3, 7-8pm

Where: Tufts University, Lincoln Filene Center, Rabb Room, Medford, MA (http://campusmaps.tufts.edu/medford/?fid=m015). Parking is available on campus, on Boston Ave. and in Dowling Hall.