The Mystic Watershed Collaborative (MWC) provides an opportunity for Tufts students, faculty, and staff to join citizen-initiated outreach and service projects that can benefit the watershed and our host cities, Medford and Somerville. There are several ways to contribute, even if you have little time or little experience. See the volunteer opportunities below for some ideas.

You may want to review the research that has been done in collaboration between Tufts faculty, students and staff, MyRWA and local community partners. In many cases, there has been some previous research or resources available; and you should be aware of them as you begin your work. Many of these questions could be incorporated into class projects or constitute the base for an individual directed study, thesis, or research proposal. To find out whom to contact for each of the research opportunities listed below, please contact Lisa Brukilacchio (617-627-3453).

MWC has worked with several other institutions at Tufts that sponsor research, service, and volunteer opportunities . The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service works with MyRWA and local community partners to make the values and skills of active citizenship a hallmark of a Tufts University education. Tufts Institute of the Environment focuses its activities on environmental research, technology, policy development, and education to improve environmental quality as it relates to human health.

Volunteer Opportunities

Find It and Fix It - Join a Stream Team in your neighborhood to look for nonpoint source pollution problems. MyRWA's Find It and Fix It program is recruiting volunteers to do shoreline surveys of local waterbodies. The time commitment is low- approximately 6 hours, including a training meeting, the shoreline survey, and a follow-up meeting. Possible sites include: Aberjona River, Little River, Malden River Winterhill Brook, Sickle Brook, Munroe Brook, Mill Brook, Ell Pond, Spy Pond, Winter Pond, Belle Isle Marsh, the Upper Mystic Lake, Chelsea Creek, and Mill Creek. The surveys done by volunteers will provide the basis of the fix it portion of the project, which will help to clean our waterbodies.

Join A Committee - Join one of the Mystic River Watershed Association's committees, including: Policy, Water Quality, Development, and Outreach.

Organize Events - The MWC organizes and plans fun and exciting events in the watershed, largely with volunteer labor. Work with the Mystic River Watershed Association's Outreach Committee to organize the following events:

• River Cleanups
• Annual Mystic Herring Run Festival: The festival, which includes a 5K race, 5K walk, 3 and 11 mile paddle races, music, educational exhibits, a student poster contest, and children's activities brings the community to the Mystic River in order to celebrate the river and the annual migration of herring and alewives.
• Mystic River Watershed Association Winter Speaker Series: Help to organize the annual speaker series that educates the public about watershed topics.
• Walks in watershed
• Canoe and kayak events

Reach Out - Education and outreach both inside and outside the Tufts community are important objectives of the MWC.

• Create an exhibit for the MyRWA about a specific issue or topic.
• Help small organizations in the watershed to raise funds for specific projects.
• Disseminate information about the watershed in public places.
• Build a model watershed for display.
• Assist with mailings.
• Create GIS maps.
• Edit Mystic River Watershed Association webpage.
• Write articles or op-eds on watershed topics.
• Assist with publicity for events.
• Staff tables at local events and distribute educational materials.
• Assist with creation of video about safe recreation in the Lower Mystic River.
• Translate materials into other languages.
• Educate students about the watershed at various summer programs.

If you are interested in volunteering, email contact@mysticriver.org or call 781-316-3438.