Blackstone River Watershed Association In This Issue BRWA NEWS Record Number of Volunteers Clean Up Blackstone River Plant Pull Free BRWA Member Paddles CALENDAR THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL State Water Management Act Turtle Watch Watershed Snapshot SPOTLIGHT ON SCIENCE Kingfishers FAMILY FOCUS Water, Water, Everywhere! BE GREEN Camping REFLECTIONS BRWA Online About the BRWA JOIN the BRWA Volunteer SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRWA NEWSLETTER Issue 47 June 2014 BRWA NEWS Record Number of Volunteers Clean Up Blackstone River Over 200 volunteers in seven towns tended Mother Earth on Sunday, April 27th, by participating in the Blackstone River Watershed Associations’s (BRWA) EarthDay Cleanup. This enthusiastic turnout beat last year's record for the annual event. Volunteers after the cleanup of Hopedale Pond. Showing lawn mower and seed drill removed from pond. Individuals, families, church groups, and scout groups throughout the Blackstone River watershed participated in the cleanup event. Sites included Millbury (the Blackstone River along the Blackstone bikeway), Grafton (the Quinsigamond River, the Blackstone River, Hovey Pond, Hayes Pond, and Silver Lake), Sutton (Lakey Dam), Northbridge (Meadow Pond, the Mumford River River Walk, and the Blackstone River), Uxbridge (the Blackstone Canal and River in and around River Bend Park, and the Mumford River), Hopedale (Hopedale Pond), and Millville (the Blackstone River). Trash removed from the Blackstone River and Bacon Brook during the Earthday Cleanup. Photo by Susan Thomas. The volunteers worked on land and in the water to remove enough litter to fill over 170 large garbage bags! They also removed two dozen tires, household items, bikes, furniture, hazardous waste, and construction debris. Removing this trash keeps waterways open for fish and wildlife, and for paddlers and anglers. The Cleanup also improves the water quality of the Blackstone River by removing potential sources of contamination. This year's haul included paint cans, propane tanks, a computer monitor, three lawn mowers, and an old seed drill! Following the highly productive cleanup, volunteers gathered at River Bend Farm’s Visitor Center in Uxbridge for pizza and refreshments provided by the BRWA with generous support from Stop and Shop of Grafton, Shaws of Northbridge, Hannafords of Uxbridge, and Harry’s Famous Pizza of Uxbridge. As part of the annual EarthDay Cleanup, the BRWA partnered with Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. to sponsor a Clean and Green Fair at River Bend Farm. Volunteers viewed displays and demonstrations about watershed protection and terracycling. Seedling plantings and children’s activities were also provided. top Plant Pull Now that we've hauled out the man-made garbage, it's time to roll up our sleeves and haul out Mother Nature's garbage! Join us for the BRWA’s annual Pull the Plants Party to continue our battle against the invasive asian water chestnut outbreak in Rice City Pond! We can't accomplish this without your help! The work party will be held July 26th, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and/or August 10th, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Rice City Pond in Uxbridge. Exact date will be dependent on weather and plant growth – more details to follow. In the meantime, check out our invasive species page: http://www.thebrwa.org/invasives.htm. top Free BRWA Member Paddles Row, row, row your boat, gently down the Blackstone River Canal with the BRWA! We are offering free member paddle outings at the River Bend Farm Visitor Center on a series of three Sundays from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Members will be able to use canoes for free. And while you're there, try out the nature adventure kits assembled by the park staff to learn about and identify local animals and plants. If you are not a BRWA member, you can join anytime at www.thebrwa.org or you can join the day of the event and use the canoes for free all of the following Sundays! The first of these events will be held on June 29th. Come listen to the melodic Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band perform on the lovely meadow setting of River Bend Farm from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can paddle while the musicians strum for a perfect summer outing. Don't forget to bring a scrumptious picnic supper. The second event will be held on August 9th to coincide with the State Park's celebration of Smokey the Bear's 70th birthday at 1:00 p.m. Kids from 1 to 100 will enjoy this outing! The third and final member paddle will be offered on August 16th. Come and be mezmerized by the Eastern MA Rhythm Festival, which runs from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The River Bend Farm Visitor Center is located at 287 Oak Street, in Uxbridge. top CALENDAR OF EVENTS June is National Safety Month. Summer is such a wonderful time to explore all the nooks and crannies of the Blackstone River watershed. But do it safely both for you and for our natural resources. When paddling a stream, river, or pond, use established access points to avoid injury and to prevent erosion, which degrades water quality. Use a p.f.d., and know the water before you put a paddle in. If you are planning a hike, you need to bring plenty of water, a trail map, and take precautions against ticks and poison ivy. Stay on marked trails to prevent erosion and to protect sensitive plants and animals. Biking is another wonderful way to explore the watershed as long as you wear a helmet, bring water, and keep an eye out for road or trail hazards. Avoid off-road trails during wet weather to minimize ruts. Have fun, stay safe, and protect the Blackstone! Saturdays through October: Leisurely Bike Tours in R.I.'s Blackstone Valley. Participants enjoy a fun and relaxing way to experience culture, nature, history and recreation on the 4-hr tours, for all fitness levels. Info at http://www.cycleblackstone.com/leisurelybiketour.htm. Sundays through October: River Tours on the Blackstone Valley Explorer. Pawtucket, RI. 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, & 4:00 p.m. On these cruises you may see swans, herons, geese, ducks, turtles, hawks and beautiful plants and trees! The tour guide explains the ecology of the river and surrounding wetlands interspersed with stories about the people and history of the region. Info: http://www.rivertourblackstone.com/contact.htm. 6/26 BRWA Board Meeting. 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 271 Oak St., Uxbridge.   info 6/29 Free BRWA Member Paddle. 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. River Bend Farm Visitor Center, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge. Along with Mass DCR's Canal Concert - Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band.   See above for more information. 7/7 Central Mass Chapter Trout Unlimited Monthly Meeting. 6:30 p.m. 50 Elm Street, Auburn, MA   info 7/16 Blackstone River Watershed Council Monthly Meeting. 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Lincoln RI.   info 7/26 BRWA Plant Pull Party. 1:00 -3:00 p.m. Rice City Pond, E. Hartford Ave., Uxbridge.   See above for more information. 8/9 Free BRWA Member Paddle. 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. River Bend Farm Visitor Center, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge. Along with Mass DCR's Canal Concert - Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band.   See above for more information. 8/10 BRWA Plant Pull Party. 1:00 -3:00 p.m. Rice City Pond, E. Hartford Ave., Uxbridge.   See above for more information. 8/16 Free BRWA Member Paddle. 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. River Bend Farm Visitor Center, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge. Along with Mass DCR's Canal Concert - Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band.   See above for more information. top THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL State Water Management Act In 2009, Massachusetts established the Sustainable Water Management Initiative, with an advisory committee, to optimize use of the state's water resources for both people and aquatic life. From this came the Water Management Act, which, among other things, regulates large withdrawals of water by municipalities. The Mass DEP drafted revised regulations for this process and the advisory committee recently submitted its review of the draft. The state legislature will now hold hearings on the Act. For a more thorough understanding of this issue critical to the health of the Blackstone River watershed, please see http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/news/comment/310-cmr-36-00-water-management-act-regulations.html. top Turtle Watch This is the time of year when Massachusetts' freshwater turtles are laying eggs and moving between water and land. Unfortunately, roads often come between these areas and turtle fatalities are common. Please become familiar with areas where turtles are seen on roadways. Drive slower to avoid hitting them. If you choose to assist a turtle crossing a road, make sure you move it to the side that it was heading in when you encountered it. Turtles know where they are going, and trying to redirect them will only cause them to encounter the road hazard again. Blanding's Turtle - Emydoidea blandingii. Photo by Susan Speak - Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife For more information, go to http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/species-information-and-conservation/rare-reptiles-and-amphibians/turtle-frequently-asked-questions.html. top Watershed Snapshot A BRWA member and volunteer water quality monitor recently submitted this photo of a stream-side tree that had a lower branch stripped of bark. Does anyone want to suggest an answer to this nature mystery? Reply to info@thebrwa.org. top SPOTLIGHT ON SCIENCE Kingfishers It's a warm summer day and you are paddling down the river or fishing along a lakeshore when you hear a sharp rattling sound or see a flash of bluish-grey plunging into the water. Chances are that you've encountered a belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon. These fish-eating birds, though not common, are found throughout the region near rivers and brooks, lakes and ponds, and estuaries. A female Belted Kingfisher with a freshly caught fish. Photo from Cornell Lab of Ornithology "All About Birds" website - www.allaboutbirds.org. © Nick Chill, CA, San Diego, February 2010 Kingfishers are stocky, pigeon-sized birds with a big head; thick, pointed bill; a jagged head crest; and stripes or "belts" of color across the chest. Males have a blue belt, whereas females have both a blue belt and a rust-colored belt. This is one of the few avian species where the female is the more brightly colored of the pair. Solo during most of the year, males and females will bond for a single breeding season starting in May. Both parents excavate a three- to fifteen-foot long tunnel in a sandy bank near water, ending in a nesting chamber. It is the availability of nesting sites that limits the population size of kingfishers in an area. These birds require suitable sites that provide hunting perches and access to open, clear water. Turbid water or heavy aquatic vegetation impairs the birds' ability to spot the fish they are hunting. Belted kingfishers show preferences for riffle zones if nesting by rivers, and protected coves if nesting on lakes. In addition to fish like minnow, mummichugs, and trout, belted kingfishers will eat crayfish, insects, and small mammals. The bones and scales of the fish consumed are expelled in pellets, much like the process used by owls to expel bones and fur. Breeding pairs of kingfishers will actively and vocally defend their territory, which varies in size depending on the richness of the food supply—the richer the prey concentration, the smaller the territory. The male and female will typically fly up and down a half mile of shoreline that may be shared with nesting swallows. Eggs are laid in June and July and the young birds will fledge in about four weeks. Adults disperse away from the nesting tunnel shortly after that, leaving the juveniles a ready-made feeding territory for the remainder of the season. Skunks, mink, raccoons, hawks, and snakes all prey on kingfishers. The birds are sensitive to human disturbance and will leave their perches to circle their territories—or leave all together if the disturbance increases or is ongoing. Between August and November, belted kingfishers will migrate south as needed to find open water for the winter. So grab your binoculars and head out in search of these dramatic anglers while they are around. It's always a thrilling experience to observe them. top FAMILY FOCUS Water, Water, Everywhere! Throughout the summer, kids will be swimming in pools and lakes, surfing by the ocean, rafting down lazy rivers, dancing in puddles left by sun showers, dashing though lawn sprinklers, racing to the water fountain, admiring morning dew, and clamoring for popsicles. What do all of these summertime essentials require? Water! So that makes summer a great time to introduce the concept of the water cycle to children. A fun way to do so is by watching Bill Nye the Science Guy's entertaining and informative video about the water cycle. Your library might have a copy, or you can watch it online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPJYPo2qhOMorg Of course, you'll need to wait until a rainy day when you aren't outside enjoying all of this water! top BE GREEN CAMPING Nothing says summer like camping with friends, family, or on your own. There are several ways to make your adventure earth-friendly. Before consulting out-of-state maps, consider a local campground or natural area to reduce your use of natural resources and your contribution to air pollution produced by fossil fuel- dependent transportation. Pack reusable dishes rather than paper products and use biodegradable soap to help protect local water resources. Reduce soil erosion (which degrades water quality) by staying on marked trails during your rambles. And when the sun goes down, LED flashlights and lanterns are an energy-efficient means to light your way. Some material from www.earthshare.org. top REFLECTIONS “It is not half so important to know as to feel.” Rachel Carson A cinquain poem is a form of poetry that is easy to master and fun to share. It does not have to rhyme but it does follow a formula in which each of the five lines have a specific number of syllables or words. Create your own! Line 1: Title—one word or two syllables Line 2: Description or example of the title—two words or four syllables Line 3: Action about the title—a three-word phrase or six syllables Line 4: a four-word phrase describing a feeling about the title or eight syllables Line 5: Synonym for the title—one word of 2 syllables Showers soft rain falling on gardens soothing fish in streams raindrops Rushes tall grasses filtering water pollutants beautiful in their simplicity Juncus Kayaks sleek craft transporting brave explorers becoming one with water vessel Kingfisher hungry nestlings fish swimming languidly nestlings eating captured fish Megaceryle Information from http://schools.pinellas.k12.fl.us/educators/tec/Tondreault/Kinds.html. 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.