Massachusetts Rivers Alliance

Did you know?that a woman is responsible for helping establish the first ever water-quality standards in the U.S.? In the 1880s, Ellen Swallow Richards, of MIT, in collaboration with fellow faculty member, Dr. Thomas Drown, surveyed the flow of Massachusetts' rivers, analyzed the chemicals in the water, and measured high and low water marks, leading to the creation of a ‘normal chlorine’ map of the Commonwealth’s water supplies.?These results highlighted the extent of man-made pollution in Massachusetts and led to the establishment of the first water-quality standards in the U.S. This #WomensHistoryMonth, we are grateful for all the efforts of women who have helped move us towards healthy rivers and water! https://lnkd.in/g5en5yQ8

????Drought Update: The critical and severe drought conditions persist across the state. Following nearly seven months of below-normal precipitation, the Connecticut River Valley region has been raised to a Level 3 – Critical Drought and the Western region has been raised to a Level 2 – Significant Drought. Across the other state regions, the drought conditions remain.? DER participates in the Drought Management Task Force, along with many other state and federal agencies and professional organizations, to collect information and make recommendations for drought management to the Secretary of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Secretary of Public Safety and Security, and the Governor. Have you noticed drought conditions near you? You can submit photos and help support state drought monitoring efforts! Learn more about photo submission, as well as tips for residents and businesses to help conserve water here - https://bit.ly/3OfC4Hu

“Not only is dam removal good for river health, but it is also just a smart investment. Removing outdated and unsafe dams eliminates liability for municipalities and private landowners, improves public safety for local communities, and overall river restoration lifts up local economies.” -Serena McClain, Senior Director of Dam Removal, American Rivers https://lnkd.in/ejkfMguV

We are STILL in a drought in Massachusetts - but you can play a part in conserving water! Check out these tips from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Spring in Massachusetts is warming, which means an earlier fire season and a greater risk of drought in the state. “Higher temperatures contribute significantly to drought because the water that falls evaporates more quickly,” said Julia Blatt, executive director of Mass Rivers Alliance. “So then, you’ve got dry soils and dry streams, and when there is rainfall, less of the water makes it into streams or groundwater or lakes or ponds.” Read on in this CommonWealth Beacon Article: https://lnkd.in/ePzdnBgy

Stronger stormwater regulations could mean cleaner rivers—here’s how. Stormwater runoff is a major source of pollution in Massachusetts, carrying contaminants into our waterways. But a powerful tool called Residual Designation Authority (RDA) could help tackle this issue by reducing stormwater pollution. In our latest Stormwater Spotlight, we break down what RDA is, how it works, and why it could be a game-changer for river health. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/efpWsNCY

?? Join us for our next Dam Busters 201 session: Building a Dam Removal Project Team! ?? ?? When: March 12th, 12 PM - 1 PM ?? Where: Zoom ?? For more info and to sign up, visit https://lnkd.in/exFT3ztr Charles River Watershed Association, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration

?? With the entire state currently experiencing some level of drought—and some areas at a Level 3 critical drought—we need a comprehensive water conservation strategy now more than ever. Mass Rivers will continue to advocate for the drought bill (SD.1668/HD.1423) to protect our water resources. Learn more about this crucial legislation and its impact in this CommonWealth Beacon article: https://lnkd.in/girbh4Ma

?? Join us for the second Dam Busters 201 session of the year: Stream Restoration and Stream Channel Design! February 5th, 12 PM - 1 PM on Zoom For more info and to sign up, visit: https://lnkd.in/eE_K6UiY

??DATE CHANGE UPDATE: Dam Busters 201- Overview of New England Dam Removal Research (originally scheduled for January 22nd at noon) has been rescheduled to January 29th at noon?? The webinar will still take place via Zoom and give an overview of Boston College Prof. Noah Snyder's decades of research on dam removal in New England. If you have already registered, there is no need to re-register. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, all of the webinars are recorded and posted on our website.