Are you interested in learning more about the Clean Water Act?
The River Network offers an online course to explore the Clean Water Act. This helpful chapter by chapter course allows you to investigate the Act based upon your interests and increase your knowledge and understanding about this law.
Get started today!
Our streets are closely linked to our waterways. Runoff from our streets carries litter, oil, rubber from tires and other debris into storm drains, many of which empty directly into local waterways. Some people are unaware of this connection, and may dump soapy water, chemicals, car oil, and other substances directly into storm drains. Read more about storm water pollution here.
A great way to educate your community about the function of storm drains - and how they can impact water quality - is to put a "Don't Dump" stencil next to storm drains. Storm drain stencilng is a great activity for community groups and youth.
Download the Mystic River storm drain stencil here!
Before you get started:
You'll need to get permission to apply the stencils. Depending on where you'd like to stencil, contact your department of public works or city services office, or property owner.
Be sure you have fair weather so the pavement is dry and warm.
Stencil in teams to be on the lookout for traffic.
Consider contacting the press to alert them of your project.
The Univeristy of Wisconsin Extension has a helpful guide here.
Questions? Contact MyRWA.
On Saturday, August 28, 2010, Groundwork Somerville, with support from the Mystic River Watershed Association and the Friends of the Mystic River, will host a community event focusing on the removal of invasive water chestnut from the Mystic River. Using canoes, kayaks, and small boats, volunteers will pull the plants out of the water by hand and then deposit the harvested water chestnut at a designated shore site. (The pulled plants will then be composted at a nearby landscaping facility.) If you have a canoe or a kayak, you can bring your own. If you need a boat, Groundwork Somerville may be able to provide you with one (thanks to the generous cooperation of the Boys and Girls Club of Middlesex County).
We only have 20 canoes available for volunteers, so please RSVP as soon as possible. Canoes are available on a first come, first served basis.
Volunteers should meet at 8:30 AM at the old DCR boat ramp adjacent to 75 South Street in Medford, MA. A limited amount of parking is available on South Street; additional parking is available on nearby Curtis Street, Maple Ave, Touro Ave, and Manning Street.
If you plan to attend this event, please RSVP by email to brad@groundworksomerville.org or by phone at (617) 455-1127. If you will need a canoe, please indicate that in your RSVP.
Immediately following the hand-pulling event, lunch and refreshments will be available for volunteers at the put-in site.
This event is sponsored by Groundwork Somerville, with support from the Mystic River Watershed Association, the Friends of the Mystic River, the Riverside, Mystic Wellington, and Winter Hill Yachts Clubs, and the Medford Boat Club.
Please Note: We need both boaters to pull water chestnut and riverbank helpers to take the plants out of the boats. Boaters are required to use life preservers/personal flotation devices.
Join this event on FACEBOOK.
Many thanks for your interest and support!
You can now support the Mystic River Watershed Association by purchasing this T-shirt featuring the Mystic River, Tobin Bridge and a black-crowned night heron. Designed by a volunteer for this year’s Herring Run and Paddle, this popular T-shirt is back by popular demand. Tshirts are $15 each, including shipping and handling.
Order your T-shirt today!
High levels of microcystis algae were detected at Spy Pond during water sampling performed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Water samples are being collected and monitored on a weekly basis. This Public Health Advisory will remain in effect until cell counts drop to safelevels for two consecutive weeks. This particular type of algae can be toxic if ingested in high doses and can cause skin irritation and a rash after wading or swimming. The Arlington Board of Health strongly advises residents not to swim or stand in the water and especially urges residents to keep pets away from the water.
Microcystis is a cyanobacteria algae that grows naturally beneath or on the surface of many waterbodies. Under certain conditions (such as warm weather and an abundance of nutrients in the water) the algae may undergo an explosive type of growth that results in dense, floating mats of algae. This is commonly referred to as an “algae bloom.”
Contact with high levels of the cyanobacteria algae has beenf ound to contribute to eye, ear, and skin irritation. Microcystis is different from most other types of algae because it contains and can secrete a toxin into the water. During an algae bloom, the amount of algae and toxin in the water can become elevated and exposure can be potentially harmful to people and animals.
Health concerns vary depending on the concentrations of microcystis and its toxin, microcystin. Ingestion of elevated concentrations of the algae and its toxin can lead to more serious health effects (e.g. muscle cramps, twitching, and liver damage).
For regular updates please check arlingtonma.gov/health.
You can search for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Microcysits Algae Bloom Fact Sheet here.
Mechanical harvester near the Condon Shell in MedfordHave you seen bright orange machines navigating the Mystic? They are mechanical harvesters working to remove the invasive water chestnut from the Mystic River. This project is part of a three year effort by Groundwork Somerville, Friends of the Mystic River, & Riverside Yacht Club, Winter Hill Yacht Club, Mystic Wellington Yacht Club. Mechanical harvesting is just one component in the effort that includes extensive hand harvesting of the water chestnut by community members, Green Teams and Americorps. Local conservation group, Friends of the Mystic, has been working on the water chestnut problem for a number of years and is currently an active partner with MyRWA in supporting Groundwork Somerville efforts. The mechanical harvesting is expected to last 6 to 9 days.
On Saturday, August 7th community members and organizations participated in the the second annual Everett Mystic River Festival at Village Landing Park in Everett. Activities included music, free food, family activities, and much more. The Mystic River Watershed Association hosted an informational table at the event, engaging watershed residents. The event was sponsored by La Comunidad, Inc.
We are pleased to report that Officer Officer Patrick Johnston receives award of recognitionPatrick Johnston was recognized at the event for his energy, intelligence, dedication and service to the Everett area, including as a Marine Officer on the Malden and Mystic Rivers. Johnston serves on the Mystic River Watershed Association's Board of Directors, and we are proud that he was recognized for his efforts! Congratulations Patrick!
EPA New England recently announced the selection of University of Massachusetts Boston for its Urban Waters/Mystic River University Collaborative. Earlier this spring, EPA New England solicited proposals
from Boston area colleges and universities to develop a collaborative relationship in support of its urban waters/Mystic River Watershed Initiative, beach and nonpoint source programs.
Anamarija Frankic, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental, Earth, and Ocean Sciences and her colleagues at UMass Boston will be heading up the Collaborative work on urban waters/Mystic River over the coming years.
The Nature Conservancy has collaborated with more than 50 watershed groups, including MyRWA, to create a shared plan for achieving sustainable water management in Massachusetts by the year 2020.
What is sustainable water management?
Managing water sustainably means meeting current needs without compromising the needs of future generations. Sustainable water management is essential to the health, safety and economic development of Massachusetts communities and to the health of fish and other native wildlife—now and in the future.
Sustainable water management also takes into account the predicted effects of climate change, such as increased frequency and severity of droughts and floods, helping to ensure the resiliency of our rivers, streams and water supplies.
The environmental community has come together to create Water 2020—a shared vision for water and rivers in Massachusetts. The vision highlights shared priorities and actions that will help us work together to achieve sustainable water management in the Commonwealth by the year 2020.
What is Our Vision for the Year 2020?
Enough clean water for current and future generations.
We must ensure that there is enough clean water to meet the needs of people, our growing economy and wildlife into the foreseeable future.
Clean rivers that support a growing economy.
The rivers, streams and wetlands of Massachusetts must
continue to provide ecological services critical to our health, safety and economy.
A healthy river flows through it.
We envision healthy rivers flowing through vibrant, sustainable communities. Every river in Massachusetts should be an asset to the communities through which it flows. Rivers and streams
provide family time and habitat for fish and other wildlife, while adding natural beauty to our landscapes.
Come discuss a proposal for wetlands habitat restoration on the former Hess Site on Condor Street! Join the Chelsea Creek Action Group on August 11th from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Maverick Landing Community Center (31 Liverpool Street, East Boston, MA). Pizza and refreshments will be served! Child care will be provided. The Chelsea Creek Action Group is part of the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) in East Boston. Questions please email mvega@noahcdc.org.
TOGETHER FOR THE MYSTIC RIVER Photo Credit: Margaret Walsh