Blackstone River Watershed Association In This Issue TIP OF THE MONTH BRWA NEWS BRWA Winter Hike MACOLAP Lake and Pond Management Workshop CALENDAR IN YOUR COMMUNITY Green Community Grant Awards Presented to Watershed Towns Freshwater Lead Sinker and Jig Ban OF GLOBAL INTEREST Walking to School BRWA Online About the BRWA JOIN the BRWA Volunteer SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRWA NEWSLETTER Issue 24 December 2011 The BRWA wishes you a joyous holiday season. This month, we offer a poem set to music. The poem is Snow by Archibald Lampman Music and vocals by Loreena McKennitt Many of us find ourselves rushing about at this time of year. Take a moment, click here and enjoy BRWA NEWS BRWA Winter Hike The BRWA will host a Winter Hike, Saturday February 4th at Waters Farm in Sutton, MA. Join National Park Service Ranger Chuck Arning as he leads us on an exploration of of this beautiful property using natural history, geology and evidence of land use to weave the tale of it’s long history. Save the date. More information will be sent as it becomes available. top MACOLAP Lake and Pond Management Workshop The Massachusetts Congress of Lake and Pond Associations (MACOLAP) is holding it's 25th Annual Winter Lake and Pond Management Workshop on January 28, 8-3 at Worcester State University ($25 for members, $30 nonmembers, $15 Students) See www.macolap.org or email Carol Hildrerth, MACOLAP Workshop Coordinator at hildrethcr@comcast.net for details, or call 508-429-5085. top CALENDAR OF EVENTS 1/12 BRWA Board Meeting 6:30pm 271 Oak St., Uxbridge   info 1/18 Winnie the Pooh Day   “Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.” 1/23 National Pie Day (Mmmmm...pie)   info 1/28 MACOLAP 25th Annual Winter Lake and Pond Management Workshop 8-3 at Worcester State University  see above top IN YOUR COMMUNITY Green Community Grant Awards Presented to Watershed Towns On December 2, 2011, six of the state's newest Green Communities, including Mendon, Millbury and Sutton, were presented with awards by Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr to finance clean energy projects. The grants, awarded as part of the MA EEA Green Communities Designation and Grant Program will be used for energy management systems, high-efficiency street lights, building weatherization, and other projects. These towns join 80 others designated as Commonwealth "Green Communities". Visit the MA EEA website for the full text of the press release or for more information on the Green Communities program. top Freshwater Lead Sinker and Jig Ban Takes Effect January 1, 2012 reprinted from MassWildlife News The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) reminds all freshwater anglers that as of January 1, 2012, the use of any lead fishing sinkers and lead jigs weighing less than one ounce is now prohibited in all inland waters (freshwater) of the Commonwealth. In terms of this regulation, “lead sinker” or “lead weight” is defined as any sinker or weight made from lead that weighs less than 1 ounce. A “lead jig” is defined as any lead-weighted hook weighing less than one ounce. Prohibited tackle includes lead sinkers and jigs (weighing less than an ounce) painted, coated with some other substance or with attached “skirts”. Other types of sinkers, fishing lures, and/or fishing tackle including, artificial lures, hooks, weighted flies, lead-core, buzz-baits, spinner baits, or other weighted fishing lines may still be used for freshwater fishing. Ecologically safe alternatives to lead sinkers and lead jigs (such as steel and tin) are readily available from many sources and come in a wide variety of styles, shapes, weights, and sizes to meet every type of fishing need. In 2009, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board unanimously voted to prohibit the use of lead sinkers and jigs weighing less than an ounce with the provision that the regulation go into effect January 1, 2012. This delay gave manufacturers and anglers time to adjust to these changes. “The regulation was implemented primarily to protect the state’s small population of Common Loon (Gavia immer),” said Dr. Mark Tisa, Assistant Director of Fisheries. Common Loons are a state listed Species of Special Concern. Visit Loons, Lead Sinkers & Jigs on the MassWildlife website for more information. top OF GLOBAL INTEREST Walking to School There was a time when seemingly everybody walked or rode their bike to school. Now, due to spread out communities and safety concerns, fewer than 15 percent of children walk to school every day. There is evidence that this trend has contributed to increased health issues in children, including obesity. Furthermore, it has led to increased automobile traffic and associated environmental impacts. In an effort to reverse the trend, Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs have been established to provide information, resources and assistance to communities seeking to improve walking and bicycling conditions for schoolchildren. For more information and resources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHSTA) Safe Routes to School , Practice and Promise Federal SRTS program Massachusetts massRIDES SRTS program National Center for Safe Routes to School International Walk to School in the USA Walking to School, an EPA Greenversations blog entry from Amy Miller, a writer who works in the public affairs office of EPA New England 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 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.