Blackstone River Watershed Association In This Issue TIP OF THE MONTH BRWA NEWS Court Rejects UBWPAD Petition Greenway Challenge Volunteers Needed CALENDAR IN YOUR COMMUNITY Town of Sutton Accepts Manchaug Pond Dam & Pond UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge OF GLOBAL INTEREST Climate Change - What is Known Water Conservation at the 2012 London Olympics Rachel Carson Sense of Water Contest BRWA Online About the BRWA JOIN the BRWA Volunteer SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRWA NEWSLETTER Issue 32 August 2012 Bend low again, night of summer stars. So near you are, sky of summer stars, So near, a long arm man can pick off stars, Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl, So near you are, summer stars, So near, strumming, strumming, So lazy and hum-strumming. Summer Stars - Carl Sandburg TIP OF THE MONTH Back to School  Practice the “3 Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) when making getting ready for Back To School. The EPA has some waste reduction tips for consumers. EPA Greenversations blogger Vanja Basaric offers some additional tips for college students. BRWA NEWS Court Rejects Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District Petition On August 3, 2012, First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston ruled on petitions by the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District(UBWPAD) and the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) for changes to the limits imposed by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit on the discharges of the wastewater treatment plant operated by the District. The court rejected all arguments by the District and ruled that the EPA used reasonable methods based on the best available science and in compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act and other regulations that govern the permitting process. The more lenient limits on Phosphorous, Nitrogen and Aluminum sought by the UBWPAD, and the tougher standards sought by the CLF were denied. Readers are urged to read through the ruling for a better understanding of the factors leading up to the decision of the court. The permit process now moves on to the determination of how the permit will be implemented. It is during this phase that cost of implementation, impact to communities and a reasonable compliance schedule are considered. The BRWA urges all parties to work together to meet the requirements of the permit and to continue to improve water quality in the Watershed. top Greenway Challenge Volunteers Needed The UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge, an annual event that promotes the recreational quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley, will be held September 29 (rain date Oct 6). This multi-stage race includes running, bicycling, and paddling segments through the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. The Challenge typically attracts 400 participants and 1,000 spectators, and involves over 100 volunteers. Working with the BRWA and similar organizations, the proceeds of the Challenge support clean water campaigns, hiking and biking trails, wildlife projects, environmental education, and development of waterway access. This year's race course will include the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, concluding with a Children's Challenge and Awards Ceremony at River Bend Farm. If you would be interested in helping out, a number of volunteers are needed at the park and additional transition sites for the day of the race. Additional information on the Greenway Challenge is available at www.greenwaychallenge.org. If you would like to volunteer to help on the day of the race, let the BRWA know at events@thebrwa.org. top CALENDAR OF EVENTS **** Alternatives, Inc. Free Summer Concert Series Thursday Nights 6pm, July - Sept   info 8/30 Ranger Walkabout - "Charles Dickens' Worcester" 6:30pm Mechanics Hall at 321 Main Street, Worcester   info 8/31 Blue Moon   info 9/6 Ranger Walkabout - "The Strike of 1934" Meeting place TBA, Saylesville RI   info 9/8 Family Canoeing on the Quinsigamond River, Grafton Sponsored by Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm   info 9/8 BRC Water Quality Sampling   9/8-9/9, 9/15-9/16 Ranger Walkabout - "Blackstone Valley & The War of 1812" 1:00pm - 4:00pm, Lincoln, RI   info 9/13 Ranger Walkabout - "Lonsdale Marsh" 6:30pm Meet at John Street bikeway parking lot (Route 123) Cumberland, RI   info 9/20 BRWA Board Meeting Special Date, new time 7pm 271 Oak St., Uxbridge   info 9/22 BCC Workday. 9am at Plummer’s Landing, Church St. Northbridge.   info top IN YOUR COMMUNITY Town of Sutton Accepts Manchaug Pond Dam & Pond Earlier this month, Sutton selectmen voted to purchase the Manchaug Pond Dam from it’s owner, Interface Fabrics, Inc., for $1. In addition, the company will give the town $350,000 for long-term maintenance of the dam. Interface Fabric had previously announced that it would breach the dam after they ceased operations in the area and attempts to transfer ownership to other parties failed. The cost of the maintenance was deemed too high for either the surrounding towns or private organizations to assume. Breaching the dam would have significantly reduced the size of Manchaug Pond, a popular recreational asset in the area, and reduced the flow of the Mumford River, causing problems for the Douglas wastewater treatment plant. The deal ends years of uncertainty surrounding the Dam and Pond. top UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge Time is running out to register for the 2012 UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge. Registration information is available on the Greenway Challenge website at www.greenwaychallenge.org or by calling 401-762-0250 ext 5503. This year’s race begins at Diamond Hill Park in Cumberland, RI, and finishes at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge, Mass. The course will total 44.5 miles and consist of three running segments, two biking segments and two paddle segments. The deadline for registration for New England's premier “Adventure Race" is September 1. If you want to participate but don’t have a team, visit the Greenway Challenge’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GreenwayChallenge to see if there is a spot on an existing team. top OF GLOBAL INTEREST Climate Change - What is Known The National Research Council (NRC) has released a booklet, Climate Change: Evidence, Impacts, and Choices and a series of videos, Climate Change: Lines of Evidence to help summarize what is known about climate change. The booklet and video summarize the current state of knowledge about climate change, explain some impacts expected in this century and beyond and examine how science can help inform choices about managing and reducing the risks posed by climate change. The NRC is the operating arm of the National Academies of Science (NAS) and Engineering (NAE) top Water Conservation at the 2012 London Olympics The complex built for the Summer Olympic Games in London had the potential for intensive water usage in an area already water-stressed. To combat this and to provide a sustainable facility for the future, the designers implemented an ambitious water efficiency strategy. Low-flow sinks and showers, low-flow toilets and waterless/low-flow urinals were installed throughout the Olympic park. Pool filter backwash is recycled for toilets and urinals. The boldest step was to develop the Old Ford Water Recycling Plant using new technology to reclaim blackwater (sewage) for use in bathroom fixtures and many irrigation applications where non-potable water can be used. The design resulted in an estimated 58 percent reduction in water consumption. For a more in-depth article: "London 2012 Goes the Distance for Water Conservation" by Amy Southerland, The Atlantic Cities top Rachel Carson Sense of Water Contest The finalists have been announced in the Rachel Carson Sense of Water Contest. This year's contest, renamed the Sense of Water Contest to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, features teams who were asked to share their love for water through dance, photos, essays, and poetry. Click here to view the work of the finalists and vote for your favorites. The deadline for voting is September 24. 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: Michael Sperry mike.sperry@thebrwa.org Mailing address: BRWA, 271 Oak Street Uxbridge, MA 01569 Phone: 508-278-5200  Web: www.thebrwa.org Click here for back issues.