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Blackstone River Watershed Association
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Forget not that the earth delights to feel
your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
Khalil Gibran
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TIP OF THE MONTH
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Reduce Unwanted Mail
reprinted from the Green Energy Times eNewsletter
Each year, 19 billion catalogs are mailed to American consumers. All
those catalogs require more than 53 million trees and 56 billion gallons
of wastewater to produce — and many of us don’t even know how we got on
so many mailing lists! So grab that stack of catalogs piling up on your
coffee table and clear out the clutter. Visit
CatalogChoice.org to put
a stop to unwanted catalogs. Within 10 weeks, your mailbox will be empty
of unwanted catalogs. A less cluttered mailbox means less pollution and
less wasted resources.
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BRWA NEWS
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All aboard – We’ve charted a new course!
The BRWA is on a new mission! Okay, well, it’s
the same mission, but with a stronger and clearer focus on the course.
As part of a strategic planning effort, the Blackstone River Watershed
Association now has a more succinct mission to engage, educate and
advocate for improved water quality in the Blackstone River Watershed.
The new mission statement captures the goals of the BRWA’s activities.
The e-newsletter, outreach activities, recreational events, and cleanups
provide opportunities to engage the public and get them involved with
our rivers and streams. The Coffee and Conservation presentations,
invasive aquatic plant management trainings, and watershed model
demonstrations for youth educate residents on water protection
strategies. The Water Quality Monitoring program, Shoreline Survey
initiatives, and partnerships with other environmentally-focused
organizations, municipal leaders and regulators encourage stewards
to advocate for better protection measures. All of these activities
lead to collaborations for healthier rivers and streams!
I hope that you will join us in this important mission. If you are
already involved, do more with us! Over the next few months we will
be hosting invasive plant trainings, a canoe paddle and an educational
hike … and more events will be announced soon. Your participation and
support will contribute to our success. As always, please do not
hesitate to let us know how we are doing and share opportunities you
would like us to consider.
Together we can make a difference ~ Dona Neely, BRWA President
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35th Annual BRWA Canoe and Kayak Race
A good time was had by all who attended BRWA’s 35th Annual Canoe and
Kayak Race on May 21. A total of 57 canoes and kayaks competed in the
professionally-sanctioned 12-mile race. Paddlers, friends and family
regrouped at the finish line at River Bend Farm, where they enjoyed food,
music, camaraderie and the long-missed sunshine. Trophies were awarded
to the top three racers in thirteen different categories. Congratulations
to all of those who participated! Results will be posted soon at
www.thebrwa.org.
The BRWA Board of Directors express their heart felt thanks and
appreciation to Rosemary Longo-Nutt who has managed the last (at least)
seven races. Her commitment to this event has ensured its continued
success. Sadly the time has come for her to let someone else take the
oars since she has moved to Connecticut. Rosemary has graciously agreed
to guide a new team leader and committee next year. We need your help
to keep the race going!
Let us know
if you are interested in helping.
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A Different Kind of Green Monster
Invasive aquatic plants such as milfoil,
water chestnut and fanwort can significantly alter the ecology of a
body of water. These “monsters” can invade and clog waterways and have
a devastating impact on critical habitat and recreational opportunities.
The goal of BRWA’s NIP program is to Nip Invasive Plants in the bud
before they get out of control. To accomplish this, we need your help
to locate areas where an invasive is just beginning to get established.
Quick detection and action can prevent the plant from spreading and
doing harm.
Join us June 22, 6:00-8:00p, at River Bend Farm Visitors Center in
Uxbridge to learn how to identify and manage the unwanted species.
Tom Flannery from DCR’s Lakes and Ponds program will lead a two hour
interactive forum that will review plant characteristics and provide
user-friendly reference materials.
Participants will be encouraged to survey a river or stream in their
neighborhood and report findings of invasive aquatic plants. The
information collected will be used to identify areas of concern that
will be targeted for intensive trainings and management strategies.
This special training is limited to 15 participants – so don’t wait
to RSVP to info@thebrwa.org
or 508-278-5200. Let us know if you are interested but unable to attend
and we will hold a spot for you at a future training. Join us in the
fight to Nip Invasive Plants!
Photo is Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Mehrhoff, L. J., J. A. Silander, Jr., S. A. Leicht, E. S. Mosher and N. M. Tabak. 2003.
IPANE: Invasive Plant Atlas of New England. Department of Ecology &
Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
URL: http://www.ipane.org
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BRWA Education Program - The Kids Get It
BRWA Board members are teaming up to bring the watershed model into
classrooms and provide students with a hands-on activity that helps
them understand how our every day actions on the land impact the water
quality of rivers and streams and what can be done to minimize pollutants
that can get swept up with runoff and deposited in local waterways.
Keeping true to the adage that “seeing is believing” this demonstration
shows how contaminated rain water can affect the river in a way that
inspires a heart-felt “eeewww” of disgust. The students immediately
understand the problem and become motivated to go home and relay their
new found knowledge! The watershed model was recently shared with three
seventh grade classes in Hopedale and will be presented to five fourth
grade classes in Mendon during the month of June.
Let us
know if your youth group is interested in getting this training.
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BRWA Wins UniBank
Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge Partnership Grant
The BRWA is pleased and honored to be chosen as this year’s Charitable
Recipient by the Greenway Challenge’s Steering Committee. Both
organizations encourage community members to get out and enjoy the
resources provided by the Blackstone River and actively promote
recreational opportunities in the Valley, including paddling, hiking
and cycling. The donation will be used to help the BRWA expand its
youth educational activities.
To learn more visit
www.greenwaychallenge.org/CharitableRecipient2011.html and
www.greenwaychallenge.org/Media and PR.html.
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Volunteers Needed for
Greenway Challenge Event
The BRWA will be hosting a transition site in this year’s Greenway
Challenge event, which will take place on September 24. This event is
billed as “New England’s Premiere Adventure Race” where athletes run,
paddle and cycle through the Blackstone Valley. We are looking for
volunteers to help us get racers get out of their boats and to their
bicycles quickly and safety. This is sure to be a fun and exciting day!
Let us know if you can join us.
To learn more about the race visit the website
www.greenwaychallenge.org.
Volunteers are also needed to help with the Greenway Challenge Dry Run
on Friday June 3. Volunteers are needed to simulate racers (running,
bicycling, and paddling at various locations in the Valley) and to review
the process at the BRWA transition site.
If you would like to help with race simulation, contact Barbara Dixon
at the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor office (401-762-0250)
To help with the June 3rd dry run at the BRWA transition site,
Email
or call Jim Plasse at 508-685-0382.
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BRWA Announces Special Member Paddle
Save the date! The BRWA will be holding a
special Member Paddle on June 26, 2011. This will be a family-friendly,
guided tour of a section of the Blackstone River. More details will
be available soon. Remember, this is a members-only event.
Visit www.thebrwa.org
for information on BRWA membership.
Don't miss out - join today!
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Get Updated on the
Massachusetts Endangered Species Act
reprinted from MassWildlife News
Due to positive response from attendees at a presentation given at the
MACC Annual Conference this spring, the Division of Fisheries and
Wildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP)
has scheduled a series of presentations about the
Massachusetts
Endangered Species Act (MESA) across the state. Interested
conservationists, property owners, conservation commissioners,
planning boards and commissions, other city and town officials,
land managers, conservation organizations, and land developers are
invited to attend. The presentations will be given by Dr. Eve Schluter,
NHESP Endangered Species Review Biologist. Schluter will provide an
overview of the Act, an explanation of the 2010 MESA regulation changes,
information on Priority and Estimated habitat mapping and NHESP role
in reviewing activities and project located in rare species habitats.
Thursday, June 16, 2011 –
Karl Weiss Conference and Education Center, North Drive, Westborough 7- 9PM.
(Located 200 yards from the DFW Field Headquarters.)
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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
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June is National Rivers Month
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6/2
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Wet and Wild in Your Backyard: Rain Gardens and Water Gardens
MA Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary 6:30pm - 8:30pm
info
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6/4
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National Trails Day
info
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6/4-6/5
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Free Fishing Weekend STATEWIDE
info
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6/4-6/11
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International Clothesline Week
info
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6/8
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MA Statewide Stormwater Management Training Seminar
sponsored by the Blackstone River Coalition 1pm - 5pm, Hopedale Community
House, 43 Hope St., Hopedale.
info
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6/9
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National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day (Mmmmm...pie)
info
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6/9
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BRWA Board Meeting 6:30pm 271 Oak St., Uxbridge
info
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6/11
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BRC Water Quality Sampling
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6/16
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DFW Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Presentation
see article above
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6/18
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Blackstone River Theater Solstice Festival 11am - 7pm
Diamond Hill Park, Rte. 114, Cumberland, RI
info
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6/20-6/26
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National Pollinator Week
info
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6/20-6/26
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Recycle Week
info
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6/22
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BRWA Nip Invasive Plants (NIP) Training 6pm-8pm
River Bend Farm Visitors Center, Uxbridge
see article above
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6/25
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Great American Backyard Campout
info
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6/26
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Canal Fest Concert - Blackstone Valley Community
Concert Band 1pm-6pm River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
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6/26
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BRWA Special Member Paddle
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IN YOUR COMMUNITY
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At the State Parks
Join us in welcoming Paul Clifford, the new Seasonal Interpreter at
Blackstone
River and Canal Heritage State Park. Paul can be found at the
River Bend Farm Visitor Center in Uxbridge. Programs for all ages are
offered at the park including Kidleidescope Kids, Canal Walk,
Recycle eARTh and Healthy Heart Trail Walk.
See the
June calendar for details.
Also in the area is
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton where Park Interpreter
Kathryn has a number of great programs including Lady Slipper Walk,
Hiking Beyond Purgatory, Chasm Tour, Nature Story Hour, Name That Skull,
Rock Detectives, Scats & Signs, Woodland Walk and a special Family
Adventures children's program presented by the Metacomet Land Trust.
See the May and
June calendar for details.
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Paddler Advisory
Paddlers should be aware that some of the bridges
over the Blackstone River are currently being repaired or replaced.
Currently work is being done on the Rt 122 bridge in Uxbridge.
Construction equipment and vehicles are using the canoe landing parking
lot making access difficult.
Exercise caution when approaching the work sites, watch for falling debris
and obey any signs or instructions. Use common sense and portage if that
is the better option. And, of course, always wear an approved personal
flotation device. Have a safe and enjoyable paddling season.
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| OF GLOBAL INTEREST
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North American Amphibian
Monitoring Program Seeks Volunteers
The North American Amphibian Monitoring Program
(NAAMP) is seeking volunteers willing to adopt pre-selected routes in
Massachusetts as part of a long-term amphibian monitoring program.
The program was created to coordinate national and local efforts to
collect long-term data on amphibian populations across much of the
United States and relies on volunteer monitors as a cost-effective way
to gather data over broad geographic areas.
For more information about the NAAMP in Massachusetts go to:
www.massnaamp.org/index.html
For a list of available monitoring routes go to:
www.massnaamp.org/routes/index.html
If you are interested in adopting a route please contact Scott Jackson
(sjackson@umext.umass.edu ; 413-545-4743).
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Views & opinions expressed in linked websites do not necessarily
state or reflect those of the BRWA.
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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
enhance and preserve the Blackstone River system and its watershed; its
objectives are to:
- Educate members, supporters, watershed residents on watershed protection strategies,
- Engage the public in watershed stewardship activities, 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 mikes_brwa@comcast.net
Mailing address: BRWA, 271 Oak Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
Phone: 508-278-5200 Web: www.thebrwa.org
Click here for back issues.
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