Blackstone River Watershed Association In This Issue BRWA NEWS Annual Winter Hike at Purgatory a Big Hit New Website Unveiled March Hike To Be Offered At River Bend Farm CALENDAR THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL Blackstone Strategic Planning Blackstone Water Quality Summit/Eco-Machine Exploration Uxbridge Asphalt Plant Contested Railroad Expansion Plans Spark Objection in Grafton Dam Bill Passed SPOTLIGHT ON SCIENCE The Mink FAMILY FOCUS QUESTION OF THE MONTH BE GREEN REFLECTIONS BRWA Online About the BRWA JOIN the BRWA Volunteer SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRWA NEWSLETTER Issue 37 February 2013 FROM THE EDITOR Hello fellow watershed supporters! Although this is my first issue as newsletter editor, I have been a part of the BRWA community since 2011 as its Program Assistant. During this time, I have been energized by all the people I have seen engaged in a wide range of activities directed at the conservation of the Blackstone River and its watershed. From cleanups, winter hikes, volunteer water quality monitoring, and classroom outreach to plant-pull parties, citizen workshops, river races, and more. I strongly believe that the foundation to any successful advocacy campaign is improving public awareness and education. That is where the monthly BRWA enewsletter comes in. It tells you the who-what-where-when-why-and-how of the Blackstone River watershed. The most important of these is “how”—as in how YOU can be a part of the BRWA’s mission to engage, educate, and advocate to improve water quality in the Blackstone River watershed. One thing that you can do today is visit our fabulous new website (see article below)! It’s chock-full of information and opportunities for you. Keep in mind, though, that both the BRWA’s website and enewsletter are intended as a dialogue between the BRWA and the larger community. We need to hear about your experiences, your concerns, and your ideas for a healthy watershed. I want to close with a sincere “Thank You” to Mike Sperry for his tireless work as both the creator and outgoing editor of the BRWA eNewsletter, and for spearheading our new website design process. Susan Thomas BRWA NEWS Annual Winter Hike at Purgatory a Big Hit Despite the chilly temps, 50 people, including cub scouts from Douglas, turned out Saturday January 26th for an invigorating, two-hour guided hike through the woods of Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton. Susan Thomas, BRWA Project Assistant and Mass Audubon Natural History Guide, explained the history of the reservation before leading the adventuresome hikers along Charley’s Loop where they learned about the plants and wildlife living there ranging from chestnut oaks and elephant-ear lichen, to red foxes and pileated woodpeckers. The crowd experienced the classic smell of the wintergreen plant and played detective with animal tracks seen in the snow. A highlight of the outing were the frozen cascades at Little Purgatory where Susan discussed glacial potholes and encouraged the hikers to return in the summer to experience the emerald beauty of this spot on a hot summer day. On the return trip, the hikers paralleled the Chasm and learned about past and current theories of its geologic formation. Examples of the Chasm’s rocks and minerals were on display back at the visitor center along with hot drinks and cookies. The crowd expressed a lot of enthusiasm for the outing and many asked about future hikes. Ranger Chuck Arning, with the National Park Service, will be leading our next event on March 23rd at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge. More details can be found at our program calendar below. top New Website Unveiled The BRWA has a new website and we’re pretty excited! With a new look and new features, we are offering a valuable resource for anyone seeking to learn about, improve, and/or simply enjoy the Blackstone watershed. Visitors to the new website will find more information about our mission, programs, and events. You will also discover more about the watershed, the challenges it faces, and the many ways you can get involved while also having fun! In the near future, we will add additional features designed especially for kids and educators. Please visit us at www.thebrwa.org and take some time to explore the new improved design and useful features. And if you have any comments or suggestions on the design or content of the BRWA’s website, please email Mike at mike.sperry@thebrwa.org. Thanks for looking! top March Hike to Be Offered at River Bend Farm The BRWA is excited to announce that Ranger Chuck Arning of the National Park Service will be leading a hike for the public at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The hike, titled "A Changed Landscape - Indians, Irish & Immigrants, So How Does Climate Change Fit In? - A Walk through the Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park", promises to be both informative and scenic. More information will be posted on our website in the near future. Please RSVP to events@thebrwa.org. top CALENDAR OF EVENTS February is National Grapefruit Month According to Ocean Spray, “Naturally loaded with the antioxidant Vitamin C, grapefruit juice helps boost the immune system during these winter months when colds and flu are at their peak.” So grab a grapefruit on your way to one of these events: 2/13 Trout Unlimited Northern RI meeting 6:30-8:30 p.m. One Depot Square, Woonsocket   info 2/16 Blackstone River Coalition’s Blackstone Water Quality Summit and Eco-Machine Exploration 9:30 a.m.-noon Brigham Hill Community Barn, 37 Wheeler Road, N. Grafton, MA.   Info from Donna Williams dwilliamsbrc@aol.com 2/20 Blackstone River Watershed Council Monthly Meeting 6:30-8:30 p.m. Amica Insurance Building 100 Amica Way, Lincoln, R.I.   info 2/28 BRWA Board Meeting NEW DAY & TIME 6:45 p.m. 271 Oak St., Uxbridge, MA. Public Invited.    info 3/4 Protecting Important Habitat in Worcester County with the Community Preservation Act 6:00-8:30 p.m. Alternatives Unlimited, Northbridge, MA.    info 3/9 Cape Cod Natural History Conference   Contact Melissa Lowe at mlowe@massaudubon.org or at 508-349-2615 x107 3/16 BRC Strategic Planning Session Blackstone Library, 86 Main St. Blackstone, MA.   Contact Peter Coffin for more info: peter.coffin@zaptheblackstone.org 3/16 BCC Workday. 9 a.m. at Plummer’s Landing, Church St. Northbridge, MA.   Info from Dave Barber 508-478-4918 3/23 Guided Hike by Ranger Chuck Arning 1-2:30 p.m. at River Bend Farm, Uxbridge, MA.   see above 3/23 Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, MA.   info top THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL Blackstone Strategic Planning Several members of the BRWA attended the first of two Blackstone Strategic Planning Sessions held in Woonsocket on Saturday, February 2nd. The session was organized by the Blackstone River Coalition (BRC) and facilitated by Meg Kerr of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program. The goal of these meetings is to identify and prioritize actions that the BRC and member groups can take to restore the river and its watershed. Dona Neely, Mike Sperry, and Susan Thomas all shared ideas during the brainstorming session, which included discussion on three planning categories: (1) water quality improvement and protection, (2) water quantity and stream flow protection, and (3) habitat improvement and protection. The participants will meet next on March 16 at the Blackstone Public Library. Contact the BRC at info@zaptheblackstone.org to get more information about the process. top Blackstone Water Quality Summit and Eco-Machine Exploration The Blackstone River Coalition's annual Water Quality Summit will take place on Saturday, February 16, 9:30 - noon, at the Brigham Hill Community Barn, 37 Wheeler Road, N. Grafton, MA, and the public is invited. The highlight of the Summit will be a presentation and tour of the Fisherville Eco-Machine and Canal Restorer, an innovative system to remove hydrocarbons and nutrients from the Blackstone River and Canal, located on Main Street in South Grafton, MA. John Todd,Ph.D., of John Todd Ecological Design, Woods Hole, MA, designer of The Eco-Machine and Canal Restorer, will explain how it pumps contaminated water from the Blackstone Canal, filters it through a series of tanks with enzyme-generating mushrooms and bacteria-producing aquatic plants and animals, and releases that “inoculated” water back into the canal to clean the water downstream. The presentation will take place at the Community Barn, and then participants will drive to the Eco-Machine site in South Grafton. Then Dr. Todd will conduct a tour of this unique system of natural systems to improve water quality in the Blackstone River and beyond. In addition to this special presentation the 2012 Blackstone Watershed Water Quality Report Card will be unveiled and the volunteer water quality monitors will be celebrated. Susan Thomas, with the BRWA, is the new Coordinator for the BRC’s monitoring program previously run by Tammy Gilpatrick, also of the BRWA. Please contact Donna Williams at dwilliamsbrc@aol.com if you plan to attend the Summit. top Uxbridge Asphalt Plant Contested Due to a series of paperwork oversights, a bituminous asphalt manufacturing plant was approved in Uxbridge by the town’s Planning Board on January 23. Back in 1995, the town voted to prohibit zoning for this type of operation. However, the amendment was never officially recorded, and a later recodification in 2008 essentially repealed the 1995 decision because of the filing error. As a result, Evergreen Development has been able to propose establishing a plant on Quaker Highway close to the Blackstone River. Asphalt manufacturing uses petroleum compounds in the mixing process and can contaminate ground water via chemical spills or leaks. This contamination can travel to nearby waterways — in the case of the proposed Evergreen plant, it is the Blackstone River that is at risk. Stormwater, if not managed properly, can also pick up contaminants and transport them to the river. Opponents plan to appeal the Planning Board’s ruling. top Railroad Expansion Plans Spark Objection in Grafton The Grafton and Upton Railroad has stirred up controversy in Grafton by moving forward with plans to establish a propane transfer station in town. At odds is whether the Railroad and its activities are under the jurisdiction of local laws and regulations, as the Town of Grafton claims, or if it is instead pre-empted from local oversight because it is covered by Federal regulation through the Interstate Commerce Act. The Railroad, owned by Jon Delli Priscoli, established regular operations only within the last few years and has been clearing land along its right-of-way for over a year, prompting concerns by citizens. The facility is located within a residential area, as well as a water supply protection overlay district for Grafton. It is near Pratts Pond, which feeds into Bummit Brook, a tributary of the Blackstone River. The Brook is a site for the Blackstone River Coalition’s volunteer water quality monitoring program. In December, 2012, the Mass Department of Environmental Protection found several violations at the site including the need for erosion control measures to keep soil runoff from entering the pond, brook, and surrounding wetlands. Filling and grading of wetlands had also taken place. These violations have not been fully resolved. The Town’s Board of Selectmen was kept in the dark of Priscoli’s plans to develop a transfer station until they were informed in late December, only two days before several 80,000-gallon propane tanks were scheduled to be moved through town to the project site. The Town obtained a cease and desist order through the Worcester Superior Court and the case moved up to the U.S. District Court. Legal arguments were made during January, after which the judge directed both parties to meet for mediation. Closing arguments are set for February 11, 2013. top Dam Bill Passed On January 10, Governor Patrick signed into law a bill authorizing $17 million for the repair or removal of unsafe or abandoned dams. As one component of the bill, the Department of Conservation and Recreation will create a report for the ~3,000 dams in existence across Massachusetts. This report will highlight which ones are in a state of disrepair and pose a significant hazard to public safety or property. In addition to repairing dams, communities will be able to use a revolving loan fund to remove dams where that action is deemed appropriate for safety or ecological reasons. From a conservation perspective, dam removal can restore natural flow to waterways and their associated aquatic life. In western Mass, the Briggsville Dam on the North Hoosic River was removed in 2010 and that action “restored continuity to more than 30 miles of headwater streams and trout habitat” (Steve LeBlanc, A.P. 12/31/2012). This is the type of ecological restoration that supporters of the bill hope to see across many watersheds in Massachusetts. The Blackstone River has the highest density of dams of any river in the country due to its role in the American Industrial Revolution. Much of its hydrological integrity and related function has been eliminated or compromised in sections where dams exist. The Millbury Dam, operated by Mass Electric, is one such dam slated for removal by the State. The goals of this project include restoring fish passage, general aquatic habitat, and hydrology to surrounding natural areas. top SPOTLIGHT ON SCIENCE The Mink (Mustela vision) This small fur-bearing mammal, weighing two to five pounds and belonging to the weasel family, ranges throughout Massachusetts's waterways. Coniferous woods often border the ponds and streams mink inhabit. This predator is adapted to an aquatic life with its webbed toes and oily fur. As a nocturnal hunter, it consumes muskrats, mice, voles, rabbits, birds, crayfish, and frogs. A litter of six to seven kits is born in late May and remains with the mother until the fall when the offspring seek their own territories. The mink makes its home in the bank of a pond or stream and requires clean water because it is a top predator that will accumulate any toxins found in its prey. top FAMILY FOCUS Many children enjoy exploring a river but don’t necessarily understand how it was formed in the first place. This online video by school book publisher McGraw Hill gives a short but clear explanation of the process. Check it out with your children and see what questions it sparks! top QUESTION OF THE MONTH What emotion do you experience when you are by a river’s edge? We want to hear from you! Email us at info@thebrwa.org with “Question of the Month” in the subject header. Check back next month to see readers’ responses. top BE GREEN Rather than throwing away greeting cards, whether they be holiday, birthday, or thank-you cards, consider using this program offered by the St. Jude’s Ranch that makes new cards from old. top REFLECTIONS “It is not half so important to know as to feel.” Rachel Carson The purpose of this segment of the BRWA’s monthly eNewsletter is to encourage us all to step back from the news, the meetings, the campaigns, the stewardship ... the business of environmental advocates, and to immerse ourselves, if even for a moment, in the beauty that we are striving so hard to save—the world around us. 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: Susan Thomas susan.thomas@thebrwa.org Mailing address: BRWA, 271 Oak Street Uxbridge, MA 01569 Phone: 508-278-5200  Web: www.thebrwa.org Click here for back issues.