Construction on I-93 this weekend will close one local road, narrow the highway to two lanes and close a channel of the Mystic River to boaters.
The navigable channel on the Mystic River in the area of I-93 will be closed beginning on Friday, July 29th at 6:00 PM and continuing through Monday, August 1st at 5:00 AM. Appropriate notice will be provided to marine traffic in accordance with Coast Guard Regulations.
On Saturday, July 30th, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Groundwork Somerville will host a community event to remove invasive water chestnuts from the Mystic River.
Click here for more information about this communtiy pull.
Saturday, August 13th, will be the final community harvesting event and will include a big push to see if we can break our own record for the number of baskets harvested.
The mechanical harvesting is expected to happen on the dates between Aug 10-12th, and this event will be designed to pick up the parts left over by the mechanical effort. Stay tuned for additional information on the August 13th community harvest event.
On Tuesday July 19, MyRWA conducted intensive phosphorus sampling throughout the watershed. MyRWA staff and volunteers visited 31 sites, in addition to the 15 baseline sites (where total phosphorus is already collected) previously scheduled the same week. The purpose of the phosphorus assessment was to get a preliminary snapshot of current phosphorus conditions and to draw attention to any issues that may exist in the watershed.
A statewide phosphorus ban has been proposed in Massachusetts. This data could provide valuable information about phosphorus levels before and after the proposed phosphorus ban comes into effect. It could also be used for outreach to cities and towns, urging them to implement their own phosphorous policies and practices. A more comprehensive phosphorus assessment is planned for spring 2012, when fertilizers are first introduced to lawns and greenspaces. MyRWA will be posting the results from this study in the fall.
This work is made possible by a funding through the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET). Support MET by switching to an environmental license plate today!
CANOE TOUR
On Thursday, July 28th at 6:00pm join the Mystic River Watershed Association for a free canoe tour on the Mystic River as part of the new Urban Trail Map & Activity Guide offerings! You must register for the canoe tour - click here. The trip will last approximately 1 ½ hours and will depart from the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, 32 Shore Drive, Somerville, MA.
Canoes will be provided – register today!
THIS TRIP IS AT CAPACITY as of 7/26/11 8AM.
BICYCLE TOUR
On Saturday, July 30th at 10:00am join MyRWA for a bike tour of several of the trails highlighted in the Urban Trail Map & Activity Guide.
You must register for the bicycle tour - click here. Meet at the parking lot of Torbert MacDonald Memorial Park off of Route 16 in Medford at 10AM. This is a family friendly tour and is a leisurely bike tour on paved surfaces.
Bring your own bicycle – register today!
WALKING TOUR
On Tuesday, August 16th at 6:30pm join MyRWA for a walking tour of Condon Band Shell Park in Medford. Meet in the parking lot off of Route 16/Mystic Valley Parkway. This is a family friendly tour along a 1 mile path along the Mystic River.
For more information call Beth at 781-316-3438.
Please join MyRWA for a free 1-mile leisurely walk through Mary O'Malley Park in Chelsea. If you have yet to visit this waterfront park, you should make a point to come - the views are wonderful and there is much to be learned about this historic locale.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
10am - 11am
Mary O'Malley Memorial Park, Commandants Way, Chelsea
Meet by the parking lot in front of the playground
Questions? Call MyRWA at 781-316-3438
Gateway Park, Everett
Get to know the Mystic River!
As part of the new Mystic River Watershed Urban Trail Map and Activity Guide, MyRWA is offering free public tours of the featured trails. Join us for this 1-mile leisurely walk on Thursday, July 21st at 7pm. Meet at the park kiosk behind Target, Gateway Shopping Plaza, Everett, MA. Family friendly!
Call 781-316-3438 for more information.
Department of Conservation and Recreation, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
In collaboration with Federal Realty Trust Investment
PUBLIC MEETING ONPOTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO RIVERFRONT PARK INMYSTIC RIVER RESERVATION
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Winter Hill Yacht Club
85 Foley Street, Somerville
At the public meeting, DCR will present, and obtain public input on, possible concepts for expansion and improvements to Riverfront Park in the Mystic River Reservation, in the context of the Mystic River Master Plan. The proposed concepts are being developed as part of a partnership involving the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Federal Realty Trust Investment’s Assembly Square Mixed Use Development proposal.
If you have questions about the public meeting, please email DCR.Updates@state.ma.us or call 617-626-4974.
Through funding from Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET), the Mystic River Watershed Association developed an Urban Trail Map for the Mystic River and its tributaries. The goal of this map is to help watershed residents find their way to river access points in order to encourage healthy enjoyment of the river. The map will highlight unique ecological features and environmental conditions from Medford to Chelsea. The map and activity guide will be offered in english and spanish, and provide a structured learning opportunity for families, teachers, and community-based organizations.
Thursday, July 14th from 1:00 to 3:00pm at Torbert MacDonald Park, Medford.
1:00pm Gather at Torbert MacDonald Park parking lot for a short walk to the presentation site.
1:15pm Presentation of the Mystic River Watershed Urban Trail Map and Activity Guide followed by comments by assembled guests.
2:00pm Test drive the Map and Guide: a short guided walk through Torbert MacDonald Park.
MyRWA's Patrick Herron captured underwater footage of migrating blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) from the Mystic Lakes dam.
Through a project funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Region 1, MyRWA is working with several community organizations on a stormwater education project. As part of this program, Tri-City Community Action Program (Tri-CAP) worked with the Beebe School in Malden during the 2010- 2011 school year in conjunction with the Partnership for Community Schools in Malden’s (PCSM) Channel Surfing afterschool program.
Tri-CAP’s environmental justice coordinator, Nick Cohen, worked with a group of Beebe School students to learn about stormwater pollution in relation to the Malden River. The students learned about these issues by conducting hands-on activities in the classroom, visiting the Malden River, meeting with Malden city officials, and taking water quality samples with MyRWA. For their final project, the students restored a wet meadow area adjacent to Fellsmere Pond to improve stormwater runoff. Additionally, the students created images about their project for interpretive signage to be placed in the park kiosk. Nick Cohen, a Malden-based landscape designer and two Malden High School students supervised the students in this project. The City of Malden endorsed the project as consistent with the Open Order of Conditions for water quality improvements and general maintenance of the pond.
TOGETHER FOR THE MYSTIC RIVER Photo Credit: Margaret Walsh