Fish Ladder in Winchester?

Winchester resident John Kilborn is pursuing the possibility of installing a fish ladder at the Center Falls Dam in Winchester center.  Kilborn has been successful at bringing together town leaders, MA Division of Marine Fisheries, local residents, MyRWA and others to explore the feasibility and costs associated with such a project. MyRWA is conducting a herring habitat assessment in the Aberjona River and Wedge Pond to help inform this work, which is estimated at $100,000.

As to what piqued Kilborn’s interest in a fish ladder in Winchester, he says “I started this project when I saw a fish vainly trying to get up Winchester's Center Falls Dam.  The fish ladder is an important step in treating the Aberjona like a natural river, instead of a storm sewer.”

Volunteers have documented the presence of herring in the Aberjona River at the Center Falls dam. The Town of Winchester recently applied for funding through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for this project.

Thanks for your work, John!

You can reach John at: jkilborn3@gmail.com.

Meet the MyRWA Summer Interns!

Pictured here (top row, left to right): Andy Hrycyna, Gabrielle String, Josh Peters, Samanta Bajracharya, Leif Inouye, Hillary Monahan, Zhibek Junushaliyeva, with MyRWA staff Beth MacBlane and Katrina Sukola.

Summer at MyRWA just wouldn't be the same without a crew of enthusiastic interns! MyRWA would like to welcome summer interns Caitlin Pohl, Leif Inouye, Gabrielle String, Hillary Monahan, Andy Hrycyna, Rachel Lacomini, and Jacob Henebry. MyRWA is fortunate to have their help in a variety of projects.

Andy Hrycyna of Cambridge is serving as MyRWA’s Water Chestnut Program coordinator. Helping out at corporate and community water chestnuts events is Somerville’s Rachel Lacomini and Cambridge’s Jacob Henebry.

Caitlin and Leif, both students at Tufts University, with Hillary, a student at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, are performing a variety of field work, including: herring habitat assessment, cyanobacteria monitoring, counting migrating eels at Upper Mystic Lake, and assisting with water chestnut removal and rain garden maintenance.

Gabrielle, a PhD candidate at Tufts University, has joined spring interns Elizabeth Koerber, Josh Peters, Katie Creasey, Jenny Ta, Zhibek Junushaliyeva, and Samanta Bajracharya as part of the database and GIS project team. Katie is also working on a flow meter project in Mill Brook.

2013 Herring Run Estimated at 193,125

The 2013 herring migration was tracked by over 70 volunteer herring monitors at the DCR Upper Mystic Lake dam. MyRWA would like to thank the DCR, Medford Boat Club and of course all the monitors for supporting this program! This season we observed 23,635 herring, for an estimated run size of 193,125 +/- 24,250 herring.  These results indicate a similar (albeit slightly lower count) compared to last year.

Read more about the Herring Monitoring Program here.

Stormwater Advocates Training

The Massachusetts Watershed Coalition will offer unique training this summer (2013) about simple ways to restore stream life and revive the uses of local streams and lakes. This Stormwater Advocates Training (SWAT) program includes a mix of workshop sessions, guidance materials and fieldwork that will enable participants to reduce polluted runoff.

SWAT participants will attend two workshops and conduct dry and wet weather observations. MWC staff will help participants to select practices to achieve the most pollutant reduction for the least cost. MWC staff will also assist participants to present their findings and recommend stormwater solutions to municipal boards.

SWAT training is planned for two locations. Central MA workshops are scheduled for Saturday July 20 (9 am-1pm) and Tuesday July 23 (5-9 pm) at the Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary in Worcester. Western MA workshops are scheduled for Saturday, August 24 (9 am-1pm) and Thursday August 29 (5-9 pm) in Northampton at a location to be arranged. Registration fee is $40 for workshop sessions, training materials and refreshments.

Read more and register here: http://www.commonwaters.org/events/be-a-stormwater-advocate

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