Fact Sheet/Spring 2005
  AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVERS
 www.epa.gov/OWOW/
   heritage/rivers.html
 to advance the goals identi-
     fy river communn
  natural resource
  mental protection, economic
  revitalization, and historic and
  cultural preservation. No new
  regulatory authority is created
  as a  result of the Initiative.
Likewise,
              irect  federal
  funding  is available to the
  Initiative.  Existing  federal
  authorities and programs are
  used to assist the community
  partners in implementation of
  their goals.
> Blackstone River
  Navigator Contact
  Johanna Hunter
  (617)918-1041
  nunter.johanna@epa.gov
^ Blackstone River Coalition
  Donna Williams, Director
  (508) 753-6087
  dwilliams@massaudubon.org
  www.zaptheblackstone.org
           United States
           Environmental Protection
          \ Agency New England
   Customer Call Center
      888-372-7341
  www.epa.gov/region1
                             Blackstone    River
                             What Makes the Blackstone River Special?
                              Hhe 46 mile long river, flows from Worcester, MA, the
                               headwaters, and runs through 24 communities until it
                               reaches Providence, RI encompassing more than
                               400,000 acres and more than 500,000 people.
                              Hhe Blackstone is documented as the "Birthplace of the
                               American Industrial Revolution" with dams used for
                               mills and industry along
                               almost every mile of the river.
                              Hhe Blackstone helps form the headwaters of
                               Narragansett Bay, an estuary of national
                               significance.
                              Hhe Blackstone is a designated National
                               Heritage Corridor.
                                What are the Long Term Goals?
                                ^•Fishable and swimmable by 2015.
                                ^•Create a contiguous "Riverway" that connects the
                                 river, greenway and bikeway.
                                ^•Identify and restore wetlands and riparian buffers
                                 along the main stem and tributaries.
                                ^ Protect cold water fishery streams from develop-
                                 ment impacts.
                                ^Improve public access to the river and enhance
                                 opportunities for recreation.
                                ^ Support economic development opportunities and
                                 promote positive growth in the watershed.
                                > Complete the Blackstone River Bikeway from
                                 Worcester to Providence.
                                                                             Progress/Goals for the  Future
What Partnership Progress Has Been Made?
 *• Restored the Lonsdale Marsh in Lincoln, RI - the
  first-of-its-kind freshwater wetland restoration in RI
  ($2.3 million) of more than 20 acres of the former
  Lonsdale Drive-In Theater.
 ^•Restoration of streambankalong the Quinsigamond
  RiverinGrafton,MA
 ^•Created a "Headwaters to Bay" volunteer water qual-
  ity monitoring network with an approved Quality
  Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).
 ^•9.5 miles of the Blackstone River Bikeway have
  been built and another 15 miles are either in
  design or construction.
 ^-Five nonpoint source grants for $ 1.4 million,
  including matching funds, awarded for pond and
  lake restoration and urban runoff issues.

 What EPA Actions are Planned for 2005-2006?
 ^•Commit to key environmental actions outlined in
  the Blackstone River Bi-State Watershed
  Action Plan.
 ^•Coordinate multi-agency efforts to identify and
  undertake wetland and riparian restoration projects
  in the watershed.
 ^•Continue coordination of Brownfields projects
  along the Blackstone.
 *• Reduce bacteria, nutrient and metals loading by
  finalizing the levels allowable for the river
  inRI(TMDLs).

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                   AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVERS
                                                                            www.epa.gov/OWOW/heritage/rivers.html

                                                                      What EPA Actions are Planned  for 2005-2006? (continued)

                                                                       tissue stormwater and wastewater treatment facility permits in 2005
                                                                        and 2006.
                                                                       *• Partner with other agencies for the Army Corps anadromous fish passage
                                                                        feasibility study on the lower 4 dams
                                                                       ^•Coordinate Fisherville Mill and Pond Restoration Project in Grafton, MA
                                                                        (Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative)
                                                                       *• Complete Leesville Pond and Dam Restoration in MA using $ 120,000 in
                                                                        matching funds from the Watershed Grant received for Narragansett Bay.
                                                                       ^•Identification and funding of innovative wastewater treatment grants for
                                                                        Bkckstone River communities.
                                                                       ^•Continue coordinating actions that connect the Lonsdale Mill Redevelop-
                                                                        ment with the Perterson Puritan Superfund Site and the Lonsdale Marsh.
Who are the Partners?
Bkckstone River Coalition • Bkckstone Headwaters Coalition • Blackstone
River Watershed Association • Bkckstone River Watershed Council • Friends
of the Blackstone  • Save The Bay • Conservation Law Foundation • Massa-
chusetts Audubon Society • Cities and Towns from Worcester, MA to Provi-
dence, RI (24 in the watershed) • Bkckstone Valley Chamber of Commerce •
Bkckstone Valley Tourism Council • EPANew England • JohnH. Chafee
Bkckstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission (National Park
Service) • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service • USARmyCorpsof
Engineers • US Fish and Wildlife Service • Federal Highway Administration •
Housing and Urban Development • Economic Development Agency Depart-
ment of Commerce • US Geological Service • National Oceanic Atmospheric
Administration •  USDAForest Service • USDA Rural Development for MA and
RI • USDA Farm Service • Federal Emergency Management Agency

  What is the Blackstone  River Coalition?
  The Bkckstone River Coalition is a partnership of numerous organizations,
  businessess, agencies, municipalities and individuals that are concerned
  with the regeneration of the Bkckstone River and the health of the
  Bkckstone River watershed. The Coalition created and spearheads the
  Campaign for a fishable/swimmable Bkckstone River by 2015.
                United States
                Environmental Protection
                Agency New England
Customer Call Center 888-372-7341  • www.epa.gov/region1
Note: EPA N ew England otters Businesses ana mumcip
local environment. Please call to learn how EPA can help.
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                                                  EPA901-F-05-011

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