DCR Mystic River Master PlanThe DCR's 162 page Mystic River Master Plan provides steps for preserving and restoring the area surrounding the Mystic River. The comprehensive plan, which took years to complete, aims to promote recreational use of the land around the river, preserve wild habitats, develop additional pathways, link open spaces, and develop guidelines for future management of the park.
Help Lead the Way at MyRWA
MyRWA’s Board of Directors is looking for a few dedicated and enthusiastic people to join them as members of the Board to steward this very energized voice for the Mystic River Watershed. Ideally, Board candidates will have a background in non-profit management, finance, or policy and/or will have a strong background in environmental law, science or community service and advocacy. What is essential is a desire to help protect and restore the Mystic River Watershed, to improve environmental conditions in the Watershed as a whole, and to represent the interests of all the residents of the Watershed from the environmental justice communities of the Lower Watershed to the flood-challenged Upper Watershed to all those affected by the storm water issues pervading the entire Watershed.
Upcoming Draft Plan for the Middlesex Fells Reservation
In the latest chapter of the ongoing dispute between users of the Middlesex Fellsway Reservation, the State Department of Conservation and Recreation has indicated that an upcoming draft plan for trail usage will focus on enforcement of existing rules at the Fells, education, trail closures, resource protection, and improving recreational experience for existing users, the agency said in a letter to the Boston Sierra Club.
The trail system plan will not call for an expansion of the trail system, construction of new trails or the expansion of parking at the Fells, according to a copy of the letter provided by the Sierra Club, dated Sept. 2, 2010.
Coming together for clean water
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft Coming Together for Clean Water strategy and is encouraging public comment. This document is regarding how EPA can most effectively pursue our nation’s clean water goals.
Somerville Brownfields Receive $400,000
The City of Somerville will soon be cleaner, thanks to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding. Somerville will receive $400,000 from EPA to help clean contaminated sites known as brownfields. More specifically, brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
“This funding for Somerville will help the local economy and will continue to assist in creating and keeping good jobs in the area. With this additional money the city will be able to fund more local cleanup projects, “said Curt Spalding, regional administrator for EPA New England.
Read about successfully remediated brownfields in New England here.
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.
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!
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.
