Water Chestnut Hand-Pulling event a Success!

Volunteers cleaning the Mystic on Aug. 28thOn Saturday, August 28th over 30 volunteers joined Groundwork Somerville,  the Mystic River Watershed Association and the Friends of the Mystic River, in an effort to remove invasive water chestnut from the Mystic River in Medford.   Using canoes, kayaks, and small boats, volunteers pulled the plants out of the water by hand. After 4 hours of working, volunteers removed 372 baskets of water chestnuts - no small feat! That's at least 7,500 pounds of plant material that will be sent to a local compost facility.

Thanks to all who participated! A special thanks to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority crew.

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Settlement with Revere Announced

The City of Revere will significantly reduce the amount of untreated sewage discharges (CSO's, SSO's) entering the Mystic River Watershed. This Consent Decree comes after years of reported illicit discharges, and is brought upon by federal and state enforcement agencies.

"Under this settlement, the City of Revere will undertake much needed upgrades to how they manage wastewater, resulting in significant improvements to the waters directly impacted, and to the Mystic River Watershed,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England region. “This will mean a cleaner and healthier environment for the City’s people and those living downstream of Revere.”

Read the EPA Press Release here.

Mile A Minute Vine in the Mystic!

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A new invasive plant, the Mile A Minute vine, has been identified in Medford. This Asian vine can grow up to 6 inches a day, and is commonly dispersed by birds and deer who feed on its seeds. The vine often grows along the sides of roads, grassy areas, wetlands and forested woods. It can form a dense mat and grow 30 feet up a tree.

Mile A Minute Vine

Be ALERT! Please review the Mile A Minute fact sheet and reporting form.

Several Massachusetts agencies are working hard to eradicate this invasive plant. They urge you to report the vine if you saw it or think you saw it to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) hotline: 617-626-1779.

Mystic River Watchers, Keepers and Advocates

Moir's Environmental Dialogue on The Green Talk NetworkMyRWA's Executive Director, EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, is featured during an internet radio show on the Green Talk Network hosted by Rob Moir. During the show, aired on July 28, 2010, Mr. Khalsa provides an overview of the Mystic River Watershed, detailing its past, present and future.

The radio program is part of Moir's Environmental Dialogue Ocean River's Shield of Achilles. The Green Talk Network is part of VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network, featuring internet talk radio programming.

Controlled herbicide spraying on Lower Mystic: Sept. 13

On Monday, Sept. 13th (rescheduled for Aug. 30), an aquatic herbicide will be applied to selected patches of water lilies that have become overgrown on the Lower Mystic River around the Riverside Yacht Club and the Mystic Wellington Yacht Club in Medford, and the Winter Hill Yacht Club in Somerville. The controlled spraying will be conducted by Aquatic Control Technologies, which specializes in the removal and management of aquatic plant species.  Water Lily

For this treatment to be effective, the water should not be disturbed. Groundwork Somerville, the lead on this effort, encourages you to suspend boating activity on the Mystic on Sept. 13th.

The herbicidal treatment is part of Groundwork Somerville’s Mystic Invasives Removal Project, a multiyear effort to eradicate invasive water chestnut plants for the Lower Mystic River, and to address overgrowth of the native water lily.

Mystic River Storm drain stencil now available

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.

Community Water Chestnut Removal Event, Aug. 28

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!

SWIMMING ADVISORY IN SPY POND ARLINGTON

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.



 

TOGETHER FOR THE MYSTIC RIVER Photo: Maillet, Sommes, and Morgan wetland in Reading, Credit: Isaiah Johnson
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW Photo: Alewife Stormwater Wetland, Credit: Stantec

Mystic River Watershed Association, 23 Maple Street, Arlington, MA, 02476(617) 865-6580
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