Blackstone River Flood Alert Information

In 2006 and 2007 volunteers surveyed the Mill, Mumford and West Rivers and found various areas of concern including:

  • Riverbank erosion dumps unwanted sediment into the water and disrupts aquatic plant growth decreasing oxygen levels for fish and other aquatic life.
  • Invasive aquatic plant life such as purple loosestrife and Asian water chestnut infests rivers, covering the water with a dense mat of vegetation, reducing the flow of the River, displacing native species, and impeding boating and fishing in the area.
  • Stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots, lawns and farms deposit sediment, oil, road salt, organic materials, bacteria, pesticides, and fertilizers wash into the river making it an unhealthy place for aquatic life to thrive. It also makes it unsafe for humans to swim.
  • Vegetative buffer zones along the river absorb nutrients and other pollutants through the root and acts as a filter. These buffers also prevent lawn chemicals from entering the river.
  • Runoff from pipes discharging into water
  • Trash including old construction materials, machinery, booms, litter

For more information please e-mail the BRWA at info@thebrwa.org or contact Michelle Walsh, BRWA Outreach Coordinator at 508-450-8331. 

Cleanup on Mill River
10 Tires plus trash found at Veterans Park in Blackstone		 Cleanup on Mill River
Canoes were used to get tires out of the Mill River		 Cleanup on Mill River
Volunteers tote a wooden pallet from the Mill River
 
West River and Mill River Stream Team Surveys 2007

The BRWA, with funding from Mass Riverways Adopt-a-Stream Program and Unibank, conducted stream surveys along the West River and Mill River in the spring of 2007. BRWA's Environmental Outreach Coordinator, Michelle Walsh, worked with 40 volunteers throughout the community to assist with this very important project.

Read the findings in the West River and Mill River Stream Team surveys.

 
Mumford River Stream Team Survey 2006

Stream TeamIn collaboration with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Riverways Adopt-A-Stream Program, the Blackstone River Watershed Association conducted a river survey along the 13.5 long Mumford River on Saturday May 6, 2006. The data collected from the survey are being used to determine which factors are negatively affecting the river (pollution, erosion, trash etc.). Action plans have been created, a final report has been prepared and made available to local town officials.

Stream TeamThe Mumford River is a tributary of the Blackstone River and stretches through the towns of Sutton, Northbridge, Uxbridge and Douglas.Stream teams provide on-going stewardship for the River and work on projects to protect and restore the river and the land adjacent to the river.