Winnie the Pooh

Calling all fans of the Blackstone River Watershed! Join us on Saturday, April 13 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. for a watershed-wide cleanup as the Blackstone River Watershed Association and the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone bring together volunteers in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island to clean and help protect the rivers, streams, ponds and lakes.

There will be some dedicated sites chosen for cleanups, but volunteers are encouraged to adopt a site and/or adopt a storm drain in their community. All three organizations are partnering on an effort to raise awareness about storm drains and their role in impacting water quality.

For Massachusetts communities of the watershed, volunteers will work with the Blackstone River Watershed Association. Meet at Blackstone Heritage Corridor offices at 670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA, for supplies and volunteer check-in.

Register at CleanupBRWA.Eventbrite.com.

For more Massachusetts information, contact Bonnie Combs at bcombs@BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org.

For Rhode Island communities of the watershed, volunteers will work with Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone. Meet at the Blackstone River Watershed Council Education Center at 100 New River Road, Manville, RI.

Register at CleanupBRWC.Eventbrite.com.

For more Rhode Island information, contact Keith Hainley at KeithHainley@BlackstoneRiver.org.

Spring is finally here (kind of). Come join the Fun at our annual Family Fun Fishing Day on Saturday May 4th 2019.

This is a FREE event! A great way to introduce kids to fishing with the help of our team of instructors.

There are a bunch prizes for different fish categories and age groups. Don't have a fishing rod? No problem, we have them available too. Come early, first come first serve.

To register, go to www.thebrwa.org.

*** This is an early save the date event notice. If the registration for the event is not posted yet, please check back again

Concerned with the increase in large-scale solar facilities and the impacts they can have on the watershed and environment, the BRWA has released it's Large-Scale Solar Installations Position Paper and Resource Guide for Town Officials. The document describes the position of the BRWA and provides information and guidance for town officials as they evaluate large-scale solar proposals.

At its annual water quality monitoring summit and volunteer appreciation breakfast, the Blackstone River Coalition (BRC) released its 2018 Report Card to a standing-room-only audience. The event was attended by program volunteers from MA and RI, municipal planners, environmental consultants, watershed group representatives, and community leaders.

Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus welcomed the audience to the new Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center in Worcester and commended the volunteers for their ongoing commitment to the watershed.

The focus of the summit was on signs of recovery and on the need to recognize and protect Coldwater Fishery Resources (CFRs) in the Watershed. WQM Program Coordinator Susan Thomas presented the 2018 Report Card highlighting positive news that included improvements in nutrient levels at many Watershed sampling locations. Adam Kautza, fisheries biologist with MA Fish and Wildlife, gave a presentation on CFRs stressing the need for cold, oxygen-rich, clean waters to support brook trout and other cold-water species and the to protect and improve the limited designated streams in the watershed.

BRWA Education Team Coordinator JoAnne Holahan spoke about the BRC and BRWA working together to teach students, municipal planners, and communities on the need for watershed protection through classroom demonstrations, public tours of cold-water streams, family fishing events, and municipal presentations.

Throughout the event, recognition was given to the continued advocacy and stewardship efforts of the over 100 program volunteers whose commitment allowed the program to achieve 97% coverage of last year's 600 water quality sampling events.

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