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Blackstone River Watershed Council
Friends of the Blackstone
Upcoming Events
Stream Continuity Study Seeks Your Help
WANTED!! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR OUR RIVER STUDY!!
Individuals who pride themselves in volunteering, discovery, and doing the field work necessary to improve the quality and quantity of the Blackstone River's source waters need apply as soon as possible!
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. All volunteers will be trained and paired with an experienced person.
For more information, contact: Roland Gauvin at 401-333-0075 or by e-mail ritreeman@cox.net
The Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of The Blackstone in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service is engaged in conducting a stream continuity study along tributaries of the Blackstone River. The work is interesting, predominantly outdoors, and important for the future of the river.
read more...
Lincoln RI Tree Inventory- Volunteers Needed
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
New on the Site
Riverfest Pictures are in
The Riverfest pictures are now available. Thanks to Ron Belliveau and Debra Boucher for taking the pictures. View the Riverfest 2008 Pictures
FISH PASSAGE on the Blackstone
 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
read more...
Osprey RI State License Plates for a worthy cause
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.
Report- 2007 Fall Cleanup Activity
The 2007 Fall Cleanup Activity report is now available. View the full report
BRWC on page 6 of the Keep America Beautiful Annual 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.
Our Programs
Fish Ladders Program- Powering
the rebirth of the Blackstone River! Find out how you can help us bring the fish
back to the Blackstone River.
Recent Events
Riverfest Pictures are in
The Riverfest pictures are now available. Thanks to Ron Belliveau and Debra Boucher for taking the pictures. View the Riverfest 2008 Pictures
Riverfest Canoe and Kayak Race - Results are in!
The 12th annual Riverfest Canoe and Kayak Race was held on Saturday, June 7th under sunny skies and 90 degree weather. There were 60 participants this year.
The results of the 2008 Riverfest Race are here. There will also be pictures coming soon and a video of the finish line as the boats crossed.
President's Volunteer Service Award
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
Automobile Recovery from the Blackstone
The first of many phases of this project began 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.
Watershed-wide Volunteer Monitoring Program
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!!!
read more...
October 21, 2007- Clark University Outing Club Paddle
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.
October 3, 2007- Paddle Blackstone- Sponsored by Blackstone Valley Outfitters
A great day for paddling. Check out the photo gallery with some fantastic pictures taken by Bruce Hooke.
June 2nd, 2007- Riverfest- 11th Annual Canoe and Kayak Race
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.
March 24, 2007- The 2007 Land and Water Summit
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.
read more...
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