Blackstone River Watershed Association
Blackstone River Watershed Association
In This Issue
BRWA NEWS

EarthDay Cleanup 2014

Honoring a BRWA Founder – Phil Neeland

CALENDAR

THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL

Reduction in State Environmental Funding

Blackstone River Greenway Project Updates

Amphibian Monitoring Programs

REFLECTIONS


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Issue 46 April 2014

BRWA NEWS

EarthDay Cleanup 2014
A raft of trash caught up in the Blackstone River.
Photo Credit: Susan Thomas
a raft of trash caught up in the Blackstone River

The snow is finally gone! And the river and streams are running free. We can see flowers popping up and birds gathering nesting material. And unfortunately, we can also see trash strewn along shorelines and in waterways throughout the watershed. If you haven't signed up for the BRWA's annual EarthDay Cleanup, now's the time! We can really use every pair of hands to help remove tires, bottles and cans, construction debris, plastic bags, and more from ponds and streams in communities from Grafton down to Blackstone. We have at least one site at Plummer's Landing in Northbridge where a few sturdy boats are needed to access debris caught by downed trees.

Please contact us at events@thebrwa.org or call 508-278-5200 to sign up today!

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Honoring a BRWA Founder – Phil Neeland
Phil Kneeland
The BRWA was saddened to learn of the passing of one of its founders and past president and longtime vice president, Philip Neeland, age 71, on February 5th at Milford Hospital after fighting a long illness.

Phil was one of the founders of the BRWA in 1977 and played a significant role in getting the BRWA its not-for-profit designation, received in 1978. Phil was always an active member of the BRWA board and served as the Vice President for almost 30 years. Phil and other board members participated in the "Zap 2" and "Zap 3" clean ups along the Blackstone River and its tributaries in the late 1970’s. Phil was instrumental in acquiring grant money to beautify areas along the river, and in the process gave underprivileged youth the opportunity to learn about the river and the land along the river. These young people participated in various tree plantings, picnic table and bird house construction, riverbank clean ups, and other outdoor activities that made their community a welcome area to relax and play in. Phil also chaired the BRWA canoe and kayak race for many years and participated in numerous other BRWA events and cleanups.

On September 27th 2009, a maple tree was dedicated to Phil, in front of the Maple Sugar Shack at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge. At that event, Phil was honored for his long time commitment to the BRWA and to the communities of the Blackstone River Valley.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April is National Poetry Month.
This celebration was started in 1996 and it's a great excuse to to put pen to paper and express your love of nature the next time you are out for a paddle or hike along the Blackstone. Other ways to celebrate, suggested by the Academy of American Poets: leave poetry in an unexpected public place; chalk it on pavement; organize a poetry reading; listen to poetry in your car; add a poem to your lunch; or visit a poetry landmark.
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/47.


4/17 National Bat Appreciation Day. Massachusetts has five species of bat on record - all listed on the state's endangered species list. These flying, ecolocating insectivores are emerging from hibernation this time of year and will summer in hollow trees, under bark, in houses and buildings, in small caves, and under piles of rocks and woods. Waterways and vernal pools within the Blackstone river watershed provide a lot of the flying insects that make up the bats' diet.    Learn more and then explore!
4/19 Woodlands & Waterways Walk. Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park, River Bend Farm Visitor Center. Uxbridge. 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Learn about the wonders of the wetlands while exploring firsthand using the senses. Info: 508(278-7604).
4/19 BRWC Blackstone River Paddle Tour. Meet behind the Museum of Work & Culture, Woonsocket RI. Tour will be from Woonsocket to Manville (map). For reservations or info, contact Keith Hainley at KeithHainley@BlackstoneRiver.org.
4/22 Rabbits and Raindrops Storytime. Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park, River Bend Farm Visitor Center. Uxbridge. 11:00 a.m. - noon. Join the Park Ranger in the Big Red Barn for stories followed by a nature walk to discover habitats and shelters. Wrap up the morning with a nature collage inspired by naturalist/illustrator Jim Arnosky’s book, Rabbits and Raindrops. Info: 508(278-7604).
4/24 BRWA Board Meeting. 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 271 Oak St., Uxbridge.   info
4/25 DCR Healthy Heart Trail: Franklin Kick-off. 9:00 am to 11:30 am. Join Hockomock Area YMCA, The Friends of the SNETT, MA DCR and the National Park Service as they celebrate the unveiling of the DCR Healthy Heart Trail, with an informative and fun introduction to a local trail gem, the Southern New England Trunk Trail (SNETT). The event will begin with opening remarks at the Y and then move to the SNETT for a picnic luncheon and walk on the trail. Bernon Family YMCA, 45 Forge Hill Rd., Franklin, MA.  
4/25 National Arbor Day. Massachusetts’s State tree is the American Elm, Ulmus americana. The trees have leaves that are sharp-toothed and rough textured on top; branching is alternate. Trees of various species that grow along stream banks provide important shading that helps keep water temperature from getting too high in the summer. This is vital to many fish and other aquatic species.   info
4/26 Mass Audubon's Work for Wildlife Statewide Volunteer Day. 9 a.m. - noon.   info
4/27 BRWA Annual EarthDay Cleanup. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. River Bend Farm Visitor Center, Uxbridge.
It's time, once again, to grab your boots and gloves and pitch in to clean up the shorelines and waterways of the Blackstone River Watershed. BRWA Team Leaders will work with volunteers along waterways in Grafton, Millbury, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Hopedale and Blackstone. If you know of a site that needs cleaning or can offer a boat for in-stream cleanups, please let us know! Have fun outdoors while protecting your local water resources. You can make a difference by volunteering just a couple of hours of your time. This project also meets community service requirements for many organizations. After the cleanup, volunteers will meet back at the Visitor Center for pizza and drinks. RSVP: events@thebrwa.org or 508-278-5200.
5/2 - October Kidleidoscope Kids Nature Story Hour. Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park, River Bend Farm Visitor Center. Uxbridge. 10:30-11:30 am. This popular nature-themed story and activity hour returns for the season! Meet at the Big Red Barn Visitor Center for nature stories, followed by a short nature walk and a craft activity. Info: 508(278-7604).
5/2-5/3 Ecological Design and Aquatic Restorer Construction at the Living Systems Laboratory workshop. Grafton, MA. Dr. John Todd will discuss the principles of ecological design and the history of his groundbreaking work, and provide hands-on instruction in the construction of the Canal Restorer. Learn how to build this ecological technology that digests sediment and metabolizes excess nutrients and contaminants. Restorers bring the dynamic ecological cycles back into balance within ponds, lakes and canals challenged by heavy nutrient loading, stormwater runoff and leaching pollutants. Aquatic Restorers are excellent solutions for both natural and man-made water bodies, including public and private ponds, golf courses, parks and urban canals.   info
5/5 Central Mass Chapter Trout Unlimited Monthly Meeting. 6:30 p.m. 50 Elm Street, Auburn, MA  
5/11 Hidden Treasures Canal Walk. Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park, River Bend Farm Visitor Center. Uxbridge. 1:00-2:15 p.m. In celebration of Preservation Month, walk along restored sections of the Blackstone Canal and Towpath to search for hidden treasures! Discover an early stone quarry site and remnants of a stone lock, one of 48 such structures used to lift and lower canal barges along their 45-mile route. On this two-mile long walk, learn about the canal and the transformation of the agricultural landscape and discover the hidden heritage and natural wonders along the way! Info: 508(278-7604).

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THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL

Reduction in State Environmental Funding
On April 9th, the Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and Means put forth its budget for 2015 that unfortunately showed a reduction in funding from last year's budget for environmental programs, including parks and recreation. Representatives have since filed amendments and the house will now be debating the budget. The process is repeated in May with the Massachusetts Senate. More information can be found at https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2015/House.

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Blackstone River Greenway Project Updates
BRWA members Jim and Maggie Plasse attended the April 3rd public meeting in Blackstone of the Blackstone Greenway Project. This project, previously referred to as the Blackstone Bikeway, is strongly supported by the BRWA whose mission includes connecting people with the Blackstone River through recreational opportunities.
Bridge across the Blackstone River in Blackstone, MA.
Photo Credit: MA Department of Conservation & Recreation
Bridge across the Blackstone River in Blackstone

At the meeting, DCR's Greenway Project Manager, Dan Driscoll, discussed progress on the Greenway's Segment 1 in Blackstone, Millville, and Uxbridge. Construction has begun for the 3.7 miles from St. Paul Street in Blackstone, up through Millville, to Adams Street in Uxbridge by Rt 146A. This requires working around the Main Street Bridge and the Church Street underpass in Blackstone. Work on the Triad Bridge in Millville is still in the design stage. The other part of Segment 1 is the half-mile section connecting the MA and R.I. portions of the greenway, in which the use of an historic railroad viaduct no longer appears to be a viable option. Use of town open space may provide a more feasible solution. Paving, drainage, and fencing will be the final tasks to be handled for Section 1. DCR hopes to have this phase completed by next year.


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Amphibian Monitoring Programs
There are people who, rather than grabbing a pair of binoculars to identify birds, or picking up a rod and reel to cast for fish, are passionate about finding amphibians, including wood frogs, spring peepers, and salamanders this time of year. These sightings, while perceived as a personal hobby, can be of great value to environmental research programs that are becoming increasingly easy for citizen scientists to navigate. The University of Connecticut has the UConn Amphibian Tracker 2014 program that can be accessed at http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/people/urban/tracker.html. Another web-based monitoring program is the Orianne Society's Snapshots in Time, which can be accessed at http://www.oriannesociety.org/snapshots-time-tracking-wood-frog-and-spotted-salamander-breeding.

Amphibians are sensitive to ecological conditions and contaminants and are therefore excellent indicators of environmental health. The BRWA's mission is to improve the water quality in the Blackstone River watershed. Citizen monitoring of the "canaries" of aquatic systems is a good fit for the mission. Please consider becoming involved with one of these programs.


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REFLECTIONS

“It is not half so important to know as to feel.” Rachel Carson

The arrival of Spring, for many, is marked by the first calls of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) and spring peepers (Hyla crucifers). Even with some ice remaining on vernal pools, and water temperatures around 8 deg C, frogs and salamanders are emerging from their winter hibernation to mate and lay egg masses. While "Big Night" has occurred in some warmer areas, it's not too late to head out to a local vernal pool with a flashlight on a night that is over 40'F and rainy to see and hear these amphibians migrating from the woods to breeding pools.

Below are links to two sound recordings. The first is a short tape of wood frogs ("quacking" and "chucking"). The second recording, of peepers, is long enough to get you through a long-nights slumber.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0Gzji9Brow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXTI692RKLs.


Photo credit (L, male spring peeper): James Harding, Michigan State University.
Accessed at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pseudacris_crucifer/.

Photo credit (R, male wood frog): James Dowling-Healey, Michigan State University.
Accessed at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lithobates_sylvaticus/.
Spring Peeper Wood Frog

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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 engage, educate and advocate for improved water quality in the Blackstone River Watershed; its objectives are to:
  • Engage the public in watershed stewardship activities,
  • Educate members, supporters and watershed residents on watershed protection strategies, 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: Susan Thomas susan.thomas@thebrwa.org
Mailing address: BRWA, 271 Oak Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
Phone: 508-278-5200  Web: www.thebrwa.org

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