the blackstone
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The Blackstone. Clean by 2015!!!? The Blackstone River Coalition. Members include: Blackstone Headwaters Coalition Blackstone River Watershed Association Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone. Mass Audubon Audubon Society of RI Save The Bay - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Blackstone
Clean by 2015!!!? The Blackstone River Coalition
Mass Audubon
Audubon Society of RI
Save The Bay
Trout Unlimited
College of the Holy Cross
Conservation Law Foundation
Manchaug Pond Association
Lake Singletary Watershed Association
Members include:
Blackstone Headwaters Coalition
Blackstone River Watershed Association
Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone
Blackstone River Coalition Watershed-wide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring
Program Report Card
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette 9/5/2011
State backs city vs. EPASewage waste treatment plant
What about Phosphorus?
Narragansett Bay Commission implementing lower Nitrogen limits
US EPA Stormwater Management Permits – Round 2
Phase I: Worcester – draft permit issued June, 2008
Phase II: Massachusetts – draft permit issued November, 2010 for Small MS4 General Permit for Interstate [Blackstone], Merrimack and South Coastal Watersheds for traditional MS4s and non-traditional MS4s (federal and state agencies) Rhode Island – May, 2003 permits still in effect
Tackling Stormwater in the Blackstone River Watershed
• BRC Water Quality Report Card• Local Decision Makers• Business Owners
• In Business for the Blackstone
• Developers• Homeowners
Blackstone Stormwater Stewards Initiative
Homeowner and business owner outreach program targeted to reduce polluted runoff, flooding and dry rivers
Reduce pollutants in yard or on property Reduce stormwater volume discharged to waterways
Redirect downspouts from driveways Collect rainwater in rain barrels Create rain gardens
Did you know? The average home roof is 1,300 square feet and generates 832 gallons of runoff during a single 1” rainfall event.
BlackstoneStormwater Stewards Initiative
Benefits: Reduce property damage Conserve rainwater Cut down on water/sewer bills Protect and restore Blackstone waterways
Amica is In Business for the Blackstone
Remember This:
Roof runoff connected to driveways, draining to streets, draining to pipe systems, draining into streams = dead fish, erosion of the riverbank, and thirsty people.
RAIN GARDENS TO THE RESCUE!
What is a Rain Garden?
• A shallow, constructed depression planted to native vegetation to attract wildlife
• Designed to slow, capture, and infiltrate rain water, mainly from the roof of a house or other building
• Designed with a dip in the center, garden fills with a few inches of water after a storm
Rain Gardens to the Rescue!
EPA-sponsored Rain Garden Training at the Worcester Youth Center – 6/23, 24
Worcester Stormwater Coalition
Lonsdale Elementary School Rain Garden
Broad Meadow Brook’sDemonstration Rain Garden
City of Leominster/Mass Watershed CoalitionRain Garden Project to Protect Monoosnoc Brook
- 32 rain garden installed so far - Most in public right of way
BRC Rain Garden Target Areas: Worcester
Shore Park Bell Pond Clark University Oread Place Main South CDC
DouglasHighway Dept.
WoonsocketNeighborWorks Cass Ave
PawtucketSlater Mill
Better Storm Water Management =
Improved water quality
Enhanced recreation
Economic development and
redevelopment opportunities