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MyRWA Partnership
What is the Mystic Watershed Association (MyRWA) and what do they do?
MyRWA was founded thirty years ago with a mission to restore clean water in the Mystic River watershed, protect water
and related natural resources, and establish relevant public information and education programs. For the majority of its
history, MyRWA functioned as a volunteer-run organization, mobilizing activists on a project-by-project basis. Between
1999-2000, MyRWA merged with the Mystic River Watershed Coalition, a coalition of groups that had been created to
address the needs of the many small, more localized citizens' groups active throughout the watershed. As part of this
merger, MyRWA expanded its membership format to include organizational members. Designees from member
organizations are eligible to hold a seat on the MyRWA Board of Directors. The result of the merger is a stronger
organization that can better represent and advocate on behalf of community needs.
What is the Mystic Watershed?
A watershed refers to a divide that separates one drainage area from another drainage area. The Chelsea Creek, Mill
Creek, and Constitution Beach are all part off the Mystic Watershed because they are all connected by the Mystic River
which leads the water out to the ocean.
Why did Arzel and I get involved with MyRWA?
Arzel and I have been training in water testing using the water kit the MWRA has provided to us. MyRWA has been
recruiting volunteers and stumbled across the Lewis Latimer Society, learned more about us, and recruited Arzel and
myself.
What we did for the week:
Monday: Mary-Beth, the MyRWA Supervisor, came and told us what we were gonna do for the rest of the week
Tuesday: Arzel and I had to get up at 5:45 with Mary-Beth and travel to Constitution Beach in East Boston to test the
water there. Every hour, we would get a sample from the beach in three different locations. When we get the sample
from the middle of the beach, we would also test the water with the YSI meter, the YSI measures pH, conductivity,
temperature and salinity making it an ideal tool for field use. We kept on getting samples until 2:30.
Wednesday: Mary-Beth, Arzel, and I traveled to TUFTS University with the samples from Constitution Beach to perform
the Dissolved Oxygen test. The Dissolved Oxygen test shows how much oxygen is in the water, less means fish cant live
in the water but more oxygen means fish are able to live in it. Here are the results of the samples from Constitution
Beach
Dissolved Oxygen Results:
Site ID: Water Temperature: Dissolved Oxygen (ppm):
MIB001 16 7.4
ABR006 18.5 6.25
ABR028 17 6.2
ABR049 17 2.8
FDUP1 17 6.4
FDUP2 17 2.6
WIB001 20 5.6
UPL001 21 7.25
MEB001 18.5 6.5
ALB006 20 3
MYR071 20.20 6.8
FDUP1 17 6.2
UPL001 21 7.2
Any E. Coli number above 235 MPN / 100 mL is above the limit that the Mass Department of Public Health has deemed
safe for swimming. In other words, that sample does not pass the swimming standard for bacteria. Many of the pipe
samples we took are above this limit, and the gull waste samples are WAY above the limit.
Any E. Coli number above 1260 is above the limit deemed safe for boating, and so does not pass the boating standard.
Several instances of this failure have occurred.
Thursday: Mary-Beth, Arzel and I traveled to Urban Wild park in East Boston and sampled the water there. Afterwards,
we traveled to Admiral’s Hill to pick up samples of water from other volunteers in MyRWA. The first crew was already
there when we got there but the other crew did not show up, we waited for an hour but decided to leave.
Friday: Arzel and I worked on our projects. Arzel is working on an essay while my project is creating this web page.
**Arzel's essay is further down
My Perspective:
I never had high expectations for this program. To be honest, I thought it was going to be boring water testing all day
but to my surprise I was wrong. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot of things about the water around Chelsea that I
would of never even knew.
MyRWA was founded thirty years ago with a mission to restore clean water in the Mystic River watershed, protect water
and related natural resources, and establish relevant public information and education programs. For the majority of its
history, MyRWA functioned as a volunteer-run organization, mobilizing activists on a project-by-project basis. Between
1999-2000, MyRWA merged with the Mystic River Watershed Coalition, a coalition of groups that had been created to
address the needs of the many small, more localized citizens' groups active throughout the watershed. As part of this
merger, MyRWA expanded its membership format to include organizational members. Designees from member
organizations are eligible to hold a seat on the MyRWA Board of Directors. The result of the merger is a stronger
organization that can better represent and advocate on behalf of community needs.
What is the Mystic Watershed?
A watershed refers to a divide that separates one drainage area from another drainage area. The Chelsea Creek, Mill
Creek, and Constitution Beach are all part off the Mystic Watershed because they are all connected by the Mystic River
which leads the water out to the ocean.
Why did Arzel and I get involved with MyRWA?
Arzel and I have been training in water testing using the water kit the MWRA has provided to us. MyRWA has been
recruiting volunteers and stumbled across the Lewis Latimer Society, learned more about us, and recruited Arzel and
myself.
What we did for the week:
Monday: Mary-Beth, the MyRWA Supervisor, came and told us what we were gonna do for the rest of the week
Tuesday: Arzel and I had to get up at 5:45 with Mary-Beth and travel to Constitution Beach in East Boston to test the
water there. Every hour, we would get a sample from the beach in three different locations. When we get the sample
from the middle of the beach, we would also test the water with the YSI meter, the YSI measures pH, conductivity,
temperature and salinity making it an ideal tool for field use. We kept on getting samples until 2:30.
Wednesday: Mary-Beth, Arzel, and I traveled to TUFTS University with the samples from Constitution Beach to perform
the Dissolved Oxygen test. The Dissolved Oxygen test shows how much oxygen is in the water, less means fish cant live
in the water but more oxygen means fish are able to live in it. Here are the results of the samples from Constitution
Beach
Dissolved Oxygen Results:
Site ID: Water Temperature: Dissolved Oxygen (ppm):
MIB001 16 7.4
ABR006 18.5 6.25
ABR028 17 6.2
ABR049 17 2.8
FDUP1 17 6.4
FDUP2 17 2.6
WIB001 20 5.6
UPL001 21 7.25
MEB001 18.5 6.5
ALB006 20 3
MYR071 20.20 6.8
FDUP1 17 6.2
UPL001 21 7.2
Any E. Coli number above 235 MPN / 100 mL is above the limit that the Mass Department of Public Health has deemed
safe for swimming. In other words, that sample does not pass the swimming standard for bacteria. Many of the pipe
samples we took are above this limit, and the gull waste samples are WAY above the limit.
Any E. Coli number above 1260 is above the limit deemed safe for boating, and so does not pass the boating standard.
Several instances of this failure have occurred.
Thursday: Mary-Beth, Arzel and I traveled to Urban Wild park in East Boston and sampled the water there. Afterwards,
we traveled to Admiral’s Hill to pick up samples of water from other volunteers in MyRWA. The first crew was already
there when we got there but the other crew did not show up, we waited for an hour but decided to leave.
Friday: Arzel and I worked on our projects. Arzel is working on an essay while my project is creating this web page.
**Arzel's essay is further down
My Perspective:
I never had high expectations for this program. To be honest, I thought it was going to be boring water testing all day
but to my surprise I was wrong. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot of things about the water around Chelsea that I
would of never even knew.
Arzel Washington
8/22/2008
MyRWA
The Mystic River Watershed Association, or MyRWA for short, was founded over thirty years ago with the sole mission of
restoring clean water, and preventing pollution within the Mystic River watershed. The Mystic River watershed, extending from
Woburn to Winthrop, contains a great deal of natural resources that must be protected, such as natural salt water marshes,
beaches, rivers, etc. MyRWA keeps the general public educated about environmental pollution, but mainly stresses the
importance of maintaining healthy aquatic life within the watershed. This is where I come in. My name is Arzel Washington, and I
have been chosen by the Mystic River Watershed Association to participate in a week-long project. This project included
assisting in baseline monitoring in and around the Chelsea and East Boston area. Curiosity was the driving factor for me
participating in this project, as I was eager to see the quality of water that we had in the Chelsea area.
My thoughts about this whole process were that this was going to be a great experience. I was hoping that I would learn a lot,
and that I did. The first day of the project consisted of preparation. This preparation included a first hand look at what MyRWA
does, and why they test the water. We also studied the procedures for the following day, and engaged in site recon at
Constitution Beach to plan the specific points from which we would be collecting samples. At the dawn of the second day, we
arrived at Constitution Beach at approximately six in the morning. We immediately started collecting the samples at thirty-minute
intervals due to the peak of low tide. The sample collection points were dispersed in three places, the beginning, the middle,
and the end of Constitution Beach. After the peak of low tide, the sample collection time was changed from thirty minutes to one
hour. We collected samples until about two-thirty in the afternoon, and at that time, the samples were transported to the
MyRWA’s lab at Tufts University to be processed. During the third day of the internship, we carefully analyzed the samples, and
recorded the data and results that we have obtained, which will be mentioned later. For the fourth day, we took water samples
at the Condor Street Urban Wild in East Boston, and then collected samples that another group prepared at Admirals Hill. The
final day consisted of our farewells, and a brief review and wrap up what we have experienced throughout the week.
The samples that we collected and analyzed were analyzed for Dissolved Oxygen. Before explaining the results, a brief
description of dissolved oxygen is necessary for comprehensive purposes. Dissolved oxygen levels are very important with
regards to aquatic life. Dissolved oxygen can enter the water through photosynthesis, and also direct absorption from the air
above, crashing of the waves, and the bubbling of a stream. The amount of oxygen that can be stored depends on the salinity
and temperature of the water also. The colder the water temperature, the more dissolved oxygen can be stored. So testing
these levels is very important in making sure that any given body of water within the Mystic River watershed is capable of
maintaining life. The results of the dissolved oxygen tests showed that for the most part the water was hospitable and able to
maintain aquatic life. But in some parts, it was extremely low. For dissolved oxygen levels, in order for them to support aquatic
life, it must be above 5 parts per million (ppm). Anything lower than that can be fatal for most species to survive. The readings
for the dissolved oxygen were as high as 7.4 ppm, which is excellent, and shows that either the location contains a substantial
amount of algae and plant life keeping the water oxygenated, but also the water is kept in constant motion. On the other hand,
we saw levels as low as 2.6 ppm, which are very poor, meaning that there is possible pollution, along with poor water circulation.
Apart from the dissolved oxygen tests, we also tested for the bacterial levels on Constitution Beach, but also took samples
from combined sewer outfall pipes. The Massachusetts Department of Health deemed that any E. coli number above 235 MPN /
100 mL means that the water is hazardous to swim in, and any E. coli number above 1260 MPN / 100 mL means that it is even
unsafe for boats. During testing, we collected from various points on the beach, but also collected samples of dead crabs,
seaweed, and fecal matter from sea gulls. The results from the seaweed and the crabs showed little to no bacterial
contamination, but the fecal matter from the sea gulls, far exceeded the standard 235 MPN / 100 mL laid out by the
Massachusetts Department of Health. The test results that were recorded near the outfall pipes also exceeded 235 MPN / 100
mL. Unfortunately, the rest of the results that we recorded on Constitution Beach were not conclusive. We initially recorded
extremely high readings of bacterial contamination, but we believe these were false positives. The Mystic River Watershed
Association will be going back again to Constitution Beach to collect additional samples to better understand water quality.
Our research has found that water quality in some parts of Chelsea and East Boston is good, while in other places it is poor
enough that it can pose a potential threat to the ecosystem. It is up to us as citizens that live near any body of water to become
educated about the dangers of water pollution. The many factories that operate along the shoreline contribute the most to
pollution, but also the pollutants and contaminants on the streets get flushed into the river with every rainfall. As a whole, this
process was actually a great experience for me. I got to learn more and more about the water quality in and around Chelsea,
and I also gained a first hand look at what scientists go through to test water quality and make sure it is safe for the general
public to enjoy.
8/22/2008
MyRWA
The Mystic River Watershed Association, or MyRWA for short, was founded over thirty years ago with the sole mission of
restoring clean water, and preventing pollution within the Mystic River watershed. The Mystic River watershed, extending from
Woburn to Winthrop, contains a great deal of natural resources that must be protected, such as natural salt water marshes,
beaches, rivers, etc. MyRWA keeps the general public educated about environmental pollution, but mainly stresses the
importance of maintaining healthy aquatic life within the watershed. This is where I come in. My name is Arzel Washington, and I
have been chosen by the Mystic River Watershed Association to participate in a week-long project. This project included
assisting in baseline monitoring in and around the Chelsea and East Boston area. Curiosity was the driving factor for me
participating in this project, as I was eager to see the quality of water that we had in the Chelsea area.
My thoughts about this whole process were that this was going to be a great experience. I was hoping that I would learn a lot,
and that I did. The first day of the project consisted of preparation. This preparation included a first hand look at what MyRWA
does, and why they test the water. We also studied the procedures for the following day, and engaged in site recon at
Constitution Beach to plan the specific points from which we would be collecting samples. At the dawn of the second day, we
arrived at Constitution Beach at approximately six in the morning. We immediately started collecting the samples at thirty-minute
intervals due to the peak of low tide. The sample collection points were dispersed in three places, the beginning, the middle,
and the end of Constitution Beach. After the peak of low tide, the sample collection time was changed from thirty minutes to one
hour. We collected samples until about two-thirty in the afternoon, and at that time, the samples were transported to the
MyRWA’s lab at Tufts University to be processed. During the third day of the internship, we carefully analyzed the samples, and
recorded the data and results that we have obtained, which will be mentioned later. For the fourth day, we took water samples
at the Condor Street Urban Wild in East Boston, and then collected samples that another group prepared at Admirals Hill. The
final day consisted of our farewells, and a brief review and wrap up what we have experienced throughout the week.
The samples that we collected and analyzed were analyzed for Dissolved Oxygen. Before explaining the results, a brief
description of dissolved oxygen is necessary for comprehensive purposes. Dissolved oxygen levels are very important with
regards to aquatic life. Dissolved oxygen can enter the water through photosynthesis, and also direct absorption from the air
above, crashing of the waves, and the bubbling of a stream. The amount of oxygen that can be stored depends on the salinity
and temperature of the water also. The colder the water temperature, the more dissolved oxygen can be stored. So testing
these levels is very important in making sure that any given body of water within the Mystic River watershed is capable of
maintaining life. The results of the dissolved oxygen tests showed that for the most part the water was hospitable and able to
maintain aquatic life. But in some parts, it was extremely low. For dissolved oxygen levels, in order for them to support aquatic
life, it must be above 5 parts per million (ppm). Anything lower than that can be fatal for most species to survive. The readings
for the dissolved oxygen were as high as 7.4 ppm, which is excellent, and shows that either the location contains a substantial
amount of algae and plant life keeping the water oxygenated, but also the water is kept in constant motion. On the other hand,
we saw levels as low as 2.6 ppm, which are very poor, meaning that there is possible pollution, along with poor water circulation.
Apart from the dissolved oxygen tests, we also tested for the bacterial levels on Constitution Beach, but also took samples
from combined sewer outfall pipes. The Massachusetts Department of Health deemed that any E. coli number above 235 MPN /
100 mL means that the water is hazardous to swim in, and any E. coli number above 1260 MPN / 100 mL means that it is even
unsafe for boats. During testing, we collected from various points on the beach, but also collected samples of dead crabs,
seaweed, and fecal matter from sea gulls. The results from the seaweed and the crabs showed little to no bacterial
contamination, but the fecal matter from the sea gulls, far exceeded the standard 235 MPN / 100 mL laid out by the
Massachusetts Department of Health. The test results that were recorded near the outfall pipes also exceeded 235 MPN / 100
mL. Unfortunately, the rest of the results that we recorded on Constitution Beach were not conclusive. We initially recorded
extremely high readings of bacterial contamination, but we believe these were false positives. The Mystic River Watershed
Association will be going back again to Constitution Beach to collect additional samples to better understand water quality.
Our research has found that water quality in some parts of Chelsea and East Boston is good, while in other places it is poor
enough that it can pose a potential threat to the ecosystem. It is up to us as citizens that live near any body of water to become
educated about the dangers of water pollution. The many factories that operate along the shoreline contribute the most to
pollution, but also the pollutants and contaminants on the streets get flushed into the river with every rainfall. As a whole, this
process was actually a great experience for me. I got to learn more and more about the water quality in and around Chelsea,
and I also gained a first hand look at what scientists go through to test water quality and make sure it is safe for the general
public to enjoy.
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