Blackstone River Watershed Association In This Issue BRWA NEWS 2014 Water Quality Monitoring Summit Educating Youth in Millville EarthDay Cleanup 2014 CALENDAR THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL Blackstone River Valley Visitor Center Resurrected Phosphate-free Detergents Eliminated Rhode Island Program Embraces Watershed Approach Blackstone Canal Access to be Improved REFLECTIONS BRWA Online About the BRWA JOIN the BRWA Volunteer SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRWA NEWSLETTER Issue 45 March 2014 BRWA NEWS 2014 Water Quality Monitoring Summit The Blackstone River Coalition's 11th season of volunteer water quality monitoring kicked off on March 1st with the annual Summit, held at the Woonsocket Public Library. Volunteer monitors with the Blackstone Headwaters Coalition, the BRWA, and the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone attended. Susan Thomas, Coordinator for the watershed-wide monitoring program, presented the 2013 Report Card, which assigns each of the watershed's 75 monitored sites with grades ranging from excellent to poor for the following categories: aesthetics, turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, percent saturation of dissolved oxygen, and nutrients. Copies of this report can be obtained by contacting Susan Thomas at acadia94@verizon.net. Therese Beaudoin, Mass DEP Watershed Coordinator, gave a presentation on the invaluable role that volunteer monitors play in environmental agency policy-making and enforcement. Also speaking was Tom Borden, the new Director of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, who gave an overview of changes made recently to the program that will better reflect Massachusetts’s portion of the watershed. Peter Coffin, BRC Coordinator, highlighted recent developments in the watershed including the following: (1) an appeal of the town of Shrewsbury's permit to remove additional ground water from Poor Farm Brook - a designated cold-water fishery; (2) Holy Cross Professor Bill Sobczak's plans to submit a peer-reviewed journal article based on an analysis of the BRC's 10 years of monitoring data; (3) A BRC grant funding tours of the Fisherville Ecomachine in Grafton; and (4) BRWC's bidding process for two fish ladders in Pawtucket. As the backbone of the monitoring program, the volunteers themselves are always the focus of the annual summit. To acknowledge the long-running commitment made to the program by many volunteers, the BRC presented Certificates of Appreciation to 42 people including those assisting the BRWA with the midreach portion of the watershed. The following people have volunteered with the BRWA in the lab and/or the field for 5-9 seasons: Bob and Cheryl MacIndoe, Mike Sperry, Michelle Reed-Walsh, and Dee Gordan. Volunteers with the BRWA who have assisted for all ten seasons include: Theresa Beaudoin, Joanne Holahan, Gwen and Wyatt Mills, Dona Neely, Jim and Maggie Plasse, and Charles Sweet. Kudos to these watershed heros! Jane St. Denis, Ken Guertin, and Mike Sperry receiving their Certificates of Appreciation from Susan Thomas (far right) for volunteering 5-9 years as monitors with the Blackstone River Coalition's Watershed-wide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program. Photo Credit: Therese Beaudoin top Educating Youth in Millville Thirty-four fourth graders at Millville Elementary School recently participated in the BRWA's interactive watershed model program. The students enjoyed taking on the roles of commercial developer, farmer, plant manager, homeowner and more to construct a working model of the Blackstone River watershed. With the Blackstone River minutes from their school, the activity offers a direct connection to their daily lives. Prior to the program, presented by BRWA Project Coordinator Susan Thomas, the students couldn't explain what a watershed is and didn't understand the difference between point and non-point pollution (i.e., runoff). After getting their hands dirty "polluting"" the watershed, the students brainstormed best management practices such as reducing yard fertilizers, picking up pet waste, and reducing the use of road salts. Students "pollute" model with road salt and other contaminants. A post-test supplied by the BRWA and administered by the teachers indicated that these fourth graders gained an understanding of key elements of watershed protection. Comments by students included the following: "I live in the Millville watershed that dumps into the Blackstone River."; "A watershed that I live in is the Blackstone River and all the water pours out into the Atlantic ocean."; "The pollution harms animals with gills when the water is dirty and {the animals} can't breath."; "....keep the watershed cleaned so it does not run into lakes or rivers or any kind of water."; "I learned even if water pollution does not hurt us it hurts other beings."; "...get your car fixed so it doesn't spill oil everywhere."; "....stop using chemicals to get rid of pests."; and "....you should probably have a rain garden." Sounds like the future of the Blackstone River watershed is in good hands! top EarthDay Cleanup 2014 Grafton youth help to remove trash from the Quinsigamond River. Photo Credit: Susan Thomas As the snow melts and waterways start gushing, please take a moment to scout out streams and ponds near your home or place of work that need trash removed from the shoreline or water. The BRWA will provide Team Leaders for each site that we target this year. As always, these Team Leaders will provide gloves, trashbags, grabbers, and detailed directions onsite. Though most of our volunteers work on land, we will need several hardy folks with boats that can assist at Plummers Landing in Northbridge and other sites where lots of trash tends to get trapped by downed trees and other in-stream woody debris. This year's EarthDay Cleanup will be a week later than normal due to a late Easter holiday, so mark your calendars for Sunday April 27th from 1–3 p.m. Please contact us at events@thebrwa.org or call 508-278-5200 to suggest a cleanup site or to sign up as a volunteer. top CALENDAR OF EVENTS March 22nd is World Water Day. The United Nations sponsors this annual event to promote the significant value of freshwater and to encourage wise use of this resource. The theme for 2014's celebration is "Water and Energy." One goal of the U.N. is to work towards "energy security and sustainable water use in a green economy. " More information on World Water Day can be found at http://www.unwater.org/activities/awareness-campaigns/world-water-day/en/. 3/17 Nuts & Bolts of Green Infrastructure Design and Construction for Developers, Designers, Contractors and Municipal Officials: Promoting Clean Water, Greening our Streets and Neighborhoods. Holyoke Community College. Workshop and Vendor Fair co-sponsored by EPA Region 1/New England, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center. Free.    info 3/19 Improving Water Quality and Quantity with Pervious Pavement free webinar. 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM. Discussions on reducing urban stormwater runoff, and improving water quality through permeable pavement systems.   info 3/19 Blackstone River Watershed Coalition Monthly Meeting. 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Lincoln RI.   info 3/21 Governor Forum on Energy, the Environment and the Innovation Economy. Co-sponsored by Mass Audubon. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Faneuil Hall, Boston. Candidates for Governor will engage in a moderated discussion on their views related climate change action, clean energy, jobs, sustainability, and the livability of our Commonwealth, as well as issues of climate change adaptation, energy efficiency and other related topics. Free - Registration Required   register 3/22 BRWA Water Quality Monitoring Kit Hand-Out. 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 271 Oak Street, Uxbridge.   info 3/22 2014 Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference: Healthy Land - Healthy Communities. 8am - 4pm. Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, MA.   info 3/27 BRWA Board Meeting. 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 271 Oak St., Uxbridge   info 3/29 Night Hike - Flashlight Exploration. West Hill Dam, Uxbridge. 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Meet at Dam. 518 East Hartford Avenue. Info: (508) 278-2511.   4/6 Blackstone Canal Conservancy Work Day. 9am. Meet at Plummers Landing west parking area, Church Street, Northbridge. For info, contact Dave Barber 508-478-4918   info 4/27 BRWA Annual EarthDay Cleanup. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. River Bend Farm Visitor Center, Uxbridge. It's time, once again, to grab your boots and gloves and pitch in to clean up the shorelines and waterways of the Blackstone River Watershed. BRWA Team Leaders will work with volunteers along waterways in Grafton, Millbury, Northbridge, Uxbridge and Millville/Blackstone. If you know of a site that needs cleaning, please let us know! Have fun outdoors while protecting your local water resources. You can make a difference by volunteering just a couple of hours of your time. This project also meets community service requirements for many organizations. After the cleanup, volunteers will meet back at the Visitor Center for pizza and drinks. Contact: events@thebrwa.org or 508-278-5200. top THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL Blackstone River Valley Visitor Center Resurrected A project to develop a visitor center for the valley is once again underway in Worcester. Earlier plans were halted as a result of a fire in 2010 that destroyed a building intended for the project. The proposed center, joining three others located in Uxbridge, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket, will present exhibits on the history and culture of the Blackstone River Valley. Recreational opportunities will add to, and enhance, nearby facilities including parks, pedestrian walkways and the Blackstone River Bikeway. Funding for the center will include federal, state, and local government sources as well as NGOs. Any effort that connects citizens to the natural resources of the Blackstone River watershed is bound to increase awareness of these resources, which is a critical first step in improving the health of the overall watershed. Photo: Blackstone River Bikeway - Rt. 122A Millbury to Millbury St. Worcester top Phosphate-free Detergents Eliminated Proctor and Gamble plans to remove phosphates from all of its laundry detergents worldwide by the end of next year. Environmentalists have long advocated for this action in order to reduce water pollution. Phosphates are a limiting factor in freshwater ecosystems. As such, discharge of this nutrient into waterways through storm runoff causes excess plant growth in streams and lakes. When the aquatic plants die off as part of the natural cycle, the bacteria breaking down the plant matter consume the oxygen needed by fish and other aquatic organisms to survive. Proctor and Gamble's action will directly improve water quality in developing countries where phosphate-free detergents have not been previously available. In contrast, The United States and Europe have already eliminated phosphates from its laundry detergents for the most part. top Rhode Island Program Embraces Watershed Approach Founded in 1987, the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program is one of 28 nationally designated programs operating under the National Estuary Program. This national program was established by the federal Clean Water Act and seeks collaborative solutions to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. The Program recently reorganized and expanded the Management Committee with 14 new members throughout the Narragansett Bay watershed - including several in Massachusetts for the first time. This is an important acknowledgement that 60% of the bay's watershed is in Massachusetts. In addition, the Program hired a new Director – Tom Borden, an environmental attorney who recently created a new state agency in New Jersey that protects the water quality and water supply for half of the state's residents. The Estuary Program is currently organizing a Science Advisory Committee to help examine the status and trends of the bi-state Narragansett Bay watershed. In addition, the Program is looking to hire a Staff Scientist to help guide the Program’s science agenda. For more information please contact Tom at tom.borden@nbep.org. top Blackstone Canal Access to be Improved The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation recently approved a partnership grant to the Blackstone Canal Conservancy to build two new bridges across the canal north and south of the northern breach. The northern one will join the dead end of the towpath north of the breach to the roadway on the west bank and create a through trail. The other one will go between the roadway and the towpath somewhere south of the breach and provide access to the now isolated towpath. These bridges will assist with clean-ups conducted on a routine basis by the BCC as well as the BRWA. Final planning and development will proceed after snowmelt. A regular target of BCC/BRWA Cleanups! Trash collecting behind downed tree in the Blackstone Canal near Plummers Landing. Photo Credit: Dave Barber - Blackstone Canal Consevancy top REFLECTIONS “It is not half so important to know as to feel.” Rachel Carson Art can express how nature is, was, or should be, in the eye of the beholder. In his blog, Reach Beyond, artist Bruce Combs states the following: "...And so my paintings and much of their creation has moved continually further into 'abstrative' ever since: I think about painting, and what I see, and what I hear, and feel, most all the time, as well as dream; and then something feels ready and I just paint it. " His dynamic image, "Before B P Pollution" suggests the complex vitality that aquatic systems can support if we protect them. It also represents a goal for our restoration efforts for waterways that have been degraded by point-source and non-point source pollution. Before B P Pollution by Bruce Combs Photo reprinted by permission of the artist. http://fineartamerica.com/featured/-before-b-p-pollution-bruce-combs--reach-beyond.html. For more about the artist, go to http://bruce-combs.fineartamerica.com/. 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.