Boston Flora

Tag: Massachusetts Watershed Coalition

  • Monday, October 19, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Guiding the Rain: Aesthetic Form, Ecological Function

    Rain gardens guide the rain away from storm drains while attracting wildlife and protecting streams, lakes, and ponds. Planted with native flowers, shrubs, and grasses, rain gardens can thrive without fertilizers and pesticides. Tree filter systems are another solution that integrate street trees with stormwater collection. These systems are unique in that they integrate above-ground vegetation with subsurface bio-remediation principals to treat and cleanse stormwater pollutants prior to infiltration to groundwater and aquifers. Join tour guides Ed Himlin from the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition and stormwater engineer  Paul Iorio to learn more about Leominster’s stormwater solutions that combine aesthetic form and ecological function. Learn more, get the map of the meeting place, and register today at http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/guiding-the-rain-aesthetic-form-ecological-function/ ELA members $22, nonmembers $32.

  • Tuesday, August 18, 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Guiding the Rain: Aesthetic Form, Ecological Function

    Rain gardens guide the rain away from storm drains while attracting wildlife and protecting streams, lakes, and ponds. These gardens store rain for a few hours, allowing gradual infiltration. The plants and soils also filter pollutants and remove nutrients to improve water quality.

    Tree filter systems are another solution that integrate street trees with stormwater collection. These systems are unique in that they integrate above-ground vegetation with subsurface bio-remediation principals to treat and cleanse stormwater pollutants prior to infiltration to groundwater and aquifers.

    Join tour guides Ed Himlin from the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition and stormwater engineer, Paul Iorio to learn more about Leominster’s stormwater solutions that combine aesthetic form and ecological function. The program will take place Tuesday, August 18, from 9 – 11 in Leominster, Massachusetts, beginning at the Leominster Library on 30 West Street, and is sponsored by the Ecological Landscape Alliance. ELA members $22, nonmembers $32. Register online at http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/guiding-the-rain-aesthetic-form-ecological-function/

  • Saturday, August 24, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, and Thursday, August 29, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Stormwater Advocates Training

    Learn how to halt or reduce pollution that harms your town’s water at a unique training by the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition (MWC). This Stormwater Advocates Training (SWAT) offers a mix of stimulating workshops and fieldwork for people who want to help their communities reduce polluted runoff.

    Local streets are pollution pathways that convey hot, dirty, oily storm runoff into streams and ponds. These pollutants accumulate and cause the steady decline of urban and suburban waterways.  Fortunately, there are effective and inexpensive practices to fix stormwater problems. Expert speakers will present valuable guidance and participants will receive MWC assistance in selecting practices to achieve the most pollutant reduction for the least cost.

    SWAT training is offered on August 24 (Part 1: 9am – 1pm) and Aug. 29  (Part 2: 5-9 pm) in Northampton. The registration fee is $40 for the  workshops, materials and refreshments. Pre-registration is requested.  Please phone 978-534-0379, or email bgy@commonwaters.org by August 20.  A detailed description is online at www.commonwaters.org/events/be-a-stormwater-advocate.

    http://www.chesapeakebay.net/images/issues/Stormwater_page_image.jpg

  • Thursday, April 12, 4:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Community Stormwater Solutions

    Please join The Massachusetts Watershed Coalition on April 12th at Worcester State University for an important stormwater conference, Community Stormwater Solutions: Keeping Streams & Lakes Healthy. This year’s conference will feature practical guidance for municipal boards, community groups, businesses and homeowners.  The keynote speaker will be Curt Spalding, EPA Region 1 Administrator, on the topic Soak Up the Rain Campaign. Featured workshops: “growing greener”, aquatic ecosystems, low-cost runoff remedies, erosion control, porous paving, BMP ratings and more. Expert speakers will offer practical guidance for municipal officials, town planners, lake and pond groups, watershed organizations, highway departments, home builders, engineers and concerned citizens. Visit www.commonwaters.org/events or call 978-534-0379.

  • Thursday, May 20, 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Rain Gardens in Successful Stormwater Management

    A program entitled Rain Gardens in Successful Stormwater Management, co-sponsored by the Ecological Landscaping Association and the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition will take place Thursday, May 20, from 4:30 – 8 pm, at the Doyle Conservation Center. 325 Lindell Avenue, in Leominster.  The participation fee is $20 for ELA Members, and $25 for non-members.

    Explore the possibilities of improved water quality through collaborative efforts at storm water management.  Partnerships among city officials, community groups, businesses, state and federal agencies, and the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition are restoring Monoosnoc Brook in Leominster.  Rapid runoff had increased frequent flooding that erodes stream banks, and dirty, oily storm water deposited into the brook created lethal conditions for stream life.  Thirty-two rain gardens, tree box filters and bio-retention areas are now helping to cleanse runoff from streets and parking lots.  Designs for additional treatment practices, including a constructed storm water wetland, will be installed and continue to improve Monoosnoc Brook and the North Nashua River.

    Starting at the Doyle Conservation Center and then traveling out to a variety of installation sites, tour guides Ed Himlan, Bob Levite, and others will discuss and demonstrate the successful installations of a variety of storm water management techniques.  For more information, call 617-436-5838, or email ela.info@comcast.net.  Walk ins welcome.

    http://www.thetrustees.org/assets/images/prop/central-ma/Photo%20Gallery/C_DR_girlonbridge_TKates.jpg