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