Citizen Water Chestnut Hand-pulling Event: August 13

Volunteers remove water chestnuts from the Mystic.Final event of the year!

Saturday, August 13th, 8:00 AM – Noon

Will you help us break our record?

Last year our end-of-year water chestnut harvest yielded 372 baskets.

This year we want to harvest 500 baskets of water chestnut for our final event!

Please sign up online and help us out with what will be a fun and productive morning on the water.

On Saturday, August 13th, 2011, 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 water chestnuts out of the water by hand and then deposit the harvested plants at a designated shore site.  Volunteers who have canoes or kayaks are encouraged to bring their own. If you need a boat, we will provide a boat for you by counting needed boats through the registration process.

Volunteers should meet at 8:00 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 have any questions, please contact jonathan@groundworksomerville.org or patrick@mysticriver.org. 

Boaters are required to use life preservers/personal flotation devices (PFD’s).

Immediately following the hand-pulling event, lunch and refreshments will be available for volunteers at the put-in site.

Learn more about water chestnuts at www.mysticriver.org/invasive-species/.  

Beautiful Evening for a Canoe Tour

27 people enjoyed a canoe trip as part of the Mystic River Watershed Urban Trail Map and Activity Guide. Departing from the Blessing of the Bay boathouse in Somerville, attendees headed upstream, passing swans, mallards, great blue heron and Canadian geese. Along the way features such as water lily, phragmites, and water chestnut were highlighted in addition to learning about the history of this industrial, once tidal river.

Canoes were generously provided by Charles River Canoe and Kayak.

Thanks to all who participated and to our guides Kevin and Nate from Charles River Canoe and Kayak!

Everett's 3rd annual Mystic River Festival

On Saturday, August 6th head over to Village Landing Park in Everett between 1pm and 5pm to enjoy the 3rd annual Mystic River Festival. This event is organized by La Comunidad, Inc.

Food! Music! Children's Entertainment & more! (children bring a bathing suit)
For more information call Maria Alamo or Antonio Amaya at 617-387-9996

Village Landing Park located at 135 Santilli Hwy, Everett, MA 02149. 

Area of Mystic River Closed to boat traffic this weekend

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.

Water Chestnut Removal Events Announced

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.

MyRWA Conducts Phosphorus Study

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!

Get to know your river with the latest tour offerings!

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.

Free tour of Mary O'Malley Park on Saturday

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

July 21: Gateway Park, Everett Tour

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.

DCR announces PUBLIC MEETING ON POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO RIVERFRONT PARK IN MYSTIC RIVER RESERVATION

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.