• Join our citizen science project. Our Citizen’s Water Monitoring Network (CWMN) is a 20+ year old water quality monitoring program that relies on a team of volunteers to sample areas throughout the Neponset watershed.
  • Volunteer for the CWMN team: www.neponset.org/projects/water-quality

• Help with research. We collect water samples to measure bacteria and chemical content, as well as dissolved oxygen and macroinvertebrates, all signs of water quality. This data is used to measure the health of streams, and is compared to historical data to measure improvements – or problems.
  • Volunteer to help with research: Contact NepRWA Environmental Scientist, Chris Hirsch at hirsch@neponset.org

• Participate in cleanup events. NepRWA sponsors two major annual river cleanups: a spring cleanup on the lower Neponset estuary, along Milton, Dorchester, and Quincy; and a fall cleanup in Hyde Park and Milton.
  • Volunteers (individuals, families, office teams, scout troops, etc.) are always needed for both cleanups.
  • The 2017 spring Neponset River Cleanup takes place on Sat., April 29, as part of DCR’s Park Serve Day.  Go to www.neponset.org/volunteer for more information.

• Call your representatives and senators and let them know that you care about the environment.
  • Making small changes yourself to protect the environment is good, but in order to make a huge difference, we need systemic changes too. It’s important to make sure politicians are paying attention. Call them.  Actual phone-to-phone conversations make a difference!
  • Search for your legislator here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

• If you have kids, get involved in their environmental education.
  • NepRWA visits over 2,000 students a year to review local water systems, water conservation, and stormwater pollution. Ask your children what they know about their drinking water supply. Where does it come from? How many gallons do they use in a day?  Make a family commitment to conserve water in your home and protect local waterways.
    

• Donate. NepRWA relies on membership fees and donations to fund things like educational programs in schools, water sampling, Hotspot investigations, stormwater partnerships, dam removal, restoration of fish passages, invasive species removal, and advocacy for clean water. NepRWA is a 501©3 non-profit and all donations are tax deductible.
  • Donate today: www.neponset.org/do-your-part/donate

As you can see, there’s a lot you can do to help.  Call us anytime at 781-575-0354 with questions, comments, or suggestions.

This blog was inspired by a recent article in “Upworthy”, a website that’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to.