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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.
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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 2010
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
Be 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.
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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
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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.
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