The River Current || March 2, 2007 || Issue XXXXIII  

The twice monthly e-newsletter of the Charles River Watershed Association
...bringing our backyard river to your door...

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In this issue:
1)       CRWA in the news
2)       Volunteer opportunities
3)   Brown bag lunch on March 13
4)   Benefit concert March 24
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1) CRWA in the news on permitting issues

CRWA staff have been making news recently regarding permitting issues - Margaret Van Deusen, CRWA General Counsel, was quoted in a Boston Globe article yesterday about Governor Patrick’s proposal to simplify permitting regulations for businesses. On February 17, an editorial by CRWA Executive Director Bob Zimmerman appeared in the Globe. Bob's editorial discussed development permitting, and outlined how strengthening regulation could lead to a quicker permitting process and better environmental protection.

To read these and other articles, visit CRWA’s publications page at http://www.crwa.org/articles/articles.html 

2) Volunteer opportunities available now and throughout the spring

• Monthly Water Quality Monitoring

Volunteers are needed to take water quality samples on a monthly basis along the Charles River for CRWA's monthly monitoring program. Sampling generally occurs the third Tuesday of each month at 6am. There are more than 30 sampling locations all along the river, and we currently have openings at sites in Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Milford, and Bellingham. Volunteers will be fully trained by a CRWA staff member, and equipment will be provided; volunteers are asked to commit to at least six months of sampling. For more information visit http://www.crwa.org/water_quality/monthly/monthly.html, and if you’d like to volunteer contact Rebecca by replying to this email or calling 781-788-0007 x200.

• Find it and Fix it Shoreline Surveys

CRWA is currently organizing volunteers to conduct shoreline surveys along the mainstem and tributaries of the Charles River. Volunteer surveyors are needed use a combination of spatial mapping and written surveys to identify areas needing follow-up visual monitoring, water quality sampling and/or mitigation.  Volunteers will walk or canoe between 1/2 and 1 1/2 miles, filling out survey questions and maps. To volunteer or for more information on the Find it and Fix it program, visit http://www.crwa.org/projects/METwMyRWA/METFF.html, or contact Talia Chalew at 781-788-0007 x228. 

• Charles River Cleanup, Saturday April 21, 9am-12pm

Join us and organize a group to pick up trash and clean the riverbanks! Work with your friends or co-workers, meet your neighbors, and celebrate your community. Groups will be working in Bellingham, Norfolk, Dover, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Cambridge, Boston and everywhere in between! We will provide you with cleanup supplies, refreshments, and instructions on when, where, and how you can help. To volunteer or find out more, visit www.charlesriver.org/cleanup.html or reply to this email.  

• Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race, Sunday April 29, 9am-5pm

Want to be part of one of Boston's great sporting events?  You can spend all or part of the day as a volunteer for the 25^th Run of the Charles, helping paddlers enjoy our historic Charles River in Dedham, Needham, Newton, Wellesley, Watertown or Brighton. To volunteer or for more information, visit www.crwa.org/rotc/rotc.html, or call 508-698-6810.  Please feel free to invite friends, coworkers or relatives to help you staff your site (please include their contact information so we know how many people to expect).  Of course, you’re also welcome to paddle yourself or recruit a team or two for the relay race in lieu of volunteering! Thank you for all your help, past, present and future!

3) Brown Bag lunch on Tuesday, March 13

This month’s brown bag will feature guest speaker Mark Smith, of The Nature Conservancy. His presentation, Streamflow Protection in the Eastern U.S., will highlight state efforts to develop stream flow protection policies and programs, including the work of various states that are developing water quantity standards, how stakeholders groups are engaged in this process, and the different methods that are being used to protect streamflow .

4) Concert at First Parish of Watertown

First Parish of Watertown is holding a concert to benefit CRWA on Saturday, March 24 at 8pm. The concert will feature Jaded Mandolin Bluegrass Band, and tickets are $15 for adults, $9 for students, or $32 for families, with proceeds to CRWA. To reserve tickets, contact First Parish at 617-924-6123. First Parish is located at 35 Church Street, Watertown, MA 02472.