More than 100 volunteers dusted off their work gloves and boots for MyRWA’s annual Earth Day River Cleanup held on April 30. Meeting at DCR Torbert MacDonald Park in Medford groups fueled up on coffee donated by Starbucks before heading out to pick-up litter throughout the park. Meanwhile, with the help of MA-DCR staff, the Tufts Football team battled the climbing invasive vine, Oriental bittersweet. By the end of the day a truck load of trash was collected and we had filled the chipper with plant material. Thanks to all who attended the event! Funding was generously provided by the Tufts University Neighborhood Service Fund.
Spy Pond Closed
Spy Pond in Arlington will be chemically treated with the USEPA/MA registered herbicide Sonar® (fluridone) to control nuisance aquatic vegetation on Monday, May 9th, 2016. The pond will be closed to all water uses (including boating, fishing, and swimming) on the day of treatment only. In addition, water from the pond cannot be used for irrigation for a period of 90 days, commencing on the day of treatment. These water use restrictions will be posted with printed signs, placed around the pond shoreline, prior to application.
The pond will be monitored for levels of Sonar herbicide post-treatment. One or two, "booster" Sonar applications may occur after the initial treatment during the period of May and June. These applications will not require restricting normal uses of the pond other than for the 90-day irrigation restriction, which will remain in effect. When the herbicide concentration falls to a level that is safe for irrigation use to resume, the Town will notify any parties that make such a request.
The project is being performed for the Town of Arlington, under a license (permit) issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and an Order of Conditions permit from the Arlington Conservation Commission. Solitude Lake Management is the pond management consultant and contractor to the Town for this project. Please email any questions to: tdebenedictis@town.arlington.ma.us
EPA Webinar on Stormwater Management
Soak Up the Rain New England Webinar Series
Wednesday, May 25th, 2016 from 1:00-2:30 EST
“Engaging Urban Residents: Innovative Approaches to Promoting Community-Based Stormwater Management”
Presentations include:
Pallavi Mande, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA). Pallavi will describe the CRWA's Blue Cities Initiative. The Initiative works to restore natural hydrology to urban watersheds while enhancing neighborhoods and connecting open spaces. Pallavi will also present case studies of community-based green infrastructure installations in the Charles River watershed which have improved water quality and reduced stormwater runoff while providing other of benefits for neighborhood residents.
Giovanni Zinn, New Haven Engineering Department, New Haven, CT. Giovanni will discuss city-wide green infrastructure projects that have helped to address both flooding and stormwater issues in the city. Partners have included the Yale School of Forestry, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and EMERGE Connecticut, Inc. (a transitional work training program). To date, Giovanni has installed more than a dozen bioretention systems in residential areas with plans to install many more in the next two years in the downtown central business district, leveraging federal, state and municipal funding.
Peter Coffin, Blackstone Headwaters Coalition and the Blackstone River Coalition. Peter will highlight the Coalition’s green infrastructure projects in Worcester, MA, including, the most recent: Stormwater Benefits of Urban Trees- an outreach effort to engage inner city residents to understand the role that trees play in reducing stormwater runoff and flooding. Through this project over 68 trees were planted and over twenty educational events were conducted. The goal is to plant 100 trees by summer, 2016. Peter will also describe the “Rain Gardens to the Rescue” project, which resulted in the creation of several demonstration rain gardens throughout the city.
Michael Chavez, Fairmount/Indigo Line CDC Collaborative; and Trevor Smith, Land Escapes. Michael and Trevor will describe the Living Roof Bus Shelter Initiative in which green roofs have been installed on bus shelters in Boston. Michael and Trevor will describe: how they collaborated with local groups, the types of community outreach efforts that supported the initiative and how local youth are being trained on the installation and maintenance of the green roofs.
They will also discuss how this initiative conveys the many benefits of green roofs and other green infrastructure practices, especially in an urban setting.
Enjoy Pizza and Bowling for a Cause!
On Tuesday, June 14th head to Flatbread Pizza at Sacco's Bowl Haven in Davis Square for a Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) fundraiser. That’s right, the more flatbread you eat the more money will be raised to support the Mystic River Watershed Association 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 on June 14th and a portion of your flatbread cost will automatically be donated to MyRWA.
Reservations are accepted for groups of 10 or more.
DCR Public Meeting on Macdonald Park Improvements
Announcement courtesy of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
Please mark your calendars for a DCR Public Meeting on Torbert Macdonald Park Improvements.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 – 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
River’s Edge, Great Lawn Room (First Floor)
200 River’s Edge Drive, Medford, MA 02155
At this public meeting, DCR will present an introduction to, and obtain feedback on, concept designs for potential improvements to Macdonald Park in the Mystic River Reservation, including new park seating areas, signage, and recreational amenities. DCR will also provide information on some planned improvements that, subject to permitting, would commence soon, including removal of invasive species in the water and on the land and reconstruction of deteriorated walkways.
The presentation will be viewable after the meeting on DCR’s website athttp://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/public-outreach/public-meetings/. The public is invited to submit comments after the meeting either online at http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/public-outreach/submit-public-comments/ or by U.S. mail addressed to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Public Outreach, 251 Causeway Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA. Comments must be received by DCR by the close-of-business on Thursday, May 26.
If you have questions or would like to be added to an email list to receive DCR general or project-specific announcement, please email Mass.Parks@state.ma.us or call 617-626-4973.
Rain barrels and compost bins offered by City of Medford
Medford is selling compost bins & rain barrels all month, for pickup in May:
The Orbis Earth Machine retails at hardware stores for $110. Thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the City of Medford will again be able to offer these bins for $40 for a limited time.
Order compost bins by May 10th for pickup on Wednesday, May 25 from 5 to 7pm at City Hall. Ordering instructions at http://medfordenergy.org/compost-bins/
Rain barrels are a great way to reduce stormwater runoff and save you money!
Order rain barrels by May 4th for pickup on May 11th from 5 to 7pm at City Hall. Rain barrels must be ordered directly from the company.
Information about stormwater pollution, and what you can do in Medford, here: http://medfordenergy.org/gogreen/storm-water-specific/
River Herring Management
Curious about how river herring are managed at sea? On May 3rd we’ll be joined by Katharine Deuel of The Herring Alliance to discuss the current state of affairs regarding river herring, the New England Fishery Management Council and NOAA.
This presentation is part of the Mystic River Watershed Association’s monthly Committee Meeting. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 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!
River herring. Photo by Patrick Herron.
ACTION ALERT: Aquatic Invasive Species Control
Action Alert: Contact your representative today to continue the eradication of water chestnut from the Mystic River
Amendment #932 puts $350,000 into the DCR budget for Aquatic Invasive Species Control. The amendment is sponsored by Representative Khan of Newton, Stanley of Waltham, Lawn of Watertown, Provost of Somerville and Baker of Newton.
What you can do to help support this amendment?
A) Contact your local representative to request that they cosponsor Amendment #932 to put $350,000 in the budget for invasive species control. Talk about how this funding has been critical during the past few years to eliminate water chestnut in the Mystic and Charles Rivers.
State Representative Paul J. Donato
Medford
(617) 722-2180
State Representative Christine Barber
Somerville
(617) 722-2430
State Representative Sean Garballey
Arlington
(617) 722-2090
B) Contact the Speaker of the House and the House Ways and Means Chair to express your support for Amendment #932.
Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo
Winthrop
(617) 722-2500
House Ways and Means Chair Brian Dempsey
Haverhill
(617) 722-2990
The Mystic River will thank you!
Local Organizations Team Up for Seventh Annual Mystic Community Earth Day
Several organizations are joining together for the seventh consecutive year to coordinate numerous events for Earth Day in the Mystic River Watershed in Arlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Somerville and Winchester. Comprising “Mystic Community Earth Day,” events will take place on Saturday, April 23rd, April 30th, and May 7th in honor of Earth Day (April 22nd) and focus on improving areas along the Mystic River, Aberjona River and Chelsea Creek, while drawing attention to the needs of the watershed as a whole. All events are free and open to the public. Volunteers needed!
The Mystic River Watershed is the most urbanized, densely populated watershed in Massachusetts, with over half a million people living in its 76 square miles. Due to its long industrial history and aging sewer systems, the water quality of the river is severely degraded and access to the riverfront is limited. Despite these challenges, residents, community groups, and organizations are working to improve the Mystic River, its tributaries, and surrounding communities.
This year marks the 46th Earth Day, which was first hosted on April 22, 1970, and featured rallies, protests, and cleanups across the country with a strong college student presence. That day is often considered the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day 2016 will be observed nationwide on April 22nd and marked by many of the same activities as the original event 46 years ago.
Mystic Community Earth Day will include river and park cleanups, plantings, and trail clearings. For more information about any of the Mystic Community Earth Day events, please contact the respective coordinator from each organization (see below). Events include the following:
Arlington/Cambridge
Friends of Alewife Reservation invites you to our annual Earth Day/DCR Park Serve Day at the Alewife Reservation in Cambridge, MA. Students, companies, families, and individuals are all welcome to join on April 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers will work together to remove trash from the Reservation, maintain trails and improve the health of the ecosystem in this flood-plain region. All tools and supplies as well as water will be provided. Volunteers should meet across the street from the Alewife MBTA station pickup area.
Contact: friendsofalewifereservation.org, (617)-415-1884, or info@friendsofalewifereservation.org
Chelsea
The Chelsea Collaborative is holding their annual Chelsea Earth Day Celebration: Clean Up! on Saturday, April 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Volunteers should meet at Chelsea City Hall Parking Lot, 500 Broadway, Chelsea, MA.
Contact: chelseacollab.org or Maria Belén Power at MariaBelenP@ChelseaCollab.org or 617-889-6080 X115
Everett/Malden
Bike to the Sea, Inc. and Friends of the Malden River are partnering with the Cities of Malden and Everett for an Earth Day Cleanup. Volunteers will cut back brush along the trail, remove branches, pick up trash, sweep off the trail and generally clean up the paved section of trail from its start in Everett to the Revere town line. We will gather at the map kiosk across from Cambridge Health Alliance at 195 Canal Street then spread out along the bike trail. Join us on Saturday, April 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Karen at friendsofthemaldenriver@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/events/1700231316926718/
Medford
Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) will host a river and park cleanup to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 30th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. We will be removing litter and invasive plants, and a community art project - Hermione the Trash Herring – will be part of the mix. Volunteers should meet at the DCR Torbert MacDonald Park parking lot off of Mystic Valley Parkway/Route 16 in Medford. The event is also accessible by the MBTA Wellington Station on the Orange Line. All supplies will be provided. Rain or shine.
Contact: Beth at beth@mysticriver.org or 781-316-3438
Friends of the Mystic River will host its 21st annual Mystic River Spring Cleanup on Saturday, May 7th, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., meeting at the Condon Band Shell parking lot, 2501 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford. Volunteers are invited to collect trash and debris in the Condon Shell Park/Route 16 area, or at any other location of their choosing between the Lower Mystic Lake and Torbert MacDonald Park. Cleanup supplies will be provided along with morning and lunchtime refreshments. In the event of heavy rain on May 7th, the cleanup will take place on Sunday, May 8th.
Contact: fomr.org, 781-391-2604 or Mystic02155@hotmail.com
Medford Community Coalition (MCC) is hosting a cleanup of Medford Square on Saturday, April 30th from 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon. Volunteers will meet at the Burying Ground Plaza, at the corner of Salem & River Street, and split into teams to give the square a good cleaning. DPW will provide bags and tools, and we'll get right into picking up trash and making the Square as beautiful as it can be.
Contact: Laura at medfordcoalition@gmail.com
Friends of the Fellsand Mass DCR are hosting a cleanup, trail restoration and invasive plant removal on Saturday, April 30th. Meet at Flynn Rink (300 Elm Street, Medford, at corner of Woodland Road) between 9:00 and 11:00 am to register and arrange your work assignment. Please bring water, snacks, sunscreen and/or bug spray to suit your needs. Any required tools will be provided. Lightning cancels, otherwise please dress for the weather.
Contact: Lindsay at 413-237-4747 or email lindsay@yarsley.com
Somerville
Groundwork Somerville is hosting Comcast Cares Day with the City of Somerville on Saturday, April 30th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, and 11 other sites around the City including South Street Farm, the Community Path and Union Square. See the full list of locations at www.groundworksomerville.org/programs/sustainable-community/earth-day-comcast-cares/. Pick a site and come out to get ready for spring! Events will be followed by a BBQ at 12:00 p.m. at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse on Shore Drive.
Contact: Chris Mancini, chris@groundworksomerville.org
Winchester
The Winchester Conservation Commission is sponsoring its annual Aberjona River Cleanup on Saturday, May 7th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Volunteers should meet at Town Hall Parking Lot, 71 Mt. Vernon Street, Winchester. Plastic bags and gloves will be provided. Please come with clothing to cover your feet and arms.
Contact: Elaine Vreeland at (781) 721-7152 or Evreeland@winchester.us
Finally! New Stormwater Management Plan
The EPA released the new Massachusetts Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit on 4/13. This permit is extremely important for making improvements on stormwater within the watershed - MyRWA played a key role in advocating for and providing guidance to the development of the permit.
