| Home | The Council | Events | History | Membership | School Programs | The Towns | The Watershed | Water Quality | Currents

Summer 2002 Currents

Around the Watershed New Benches at Lake Quannapowitt Don’t Dump Drains to Saugus River Larry Gil Retires Watershed Bike Trips Cleaner Boating Pranker’s Pond Day New Benches at Lake Quannapowitt   The Wakefield Board of Selectmen and the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt initiated a gift program this summer to replace the 55 benches around the lake. The six-foot benches selected for this program are classic in appearance and exceptionally sturdy, made of a synthetic wood that will never need to be painted. Donors have the choice of “Friends of Lake Quannapowitt” or “Wakefield Massachusetts 1868" cast in the stanchions that frame the seat on each end, and a distinctive memorial plaque will be placed in the center of the backrest. More than 22 benches have been donated through this program, which began with a lottery for choice of bench location in June. Future donors will be able to select a location based upon the postmark on their nomination. Anyone interested in this program may send a check for $1,200 to FOLQ, P. O. Box 517, Wakefield, MA 01880. For further information, call FOLQ member Kory Hellmer, 781-245-6170 or email kory@kory.com. Don’t Dump Drains to Saugus River This summer the Saugus River Watershed Council is looking for groups to stencil storm drains within the watershed. The purpose of storm drains is to collect water during heavy rainstorms and prevent flooding to nearby homes. The water caught by storm drains flows into the closest body of water. Any excess car oil, trash, or debris emptied into these drains will eventually end up in nearby bodies of water like the Saugus River. The Saugus River Watershed Council has initiated a program to stencil the message - “Don’t Dump, Drains to Saugus River” to help educate people about the importance of keeping trash out of storm drains. If you have a group that is interested in helping to stencil this summer, please call the Saugus River Watershed Council at 781-233-5046. Larry Gil Retires Special thanks to Larry Gil who recently retired from his position as North Coastal Watershed Team Leader at the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. Larry was a very strong advocate for restoring the natural resources of the Saugus River watershed. His most recent accomplishments included helping to fund and coordinate a Flow Study of the Saugus River, an inventory of Brownfield Sites throughout the North Coastal region, and a soon to be implemented Urban Sediment Sampling Study in the Saugus River and Salem Sound watersheds. Larry Gil was presented with a River Stewardship Award by SRWC Executive Director Joan LeBlanc at the May 2002 North Coastal Basin Team Meeting. Watershed Bike Trips Bike to the Sea is offering several organized bike rides around the watershed. On 18 August, riders can participate in a Revere Beach “Lobster Roll” Ride - a 16 mile ride from Point of Pines in Revere to Deer Island. Each Thursday in August, riders will meet at the Lake Quannapowitt Bandstand for a moderate paced 12 to 15 mile ride. See www.biketothesea.com for more information. Cleaner Boating This summer, the Saugus River Watershed Council is working with the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management program to encourage environmentally sound boating practices. As part of this effort the Council is distributing free “bilge socks” to boaters throughout the watershed. Bilge socks are placed into a boat bilge to absorb oils, gasoline and diesel fuel that often collect at the bottom of a boat. Using a bilge sock will keep these pollutants from harming marine plants and animals when bilge water is pumped. The council is currently distributing these bilge socks to marinas and yacht clubs such as the Saugus River Yacht Club, Fox Hill Yacht Club, and Point of Pines Yacht Club. Please call SRWC at 781-233-5046 if you would like to receive or learn more about bilge socks. Pranker’s Pond Day Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) will host Pranker’s Pond Day on Sunday, 25 August, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This free event will give people a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of the Pranker’s Pond reservation area. Families will enjoy games, canoeing, natural history activities, and more. For information, please call Ann Devlin, 781-233-5717.

Summer 2002 Currents

Viewing the Watershed by Canoe
2002 Environmental EducationWorkshops
Steve Angelo Announces Retirement
Urban Coyote Field Study
"Alewife" finds Home at Saugus Iron Works
Volunteers Clean up Riverfront
Editorial: Rumney Marsh Threatened by Clean Elections
Learning About the Watershed
SRWC 2002 Annual Picnic
RESCO Seeks Expansion
Potential Trucking Facility Threatens Watershed
Interning at SRWC
Around the Watershed
Saugus River Watershed Council 2002 Canoe Trip Schedule