On Tuesday, October 4th MyRWA will be joined by Wig Zamore of the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) as our guest speaker for this month's Committee Meeting. Wig will speak from 7-8pm, addressing the Assembly Row project. At 8pm we will break into the Outreach, Policy and Water Quality Committee. Free and open to the public - join us at 7pm, Lincoln Filene Center, Rabb Room, Tufts University.
MyRWA announces Annual Meeting: Oct. 25
Melissa Hoffer of the Conservation Law Foundation will be the guest speaker.MyRWA's annual meeting will be held at the Arlington Senior Center (27 Maple Street, Arlington) on Tuesday, October 25th. Refreshments begin at 6:00pm and the membership meeting starts promptly at 7:00pm. We are pleased to be joined by Melissa Hoffer, Vice President and Director of Healthy Communities and Environmental Justice, Conservation Law Foundation.
We hope you can join us for this informative and inspiring meeting - free and open to the public!
At the meeting we'll be presenting the 2011 Volunteer of the Year- make your nominations today!
Directions to Arlington Senior Center:
Public Transportation: A short bus ride from Alewife Station. Accessible via bus 350, 62, 67, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84, 87.
Driving: Heading west on Mass. Ave. towards Arlington Center, take a right onto Academy Street just past Town Hall. The brick building on your left at the intersection with Maple Street houses the Senior Center. Enter the building from the Maple Street entrance. Parking is available on Maple and Academy Street.
2nd annual Malden River Festival 9/17/11
Preotle, Lane & Associates, Tufts University, and Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP) are teaming up again to host the Second Annual Malden River Festival at the Park at River’s Edge on Saturday, September 17, 2011. Sunday September 18th is the rain date. Over 20 community organizations, including MyRWA, will also be participating.
Similar to last year, this free admission community event will feature live entertainment, food vendors, giveaways, art, family-fun activities, demonstration tables, and more. New this year will be art exhibits by artists from Malden, Medford, Everett, and the surrounding communities. The art exhibits will be from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, with the other activities and entertainment running from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Free parking will be available in the River’s Edge parking lot.
Last year’s event drew roughly 1,000 participants, and the event organizers hope to build on last year’s success, celebrating the Malden River, River’s Edge, and the area’s environmental potential for the Tri-Cities.
The Malden River begins at Spot Pond and Ell Pond in Melrose and flows south towards Malden. It is culverted (piped) underground from Winter Street to Charles Street in Malden, where it is often referred to as the Malden Canal. From there, the river flows approximately two miles through Malden, Medford, and Everett, until it meets the Mystic River near the Amelia Earhart Dam. The river’s long industrial history, urbanization, and aging municipal sewer systems have contributed to its current polluted state. However, on-going efforts, like those at River’s Edge and Tri-CAP’s Mystic River Watershed Environmental Justice Initiative, are underway to improve the Malden River as a community resource for the Tri-Cities.
The ten acre award-winning Park at River’s Edge is a public open space area that contains trails, beautiful river views, and over 8,000 plants, on a remediated brownfield site, developed by Preotle, Lane & Associates. The Tufts University crew boathouse is located in the park.
Those interested in attending and/or volunteering can contact Tri-CAP at ncohen@tri-cap.org or (781) 322-4125, but an RSVP is not required to attend.
Directions: The Park at River’s Edge is located on River’s Edge Drive (formerly Corporation Way) in Medford between Wellington T Station and Medford Street in Malden. Commercial Street in Malden becomes River’s Edge Drive in Medford. From Route 16 (either direction), take the Wellington T-Station Exit. From Route 16 East, stay to the right and go under the Route 16 overpass or from Route 16 West, follow the exit ramp to the intersection and make a right turn. This road is River’s Edge Drive. Go straight (away from Wellington) for approximately 0.5 miles. Turn right into the parking lot for River’s Edge. If you get to Medford Street, you have gone too far. The park is also a short walk up River’s Edge Drive from the Wellington T Station, by following the directions above on foot, or along the river via the Wellington Business Park.
MA Statewide Stormwater Management Training Seminar
Hosted by Mystic River Watershed Association
Agenda
8:00-8:30 AM Registration, Light Fare and Coffee Provided
8:30-9:00 AM Host Introduction and Seminar Introduction
9:00-10:00 AM Planning & Designing Green Development Sites
10:00-11:00 AM Stormwater Retrofitting for LID
11:00-12:00 PM Overview of the Stakeholder Process and Stormwater Education Materials
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch and Final Comments
Who Should Attend?
Members of Conservation Commissions, Planning Boards, Zoning Boards of Appeal, Boards of Selectmen,
City Councilors, and Departments of Public Works Employees
When & Where
September 21, 2011, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
BNY Mellon Bank, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett – 1st Floor, Glendale Hall. Parking and Access from Route 16
Pre-Registration
Mystic River Watershed Association – (781) 316-3438
Professional Development Hours (PDHs) offered
SEMINAR MATERIALS PREPARED BY
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Watertown, MAHorsely Witten Group, Inc.
Sandwich, MAThe Center for Watershed Protection
Ellicott City, MDStacey DePasquale Engineering, Inc.
Lawrence, MA
Policy Committee Seeks Volunteers!
The Policy Committee has a number of important issues developing this fall and is looking for assistance. Whether interested in serving as a Committee member of Committee chair, we'll be glad to have your help! The Policy Committee meets monthly, typically on the first Tuesday evening of the month at Tufts University. Policy member duties include attending the meetings and providing additional support as necessary. Active participation typically involved 1-5 hours per month and may include research, letter writing and participation at public meetings. The Committee is seeking a new chairperson as well. The chairperson is responsible for providing the meeting agenda and minutes as well as coordinating committee member work. In this capacity, you will have the opportunity to provide a big boost to MyRWA's efforts!
Please contact EK@MysticRiver.org for more information.
Hurricane Irene heads to MA
Stay safe!
Extreme weather conditions are forecasted for Saturday night and Sunday. While MyRWA is eager to collect information of sewer overflows and flooding, your safety is paramount. Please do NOT go out to investigate! MyRWA encourages you to stay indoors on Sunday given the current forecast. Click here to review hurricane information and preparedness suggestions from the Office of Public Safety and Security.
IF you are out and see a sewer overflow or flooding, please report it using this form. Again, safety permitting, send your photos of sewer overflows and flooding, labeled with the location and date, to SSO@MysticRiver.org.
What to expect:
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) and Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are possible, releasing untreated sewage onto road surfaces. High bacteria levels are likely for 48 hours after the storm. MyRWA advises you to avoid contact with waterbodies for 48 hours following the storm.
Flooding is possible - be cautious.
Preparation:
Be prepared to lose power.
Pick up trash on your street to prevent it from entering and/or clogging your stormdrain.
MyRWA suggests gathering baking supplies for peanut butter chocolate chip cookies to make it through the storm!
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW IN ALEWIFE BROOK
The City of Cambridge has issued an advisory that Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) CAM401B has discharged to Alewife Brook on August 22, 2011. During heavy or prolonged rain events, CSOs can discharge stormwater mixed with untreated sewage. Discharges from CSOs contain levels of bacteria, viruses, raw sewage and other pollutants that may pose health risks to people who come in direct or indirect contact (e.g. contact with pets swimming in contaminated water). Contact with CSO-contaminated water should be avoided. Click the link here for more information about CSO's.
Yet Another Water Chestnut Pull!
On Thursday, August 25th, from 5pm-8pm 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. We've had tremendous success at past events so decided to add another!
When: Thursday, Aug. 25, 5pm-8pm (arrive anytime after 5!)
Where: Field at Auburn Street, Medford, MA along the river - head towards the dumpster!
MyRWA Announces Photography Competition
Photo Credit Big Tall GuyGive us your best shot!
The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is seeking photographs that illustrate the beauty and challenges of the Mystic River Watershed. Contest categories include Plants, Wildlife, Landscape and Recreation & Appreciation. Photos must be taken within the Mystic River Watershed and be submitted by 5pm on Friday, October 14th, 2011. Amateur photographers are encouraged!
The Mystic River Watershed Association works to improve environmental conditions for the nearly one half million residents within the 22 community Mystic River Watershed.
MyRWA's Volunteer of the Year Award
Call for Submissions:
Volunteer Extraordinaire: Volunteer of the Year!
Do you know a MyRWA volunteer who goes above and beyond? Here at MyRWA, we rely upon the gracious efforts of our volunteers throughout the year and for a variety of projects. Each year, we select one volunteer to honor at our annual meeting (October 2011).
Who is your volunteer extraordinaire of 2011? Please submit your nomination of someone who has performed significant work towards protecting and restoring the Mystic River Watershed. This person could be a volunteer at MyRWA or another organization, but must be working to improve environmental conditions in the Mystic River Watershed.
Submit your proposals to Beth@MysticRiver.org or by calling Beth at 781-316-3438.
Please include:
Your full name, email address and phone number.
Full name, email address and phone number (if you have it) of your suggestion for Volunteer of the Year. Include a short explanation of this person’s contribution to a healthier Mystic River Watershed.
Volunteer of the Year nominations are due by Thursday, September 15, 2011.
