The
River Current ~ June 23, 2010 ~ Issue 116
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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Dear Friend of the Charles,
As of the end of this month, I will be moving on from Charles River Watershed Association, so this will be my last River Current. I've greatly enjoyed my four years here, and I'm sad to leave such a superb organization with so many devoted members and advocates.
The work that CRWA has done - and continues to do - to clean up the Charles is an inspiration to me, and I am glad to have been a part of it. Thank YOU for being a part of it, as well!
Best wishes,
Rebecca (Scibek) Wickham
River Current editor
1) Mayor Menino dedicates Everett Street Community Green Space in Allston
This past Monday, at a celebratory ribbon cutting hosted by CRWA and Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation, Mayor Thomas M. Menino inaugurated the newly landscaped community green space along Everett Street in North Allston. More than 70 people gathered to dedicate the first “green street” demonstration project of its kind to be completed in the City of Boston. (Photo: Kate Benisek)
The Everett Street project created a lush, green streetscape at the St. Anthony’s Church site, next to the German International School of Boston. Nearly 2,500 square feet of asphalt parking lot was transformed into a new public green space that utilizes sustainable landscaping features to reduce stormwater runoff and beautify the neighborhood! Click here to learn more about the project, or click here to watch a video about the event from Boston Neighborhood Network News.
2) CRWA invites you to the Gubernatorial Forum on Energy and the Environment
Join us on Tuesday, June 29 from 6-8pm at Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington Street in Boston. Governor Patrick, Green party candidate Jill Stein, and Independent candidate Treasurer Tim Cahill have already confirmed, and the other gubernatorial candidates have been invited. Please come and let the candidates know that the environment matters! The event is free, but seating is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 5pm. Click here to view a flier with details about the event.
Event sponsors: Charles River Watershed Association, Environmental League of MA, Conservation Law Foundation, Mass Audubon, and more!
3) ACTION ALERT! Submit comment on EPA's draft stormwater regulations by June 30
In April, the New England Regional Office of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally announced the beginning of a new effort to clean up polluted stormwater in the Charles. Stormwater – or runoff from rainfall and snowmelt – is the largest source of water pollution to the Commonwealth’s rivers, lakes and harbors. EPA has issued a draft of a new permit that will cover certain land owners, including large commercial, industrial and high-density residential properties, whose sites have two or more acres of impervious surface (areas such as parking lots, roads and rooftops where water cannot be absorbed into the ground). Properties in Franklin, Bellingham, and Milford that fall under the new permit will need to control the polluted stormwater that drains off their site.
EPA is now accepting written comments on the draft permit and new regulations until June 30, 2010. Please submit comments to show your support for cleaning up stormwater pollution to the Charles River! Click here to view a PDF with guidelines on how to write a comment letter, and some suggested talking points.
Click here for FAQs about the new regulations or click here to go to CRWA’s website to get more information.
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River Current is published twice monthly (or as needed) by the Charles River Watershed Association and
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