Wynn Resort and Suffolk Downs Casino Proposals

An artist's rendering of the proposed resort, released by Wynn Resorts This Saturday citizens of Everett will vote to decide if Wynn Everett, a $1.2 billion resort casino proposed by Las Vegas developer Steve Wynn, should be built on the former Monsanto chemical factory on the banks of the Mystic River. If approved, Wynn’s application for a casino license may advance to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Early indications are that the Everett casino proposal has strong support from city residents and will likely be approved.  

In recent months, the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) has been in close contact with representatives of Wynn Everett to make clear our organization’s concerns and interests with regard to the development proposed at the Monsanto site. 

We have provided detailed recommendations to insure that Wynn Resorts makes restoration of the Mystic River, as a living river system and recreational resource, a significant component of their plans.  A development of the size and scope planned in Everett can deliver great benefit to the local environment, especially with regard to creating more open space and improving access to the river.  Our message has been consistent: we want our Association members and Mystic River residents to be wowed by Wynn’s efforts to protect and restore the Mystic River.

An artist's rendering of the proposed Suffolk Downs resortAt the same time plans for a casino at Suffolk Downs in East Boston continue to be developed. MyRWA remains in close communication with Suffolk Downs and its partners to insure that this project also produces superlative results for the Mystic River Watershed, if it is built. MyRWA has offered detailed comments on plans for casino development at Suffolk Downs, which are presented in the Environmental Notification Form filed for the project with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. You can review these comments here.

Either of these projects if approved will have a significant effect on the Mystic River Watershed in which they are proposed. We intend that the impacts of any casino development in the Mystic River Watershed are overwhelmingly positive for the local natural environment.

At the same time, we recognize that there are significant and legitimate concerns in the host and surrounding communities with regard to traffic and the social and economic impacts of casino gambling. We are sensitive to these concerns and will respectfully defer to those more qualified to address these issues as they arise. 

These casino proposals are on a fast track. Resort casino applicants for the Boston region must submit their completed applications no later than December 31, 2013. Now is the time to weigh in to insure that the interests of the river are well represented as plans for the casinos are developed.

The Mystic River Watershed Association intends to do just that and we will remain in close communication with our members and with residents of the host and surrounding communities during the process.

We welcome your input. Feel free to write to me at ek@mysticriver.org and include “Mystic River Casinos” in the subject line. We will continue to represent your concerns.  The Mystic River Watershed Association will keep friends of the Mystic informed and alert you when there are opportunities to make your voices heard.

Thank you for your continued support of the Mystic River Watershed Association and for your dedication to protection and restoration of the Mystic River.

EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, Executive Director

2013 Photo Contest Announced

MyRWA is pleased to announce the 2013 PHOTO CONTEST!

The Mystic River Watershed Association is seeking photographs that illustrate the beauty and challenges of the Mystic River Watershed. Photos must be taken within the Mystic River Watershed (see a list of communities here) and be submitted by 5pm on Friday, September 6, 2013.

Contest categories include Wildlife, Landscape, Recreation and Best Overall.

The photo contest is open to all photographers of any age. Entry in the contest constitutes your agreement to allow your photographs - and your name, city, state of residence - to be published as award winners, used on websites or in printed and promotional materials owned and/or produced by the Mystic River Watershed Association.

For more information click here.

Mystic River Oil Spill Update 6/14/13

Thanks to the more than 150 people who attended Saturday's meeting in Medford concerning the May 31st oil spill. It was terrific to have such a large crowd for this meeting, showing support for the hard-working emergency crews as well as concern for the health of the Mystic River.

A brief update after speaking with the DEP this morning, 6/14/13:

As of Wed. afternoon the booms have been pulled to the sides of the river, allowing boat traffic. It is safe to canoe/kayak through this area. There are 8 areas with boom along the shore to clean up some bleeding from the shore, particularly on the Arlington side. Clean Harbors is working with the conservation commissions to submit amended Notice Of Intents (NOI's). The crews are moving out of the emergency response phase and into an assessment phase. This work will include working with the conservation commissions on plans for boom maintenance, assessment work, and potential sediment removal.

Mayoral Candidate Forum: Energy, the Environment and the Innovation Economy

Tuesday, July 9th
12:00 to 2:00
Suffolk University Law School
120 Tremont St.
Boston, MA
Mayor Menino has served Boston for 20 years! How long will the next Mayor serve? And who will it be?
You're invited to this public Mayoral Forum.
Candidates will explore topics related to community, development, jobs, sustainability, and livability in our city. ELM helped lead a coalition of business leaders, environmental advocates (including MyRWA), and clean energy innovators sponsoring this event.

To get your FREE tickets, go here.

Community Water Chestnut Removal Dates Set

MyRWA will host water chestnut community hand-pulling events on Sat. July 13th and Aug. 3rd. Grab your friends and neighbors for these fun events to help clean-up the Mystic River in Medford and Somerville! All supplies are provided. Canoes are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Expanded Watertown-Cambridge rail trail network connects Mystic and Charles

The state paid $1.3 million for 4.2 acres that will complete the 1.7-mile Watertown-Cambridge Greenway.

Located between Grove Street in Watertown and Huron Avenue in Cambridge, the purchase connects the Charles River corridor, Fresh Pond Reservation, Fresh Pond Shopping Center, Alewife Greenway and T station, the Minuteman Bike Path and the Mystic River Reservation, the state said.

Read more here: http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/real_estate/2013/06/state-pays-1m-to-expand-rail-trail.html

Statement on Fuel Spill from the City of Medford

Friday night a tanker crashed at the intersection of Mystic Valley Parkway and Medford St in Arlington, spilling approximately 10,000 gallons of home heating fuel. The fuel ran into the storm drains which let out directly into the Mystic River. Medford officials have been coordinating directly with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). "A major spill like this one falls under the jurisdiction of MassDEP and we are cooperating fully with them in their cleanup efforts. I am very concerned about the effects on the Mystic River and the health of the abutting neighbors and we want to ensure that the Mystic River Watershed Association is fully involved with the situation," said Mayor McGlynn. MassDEP explained that residents are likely to continue to smell oil as it is rapidly vaporizing due to the heat and the fumes are being carried on the wind. MassDEP conducted air monitoring last evening and while there are contaminates in the air, no evacuation was deemed necessary as there were no immediate health risks. Clean Harbors is the Licensed Site Professional overseeing the cleanup under the supervision of MassDEP. They have been onsite since shortly after the spill Friday night. MassDEP and Clean Harbors expect to be on site for approximately a week. The cleanup is being coordinated from the Arlington side of the river and the primary work site is at the intersection of Mystic Valley Parkway and River Street in Arlington (Harvard Street in Medford).

Environmental Official Updates Arlington Tanker Spill Cleanup

ARLINGTON (CBS) – A state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said most of the oil that spilled when a tanker truck overturned in Arlington on Friday has been recovered.

The DEP spokesman said the tanker was carrying about 9,500 gallons of oil when it overturned near the intersection of Medford Street and Mystic Valley Parkway. About 6,800 gallons of oil had been recovered as of Sunday afternoon, he said, noting some of the oil had probably evaporated over the weekend’s hot weather.

The DEP spokesman said the cleanup effort would likely be disrupted by Sunday’s severe weather. But he said rain could help the effort by flushing oil from storm drains in the neighborhood so it could be recovered out of the Mystic River.

Friday afternoon, the tanker truck owned by JP Noonan rolled over after failing to navigate a rotary.

The driver, a 65-year-old Framingham man, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Beth Israel Hospital.

Tanker Accident Shuts Down Mystic Valley Parkway In Arlington

ARLINGTON (CBS) — A gasoline tanker-truck overturned on the Mystic Valley Parkway, leaving fuel running down the roadway.

Friday afternoon, a tanker-truck owned by JP Noonan was on its side at the intersection of the Mystic Valley Parkway and Medford Street.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Bernice Corpuz reports

State Police say the driver of the tanker, a 65-year-old Framingham man was ejected. He was taken to Beth Israel Hospital with serious injuries.

According to Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan, the tanker was coming on to Route 60 from Medford into Arlington when it failed to negotiate the rotary and flipped.

The fire department and haz-mat teams set up booms to contain the spill, which was running toward the Mystic River in the minutes after the crash.

Mystic River Watershed Association’s Ekongar Singh Khalsa tells WBZ, quite a bit of gasoline has gone into the river.

Listen to the interview with EkOngKar Singh Khalsa

A member of the association who was kayaking on the river at the time of the tanker crash saw gas in storm drains and said the amount flowing in was “significant.”

A tanker-truck can hold up to 10,000 gallons of fuel.

A nearby bank was evacuated and tests were done to surrounding homes to make sure air-quality was not compromised.

No charges have yet been filed against the driver.

The Herring Are Back!

The annual herring migration at the DCR Upper Mystic Lake dam is being monitored by volunteers through the second year of the Herring Monitoring Program. To date, more than 17,000 herring have been recorded passing through the fish ladder to reach spawning grounds in the Upper Mystic Lake.

Read more about the Herring Monitoring Program here.