On Thursday, January 21, 2010 support the Mystic River Watershed Association at Pizzeria Uno in Porter Square. Whether you dine in or out, enjoy lunch or dinner, part of your total bill will be donated to the Mystic River Watershed Association. Bring a friend, your family, or co-workers to help support your watershed in this unique, and delicious, way!
Mass DEP Releases Draft Water Quality Assessment Report
The Massachusett's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the Mystic River Watershed 2004-2008 Water Quality Assessment Report. This is a draft for review. The report presents a summary of current water quality data/information in the Mystic River Watershed. The designated uses, where applicable, include: Aquatic Life, Fish Consumption, Drinking Water, Shellfishing, Primary and Secondary Contact Recreation and Aesthetics. Each use, within a given assessment segment, is individually assessed as support or impaired. The document includes maps as well.
Sanitary Sewer Overflows in the News
MyRWA intern Sarah Shivers, a senior at Tufts University, created a project to help MyRWA address Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) in the Watershed. Read her letter in the Arlington Advocate or visit our SSO page to learn more about this important public health concern. Thanks for all of your hard work, Sarah!
Nominate Your River Hero
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.
Mystic River Herring Run & Paddle
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.
Mystic Lake Dam Rehabilitation Project
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.
Follow MyRWA on Twitter!
MyRWA is tweeting! Become a follower by searching for "MysticMyRWA" today. You'll receive news and event updates related to the Mystic River Watershed.
Annual Meeting a Success
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.
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."
