EPA EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking)
The City of Somerville, the Mystic River Watershed Association and Tufts University were awarded an EPA grant to provide information to local residents and river users on local water quality. Two years of real-time data on water quality, weather conditions (rainfall data), and bacteria sampling were added to historical water quality data to serve as indicators for predictive modeling on the water quality in the Mystic in terms of public safety for water-based recreation. Check out www.mysticriveronline.org to learn more about the predictive modeling available at two sites, information on the specific sampling sites and parameters, archived and current data, and water quality issues in the Mystic. Plans are in motion for posting of color-coded flags at regional recreational sites, as well as continuing to spread the word of the internet-based communication tool available on recreational water quality for public use. A video, developed in conjunction with the City of Somerville, is available on this project.

Faculty and students from the Department of Engineering were very active in this project, developing the monitoring protocols and the data collection systems, as well as the web site. Several masters theses focused on the research supporting the predictive models. Representatives from the City of Somerville and from MyRWA served as part of the Steering Committee for EMPACT and were key in developing and implementing outreach and public education. At present, funding is being sought to continue the real-time water quality data collection and public outreach components of the EMPACT project, beyond the summer of 2004. Anyone interested in learning how to become involved or to develop further research, contact CEE faculty Paul Kirshen.

Environmental Justice Across the Mystic: From Issues to Action
Another EPA funded project, the MWC Steering Committee developed EJAM in 2002, to begin to identify and address environmental justice issues from within watershed communities. This project was also designed to serve as a model for watershed-based efforts to identify environmental justice issues, working closely with state and federal partners. EJAM was intended to gather community input, to build awareness of resources and highlight skills and knowledge areas, and to begin to prioritize active efforts to counter injustices in this watershed.

A series of trainings and public forums were held in 2003. Several Tufts faculty and staff worked to develop and implement the EJ training, using an EPA model. Three summer interns from the 2003 River Institute, worked with local non-profits on environmental justice related projects including: Groundwork Somerville, Toxics Action Center, and Urban Ecology Institute addressing issues of public access and public health.

The final event of the existing grant, an EJAM Summit, took place in November, 2003. Local and state officials gathered with community residents to learn from the results of earlier forums and trainings, and determine how to best move the Mystic communities forward into action. Tufts members of the MWC Steering Committee are active in the planning and execution of the priorities that grew from these events. The need for more information about existing data and resources in place in the community will be addressed through student research and project development in the key areas. Contact Dale Bryan about this project.

River Use-Public Stewardship and Access in the Lower Mystic
With funding from a local foundation, the Collaborative embarked on an ambitious long-term project to investigate river use in five watershed communities. In an effort to gather qualitative and quantitative data on river users, MyRWA undertook a reconnaissance survey developed and administered in Summer 2003. This project was supported by a Tufts summer intern from the River Institute. A more detailed individual survey was implemented in the Fall 2003. The data from these surveys, in addition to targeted focus groups, is being used to guide educational and outreach efforts to address public health and safety issues and to develop educational materials that meet the needs of the residents. A summer intern from Tisch College, funded by a Frigon Prize for Social Entrepreneurship, worked with MyRWA to do some preliminary outreach to youth related to water safety and river use in the summer of 2004. MyRWA administered this project and is currently seeking additional funding to support continued work in this area. TIE provided the office support for this project. Nancy Hammett is the key contact for this project, which is now under MyRWA management.

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