The Collaborative was chosen as one of the 2023 SNEP-SWIG grantees. These funds will advance ecological restoration and improve community resilience through capacity building and technical assistance.

11/1/23

On her visit to Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland toured Slater Mill Dam, the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and the site of an important fish passage effort for the Blackstone. Members of the Collaborative spoke to her about the Indigenous support for fish passage and ecological importance of this movement. 6/16/23

A new partnership between the Narragansett and Shinnecock Indian tribes, and the Blackstone River Watershed Council brought an educational program to the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island that, “teaches our communities about Native values and how to use those values to appreciate the Blackstone River…We want people to be a voice for the river because the river has no voice and it’s up to the new generations to speak up,” Marsland (BRWC) said. 2/2/23

An intertribal gathering hosted by the Narragansett Tribe in partnership with the Friends of the Blackstone to support the Blackstone River’s fish ladder project will be held 10/30. “Be the voice of Kittacuck.” 10/26/22

Check out this recent presentation to the MassFM Conference on the top 5 things to know about floodplain management - designed specifically for non-floodplain managers. 10/13/22

As the population shifts from areas hit by climate-fueled storms, will Worcester become a climate refuge? Collab Manager Stefanie Covino notes that rural populations are also already growing in the region and will likely continue to absorb the impact, and there are options for improved flexibility for sustainable development and affordable options. 10/14/22

Collaborative partner Blackstone River Watershed Council/ Friends of the Blackstone offers a “Connecting with Canoes” program to get the community out on the water and enjoying the Blackstone River, and now they’ve now expanded their program to offer canoeing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing both physical and mental benefits. 9/12/22

In honor of the 50th anniversary of ZAP the Blackstone, this story by reporter Sam Turken interviews various advocates working in the Blackstone watershed on its history, needs, and future, including speaking with Collaborative Program Manager Stefanie Covino. 9/9/22

Several Blackstone watershed communities received MVP action grants from the Commonwealth, including Shrewsbury ($90,000 for Regulatory Update for Sustainable Parking Requirements and $100,000 for Climate Action and Resilience Plan); Sutton ($75,000 for Manchaug Village Water Resource Resiliency Action Plan); Uxbridge ($185,450 for Home Brew Dam and Whitin Pond Dam Removal); and Worcester ($1,253,091 for Drainage and Green Infrastructure Master Plan). Congratulations to our municipal partners! 8/30/22

The Blackstone Watershed Collaborative has been chosen to receive a $25,000 grant to support the development of a governance structure to guide the Collaborative moving forward and enable us to develop a prioritization framework and a fundraising plan for advancing priority projects. This funding will help ensure that those most vulnerable to climate change impacts have a voice in shaping the efforts to improve climate resilience and implement ecological restoration projects across the watershed.

“The aim of the paddle (and events that took place during the four-day paddle) was to bring attention to the work that has been done to improve the Blackstone River and the work that still needs to be done.” 8/19/22

Traveling down the river from Worcester, Mass., to Narragansett Bay tells a story that is harder to see from land. EcoRI News Reporter Colleen Cronin accompanied the Blackstone River Commons expedition team to see for herself. 8/15/22

Can a notoriously polluted local river be a destination? A four-day kayak ride down the Blackstone aims to prove it can be. 8/11/22

From Aug. 11-14, a group of advocates for the Blackstone River will travel its entirety, from Worcester, Mass., to Narragansett Bay, to draw attention to the work that has been done to improve the river and what more still needs to be accomplished. 8/8/22

The Blackstone Family River Fest will be held Friday, Aug. 12 from 3-7 p.m. at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge at 287 Oak Street. It will be a public festival with live music, food trucks, craft beer, and environmental organizations tabling, including Mass Audubon, Save the Bay, and other organizations. 8/5/22

Over four days, group will paddle 60 miles from Worcester to Providence. 8/3/22

Those who remember the water quality of the Blackstone River 50 years ago will recall the signature smell of the foamy, multi-colored water, filled with sewage, industrial contamination, and tons of trash. The Blackstone had been our dumping grounds for over a hundred years without stewardship or regulations to protect it. Today, we’ve made massive progress and it seems impossible to have such unacceptable conditions, but there are new challenges facing our watershed - and a new group ready to face the challenge. Summer 2022 Issue

The Collaborative was happy to provide a letter of support for both of these grants and looks forward to assisting the town of Cumberland, our partners at Groundwork RI, and our home institution of Clark University in promoting equitable tree plantings and lowering summer temperatures. 7/1/22

The Collaborative and our partners issued a letter in response to the sewage discharge into the Blackstone from Woonsocket Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility in Woonsocket, RI. The Valley Breeze covered the response of advocacy groups including the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and Friends of the Blackstone. 6/29/22

Lifelong water warrior Dave Rosser helped found the historic 1972 ZAP the Blackstone cleanup and the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

In celebration of ZAP’s 50th anniversary, Dawn Rosser and Ray Kelley spoke about their grandfather’s impact on About the Valley on Northbridge Community TV on 6/14/22. They highlighted several cleanups and events taking place this summer that continue a legacy of Blackstone stewardship and gave a shoutout to the Collaborative for our work bringing together communities to address shared challenges.

The T&G highlighted the work of the Collaborative and so many of our partners in this front-page story 3/13/22 on the 50th anniversary of ZAP and so much else going on in the watershed.

Program Manager Stef Covino had an hour-long interview by Harry Berkowitz’s About the Valley show on Northbridge Community TV on 2/24/22. She discusses the Collaborative, Needs Assessment Report, and what we’re up to this spring!

Clark alumna heads effort to build climate resilience and improve water quality 2/9/2022

Presentation to the RI Rivers Council 1/12/22. Check out what events are planned for the 50th anniversary of ZAP the Blackstone.

Sign up to participate in a clean up/green up event 8/27 at zaptheblackstone.com and join the celebration 9/10. More events March-July will be announced soon!

The Collaborative is working to have communities within the watershed pass local resolutions that acknowledge and support the Needs Assessment Report. First up, Cumberland, RI!

Hear from Mike Gerel (NBEP), Hillary King (EEA), and Stefanie Covino (Blackstone Collab) about how watershed scale collaboration is an effective way to address climate resilience, including how a diverse group of organizations created actionable needs, what’s happening in the Blackstone, and how to fund local community efforts.

The September edition of EPA SNEP Chat is with Stefanie Covino, Program Manager of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative. SNEP Communications Coordinator Adam Reilly spoke with Stef about the Collaborative and its mission, as well as how the Program is working closely with SNEP and the SNEP Network to fully realize its goals for the region.

MassECAN is developing a Watershed-Scale Climate Collaboration Toolkit, starting with this new resource: Advancing Climate Adaptation through Watershed-Scale Collaboration. 9/28/2021

The Blackstone Collaborative looks forward to participating in this work as a partner of Mass ECAN.

The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program is handing off the Needs Assessment Report to the new Blackstone Watershed Collaborative. The new group is bringing together partners all over the Blackstone Watershed to accomplish the 20 action items identified within the next five years. 9/28/2021

Roger Williams University is the new host of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program. This article highlights the recent work of NBEP, including the Blackstone’s Needs Assessment Report. 9/28/2021

Learn how the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and its partners, including the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, are working to promote the 50th anniversary of ZAP the Blackstone – a one-day clean up in 1972 that generated 10,000 tons of trash removal from the Blackstone River and was an opportunity to educate thousands. 10/6/2021

This program will help convene stakeholders throughout the bi-state Blackstone Watershed and offer technical assistance, outreach and educational materials, and networking to advance the goals of the 2021 Blackstone River Watershed Needs Assessment Report from the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program. 8/23/2021