The
River Current ~ May 19, 2010 ~ Issue 113
The e-newsletter of the
Charles River Watershed
Association
...bringing our backyard river to your door...
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In this issue
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1) Following massive water main break, MWRA completes emergency dredging, plans for bank restoration
CRWA's recent river monitoring showed fairly low levels of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in the river as MWRA dredged debris out of the river following the May 1stwater main break. MWRA completed the first phase of river dredging, but still has not found the missing broken pipe collar. For updates on the effort, visit CRWA's website.
Photo by CRWA: The riverbank near the site of the water main break.
2) Planting Day at Everett St. Community Greenspace
More than a dozen volunteers showed up for the planting day on Saturday, May 15th at the German International School site on Everett Street in North Allston. The event was hosted by CRWA and Allston-Brighton CDC
to help complete the plantings at the site and celebrate the creation of the new Everett Street Community Green Space. Thanks to all the volunteers, especially the Yale alumni association's contingent, who helped make the event a huge success!
Following the planting, CRWA conducted a site tour and maintenance training for various green infrastructure features like the rain garden that has been constructed on site for better stormwater management. The afternoon also featured various fun, hands-on family gardening activities.
The Everett St. project is funded by the MA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation Urban Forestry Fund, the Harvard-Allston Partnership Fund, and the Boston College Neighborhood Fund. A formal ribbon-cutting event is planned for mid-June. Click here for more information on the project.
3) Charles River in the News
Judge slams MassHighway for failing to control pollution from state roads!
State scolded over rain runoff, Boston Globe, May 14, 2010
Can one river change the world? With the science and political skill behind the Charles River Watershed Association, you wouldn’t bet against it.
An interview with CRWA Executive Director Bob Zimmerman, in the summer 2010 Water issue of Architecture Boston.
Click here to see a complete listing of news articles featuring CRWA and the Charles River.
4) Public meeting in Franklin
Please join CRWA and the Franklin Conservation Commission at apublic meeting on Monday, May 24 at 7pm to showcase the results of CRWA's "Building Blue" stormwater management plan in a subwatershed of Franklin, the area around Spruce Brook Pond. This project, funded by the Cox Family Charitable Trust, highlights how public and private properties can be retrofitted to comply with new regulations using green infrastructure. To see a copy of the invitation flier, click here.
5) Charles River poster project
230 students from all over the watershed created original artwork for posters conveying messages from CRWA about how to protect the river from pollution, how to conserve groundwater supplies, the wildlife and plants of our river ecosystem, water monitoring and volunteer activities. Participating schools included Brimmer & May, Noble & Greenough, Park School, Shady Hill School, Windsor School, Tenacre School, Fayerweather Street School, Gifford School, and the Cotting School. Posters went up on local bulletin boards and in store windows in April and early May.
Be on the lookout for one of our 1,000 posters in your local community!
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River Current is published twice monthly (or as needed) by the Charles River Watershed Association and
hosted by Vertical Response.
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