The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is seeking a full-time Director of Development! MyRWA has need of an energetic and dedicated development professional to build on our current success and to develop sustainable funding for our growing organization. To date, MyRWA has had success in securing broad, diversified support from members, corporate partners, private foundations and government grants. Since 2008, revenues have increased five-fold and our programs continue to expand. The Director of Development will be called upon to create and execute an effective and systematic approach to fundraising while cultivating deeper relationships with existing and potential funders. This new position represents a unique opportunity for an experienced professional to leverage their skills in development, strategic planning and relationship-building to take our organization to the next level of impact and visibility.
Taking a closer look at Citizen Science Programs & River Herring
Citizen science programs, like MyRWA's River Herring Monitoring Program, provide valuable information for scientific studies. These programs also have the potential to inspire environmental awareness and behavior. Meghna Marjadi, a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (and former MyRWA intern!), considered the educational aspect of citizen science programs in a 2015 study of MyRWA’s Herring Monitoring Program. Meghna will present the results of this study as well as new findings about reproductive success in alewives – the results of which will be used in population modelling to develop better management plans for the species.
This presentation is part of the Mystic River Watershed Association’s monthly Committee Meeting. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. on April 5, 2016 at Tufts University, Tisch College of Citizenship & Public Service, Lincoln Filene Hall, Rabb Room, 10 Upper Campus Road, Medford. Free and open to the public!
Photo by David Mussina
MyRWA Weighs in on Wynn Casino Permit
As part of the March 8, 2016 press conference held by Wynn Resorts, MyRWA's Executive Director EkOngKar Singh (EK) Khalsa offered the following comments:
The Mystic River is a great river, a river of history and the Mystic has reached an important turning point. Thirty years ago if you fell into the Mystic you would come out covered in oil and probably need a tetanus shot. Since then our organization and many other advocates have made a difference and the river now enjoys much improved water quality and abundant wildlife including one of the largest river herring migrations in the Commonwealth. This important natural resource is shared by more than one half million people in 22 Mystic River towns and cities all of whom will benefit from increased access to the river and healthier open space on its banks.
The Mystic River Watershed Association has, since 2013, closely followed Wynn Resorts proposal to build a billion dollar resort casino on the banks of the Mystic River. As an environmental organization attuned to the way proposed development projects will impact existing environmental conditions, MyRWA has provided comment letters, public testimony and specific site plan recommendations to the proponents and public officials.
Conditions of the Wynn Resort’s Chapter 91 License, as approved by MA DEP, provides significant public benefit including the remediation of an abandoned and contaminated industrial site, the creation of new waterfront park space, construction of a living shoreline through tidelands and salt marsh restoration and development of a new Harbor Walk that will provide connection to offsite park spaces and pedestrian and bicycle pathways.
In addition to work to which they have already committed, the Wynn Resorts group has given every indication they intend to provide ongoing leadership and support for further restoration of the Mystic River’s tidelands, riverfront and open spaces.
As a result of our participation in what was a robust permitting process and after our review of the permit as issued, the Mystic River Watershed Association supports the conclusions drawn by the Department of Environmental Protection in its Written Determination and its intention to issue a Chapter 91 permit for the Wynn project with appropriate and proportionate conditions.
The resort casino proposed by Wynn Everett has the potential to transform the former Monsanto Chemical property from a forlorn and forgotten hazardous waste site to more productive use and will bring a variety of public benefits to residents of densely developed Mystic River communities.
MyRWA Executive Director EkOngKar Singh Khalsa addresses the crowd at the press conference hosted by Wynn on March 8, 2016.
Friends of Alewife Reservation special event
Friends of Alewife Reservation will host their Board Meeting with a special Guest Speaker: Nancy Hammett, MA Rivers Alliance Staff (former Executive Director of the Mystic River Watershed Association & former member of Watertown's Conservation Commission and Stormwater Advisory Committee.) Nancy Hammett will discuss the expanded US-EPA federal regulations concerning storm water, and what we might consider at Alewife to improve Little River's EPA issued "D- " Water Quality Report Card. Call 617-415-1884 for more information.
Thursday, March 10, 7-8pm: Speaker- Nancy Hammett, MA Rivers Alliance
Lesley University Room 2-026 (Second floor by information desk, glass room)
Free and open to the public!
Go Green & Earn $ for you and MyRWA!
MyRWA has partnered with Viridian Energy to offer our friends 50% green energy at a 5% savings while automatically supporting the Association. We also have a special offer that ends March 7th! Enroll as a customer or associate by Monday, March 7th. As an Associate you can earn monthly residual income and weekly bonus like $400 if you sign up by 3/7 and get 3 customers. You get rewarded and so does MyRWA, mankind and the earth!
To learn more contact Doug Turner anytime 781-820-7467.
Does your office need to get some sun?
Volunteers remove water chestnuts from the Mystic River in Somerville.
Come tackle the invasive water chestnut with MyRWA!
MyRWA has Community and Corporate Event opportunities for groups of up to 100 people this summer! Volunteers hand-pull water chestnut from canoes during this fun and rewarding stewardship event. A four hour event has tremendous impact, visibly clearing the river of the invasive weed. By sponsoring a corporate event, your company will participate in a major green initiative while providing a great team-building opportunity on the river for your employees. We have worked with many organizations and companies over the past six years, and supply all the materials and expertise necessary.
Are you interested in hosting a corporate water chestnut event? Please contact Veronique at waterchestnut@mysticriver.org or 781-316-3438.
Celebrate Earth Day with the Mystic River Watershed Association
Calling all volunteers!
Join together with Mystic River communities in the celebration of Earth Day (April 22nd) by cleaning up litter and removing invasive plants in Medford's Torbert MacDonald Park, part of the Mystic River Reservation. This event is also part of DCR Park Serve Day - MassParks annual statewide day of volunteer service during Earth Week.
WHO: Community volunteers - please RSVP
WHAT: Earth Day River Clean Up to improve DCR's Torbert MacDonald Park sponsored by the Mystic River Watershed Association
WHERE: DCR Torbert MacDonald Park, Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA
*Meet in the parking lot by the Medford State Police barracks
WHEN: Saturday, April 30, 9:00AM-12:00PM
Addressing stormwater to cleanup our rivers
In response to the Boston Globe's 2/22/2016 article, EPA forcing towns to clean up Charles River, By David Abel, MyRWA's Executive Director, EkOngKar Singh Khalsa offers the following response:
Stormwater pollution is a real problem for rivers, lakes and streams throughout the Commonwealth.
he Mystic River Watershed Association applauds US EPA's determination to address these problems in the Charles River. Thi represents an important step to eliminate significant impairmen to the local natural environment.
the Mystic River, as in other urban rivers throughout the country, water quality is significantly impacted by untreated runoff from city streets and municipal stormwater systems.
As the negative impacts of this runoff become more eviden, the need for a more effective and sophisticated approach to stormwater management becom more apparent.
Maintaining healthy, clear and free flowing waterways is ell orth the costs.
Volunteer as a Fish monitor this spring!
Photo by Patrick Herron
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! MyRWA will begin the 5th year of the Herring Monitoring 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 19thand to counting for at least one ten-minute period per week from early April to mid-June. Monitors must be at least 18 years and able to swim. Youth aged 12 to 17 may assist under the direct supervision of a guardian.You must register for the training.
Saturday, March 19th 10:00 a.m. - noon: Herring Monitoring Training
Medford Boat Club, Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford
Register here (required)
Special Presentation: EPA Water Quality Buoy
Have you ever noticed the buoy in the Mystic River near the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse in Somerville? While deployed, this solar-powered buoy takes water quality measurements every 15 minutes and sends this information to the EPA website, allowing public access to near real-time conditions. On Tuesday, March 1st, hear from Tom Faber, Water Quality Environmental Engineer, US EPA, about the results of this program to date. This presentation is part of the Mystic River Watershed Association’s monthly Committee Meeting. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. on March 1, 2016 at Tufts University, Tisch College of Citizenship & Public Service, Lincoln Filene Hall, Rabb Room, 10 Upper Campus Road, Medford.
