The River Current ~ January 7, 2010 ~ Issue 104

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

 

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In this issue

• 2009 Highlights
• Brown Bag Lunch on stormwater & Solar Decathlon
• Sustainable Water Management Initiative

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Dear Friend of the Charles,

Happy New Year from all of us at Charles River Watershed Association! Looking back on the past year, we wanted to share a few accomplishments that stood out in our efforts to protect and restore our local waterways. We look forward to working with you on the many challenges and successes that 2010 is sure to bring!

Thanks for your support,
Rebecca S. Wickham
River Current Editor

1) Highlights of 2009

CRWA advocacy work wins victory for MA river protection (November)
CRWA, our members, and environmentalists across the state averted a serious threat to river health in Massachusetts this fall! When Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a new "safe yield" interpretation, which could have allowed rivers to be pumped dry, CRWA and other environmental groups resigned from a state panel, while thousands of citizens sent emails and letters protesting the decision.

Governor Patrick and DEP heard our concerns and promised to make environmental protection and ecological health factors in safe yield determinations, reinstating protection for the Commonwealth's rivers. Click here for more information.

Champions of the Charles gala (October)
Our most sincere thanks to Co-Chairs Sharon Malt and Diane Hall, their entire Host Committee, and to the whole crew of volunteers who made CRWA's Champions of the Charles such a fabulous success! This sell-out event honored Douglas Foy, former Secretary of Commonwealth Development and former President of the Conservation Law Foundation, with our "Blue Medal Award" for the significant contributions he has made over the last 30 years protecting the environment of the New England region. Champions took place in the dazzling new Community Rowing facility along the banks of the Charles in Brighton, a fitting location since Mr. Foy is a former Olympic Rower. We hope you will join us in fall 2011 to celebrate our next Champion!

Nutrient TMDL completed (October)
After more than five years of work under contract to Massachusetts DEP, CRWA completed a draft of the Upper/Middle Charles River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Phosphorus. A TMDL establishes a maximum amount of pollution that a water body can accept and still meet water quality standards.

Weekend on the Charles (April)
Celebrating the 10th year of the event, our largest-ever Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup involved more than 3,000 volunteers representing over 100 business, school, and community groups, who joined together to remove litter from waterways and parks throughout the watershed, in 15 different communities.The next day, there was beautiful weather for CRWA's 27th Run of the Charles Canoe & Kayak Race, with 1,600 paddlers of all ages competing in six different races and more than 70 volunteers helping things go smoothly! We hope to see you out on the river at this year's Weekend on the Charles, April 24 & 25, 2010.

 

2) Brown Bag Lunch on stormwater and the Solar Decathlon on Jan. 12

Join us for a brown bag lunch with CRWA Landscape Design Intern Clay Larsen, who will describe his experience as Project Landscape Designer and builder of an integrated stormwater management system for Team Boston's entry in the world-wide Solar Decathalon competition, sponsored by the US Department of Energy. This lunch discussion will take place this Tuesday, January 12 from 12:30-1:30pm at CRWA's office at the Leo J. Martin Golf Course, 190 Park Rd, Weston.

 

3) Sustainable Water Management Initiative

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) kicked off a major new interagency effort on January 5 - the Sustainable Water Management Initiative.  The Initiative's goals are to ensure smart management of the state's precious water resources for habitat protection and economic development, and to develop a sustainable water allocation system. 

Nigel Pickering, CRWA Senior Engineer, has been named to the Water Resources Technical Subcommittee, and Margaret Van Deusen, CRWA Deputy Director, to the Advisory Committee.  These committees will make recommendations for developing 1) a long-term safe yield methodology protective of the environment, 2) streamflow criteria for healthy rivers and 3) an integrated, sustainable approach to water management.  CRWA has been working hard to get the state to address these issues, and we believe this is a unique opportunity for river protection!