Do you know someone dedicated to protecting rivers and streams? The River Network's River Hero Award nominations are due Feb. 12, 2010 to honor inspirational leaders of river protection. Last year, MyRWA volunteer extraordinaire Roger Frymire received this prestigious award.
Join the Mystic River Watershed Association to celebrate the return of the herring at the 14th Annual Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle Fesival on Sunday, May 16, 2010. Grab your running shoes for the 5K Run/Walk along the banks of the Mystic River, or your oar for a 3- or 12- mile paddle up the Mystic River. Join MyRWA for music, food, to learn about local environmental organizations and enjoy the scenic Mystic River. Register today!
Calling all Volunteers!
MyRWA seeks volunteers to assist with planning this event and to help the day of. Contact beth@mysticriver.org for more information.
Check out photos taken by a MyRWA volunteer of the Upper Mystic Lake Dam Rehabilitation Project. This project addresses safety and flooding issues, as well as incorporates a much needed fish ladder and eel way. The Mystic River supports diadromous fish including alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback (Alosa aestivalis) herrings, American shad (Alosa sapidissima), American eel (Anguilla rostrata) and white perch (Morone americana). The Mystic River supports one of the largest alewife runs in Massachusetts, making a passable dam a necessity for these fish to reach their native spawning grounds each spring.
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EK Khalsa, Mark Jacobson, John Reinhardt and Kathy AbbottThanks to all who came to MyRWA’s 2009 Annual Meeting, held on Oct. 29 at BNY Mellon in Everett, MA. The evening consisted of a social hour in which folks enjoyed appetizers provided by Mellon Bank, a presentation regarding the sustainability measures that the Mellon facility has implemented, and a showing of the “Into the Mystic” Chronicle HD show from last July. Association President John Reinhardt then addressed the crowd, followed by Executive Director EkOngKar Singh Khalsa. Beth Meserve (Outreach Coordinator) and Patrick Herron (Water Quality Monitoring Director) gave a presentation on MyRWA’s work in Chelsea and East Boston, funded by the Boston Foundation. EK Khalsa awarding John Reinhardt for his service to MyRWA at the Annual Meeting.Guest speaker Kathy Abbott from The Trustees of Reservations spoke about advocating for urban open space, and highlighted the good work that MyRWA has and is doing. Kathy’s address was followed by MyRWA awards. “Volunteer of the Year” award went to Mark Jacobson, a dedicated board member who has been integral in organizing and implementing the annual Herring Run and Paddle Festival every spring. Association President John Reinhardt received recognition of his long-standing commitment to MyRWA and selfless leadership of the organization through difficult times. The awards were then followed by voting for the 2010 Board of Directors. New board members Karen Grossman, Stephen Murphy, Steve Notis, and Arthur Powers are welcomed to the organization! Thanks again for a successful evening and we hope to see you again next year.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
TOGETHER FOR THE MYSTIC RIVER Photo: Mystic River after fresh snow Credit: Brett Hausler
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW Photo: Alewife Stormwater Wetland, Credit: Stantec