MyRWA Receives Funds for Work in Lower Mystic

On Friday, October 23, MyRWA joined community groups and municipal leaders to celebrate the announcement of $508,500 in grant funding for capital improvement projects in the Lower Mystic River Watershed Communities. Projects in the communities of East Boston, Charlestown, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Malden and Somerville will receive grants awarded by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) Mystic Initiative Program. The Mystic River Watershed Association received $42,500 through this initiative to develop an Urban Trail Map and Guide in the Lower Mystic.  Thanks MET!

“The Mystic River is one of our state’s underappreciated gems. It makes its way through more than 20 cities and towns before emptying into Boston harbor, and is richly deserving of our attention and support,” said MET Chairman James R. Gomes.

Other grant awardees include: - The Mystic Valley Development Commission (MVDC), a collaborative of Malden, Medford and Everett has been awarded a $150,000 grant to help fund construction of the Wellington Greenway in Medford by the Mass Environmental Trust.  The Wellington Greenway is a riverfront walk which will connect the River’s Edge and Wellington Business Center Riverfront Pathways to the Wellington MBTA station and beyond to Station Landing and the Mystic Reservation. The construction of Wellington Greenway links walking paths with popular destinations while promoting access to the Malden and Mystic River. Additionally, it highlights the major ecological restoration work undergone at the River’s Edge development along the Malden River. 

“The Wellington Greenway Project is designed to be a multi-use pathway providing an intermodal connection between the MBTA Station and businesses along the river.  It will allow regional access to the area and great potential for increased recreational use,” said Malden Mayor Richard Howard.

- The City of Somerville will enhance the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse and develop a "Blue Heron River Route."

- The City of Medford received funds to connect Medford center and the Condon Shell, a DCR owned outdoor theater.

- The City of Everett will construct a canoe and kayak launch at Village Landing Park.

ACTION ALERT: Help Protect Massachusetts’ Rivers and Streams!

On October 8th, Massachusetts’ rivers, streams and waters experienced significant environmental rollbacks. The Patrick administration announced its "Integrated Water Initiative” to establish stream flow criteria from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA). At the same time, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced a new method of determining “safe yields” that dramatically undermines environmental protection of our rivers and streams while allowing the state to authorize withdrawals down to the levels of a stream during a drought. "Safe yield" in the context of Massachusetts Water Management Act (WMA), is intended as the maximum amount of water that can be pumped from a watershed to meet human demand.  Our rivers are not protected –significantly draining our rivers may result in fish kills and environmental degradation.

Take Action Today!
Sign Conservation Law Foundation’s (CLF) letter, which will be sent to Governor Patrick, EOEEA Secretary Ian Bowles and MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt to let your concerns be known about this issue. 

For more information:
Click here for the Boston Globe article, Conservationists rip water policy, quit state panel, 10/15/09.

Update on 2011-08-08 18:21 by MyRWA

Public Outcry a Success!

Thanks to a loud public outcry the MassDEP has met with members of the environmental community to find a way to work together to restore protection to our waterways. We will keep our members posted as to the progress of these discussions.

Update on 2011-08-08 18:22 by MyRWA

Victory! Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has suspended its new "safe yield" interpretation and will replace it with a new approach which will include "environmental protection factors including the ecological health of rivers." 

You can read the Boston Globe article here.

On Nov.3: Shop to save a river!

On Tuesday, November 3rd the Whole Foods Market in West Medford will donate 5% of the day's sales to the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA). The funds will support the Mystic River Watershed Association’s water quality monitoring programs, land and water use advocacy, as well as outreach and education in the Mystic River Watershed. Stop by the MyRWA table at Whole Foods to learn more about our work and the condition of the Mystic River.

The first 100 customers to spend $100 or more and who show their receipt at the Mystic River Watershed Association table will receive a FREE set of Mystic River Biodiversity Trading Cards. The first 25 customers to sign up for MyRWA membership will receive a Mystic River Watershed Association T-Shirt!

On 11/3/09 from 8am to 9pm support the Mystic River Watershed Association at:

Whole Foods Market, 2151 Mystic Valley Parkway,Medford, MA 02155

Update

on 2011-08-08 18:23 by MyRWA

Thanks to all who came out to support MyRWA at Whole Foods Market 5% Day! It was a successful day and we appreciate your help in this effort.

Thank you MyRWA Volunteers

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) held a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on October 8th at the Medford Boat Club. MyRWA couldn't accomplish the important work that we do without the extraordinary help we receive from our wonderful volunteer base. Indeed, dozens of dedicated MyRWA volunteers collect water samples at 6 or 7 a.m. each month, providing invaluable water quality data not only to MyRWA but to state and federal agencies, local municipalities, community groups, and citizens. Meanwhile, other volunteers assist with website design, envelope stuffing, and staffing the MyRWA booth at local events, providing information about our work and the Watershed.  As a small token of our appreciation, MyRWA invited all volunteers to enjoy an evening along the Mystic Lakes with fellow MyRWA volunteers as well as MyRWA staff and board members. It was a great time and the MyRWA staff look forward to making this a yearly tradition. Once again, thank you MyRWA volunteers!

We’d also like to thank the Medford Boat Club for graciously hosting us.

RIVER HERO

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is happy to announce that MyRWA volunteer extraordinaire Roger Frymire has been selected as a 2009 National River Hero by River Network. Roger Frymire. Roger has been working with MyRWA for roughly two decades, eagerly lending a hand in a variety of volunteer monitoring activities. He is well-known for his ability to independently collect more water samples in a morning of sampling than teams of multiple staff and volunteers. Much of the work Roger does is not for the faint of heart. With a true sense of adventure, he will kayak up large sewer pipes to investigate mysterious odors, or spend hours on the water during torrential rainstorms to collect water samples. His work has enabled MyRWA to track down the source of sewage contamination at countless outfall pipes and has led to enforcement actions by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Additionally, Roger’s extraordinary value is in the contributions he makes to many different aspects of MyRWA’s work, including water quality monitoring, policy, advocacy, and education. Roger is the consummate water quality warrior, and MyRWA couldn’t be happier about his selection as the 2009 National River Hero! To read more about Roger Frymire, 2009 National River Hero please click here.

MyRWA Partners with Tufts Student Group

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is pleased to have partnered with students from Tufts University as part of a pre-orientation community service trip for incoming freshmen. The 8 students assisted MyRWA staff member Beth Meserve and interns Emily Starck and Sarah Erskine document the presence of Water Chestnut (Trapa natans), an invasive species, in the Mystic River and Mystic Lakes. The team set out in canoes, kindly donated by Charles River Canoe and Kayak, to explore the Watershed on a beautiful August day while scouring the water’s surface for rosettes of water chestnuts. Water chestnuts are present in the Mystic River in Medford, often forming dense mats that can make passage difficult and potentially dangerous for motor boats. Additionally, water chestnuts crowd out native species, and their decomposition may result in lower dissolved oxygen levels in waterways, which can lead to fish kills. MyRWA, along with other community groups, is developing a water chestnut management plan to tackle this issue. We are grateful for the efforts of Tufts students to collect the data necessary to implement a strong management plan. To read more about water chestnuts view the Fall 2009 Mystic Messenger.

Notice Alert: CSO Activation in Alewife Brook

In accordance with the conditions of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Alewife Brook/Upper Mystic River Variance we are hereby notifying you that a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) occurred at CAM401B on September 12, 2009 and discharged into the Alewife Brook.  The Variance approved workplan requires the Cambridge Department of Public Works (DPW) to notify local health agents, DEP, EPA and MRWA within 24 hours of when a CSO event occurs.  It was determined that 401B was the most active outfall and would be the most suitable indicator of CSO activity along the Alewife Brook.  This notification does not reflect the absence of any activation at other sites.  Rather, the notice is intended to be confirmation to users of the resource that untreated sewage discharges to the Brook/River have occurred. 

The water quality in Alewife Brook is often impaired due to bacterial and other pollutants from a number of sources, including stormwater runoff, CSOs and cross connections between sanitary sewers and stormwater drains. Water quality in the brook during both wet and dry weather generally fails to meet state bacteria standards for fishing and swimming. Contaminant sources originate in the watershed communities of Belmont, Arlington, Cambridge and Somerville, all of which are undertaking programs to identify and control the sources of pollution to the brook.

Portions of Cambridge and Somerville are served by combined stormwater and sanitary sewer systems, common in older cities. There are eight CSO outfalls on Alewife Brook (see the attached map for locations) which discharge untreated CSO (a mixture of wastewater and stormwater) during moderate and heavy rainfall to relieve the system and prevent sewer backups into homes, businesses, and streets. In addition, bordering communities also have separate drainage pipes that collect stormwater runoff and carry it to the brook. Discharges from CSOs and from separate stormwater pipes include bacteria and other pathogens, oxygen-demanding pollutants, solids and other contaminants. Public health officials recommend avoiding contact with the brook during and for 48 hours following rain storms, as there may be increased health risks during these periods. Contact with floodwaters should also be avoided as they may contain similar contaminants and pose associated health risks. Clean up information following a flood is available on the MA Department of Environmental Protection web site at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/floodcleanup.htm  For real-time water data at Fresh Pond Reservoir, you can view the United States Geological Survey National Water System website at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ma/nwis Please contact Catherine Daly Woodbury at 617-349-4818 or James Wilcox at 617-349-6426 if you have any questions.

Calling All Volunteers!

MyRWA Seeks Volunteers for fall events and projects!

Are you looking to get more involved in your community? MyRWA has several volunteer opportunities.

• MyRWA seeks volunteers to dedicate an hour or two to help stuff envelopes. The more volunteers we have, the quicker this task will be!

- Envelope stuffing party! Date to be determined. Interested parties please contact beth@mysticriver.org

• Do you enjoy speaking with members of your community? MyRWA is attending several community fairs and festivals, where we will have an educational table offering information about the Watershed and MyRWA's work. MyRWA seeks volunteers able to commit to 2 hour blocks of time or more. These are fun events and a great way to meet other people! Email: beth@mysticriver.org if you are intersted in helping out.

- Arlington Town Day, Sat., September 26, 10am-3pm.

- Tufts Community Day, Medford, Sun., September 27, 11am-3pm.

- Fireworks on the Mystic, Somerville, Sat., October 3, 4pm-9pm. (Fireworks at 9pm)

- River Cleanup, Sun., October 4, 1pm-3pm.

Volunteers Clean-Up the Mystic River

• MyRWA is also seeking volunteers to join our Policy and Outreach Committees. We hold monthly Committee Meetings, held the first Tuesday of the month at Tufts University, where dedicated volunteers and community members convene to discuss relevant topics. MyRWA Committee Meetings are open to the public. The Policy and Outreach Committees are seeking new members!

• Do you have a background in membership development and/or marketing and are willing to donate your time? Please contact MyRWA today!

No time to spare? Why not support MyRWA with a donation, which you can make online.

Thanks for all that you do!

Update

on 2009-09-21 20:13 by MyRWA

Envelope Stuffing Party Announced!

Come help the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), an environmental nonprofit, recruit new members! Thursday 9/24 & Friday 9/25 we will be stuffing envelopes for a membership mailing from 1pm to 5pm at our offices at 20 Academy Street, Suite 306, Arlington. Please stop by for an hour or the whole afternoon! For more information contact Beth at 781-316-3438. 

Fish Kill in Mill Creek

On Monday August 17, 2009 a fishkill was identified in the channelized portion of Mill Creek in Chelsea. Roger Frymire alerted MyRWA to his concerns about the possibility of chlorinated pool water being released into Mill Creek from a pool being drained. At approximately 5:00 PM on that day, Roger Frymire and Patrick Herron, Water Quality Monitoring Director, walked Mill Creek and identified a fishkill of approximately 1000 bait fish. They were able to identify a pipe emptying into Mill Creek that smelled faintly of chlorine with some associated bleaching of vegetation.

Roger Frymire alerted officials at DEP, EPA, and the city of Chelsea. Since the alert, the report of chlorine has been independently verified by officials from Chelsea. An analysis of water samples performed by MWRA suggests that the chlorine is associated with pool water. Officials are following up to determine the source of this contamination. The release of chlorine into Mill Creek and resulting fishkill have now been documented for three years. These events have occurred during the same ‘end of summer’ period each year.

New Faces at the Mystic River Watershed Association

The Mystic River Watershed Association is proud to announce the addition of two new members to our professional staff. 

First, meet Patrick Herron, our Water Quality Monitoring Director. Patrick comes to our organization with an extensive background in scientific research in the environmental field. Patrick received his PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut in 2007. Since then, Patrick has completed post doctoral work at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole and at Harvard University.

As an example of his recent work, Patrick has published a number of papers on the invasive ecology of plant species in New England. In a recently published a paper with co-authors Chris Martine, Andrew Latimer and Stacey Leicht, they investigate whether life-history traits can be used to effectively predict the identity of future woody invasive plant species in New England.

Using a Bayesian hierarchical analysis Patrick and his colleagues constructed a model that correctly classified invasive plants 67% of the time, and non-invasive plants 95% of the time. The model was then used to identify a number of potential future invasive species in New England that deserve management consideration. Given the speed with which these invaders are able to take over habitat, advance notice of their arrival could prove very helpful!

Patrick has for many years divided his professional time between biological research and science education. He is eager to work at the interface between rigorous scientific inquiry and the public good and as a result Patrick is very enthusiastic about his new position at MyRWA!

MyRWA is also very excited about our new Outreach Coordinator, Beth Meserve. Beth earned her M.S. in environmental studies with a concentration in environmental education at Antioch University New England and completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Anthropology at Tufts University.

Among her many interests in environmental advocacy and education, Beth has a strong commitment to address issues of global warming at a local level in New England. While at Antioch, Beth served as Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator for “The New Hampshire Carbon Challenge”. Beth also worked as a project assistant on “Cool Monadnock”, a project of Clean Air-Cool Planet that worked to support the development and success of locally based Energy Committees. “Cool Monadnock” helped these committees to identify priority energy saving projects in their communities and to present their findings to local governments and community groups.

Please feel free to contact Patrick and Beth, to send them your congratulations, to share your best ideas and to voice your concerns and questions regarding the Mystic River Watershed. --------- EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, Executive Director