February 2010
Merrimack River Watershed Council
About MRWC | Science | Publications | Donate | JOIN | Volunteer | CONTACT
In This Issue: Partnering | Water Quality | Photo-of-Month | Sponsors | New Members | In the News | Office Update | Events | Social!
MRWC Board of Directors:
Officers -
Joseph Bernard, President
Kathryn Carter,
Vice President
Susan Sanborn, Treasurer
Edmund Greene,
Secretary
Members -
Elizabeth Baker
Cecilia Mazza
Doris
Peterkin
Alan Sherburne
Gwen Whitbeck
Steven Zelubowski
Recycle Your Used Auto Batteries At Our
AAA
Great
By
Eleanor Baker, Editor,
It
has been a privilege for
As a result of our 2009 AAA Great Battery Roundup, over $5,400 was garnered from recycling the batteries collected. The funds were donated to the Merrimack River Watershed Council, Inc. (MRWC).
You can help
Help
us by spreading the word about AAA?s Great Battery Roundup and/or
by volunteering to work at the event! We need volunteers who are able to
help handle the batteries and others to represent the Council and offer
information on supporting the MRWC through membership. The event takes place on
Read More...Get Details...Find Out How to Volunteer...*click*
Green
Team Network
EarthShare
New England has partnered with Merrimack River Watershed Council to initiate
a Green Team Networking event in the Lowell area. We like to talk to local
Green Team members about best practices, shared concerns, and emerging
issues. Right now we are soliciting interest in arranging a meeting around
topics like these:
-
Going green in a down economy
-
The value of being green
-
Going green with a corporate green team
-
Greening your office: recycling, waste reduction, environmental audits and much more
-
Larger sustainability Initiatives, such as supply chain management, carbon credits and LEED certification
Read More and get Contact Information *click*
Water Quality Monitoring Update:
MRWC is in the midst of its water quality monitoring ?off season,? but that doesn?t mean that we are twiddling our thumbs! We are currently working with our 2009 data and putting together the annual Water Quality Report that will be released on Earth Day, April 22, 2010.
Planning for the Season:
The 2010 monitoring season is coming up soon. If you have volunteered with us before, expect to be hearing from Tracie in the next month or so as we begin scheduling for the season, which will start in May. If you have never volunteered with us before, but are interested in learning more about it, contact Tracie Sales at tsales@merrimack.org or 978-275-0120. As always we will need more boaters this year, and in particular, boaters willing to help out on the Nashua/Hudson stretch of the Merrimack River.
Need another reason to support the MRWC?
State House News Service Reports on ELM's Green Budget REPORT HIGHLIGHTS DEEP ENVIRONMENTAL SPENDING CUTS
Rep. Stephen Kulik, assistant vice-chair of the House budget committee, said he believed environmental agencies had reached the "breaking point" when one could expect that they are not able to deliver on their missions.
"I think we've already reached that point with many environmental programs," he said.
....read more about it *click*
A small crane, used by fishing boats in another season, stands guard on a lifeless dock during a gray day of winter...looking downstream from Newburyport, MA to the mouth of an icy cold Merrimack River, it sees there are no fishing boats to be found. - photo by Ed Bolton of Newton, NH
New Feature - Ask Ms. Merrimack
Do
you have a question about the Merrimack River? About clean water? About
chemicals in the river? Maybe you want to know just what a
watershed is, or how the Merrimack got its name? Want to know about the
latest legislation for and against clean healthy water, or how a dirty
river impacts your life and the life of your family? Your questions - with
appropriate answers - will be anonymously posted on the MRWC web
site. Selected questions/answers will be published in this eNewsletter.
You're invited to send your questions to
"ASK Ms. Merrimack" - info@merrimack.org
W e l c o m e
The newest donor adopting a Merrimack Mile
Vesper Country Club
Find out how your business can adopt Merrimack Miles!
Susan C. Tucker
Massachusetts
State Senator web
James Miceli
Massachusetts
State Representative web
Linda Campbell
Massachusetts
State Representative web
Eagle-Tribune Editorial: City should get help on drainage mandate
An overhaul of Haverhill's storm water drainage system will be a big, expensive job.
....read more about it *click*
Toxic Waters: Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Foiling E.P.A.
Thousands of the nation?s largest water polluters are outside the Clean Water Act?s reach because the Supreme Court has left uncertain which waterways are protected by that law, according to interviews with regulators.....read more about it *click*
Merrimack River Eagle Fest Celebrates Return of National Bird
Bald Eagles mate for life and can live up to 30 or 40 years. They have a wingspan of about 6 to 8 feet and can weigh between 7 and 15 pounds, with the female being larger than the male. They are birds of prey....read more about it *click*
Water world - A look at the Merrimack River
Christine Tabak, executive director of the Merrimack River Watershed Council, which is based in Lowell, Mass., said government efforts need to be elevated. She said the response is generally considerably quicker in New Hampshire to high bacteria counts or pollution concerns, but the same can?t always be said in Massachusetts. Tabak is hoping to eventually open an office for the Council in Concord, since about 75 percent of the watershed is in the Granite State.....read more about it *click*
Have a thought to share, an idea, comment, or suggestion? Send it along to: info@merrimack.org
Thank You!
2010 Paddling Trips Sponsors
Please remember our generous sponsors when in need of their goods and services,
and to recommend them to your friends.
NOTE: The MRWC 2010 Paddling Trips Guide and Schedule will be posted on the MRWC web site in March. Printed copies will be available at all sponsor locations.
MRWC Staff
Christine Tabak,
Executive Director
Tracie Sales,
Water Resources Manager
James Magarian,
Office Manager
Murielle Georges,
Membership
Coordinator
Mid-Stream eNewsletter
Photo Credits:
C.Tabak
AAA-MV
Ed Bolton
the
River
Social!
at
Pizzico
in Nashua
Paul Dadak, Lucy St. John, Janet & Bob Wisniewski, Elizabeth Foley, Nancy Goodell Paula Kosewski,
Christine Tabak, brand-new-member Anne Russell, and Bill Zebuhr.
Have You Taken the MRWC "Priority Survey" Yet?....there's still time...
The "Priority Survey" asks members and friends what MRWC Programs and Projects are most important to them. Just 6 questions in the survey....and it takes about 90 seconds to complete.
Your opinion counts....please speak up! Click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/L2HKCSD
Or copy/paste the URL into your web browser address bar. The survey will close on March 15th.
The following individuals and businesses have demonstrated their support of the MRWC mission in joining or renewing membership in January and February:
New Members: TEC, Inc., Vesper Country Club, Debra Josephson, Joshua H. Lee, Al Peirce, Yaseen Sayani, Andrew Wetmore
Renewing Members: Worthen Industries, Inc., Ted Bailey, Michael E. Curran, Christopher P. Foran, Richard Howe, Ann L. Jones, Saurabh Khetan, John W. Murphy, Robert J. Reich, Marion R. Stoddart
Quote of the Month:
It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.
Henry Van Dyke
(Author 1852-1933)
March 13 - Maynard
Smart, Clean, Green: Innovative Water Systems Forum
- Saturday, March 13, 11am-3pm at Clock Tower Place in Maynard.
Please RSVP to oar@assabetriver.org
or call us at (978) 369-3956. Updates will be posted at www.assabetriver.org.
March 27 - Westfield
16th annual Westfield River Symposium -- Scanlon Banquet Hall at Westfield State College
The theme for this years' event is "Green Energy in Our Watershed". The keynote speaker will be Alan Nogee of the Union of Concerned Scientists. The morning session will feature half a dozen speakers on various issues related to renewable energy, and lots of exhibitors including local companies that offer renewable energy products. *details*
April 22 - Merrimack Valley
Annual Earth Day Celebration -- co-sponsored by MRWC and the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce - [Breakfast, Program, and "State of the Merrimack" presentation....details coming soon]
April 24 - Various Locations
AAA
Annual Great Battery Roundup --
April 24, 2010
from
MRWC on 
Become a Member *easy*
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Merrimack River Watershed Council, Inc.
600 Suffolk Street, Fifth Floor - Lowell, MA 01854 - 978.275.0120 - FAX: 978.275.0125
"Voice of the Merrimack"