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

Be a Member in 2010!

Earth Day Cleanup

2010 Canoe & Kayak Race

Interactive Water Quality Map

Coffee& Conversation

IN YOUR COMMUNITY

MA Awards 4 MW of Solar Contracts

OF GLOBAL INTEREST

MA Students & Citizen Science

BRWA Online
About the BRWA
JOIN the BRWA
Volunteer

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRWA NEWSLETTER

Issue 2 February 2010

From the Editor
Thank you for opening and reading this issue of the Blackstone River Watershed Association eNewsletter. We hope you are as excited as we are about the year ahead. We want this newsletter to reach the broadest possible audience and urge you to forward it to BRWA members who may not be receiving it or to others who have an interest in the Watershed.

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.

NAME THIS PUBLICATION - We still need a name for the BRWA eNewsletter.  We're offering a free annual membership and other goodies for the best suggestion from our subscribers.  Email your ideas to the Editor before April 8.

BRWA NEWS

Join the BRWA - Have Fun and Help the Watershed!

The BRWA is getting ready to kick off its annual membership drive – your support will be greatly appreciated! Last year we added a new member benefit that was extremely popular – free access to canoes to paddle down the canal during the Concerts in the Park series at River Bend Farm. We have several new educational and recreational programs planned for this year that will also include member advantages - don’t miss out!

Looking for a place to volunteer? We have lots of opportunities – from riverbank clean ups to organizing educational forums. What ever your talents are, we could use them! Send an email to info@thebrwa.org and let us know of your interests. Thank you.


Earth Day Cleanup
Come join the BRWA for our Earth Day Cleanup, Saturday, April 24th from 9am to Noon. Cleanup sites include Draper Mill area (Fitzgerald Street), Hopedale; Riverbend Farm area (Oak Street) Uxbridge; downstream from Haywood Mill apts (intersection of Gilboa and Charles), Douglas, MA; and Patrick Henry Street (downstream from Wacantuck Dam), Uxbridge, MA. For additional information or to sign up as a volunteer, e-mail info@thebrwa.org or call 508-278-5200. Pizza and refreshments will be provided.

BRWA Canoe and Kayak Race 201009canoerace_1.jpg
The 34th BRWA Canoe and Kayak Race will be held Saturday, May 15, 2010. Updated information about the Race will be found on the race website as it becomes available.

We are still seeking volunteers to shadow Race director, Rosemary Longo who will be stepping down after this year’s race. Please contact Rosemary if you are interested in helping out on a particular portion of the race for next year and beyond.


Explore the Blackstone River Interactive Water Quality Map
thumb_map_r.jpgBe sure to check out the new interactive water quality map on the Blackstone River Coalition website. You can zoom in on monitoring sites in your area and view the quality ratings by year and parameter sampled. The BRWA has been a major partner in this monitoring project for 6 years and has responsibility for 27 monitoring sites between Grafton and the Rhode Island border.


Coffee & Conversation Series
In April we will kick off our quarterly "Coffee and Conservation" series that will feature a guest speaker and conversation about what we can do to protect our local environment. Let us know what topics you would like to learn about! e-mail info@thebrwa.org or call 508-278-5200.



IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Massachusetts Awards 4-MW of Solar Contracts
Massachusetts, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Friday February 5, announced the award of federal stimulus-funded contracts to install 4.1 megawatts (MW) of solar energy at 12 public water and wastewater treatment facilities throughout the Commonwealth. The 12 contracts represent the state's largest-ever award for solar installation at public facilities.

The Upper Blackstone Wastewater Pollution Abatement District Regional Wastewater Plant (Blackstone and Millbury) is one of the designated locations.

Click here for the full article

OF GLOBAL INTEREST

MA Students-Citizen Science with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The latest issue of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publication Refuge Update presents an article about students participating in conservation science projects at refuges in Massachusetts and New Mexico. These young people not only get a unique educational opportunity but also have a direct positive impact on their environment.

The focus of the issue is on Citizen Science. Citizen Science programs employ volunteers, usually with little or no scientific background, to perform research related tasks. Many opportunities exist for people of all ages and abilities to practice citizen science including our ongoing Water Quality Monitoring program.

While visiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website, check out their many other fine publications accessible from their home page at http://www.fws.gov/.


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


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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