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

Cleanup Swat Team takes on Plummers Landing

Water Quality Monitoring Season Completed

Winter Hike

EarthDay Cleanup 2015

First Annual Fishing Derby

A Day on the Blackstone 2015

CALENDAR

THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL

Public Hearings for Draft Water Plans

Public Hearings for Draft Storm Sewer General Permit

FAMILY FOCUS

Take an Indoor Tour.... on the Wild Side

BE GREEN

Low-Flow Toilets

REFLECTIONS


BRWA Online
About the BRWA
JOIN the BRWA
Volunteer

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRWA NEWSLETTER

Issue 49 November 2014

BRWA NEWS

Cleanup Swat Team takes on Plummers Landing
2014 Fall cleanup volunteers

A handful of dedicated folks worked hard on Saturday October 25th to clean up the ever-present trash backup at Plummers Landing on the Blackstone River in Northbridge. With the assistance of the "great tree strainer" that catches trash moving downstream, the swat team removed six bags of general litter as well as lumber, Styrofoam, a pillow, a tire and wheel, and an old tv. Well done, everyone! See you all at the BRWA's annual Earthday Cleanup on April 19th!

top

Water Quality Monitoring Season Completed
Mike Sperry, Midreach Field Coordinator for the Blackstone River Coalition's Watershed-wide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program, recently wrapped up the 11th season for the 28 testing sites located between Grafton and Blackstone. The data for these sites, along with data from the Headwaters and R.I. teams, will be compiled into an annual report card to be presented at next year's annual WQM Summit. The date and location of the summit will be announced shortly.

A big round of thanks go out to Mike, and to the field and lab volunteers who offered up their time and dedication on the second Saturday of each month from April through November. This tremendous citizen engagement is what sets the BRC's volunteer monitoring program apart from so many others! See you next season!

If you are interested in joining the midreach team for 2015 as a field or lab volunteer, please contact Mike at mike.sperry@thebrwa.org.

top

Winter Hike
Mark your calendar for Sunday, January 25th to join us for our annual winter hike at Hassanamesit Woods, a property of the Grafton Land Trust. This 200-acre parcel has a history tied to the Nipmuc Indians, and archeological studies are underway to uncover and preserve the land's rich cultural heritage. The ecology of the area is characterized by both upland and wetland areas, supporting a rich diversity of plants and animals. The land here drains to the nearby Quinsigamond River, shortly before emptying into the Blackstone River.
Sunday Ride, Hassanamessit Woods

The hike, led by naturalist Susan Thomas, will cover uneven ground, which may be snow covered or muddy depending on the weather. Wear appropriate footwear and bring water. Following the hike, we will return to the parking area for warm drinks and refreshments. We hope you can join us!

Participants should meet at the gated end of Salisbury Street, which is located off of Keith Hill Rd in Grafton near Rt 122. see map/directions.

For more information, or to RSVP, please e-mail events@thebrwa.org.

top

EarthDay Cleanup 2015
Mark your calendars for Sunday April 19 for our annual EarthDay event! Once again, we will be asking scouts, church groups, families, and local businesses to support the BRWA's efforts to clean up the Blackstone River Watershed. Last year we had over 200 people assisting in seven towns throughout the watershed! Details will be posted on our website, www.thebrwa.org, as we approach the date.

top

First Annual Fishing Derby
The BRWA is teaming up with Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. to organize a fishing derby next Spring (tentatively Saturday May 2). The event will be held at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge. It will be great way to usher in the spring! Watch our website, www.thebrwa.org, for future postings.

top

A Day on the Blackstone 2015
On Saturday June 6, 2015, the BRWA will host "A Day on the Blackstone", a leisurely one-day paddle from Stanley Woolen Mill in Uxbridge to the Blackstone Gorge. Participants will stop at historic sites along the way, with commentary provided by NPS Ranger Chuck Arning. Save the date for this “not be missed" event. Additional details will be posted on our website, www.thebrwa.org, in the future.

top

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

November is the month for both "America Recycles Day" and "Buy Nothing Day". It's a good reminder to all of us that one of the easiest ways to help the environment is to live simpler. Buy less, reuse what we have, recycle what we are done using. When you are ready to purchase something, stop and ask yourself if you can do without it. Take a moment to consider the entire footprint of the item from resource allocation, to manufacturing and transport, to disposal.

11/19 Blackstone River Watershed Council Monthly Meeting. 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Lincoln RI.   info
11/20 BRWA Board Meeting. 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 271 Oak St., Uxbridge. This is a change from normal 4th Thursday of the month schedule.   info
12/1 Central Mass Chapter Trout Unlimited Monthly Meeting. 6:00 p.m. 50 Elm Street, Auburn, MA   info
12/10 Blackstone Headwaters Coalition Annual Meeting. 4 p.m. Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. Worcester. Info at: peter.coffin@zaptheblackstone.org.
12/13 Blackstone Canal Conservancy Work Day. 9am. Meet at Plummers Landing west parking area, Church Street, Northbridge. For info, contact Dave Barber 508-478-4918 or email DGBarber@cs.com.
12/17 Blackstone River Watershed Council Monthly Meeting. 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Lincoln RI.   info
1/22 BRWA Board Meeting. 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 271 Oak St., Uxbridge.   info
1/25 BRWA Annual Winter Hike. 1 - 3p.m. Hassanamesit Woods, Grafton Land Trust. Park at end of Salisbury Street by gated entrance to Land Trust property.   See above for more information.

top

THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL


No one knows about, or appreciates the value of, local waterways like the citizens who live in the watershed. Here are two opportunities for YOU to voice your support for stronger protection of the Blackstone River and its watershed. Please consider submitting your comments to either or both of the following proposed regulations. Your voice makes a difference!

Public Hearings for Draft Water Plans
The Mass Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued draft Intended Use Plans for both Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds. These funds support the federal Clean Water Act and the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, as implemented in Massachusetts. The public comment period on these draft plans closes on December 10th.

Public hearings will be held December 10th at 10 a.m. (Drinking Water) and 1:00 p.m. (Clean Water) at the DEP Boston office located at One Winter Street (2nd Floor, Room 2212C).

Info:
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/grants/state-revolving-fund.html


top

Public Hearings for Draft Storm Sewer General Permit
Nonpoint source pollution (runoff) is the major cause of water pollution, and action needs to be taken at the local level to ensure that stormwater does not continue to degrade our local streams, ponds, and wetlands. The U.S. EPA has issued a draft general permit that is intended to improve water quality protection for wetlands and waterways throughout Massachusetts by better regulating small storm sewer systems (MS4).

These MS4 permits cover municipalities that operate small storm sewer systems. According to the state, "The draft general permits require regulated small MS4s to develop, implement and enforce a “Stormwater Management Program” designed to control pollutants to the maximum extent practicable, protect water quality, and satisfy appropriate requirements of the federal Clean Water Act." The scope of the general permit requirements includes public education, and best management practices at construction sites and municipal operations, as well as detection and elimination of illegal discharges. These practices are tied to loading of nutrients and bacteria into waterways (total maximum daily loads, or TMDLs).

Towns within the Blackstone River Watershed covered under this permit include Bellingham, Blackstone, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge, and Millbury. Cleaning up the stormwater that is processed through these MS4 systems would improve water quality in the Blackstone, Mill, Mumford, and West Rivers and associated wetlands and tributaries. The public comment period ends on December 29th with a public hearing to be held in Leominster on Nov. 19th.

In 2010, the EPA issued draft permits that were never finalized due in part to resistance from regulated entities. The Massachusetts River Alliance has developed model comments (PDF)   (MS Word)   that can be used/modified by groups or individuals wanting to speak out on behalf of stronger water protection in our state.

Information on the draft permit, hearings and comment period can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/region1/npdes/stormwater/MS4_MA.html.


top
FAMILY FOCUS

Take an Indoor Tour.... on the Wild Side

Autumn is slowly leading us towards winter. We will encounter more days with wind, rain, and low temperatures that can discourage children from getting out and exploring nature. Why not plan a "field trip" to a Natural History museum instead?

Although dinosaurs may be the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about these museums, you can also explore exhibits like "New England Forests", "Arthropods", "New England's Watery Habitats", "A Bird's World", "New England Habitats", "Honey Bees", and many more that illustrate the structure and function of the land around us. Here's a sample of museums that can keep your kids engaged, educated, and entertained practically til the start of springtime!
top

BE GREEN

recycle symbol enveloping planet Earth Low-Flow Toilets
One of the easiest ways to reduce your household water budget is to replace older toilets with ones that are low-flow. They are readily available on the market and two reviews can be found at these links:

http://terrylove.com/crtoilet.htm
http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/the-lowdown-on-low-flow-toilets/index.html

Another tip is to routinely check and replace as needed the flapper that, when worn out, can cause leaking (i.e., the toilet will "run"). You can also reduce water use by flushing every other time, or for solid waste. Dual-flush toilets allow you to choose lower or higher water amounts for liquid or solid waste.

Read more about these environmentally-friendly devices at:

http://home.howstuffworks.com/dual-flush-toilet.htm.

They are the way to "go"!


top


REFLECTIONS

“It is not half so important to know as to feel.” Rachel Carson
sculpture entitled girl over water.
Humans evolved from organisms that lived in the oceans. And water comprises over 60% of our bodies. So I think that it must be part of our nature to feel a beckoning to return to the water in one form or another. This sculpture, by Brian Allabaster, captures the essence of that connection. Who of us has not dreamed of swimming freely among the gentle plants and animals that inhabit our rivers, lakes, and oceans?

Image printed with permission by Brian Allabaster, ARBS, as accessed at
http://www.brian-alabaster.com/editions-for-sale/phoebe-bronze-98-cm-edition/sculpture-girl-over-water.html.


top


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

Click here for back issues.