Federal, state and local environmental agencies are working collaboratively to help reach our fishable/swimmable goal by 2015.

• US Environmental Protection Agency
• Army Corps of Engineers
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• US Geological Survey, National Park Service
• Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
• Rhode Island Department of Transportation
• Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
• Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
• Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
• Local town governments

In Business for the Blackstone | Water Quality Monitoring
Fishable/Swimmable Campaign | Tackling Stormwater
Riverbank Restoration | Become a Member Today

What we’re doing is working collaboratively to win the Campaign for a Fishable/Swimmable Blackstone River by 2015.

Campaign for a Fishable-Swimmable Blackstone River by 2015

In order to marshall the resources to actually clean up the Blackstone River, in 2003 the Blackstone River Coalition launched the Campaign for a Fishable/Swimmable Blackstone River by 2015.

To build a roadmap for the Campaign, the BRC is working with federal, state and local agencies, as well as non-profit organizations, academic institutions and businesses to create a bi-state watershed action plan.

To improve water quality to achieve a fishable/swimmable Blackstone River by 2015, the Campaign focuses on the following:

Stormwater Management

• Tackling stormwater and polluted runoff and reducing pollutants washed into the waterways and lowering the volume of stormwater flowing into waterways.

Wastewater Treatment

• Implementing more stringent limits on nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates at wastewater treatment plants

Land Use

• Protecting undeveloped areas, restoring wetlands and riparian areas, protecting cold water fishery streams, encouraging Low Impact Development strategies such as reducing impervious surfaces, increasing infiltration, and planting native species.

Stream Flow

• Restoring flow by methods such as:
  • breach or remove appropriate dams
  • establish fish passages for anadromous species at the four lower-most dams

Recreational Opportunities

• Continueing to build a system of river access points to increase opportunities for fishing, canoeing and enjoying passive recreation

Education and Outreach

• Developing programs to increase watershed awareness and appreciation and encourageing active stewardship

A Two-Tiered Campaign:

The grassroots level

• Watershed-wide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program
• Homeowner's Guide to Protecting Water Quality in the Blackstone River Watershed — eight fact sheets about reducing impacts from lawns, cars, pets, dishwashers, rooftop runnoff, household hazardous waste and impervious surfaces to waterways.
• Horse Owner's Guide to Protecting Water Quality in the Blackstone Valley
• Small Farm Owner's Guide to Protecting Water Quality in the Blackstone Valley
• Rain Gardens help to collect the roof runoff, enhance your landscaping, and infiltrate to ground water.
• Become a Stream Team Member and learn to do shoreline surveys and develop action plans for your local river or stream.

The business level

• Business owners can join the "In Business for the Blackstone" Program.

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Blackstone River Coalition
P.O. Box 70477  Worcester  MA   01607
info@zaptheblackstone.org
Send web comments to: web@zaptheblackstone.org

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