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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
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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 Trout Unlimited College of the Holy Cross Conservation Law Foundation Manchaug Pond Association Lake Singletary Watershed Association
Blackstone River Coalition Watershed-wide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program Report Card
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette 9/5/2011 State backs city vs. EPA Sewage 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.
Blackstone Stormwater Stewards Initiative • Benefits: • Reduce property damage • Conserve rainwater • Cut down on water/sewer bills • Protect and restore Blackstone waterways
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
Broad Meadow Brook’s Demonstration Rain Garden
City of Leominster/ Mass Watershed Coalition Rain 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 • Douglas • Highway Dept. • Woonsocket • NeighborWorks • Cass Ave • Pawtucket • Slater Mill
Better Storm Water Management = • Improved water quality • Enhanced recreation • Economic development and redevelopment opportunities