Earth Hour Saturday, March 28, 2009 8:30pm

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

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Green Line Extension Project

The Green Line Extension Project is an initiative of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation & Public Works, in coordination with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.This project will extend existing MBTA Green Line service from Lechmere Station through the northwest Boston corridor communities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford, with an extension of the main line to Medford and a spur line to Union Square in Somerville. To learn more click here for the Green Line Extension website.

Bike Path Gains Key Support

A 7-mile bikeway that would run through Stoneham, Winchester, and Woburn has received crucial community support, paving the way to make the 21-year-old concept a reality.

The Tri-Community Bikeway had strong advocates in Stoneham and Winchester but suffered from a lack of organized support in Woburn until members of the Woburn Residents' Environmental Network decided to take up the charge last week as the project reached a critical phase.

"We are trying to get the whole thing together so it doesn't fall apart," said Rodney Flynn, treasurer of the Woburn organization. "We are the missing piece between the Stoneham group and the Winchester group."

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By Brad Kane Globe Correspondent

Brad Kane can be reached at brad.j.kane@gmail.com.

New Website

MyRWA is pleased to welcome you to our new website! On these pages you will find the latest in Mystic River Watershed news and events, as well as recent and archived water quality data, monitoring reports, maps, and policy comment letters. You will also be able to read our newsletters and donate online. Be sure to check back with us regularly, as we'll be continually updating the content to reflect the latest happenings in the watershed. This site would not be possible without the dedication of volunteers who spent countless hours working on each page. Many thanks to them, and to everyone else whose support has enabled MyRWA to work towards a clean and healthy Mystic.

America's Beautiful National Park Quarter

Announcing an opportunity to nominate a nationally-designated Mystic River Watershed site on a United States quarter!

The following sites are eligible:

McLean Hospital National Register District, Belmont

Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge

Powder House Park, Somerville

The Rosebud, Somerville

Somerville Theatre, Somerville

Metropolitan District Commission Pumping House, Stoneham

Middlesex Fells Reservoirs Historic District, Stoneham

Check the website below for the voting results across America.

MassDEP Beautiful National Parks Quarter

Mystic Science Meeting

On February 11, 2009, the US EPA Region 1 hosted the first Mystic Watershed Science Committee meeting from 9:00 am - 12:30 pm. The meeting featured presentations and updates on science and research initiatives across the watershed. If you would like to get involved with future science meetings, please email contact mysticriver.org. You can also get more information about the EPA and the Mystic River Watershed Association at the EPA's website at: www.epa.gov/region1/mysticriver

Potentially Toxic Cyanobacteria Found in the Mystic River in Medford & Somerville

During routine water quality monitoring of the Mystic River in Medford and Somerville on November 13th, 2008, Mystic River Watershed Association staff and volunteers observed widespread cyanobacteria blooms ranging from Medford Center to the Blessing of the Bay boathouse. Certain types of cyanobacteria can be toxic and may pose a potential health risk to humans that come in contact with the water. The cyanobacteria can also be harmful to dogs that ingest the water.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, "Health concerns vary depending on the type of exposure (contact or ingestion) and the concentrations of microcystis and its toxin, microcystin. Contact with high levels of the cyanobacteria algae has been found to contribute to eye, ear, and skin irritation. More serious health effects (e.g. muscle cramps, twitching) can also occur. If elevated levels of the algal toxin, microcystin, are also present in the water, serious liver damage can result."

The Mystic River Watershed Association recommends that people and their pets avoid contact with water that is covered in a blue-green film of algae.

If you have any questions please email us at contact@mysticriver.org or call 781-316-3438.

Annual Meeting 2008

MyRWA's annual meeting was held on October 22, 2008. Concerned citizens, volunteers, and members attended and heard about the successful projects MyRWA has undertaken over the past year. Bob Zimmerman, the Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association, spoke on his experiences building CRWA into a successful science-based advocacy organization with a strong staff and dozens of notable achievements. Attendees also had the opportunity to watch several documentaries filmed in the Mystic Watershed by graduate students at Emerson College. MyRWA recognized the following outstanding individuals with awards: Pete Mellor - Volunteer of the Year; Michael O'Brien - Unsung Hero of the Year; Bob Nesson - Supporter of the Year; Roger Frymire - Scientific Achievement Award.

MyRWA Appoints Full Time Executive Director

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), is pleased to announce the appointment of EkOngKar Singh Khalsa as full time Executive Director.

The addition of a full time Executive Director to its staff will greatly assist the association in its efforts to restore clean water in the Mystic River Watershed, and to protect the natural resources in this region.

Mr. Khalsa brings to the office of Executive Director more than 25 years professional experience in environmental affairs, low impact development and brownfields restoration. He has also many years experience in non-profit management both as staff and as a volunteer. Mr. Khalsa looks forward to his work with MyRWA.

“The focus of the Mystic River Watershed Association upon the health of an entire urban watershed is unique. MyRWA’s efforts to address environmental conditions in an important working river, will, of course, benefit all the members of this diverse natural and human community.

"Additionally, there are strong economic reasons to pursue this objective as the value of significant public and private investments made in and adjacent to the watershed will be substantially improved and better protected when the Mystic River is clean.” Mr. Khalsa said.

Working in collaboration with its many local, state, federal and community partners MyRWA will continue, through the efforts of its Board, staff and volunteers, to tackle longstanding environmental challenges in the watershed. MyRWA. Board President John Reinhardt said, “The addition of EkOngKar Khalsa to our staff will bring more strength and vitality to our organization at a critical time. We are very pleased that EK has joined us”.

State Legislation to Improve Mystic Water Quality

Rep. Denise Provost and Sen. Jarrett Barrios, along with Senators Robert Havern and Pat Jehlen and Reps. Will Brownsberger, Paul Casey, Eugene O’Flaherty, Carl Sciortino, and Timothy Toomey, are proposing innovative legislation to create a Mystic River Water Quality Commission. The commission will investigate ways to improve water quality to allow fishing, boating & swimming, and to create more opportunities for recreation in the Mystic River Watershed. The Commission will include legislators, EPA, state agencies, and community representatives, and will report its findings to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. The Commission will consider water quality throughout the watershed, including all its tributaries and lakes, and not just the Mystic River itself.

Please encourage your legislators to support House Bill 841, and thank them if they already have.

Contact MyRWA or Rep. Provost’s aide Liz Monnin at elizabeth.monnin@state.ma.us or 617-722-2810 for more information about how to encourage passage of this important legislation.