The Blackstone

Clean by 2015!!! The Blackstone River Coalition

Waste Water Treatment

• Upper Blackstone upgrade 2001/2008

• Woonsocket

• Narragansett Bay Commission

Stormwater Impacts

Impervious SurfacesEPA, MA DEP and RI DEM, and NBEP are all focusing on impervious cover as an environmental indicator:• Impervious cover (IC) of greater than 10% results in measurable loss in water quality.• IC of greater than 4% results in decline of native brook trout.

Impervious Cover Influences Wet Impervious Cover Influences Wet Weather Stream FlowWeather Stream Flow

When it rains, a large amount of water . . .When it rains, a large amount of water . . .

Enters the Enters the stormdrain stormdrain

systemsystem

Is directed straight to Is directed straight to the nearest waterwaythe nearest waterway

Runs off of Runs off of impervious impervious surfaces surfaces

Center for Watershed ProtectionCenter for Watershed Protection

Impervious Cover Influences Dry Impervious Cover Influences Dry Weather Stream FlowWeather Stream Flow

• Impervious surfaces can block Impervious surfaces can block water from contributing to water from contributing to groundwater supplygroundwater supply

• Many streams draw from Many streams draw from groundwatergroundwater

• This can result in lower stream This can result in lower stream flows during dry weather flows during dry weather

• Magnification of flow alterations Magnification of flow alterations and water withdrawalsand water withdrawals

Quinsigamond River at Wheeler Rd., Grafton isolated pool, no flow, September, 2007

Tackling Stormwater in the Blackstone River Watershed

• Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring

• Stakeholder Outreach– Local decision makers

• By-laws, regulations, projects– Home owners

• Outreach materials– Builders, developers

• Low-impact development– Small-medium sized companies and municipalities

• In Business for the Blackstone

Encourage Low Impact Development Practices to increase infiltration and reduce stormwater volume

• Site planning techniques• Impervious surface

reduction• Rain gardens and

bioretention• Rooftop gardens• Vegetated swales, buffers

and strips• Roof leader disconnection• Rain barrels and cisterns• Permeable pavers

Local Decision Makers and Developers:

Grafton, MA EPA Grant $671,000Innovative Stormwater Treatment

Homeowners:

Homeowner Tips for reducing stormwater impacts from your yard: • Lawns/Gardens• Car Care• Pet Waste• Clean Dishes/Clean Streams• Rooftop Runoff• Household Hazardous Waste• Pervious Surfaces• Stream Buffers

Angle downspout away from pavement to vegetated area.

Create a rain garden.Install a rain barrel.

Inventory rooftop runoff downspouts that drain to driveways

Send info on downspout diversion strategies and invite to workshops

Offer technical assistance

Homeowner Outreach

“In Business for the Blackstone”celebrates wise water use

Roots & Shoots, Burrillville

Business Owners and Municipalities

BRCStormwater Outreach Target Areas:

Broad Meadow Brook watershed Whitinsville Hopedale Slatersville Ashton

Technical Assistance for Decision Makers• Narrower streets

• Vegetated swales

• No curbing

• Alternative cul-de sacs

• Shared driveways

Source: CWP Source: R. Claytor

www.zaptheblackstone.org

The Blackstone River

Clean by 2015!

We Can Do It!

You Can Help!