The River Current ~ March 29, 2010 ~ Issue 108

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

 

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In this issue

• Action alert: support stormwater permits
• Volunteer for the Charles River cleanup

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Friend of the Charles,

As spring draws ever-nearer, we hope you will find many reasons to enjoy the river this season! Today, we invite you to help clean up the Charles River through voicing your opinion about stopping stormwater pollution, or by signing up to get your hands dirty picking up litter along the riverbanks in April. 

Thanks, and hope to see you at our Annual Meeting this Wednesday.

Take care,

Rebecca (Scibek) Wickham
CRWA River Current editor

 

1) Action alert: Contact the EPA to support new stormwater permits

Contact EPA by this Wednesday, March 31st to tell them you support efforts to reduce stormwater pollution in the Charles River! Stormwater runoff from streets, buildings and parking lots remains the largest source of pollution to the Charles River, and to rivers and harbors across Massachusetts.  EPA has proposed an updated stormwater permit for 40 towns and transportation-related state agencies (see CRWA's website for details) that will make real improvements in cleaning up stormwater pollution.  The simplest way to show your support for EPA's new stormwater permit is to click here to go to Conservation Law Foundation's web page where you can send an automated email to EPA. 

You can also send a letter or an email to Thelma Murphy at EPA telling them you support EPA's efforts to reduce stormwater pollution.  CRWA's website has links to the actual draft permit and fact sheet, as well as a summary of the key points you can use to draft a letter.

 

2) Volunteer to participate in the Earth Day Charles River Cleanup

Come join more than 3,000 other volunteers along all 80 miles of the Charles River in the 11th Annual Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 24 from 9am-12pm! You will be part of a group picking up trash (including shopping carts, plastic bottles, and old tires) from along the banks of the Charles River at one of 50 sites from Boston to Bellingham. We are in particular need of volunteers in the Newton area and upstream; Boston and Cambridge areas are nearly at capacity. 

Volunteers are provided with gloves, trash bags, and a free t-shirt for participating, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped improve the health and beauty of the Charles River! Click here for more information or to sign up, or call 781-788-0007 x303.