On April 22, 2008 (Earth Day) members of the BRWC/FOB were recognized by the Office of the President of the United States and EPA Region 1 for outstanding efforts in preserving New England's environment and our Council's remarkable efforts along the Blackstone River. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson presided over the ceremony together with Robert Varney, EPA Regional Administrator for EPA New England. The event was held at the historic Faneuil Hall in Boston Massachusetts. Accepting the award for the Council included Frank Matta, President, John Marsland, Vice President, Alice Clemente, Secretary, Sandra Belliveau, Treasurer, and Frank Geary, Project Coordinator for Fish Passage along the first four dams.

For more information about the President's Volunteer Service Award, please visit: www.presidentialserviceawards.com

Save this Date: The 4th Fish Passage Update Meeting will be held on
May 28, 2008, at 1:00 pm at the CUmberland Monastery which is located on Rt 114 (Diamond Hill Road) in Cumberland, RI.

Please join us, and let Frank Geary, our Project Coordinator know if you can make it.

The BRWC / FOB Annual Meeting is scheduled for May 21st at 6:30 PM at the Oak Hill Nursing Home in Pawtucket, RI. Officer elections will be held for two posts- President and Secretary. Membership dues must be current to participate in elections. A notice has been sent to all current members with further details.

Also, the the June monthly meeting will be on the 18th at the Depot in Woonsocket, RI. More details on this meeting will follow.

On April 8th we worked with the RI State Police and local contractors to remove the first 5 of 20 automobiles from the Blackstone River in Pawtucket. We will be removing the remainder in the coming weeks but you can check the progress here.

View the article from the Woonsocket Call and view photos of the recovery.

The Race will be held on Saturday June 7th 2008 at River Island Park in Woonsocket. Please view the Riverfest Race Instructions and fill out a Race Application

Contact: Keith Hainley for any other questions about the race at keithhainley@blackstoneriver.org

Come join us for the Wellness Walkathon, sponsored by the Corridor Keepers on May 3, 2008 on the Blackstone River bike path. View the details of the Walk-a-thon program, fill out a participant sheet. Also, you may download and print the Pledge Sheets.

RIDEM-Office of Water Resources has contacted the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Members that RIDEM is seeking comment on compiled data documenting water quality field data concerning the Blackstone River and its tributaries. The results of RIDEM's Report entitled Draft Water Quality Field Investigations Report [February, 2008] will be presented on March 20, 2008 from 3-5pm in the Lincoln Town Hall at 100 Old River Road, Lincoln RI.

Contact Dave Newton for further information.

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Between now and August the Lincoln Land Trust and volunteers will be identifying, counting and categorizing all the street-side trees in Lincoln RI in order to assist the town with care and maintenance. There will be an information and training session on Monday April 7th 2008 at 6:30 PM at the Town Hall located at 100 Old River Rd in Lincoln, RI. Please call 333-1100 or for more program information, please view the Lincoln Land Trust Spring Tree Inventory Brochure

Update on the Blackstone River Fish Passage Restoration Project

Check on the scope and progress of this industrious project to reintroduce New England's spawning fish species into the Blackstone River; a right of passage not seen since the 1700's when the river was first harnessed, initiating the Industrial Revolution.

TODAY'S PLAN IS RESTORATION OF OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVER

What is the Plan?? What can you do??

See: http://www.blackstoneriver.org/programs/program_fish_ladders.php

Funding this project is a shared responsibility. Federal and State dollars are already obligated. We are seeking corporate sponsors, grants, and private donations to assist in providing the necessary funding match to complete this important project.

CALLING ALL CORPORATE SPONSORS, NEW PARTNERS, INTERESTED PARTIES: BE A PART OF THIS MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENT

Please contact Frank Geary, Project Coordinator, Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone, P.O. Box 8068, Cumberland, RI 02864 or email to:
mightyblackstone@gmail.com

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The Audubon Society and Save the Bay are each now offering the new Osprey Rhode Island license plates for Rhode Island drivers. The plates cost $40 and have a picture of the osprey on the left side of the plate (see order form for the picture). Half of the $40 will go to the program, depending on which program you choose.

You may fill out either the Save the Bay Osprey plate order form or the Audubon Society Osprey plate order form.

The 2007 Fall Cleanup Activity report is now available. View the full report

New! Check out the giant pile of tires and the BRWC folks who collected them. The picture is located on page 6 of the Keep America Beautiful Annual Report.

On Februrary 9, 2008, the Blackstone River Coalition, Blackstone Headwaters Coalition, Blackstone River Watershed Association, & Blackstone River Watershed Council hosted a well attended Watershed-wide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program Summit and Appreciation Breakfast celebrating the completion of the 2007 monitoring season and the compilation of the monitoring results. The forum was held at the Blackstone Public Library in Blackstone, MA.

Interested in making a difference at a particular location in your local watershed? Thinking of joining our volunteers for the 2008 season? Call or write to Tammy Gilpatrick, 508-278-2080 or BRCoalition@yahoo.com, or more locally, Judy Hadley, treelady@cox.net and they will set you up. It's easy, it's fun, and it's science!!!

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The BRWC/FOB and Blackstone Valley Outfitters took the Clark University Outing Club onto the Blackstone River for a wonderful day of paddling. View the photo gallery from the October 21st Paddle.

A great day for paddling. Check out the photo gallery with some fantastic pictures taken by Bruce Hooke.

The official results are in. After a rainout on the original race day, we had a sunny day and a good turnout for paddlers on the river. View the results for the Riverfest Race.

This day-long conference provided Land Trust, Watershed Council, Conservation Commission and Municipal leaders, staff, volunteers and others interested in land and watershed conservation with the information, skills and connections you need to be most effective.

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