Blackstone River Watershed Association
Blackstone River Watershed Association
In This Issue
TIP OF THE MONTH

BRWA NEWS

A Note From The BRWA President

35th Annual BRWA Canoe/Kayak Race - Call For Volunteers!

Water Quality Monitoring Volunteers Needed

Campaign For A National Park

Reduced State Funding for DCR

CALENDAR

IN YOUR COMMUNITY

School Green Teams

Milford, Hopedale Water Ban Still In Effect

OF GLOBAL INTEREST

Green Chemistry


BRWA Online
About the BRWA
JOIN the BRWA
Volunteer

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRWA NEWSLETTER

Issue 14 February 2011

TIP OF THE MONTH

Ways to Reuse Coffee Groundssteaming coffee cup
Americans consume over 400 million cups of coffee per day. The inevitable by-product of our coffee addiction is the spent grounds. Coffee grounds are, of course, compostable (up to 25% of total compost volume) and can also be used as a soil amendment. Visit the GardenWeb forum for more information.

For more gardening, household, health & beauty and other "out of the can" ideas see 21 Ways to reuse coffee grounds.

BRWA NEWS

A Note From The BRWA President
The BRWA’s January and February Board of Directors meetings were dedicated to planning our goals and objectives for 2011 and we will have lots of exciting news to share over the next few months! We are working on rewriting our mission statement, redesigning our website and updating our brochure to strengthen our ability to communicate who the Blackstone River Watershed Association is. These tools will emphasize our focus on three goals: educate, engage and improve. We are developing a new program to educate youth on how our activities on the land impact our watershed. We are preparing an initiative that will engage volunteers in the management of invasive aquatic plants that threaten our waterways. We are also strategizing ways to establish partnerships and build our membership base to help us be more effective in our efforts to improve the water quality in our rivers and streams.

Are you impressed? I know I am! I am also excited, because I have a great team and I know we will be successful in our endeavors. We can be even more successful with your involvement. Let us know if you are interested in volunteering to help with administrative, marketing, or educational activities; I am confident that we can find an area where you can get involved and have fun. Send us your thoughts on issues you would like to see the BRWA address, activities you would be interested in, or topics you would like to learn more about. Lastly – join us by renewing your membership and signing up for future events. Send an email to info@thebrwa.org or leave a voicemail at 508-278-5200. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your support.

~Dona
(Dona Neely, President, Blackstone River Watershed Association)

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35th Annual BRWA Canoe/Kayak Race - Call For Volunteers! 2010 racers
Even with all the snow and ice we need to think spring! So let's start by getting this years Canoe and Kayak Race planning underway. This year marks the 35th consecutive race for the BRWA. We need volunteers to help us with items such as publicity, set up, clean up, entertainment, water safety, land spotters, and just volunteers in general.

We are also looking for a Race Director in Training as our race director has relocated to CT but promises to train any interested parties for next year.

Experience is not necessary! It's a fun event, a fun time and you get a great t-shirt to wear at the race! Come join us - its truly "think spring" for this event!

Contact Rosemary Longo-Nutt if interested at roseisarose@hotmail.com or 860/870-9851.

The 35th BRWA Canoe and Kayak Race will be held Saturday, May 21, 2011. The entry form will be available on line shortly at the BRWA website.

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Water Quality Monitoring Volunteers Needed
Volunteer Samplers are needed for the Blackstone River Watershed-wide Water Quality Monitoring Program. Here's your chance to make a real difference by joining this group of dedicated citizen scientists working to monitor and improve the water quality of the Blackstone River and tributaries. Sampling is done on the second Saturday of each month, from April to November. Volunteers are needed to cover the following sites:
  • Emerson Brook in Uxbridge
  • Meadow Brook in Uxbridge
  • Manchaug Pond inlet in Sutton
  • Manchaug Pond outlet in Sutton
  • Whitin Reservoir outlet in Douglas
  • Centerville Brook in Douglas
Email Tammy Gilpatrick or call 508-278-2080 if you can help.Volunteers in the lab

Volunteers are also needed to help at the BRWA Lab/Drop-off location in Uxbridge. At this site, the samples are processed and analyzed by another group of trained volunteers. If you can spare a couple of hours, one Saturday morning a month, please email Field Coordinator Mike Sperry.

The 2011 Equipment Kit pick-up for the BRWA region is Saturday, March 12, 9:30 to 11:00 at 271 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA (the red house). Samplers who can't pick up equipment on that date can contact Tammy to make other arrangements. The first sample date is Saturday, April 9th.

The Water Quality Monitoring Program is coordinated by the Blackstone River Coalition. For more information about the Program, visit the BRC website.

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Join the Campaign for a National Park in the Blackstone River Valley
The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission and it’s partners have worked for many years to preserve the historical significance and natural beauty of the Blackstone Valley. In October 2011, congressional authority for the Commission will expire and, as a result, National Park Service presence in the Blackstone Valley may disappear. It is anticipated that the results of an ongoing Special Resource Study will soon be released concluding that the establishment of a National Park would be an appropriate and feasible way to continue the programs that protect and promote the natural, historical and recreational importance of the Valley. After this report is submitted, Congressional legislation will then be required establishing a national park in the area.

Your help and support will be critical to make sure that not only is a national park proposed but also that it become an outstanding addition to the National Park System.

How can you help? Visit the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. website and click on the Join The Campaign button. There you will learn the many ways to get involved, starting with signing their petition to Congress. Please do what you can to support this important campaign for the future of the Blackstone Valley and the watershed communities.

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Reduced State Funding For Department of Conservation & Recreation
Governor Patrick’s proposed FY12 budget decreases funding for the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) by nearly $2.2 million ($2.1 and 96,000, respectively). This is on the heels of deep cuts in previous years. Cuts to MassDEP budgets could significantly affect the continued protection of our air, water, and natural resources. Cuts to DCR budgets will likely result in reduced staffing, program cuts, park closures and a sharp reduction in the ability of the agency to adequately maintain it's properties for the use of the citizens of Massachusetts and visitors. The DCR is a valued BRWA partner with whom we work closely on a variety of outreach,education and recreation programs.

The Governor has said, however, that if the proposed expanded bottle bill passes, $6.5 million of the expected $20 million in funds to be collected would be directed to the environmental budget. A recently conducted poll indicates that 77% of Massachusetts residents support updating the state’s Bottle Bill, which would expand the 5-cent bottle deposit program to bottled water, sports drink, and fruit juice containers, a major component of unrecycled solid waste and litter. Learn more and show your support for the long overdue proposed bill at www.massbottlebill.org.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2/27 Going to Play: 20th Century Childhood in the Blackstone Valley (Ranger Day Lecture Series) 1:30 pm at the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket   info
3/2 Read Across America Day/Dr. Suess Birthday   info
2/27 Lake Wildwood Ice Fishing Derby, Upton   info
3/5, 3/6 Maple Sugar Days River Bend Farm   info
Tours are open to the public at 11AM are given on a first come first serve basis. The last tour departs at 3:00 PM on Saturdays and 2:30 on Sundays.
3/10 BRWA Board Meeting 7pm 271 Oak St., Uxbridge   info
3/12 Water Quality Monitoring Equipment Pick-up 9:30 am to 11:00 am at 271 Oak St., Uxbridge  
3/12, 3/13 Maple Sugar Days River Bend Farm   info
Tours are open to the public at 11AM are given on a first come first serve basis. The last tour departs at 3:00 PM on Saturdays and 2:30 on Sundays.
3/13 The Titanic Railroad (Ranger Day Lecture Series) 1:30 pm at the Woonsocket railroad depot located at Depot Square in Woonsocket.   info
3/19, 3/20 Maple Sugar Days River Bend Farm   info
Tours are open to the public at 11AM are given on a first come first serve basis. The last tour departs at 3:00 PM on Saturdays and 2:30 on Sundays.
3/26 8th Annual Land and Water Conservation Summit - RI Land & Water Partnership   info

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IN YOUR COMMUNITY

School Green Teams
It's not too late to join the Green Team program and participate in the 2010-2011 school year. The Green Team is an interactive educational program that empowers students and teachers to help the environment and slow climate change through waste reduction, recycling, composting, pollution prevention and energy conservation. A program of the MassDEP, The Green Team provides resources to help its members learn how to reduce waste and pollution in their schools, homes and communities and rewards classes that successfully complete one or more of the suggested activities.

Activities must be reported by March 31 to receive certificates and prizes for the students. Recycling equipment has arrived and can be requested by Green Team members. Check out www.thegreenteam.org for more information, or email Sean Pontani at seanp@thegreenteam.org.

Watershed schools currently participating are Grafton Memorial Senior High School, Hopedale Memorial School, Sutton Middle School and Sutton Memorial High School.


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Milford, Hopedale Water Ban Still In Effect
The Milford Water Company, which services Milford and Hopedale, is still imposing a water ban. The ban was recently downgraded from stage IV to a stage III allowing limited outside water use on an ODD / EVEN basis. The limited use is for washing of vehicles and for fire protection during the burn season only. This restriction limits the use of water to a hand held hose only.

The ban is still in effect primarily because of low water levels at the Echo Lake Reservoir but also to get customers used to water conservation. The restrictions could possibly be eased, at least temporarily, once snow starts melting.


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OF GLOBAL INTEREST

Green Chemistry
Curt Spalding, the Regional Administrator for EPA New England states in a recent posting in the EPA “Greenversations” blog: “I believe green chemistry will be a powerful economic engine for the U.S. and for New England.”

Green Chemistry is a relatively new science that focuses on sustainable chemicals & processes, reduced waste and reduced or eliminated pollution and environmental damage. The concept began in the 1990s and has continued to gain momentum through collaboration between the US government, Industry, and Academia.

In his Greenversations blog post, Spalding reports on the steps the EPA and partners are taking to lay the foundation that will hopefully establish New England as the “Green Chemistry Corridor”. Follow the links to read the blog post in it’s entirety or visit the EPA Green Chemistry website for more detailed information on this emerging science.


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Views & opinions expressed in linked websites do not necessarily state or reflect those of the BRWA.


Your input is crucial to this eNewsletter. If you have a local watershed-related story, information of interest to our subscribers, or comments about this publication, drop an email to the editor.

The Blackstone River Watershed Association (BRWA) has a mission to enhance and preserve the Blackstone River system and its watershed; its objectives are to:
  • Educate members, supporters, watershed residents on watershed protection strategies,
  • Engage the public in watershed stewardship activities, and
  • Improve the water quality and esthetics of the Blackstone River Watershed’s water bodies.
The BRWA eNewsletter is published monthly by the Blackstone River Watershed Association. BRWA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Editor: Michael Sperry mikes_brwa@comcast.net
Mailing address: BRWA, 271 Oak Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
Phone: 508-278-5200  Web: www.thebrwa.org

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