Volunteer Photographer and/or Videographer needed!
Are you looking to expand your portfolio? The Mystic River Watershed Association may have just the event for you! On Sunday, May 15th MyRWA will host the 20th annual Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, 32 Shore Drive, Somerville, MA. The event includes a 5K road race, bicycle tour, and 3 paddling races, as well as kid’s activities. It’s a full day of action shots, portraits, video opportunities and more!
For more information please contact Beth@MysticRiver.org
Globe subscribers: Help us earn a free ad
Are you a Boston Globe subscriber? If so, we have a favor to ask. Help us earn a free ad in the Globe just by showing your support. Simply go to BostonGlobe.com/GRANT and enter your subscriber information and the name and location of our organization before April 30, 2106. It only takes a minute, and it doesn’t cost you a dime.
Your support will be converted into GRANT advertising dollars, which we can redeem for ad space in the Globe. The more dollars raised, the larger the ad — which means more exposure for the Mystic River Watershed Association and the important work we do.
Thank you in advance for your support. We appreciate it more than you know.
Seeking volunteers to assist with design & marketing!
Volunteer Opportunity: Graphic Design
Help clean-up the Mystic River with your design skills!
The Mystic River Watershed Association’s Clean Water Campaign Committee is seeking a volunteer with graphic design expertise. The Committee aims to increase awareness of the Mystic River and its sources of pollution, connect people to this natural resource and inspire both stewardship and environmental advocacy. The Committee is working on a series of outreach materials and is looking to engage a graphic designer in this work. Products may include brochures, posters and flyers. The Committee meets at Tufts University once per month (typically first Tues. of the month, 7-9pm). Estimated time commitment = 5-10 hours/month.
Email Beth to get involved & learn more!
Volunteer Opportunity: Marketing and Communications
The Mystic River Watershed Association’s Clean Water Campaign Committee is seeking a volunteer with marketing expertise. The Committee aims to increase awareness of the Mystic River and its sources of pollution, connect people to this natural resource and inspire both stewardship and environmental advocacy. The Committee is working on a series of outreach materials and is looking for a professional in marketing and communications to assist in the development and implementation of a marking strategy. The Committee meets at Tufts University once per month (typically first Tues. of the month, 7-9pm). Estimated time commitment = 5-10 hours/month.
Email Beth to get involved & learn more!
Lead in Our Water: Lessons from Flint to Massachusetts
Please join MyRWA and Tufts University for this special event!
7:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 12th
Pearson Chemical Lab, 62 Talbot Ave, Somerville, MA 02144, USA
Media coverage on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan has made us all aware of the devastation faced by residents of the area. This event brings together experts to discuss the events that have been occurring, not as a crisis for just Flint residents, but as a window into water issues in America and Massachusetts. What lessons can be learned from the Flint water crisis?
Event is FREE and open to the public.
Speakers:
Veronica Eady, Conservation Law Foundation
Jeffery Griffiths, Tufts University
Steve Estes- Smargiassi, Mass. Water Resources Authority
Yvette DePieza, Mass. DEP
Co-sponsored by the Mystic River Watershed Association
We're Hiring!
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.
