Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) 

Bikeway Invasive Plants Contract

The BRWA is using a significant portion of the funds awarded under a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) for work on invasive species in the area of the Worcester Visitor Center and the Blackstone River Bikeway south to the Millbury terminus. Addressing invasive species is the major component of our SEP. We entered into a Voluntary Stewardship Agreement with the Department of Conservation and Recreation which has the responsibility to manage the Bikeway to enhance coordination as we implement activities as part of the SEP.

We are starting with invasive plant species inventory, mapping, development of vegetative management prescriptions and plans. A Request for Proposals was sent to over a dozen companies that do invasive species and vegetation management work. We received eight bids. The contract was awarded in early December, and work is scheduled to commence in February, 2026 (weather permitting). This phase of the project does not involve actual treatments of invasive species, but it sets the stage to conduct a range of treatments in 2026 - 2028.

A coordinating team consisting of DCR staff, BRWA board members, Joe Johnson (invasive species specialist and BHC volunteer), and Caleigh McLaren (Blackstone Watershed Collaborative) are providing guidance and expertise for this project.

The coordinating team will review the contractor’s prescriptions and select them based on benefits to the resource, benefit to DCR management of trails, opportunity to involve students and volunteers in implementing prescriptions, cost, and other considerations. Environmental analysis and review will be provided by DCR as the managing agency. We expect to implement treatments of invasive plants in 2026, continuing through the remaining time and funds under the SEP. Following successful treatment, we will reintroduce native plants to the treated areas.

Bikeway Native Plants

We also purchased native plants for the benefit of pollinating insects and animals that DCR and volunteers planted around the Blackstone Visitor Center last summer. These plants augmented work done previously to establish flower beds that are both visually appealing and benefit pollinators.

Millbury High School SEP Funding Report

SEP funds provided the support for a Watershed & Us program to students in the Millbury High School Environmental Council. The program develops the student’s understanding of watersheds and the importance of the specialized habitat of cold-water fisheries within the watershed. The BRWA Education Team also provided students with a description of possible environmental activities/projects sponsored by the BRWA that they could participate in, including water quality monitoring, a trash cleanup (over 12 bags collected) along the Blackstone River Greenway on March 28th, 2025.