Mystic Earth Day Cleanup 4/28

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and Gentle Giant Rowing Club will host a river cleanup in celebration of Earth Day as well as MyRWA’s 40th Anniversary on Saturday, April 28th from 10:00am until noon. Please join us at Assembly Row along the water front in Somerville (165 Middlesex Avenue, Somerville, MA). Parking is available in the Staples parking lot and volunteers are needed to remove trash along the banks of the Mystic. At noon volunteers can join the City of Somerville at the DCR Blessing of the Bay Boathouse  on Shore Drive for a spring clean-up BBQ.

This is one of MANY Earth Day event throughout the watershed. Please see /watershed-clean-ups/ for more information and to find an event near you!

Work of 1000 Draws a Crowd

EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, Marion Stoddart, Susan Edwards, Beth MacBlane, Patrick Herron.MyRWA hosted the award-winning film The Work of 1000 and a discussion with the film's central figure, Marion Stoddart, at the Capitol Theater on March 22nd. Ninety people attended the event, which was sponsored by Boreal Renewable Energy Development. Marion's success on the Nashua River served as inspiration for the work ahead in the Mystic River Watershed. Susan Edwards, film maker, attended the event as well.

After the documentary, the audience had a chance to ask Marion and MyRWA staff Beth MacBlane and Patrick Herron about their experiences and work underway. Marion reiterated the need to have vision and commitment in watershed clean-up efforts.

"What a difference one person can make!!" stated one attendee.

In recognition of her work, Stoddart has received many awards including the United Nations Environmental Programme's Global 500 Award (1987).

MyRWA's Beth MacBlane and Marion Stoddart at Medford High School.She was profiled in National Geographic (1995) and in an award-winning children's book A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry; she was a National Women's History Project Honoree as "One of the Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet" (2009); and has published an essay in Written In Water by the National Geographic Society (2010).

Earlier in the day, Marion and MyRWA's Beth MacBlane showed the film at Medford High School, followed by a Q&A.

Summer 2012 Paid Internship

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) seeks a motivated, well-organized intern to assist in organizing an effort to remove the invasive species Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) from the Mystic River. Responsibilities include recruiting, scheduling and managing teams of volunteers to remove plants from the river by canoe.  The effort to recruit partners would occur in the beginning of Summer 2012 with the majority of events occurring during the month of July and first week of August.  (Exact dates are to be determined.) Intern will work both in and out of the office, and must be able to work independently and as a member of a team. This is a full time position that requires strong commitment between the months of June and July. Intern will be compensated on an incentive based system for the amount of volunteers brought to the river and the amount of water chestnut cleared from the river.  This is a great opportunity to be involved with a small non-profit doing work on behalf of the community and environment.

Qualifications:

• An interest in science, the environment and advocacy is encouraged.

• Having reliable transportation is required and mileage will be reimbursed.

• Candidates must be 16 years of age or older.

• Ability to navigate a canoe

The Mystic River Watershed Association is based in Arlington, MA and is accessible via several bus routes. The Mystic River Watershed Association is an equal opportunity employer.

Deadline to apply is April 1, 2012. If interested, please send your resume to WQInternship@MysticRiver.org. No phone calls please. For more information about the invasive Water Chestnut see www.mysticriver.org/invasive-species/.

Do you like to party? Help plan one!

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012! MyRWA is planning a series of fun events to celebrate. Event planners, volunteer coordinators, local fans and activists are encouraged to get involved in the planning! We have much to undertake and many great ideas about how to celebrate 40 years of dedication to our local rivers. You can play an important role in the future of MyRWA and we hope you get involved today!

Contact Beth@MysticRiver.org or call 781-316-3438 for more information.

Herring Monitoring Program Announced – Seeking Volunteers!

Did you know there is a fish that lives in the ocean and swims all the way to the Mystic Lakes in Arlington to lay its eggs each spring?

Help document the river herring’s migration by volunteering to be a fish monitor! The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) will begin a new program to monitor river herring at the Mystic Lakes Dam fish ladder in April. We need volunteer fish monitors to count herring and support our data collection so that we can estimate run size. No previous experience or knowledge is required. Volunteers should commit to attending a two hour volunteer training on March 17th and to counting for at least one ten-minute period per week from April 1st –June 1st.Monitors must be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by an adult. You must register for the training.

To find out more about this volunteer opportunity and program please contact Herring@MysticRiver.org or visit our website at www.MysticRiver.org/herring-monitoring/

March 17
Herring Monitoring Training, 1-3pm
27 Maple St, Arlington Senior Center, Arlington

Somerville Community Growing Center Shows Film: Mother Nature’s Child

Mother Nature’s Child:  Film Screening and Discussion

Wednesday March 14 from 6:30-8:30 pm

Location: Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave. , Somerville

The film Mother Nature’s Child addresses the increasing need for all children—toddlers through teens—to have unstructured time outdoors.  Mother Nature’s Child asks may important questions, including: Why is it imperative for children to have unstructured time outdoors in nature?  How is play a form of learning?  Why are teachers resistant to taking students outside?  What does it mean to educate the ‘whole’ child?

 After the film, we will have an informal discussion and meet representatives of the Growing Center to learn about their programs and how to get involved, from running your own group to using the garden as an outdoor classroom.

If you are concerned about children’s health (nature deficit disorder, child obesity, attention disorders, depression), holistic education, outdoor play and connecting children with nature, please join us on Wednesday March 14.

For more information, contact Paula Jordan at paulajordan@yahoo.com.

For more information on Mother Nature’s Child, please visit http://www.mothernaturesmovie.com/the-film/
Film sponsored by the Somerville Community Growing Center and the Children in Nature Initiative, an initiative sponsored by the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund.

MyRWA Receives Excellence in Capturing Local Knowledge Award

EkOngKar Singh Khalsa Receives MAPC Data Day AwardAt the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's (MAPC's) Data Day on January 27th, MyRWA's Executive Director was awarded the Excellence in Capturing Local Knowledge award.

Below is the description of the award:

Excellence in Capturing Local Knowledge

EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, Mystic River Watershed Association

As the Executive Director of the Mystic River Watershed Association, EkOngKar (“Ek”) Khalsa oversees the organization’s mission to protect and restore the Mystic River, which includes a wide range of public outreach, scientific monitoring and research, and policy advocacy. Facing a lack of hard data about water quality in the river, Khalsa and his staff launched the Mystic Monitoring Network in 2000. Through this program, a team of trained volunteer citizen scientists collect data on a range of water quality indicators at locations throughout the Mystic River watershed. This data has enabled the group to produce baseline reports tracking water quality in the river across a 10-year period. Made available though printed reports and innovative online maps, this project combines scientific rigor with local knowledge and participation to protect public health and guide restoration of an important natural resource.

View the VIDEO of EK receiving the award here (at minute 13).

Thank you MAPC!

MAPC and Northeastern assisted in the development of a poster about MyRWA's Baseline Monitoring Program. See a video of MyRWA's Beth MacBlane describing the Program below.

Bicycle Tour Announced for Herring Run and Paddle

HERRING RUN BICYCLE TOUR OF THE MYSTIC BASIN TRAIL NETWORK

The Mystic Basin has a large and growing network of trails that provide exciting opportunities for recreation, bird watching and bicycle commuting in a dramatic urban setting.

Join us to explore by bicycle the hidden wilds and developing trail network in this segment of the Mystic River just a stones throw from Boston. Enjoy an approximately 8-mile relaxed pace group ride that will be mostly off-road. Departing from the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse at 11:15 a.m., the ride will take about one and one half hours. Bring your own bike; helmet required. Co-sponsored by Bike to the Sea.

We will first head west along the Mystic River following the paddling race then cross over the river and loop back east following the DCR path system to the developing trail connection behind the Wellington Train station. From Wellington station we’ll cross over the Malden River and head north exploring the recently built Everett section of the Northern Strand Community Trail.  We will then return to the Boat House via Rt.28 and if time permits explore the trail system near Assembly Square and Draw 7 Park.

There is a $10 donation to MyRWA to register for the ride. If you register by May 1st a t-shirt is included. The Mystic River Watershed Urban Trail Map and Guide will be available for purchase for $5, highlighting much of the bicycle tour route.

When: Sunday, May 20, 2012, departing at 11:15am

Where: DCR Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, 32 Shore Drive, Somerville, MA

What: 8-mile recreational bicycle tour of Mystic River trails. Bring your own bike and helmet.

Cost: $10 donation to MyRWA, register by May 1st for your complimentary T-shirt. REGISTER HERE.

Seeking Two Water Quality Monitoring Interns for Summer 2012

The Mystic River Watershed Association seeks two Water Quality Interns to assist in a water quality monitoring program from June through early September. Since 1972, MyRWA has played a unique role in the whole of the watershed by its science, advocacy, and outreach efforts. Among these efforts MyRWA characterizes water quality problems in the Mystic River Watershed, informing stakeholder efforts to reduce pollutant inputs and thereby improve water quality.

Water Quality Interns will gather data on Cyanobacteria populations and key water quality parameters from approximately ten water bodies to safeguard the public health of residents who live in the watershed. The data is shared with all interested stakeholders including the public, municipalities, Department of Public Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Interns will work both in and out of the office, and must be able to work independently and as a team. This is a part-time position that requires a commitment of two days a week during the Monday through Friday work week that are agreed upon between the two interns. Primary duties include monitoring local water bodies, collecting water samples (training provided), analysis of samples and data entry. Additional duties may include assessment of habitat for anadromous fish. Interns will learn about the scientific tools applied to monitor water quality and the efforts that a watershed association undertakes to advocate for water quality improvements based on this information.

An interest in science, the environment and advocacy is encouraged. Having reliable transportation is preferred and mileage will be reimbursed.

Candidates must be 16 years of age or older.

Exact dates can be flexible depending on the candidate. These are unpaid positions.

The Mystic River Watershed Association is based in Arlington, MA and is accessible via several bus routes. The Mystic River Watershed Association is an equal opportunity employer.

If interested, please send your resume to WQInternship@MysticRiver.org. No phone calls please.

Flatbread Pizza Fundraiser Set For March 13

On Tuesday, March 13 head to Flatbread Pizza at Sacco's Bowl Haven in Davis Square for a MyRWA fundraiser. That’s right, the more flatbread you eat the more money will be raised to support the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and our efforts to protect and restore the Mystic River Watershed!

Eat at or get take-out from Flatbread Pizza, 45 Day Street, Somerville, between 5pm and 11pm and a portion of your flatbread will automatically be donated to MyRWA.

We'll have a RAFFLE as well!

Enjoy bowling at 2 lanes from 5-9pm!

Reservations are accepted for groups of 10 or more.