December 23, 2009

December Newsflash:

Happy Holidays!

May the season find you and your loved ones both happy and healthy! May fish and rivers will be thankful to you for your continuous interest and support!

Climate Change:

We hope that the current attention to the climate issues will help us promote the River Climate Action plan (www.RiverClimate.org).

MesoHABSIM Courses:

Due to increasing inquiries, we will offer our 2010 series of MesoHABSIM courses in the USA and in Europe. We are currently organizing a New England based MesoHABSIM course to be offered early this spring. The next course will take place at the end of May 2010, likely in British Columbia. You can preregister to be informed about the final details. Please stay tuned for final announcement in January.
For more information on Rushing River Institute Courses, or the SIMSTREAM 7 Habitat Modeling Software, visit us online at

Renewed Protection for Massachusettes;
Rushing Rivers Institute Advises on Safe Yield

Dr. Parasiewicz of Rushing Rivers Institute has been invited to sit upon the Water Resources Technical Subcommittee, which will assist the state in designing methodology and determining the safe yield for Massachusetts River Basins by August 2011. The Patrick Administration reconsidered disturbing changes it had announced in October to the state’s working definition of Safe Yield, in response to intense lobbying from scientific and environmental groups, including Rushing Rivers Institute. The administration has reaffirmed its consideration of ecological health, habitat, and hydrological factors in determining Safe Yield. The state has requested scientific assistance in determining proper standards for water withdrawal.
Recent advances in river science and technological tools have greatly improved our ability to understand fresh-water habitat, anticipate the stressors applied by development and Climate Change, and calculate sustainable management guidelines for our rivers and streams. Many of these advances have been developed by Dr. Parasiewicz, and other Massachusetts’ based scientists. The Massachusetts EEA’s Sustainable Water Resources Advisory Committee seems poised to take advantage of this wealth of scientific expertise. The subcommittee’s future task will be to “provide technical input into the multi-agency development of science-based streamflow criteria that characterize streams and alterations, requirements for each class type, and a description of how these standards would be applied; and to provide technical guidance on the sustainable allocation of water resources in Massachusetts.” Rushing River’s welcomes this opportunity to design better management regulations, and therefore improve the protection of our vital river resources.

November 23, 2009

November Newsflash

The Fort River Festival: Science and Advocacy

We need your help! Your donations are essential to allow Rushing Rivers to continue providing community outreach events like the Fort River Festival. The link between community enjoyment and investment in local resources like the Fort River and a clear scientific understanding of how to protect these resources has never been more important.
Please donate at: Rushing Rivers Institute
Waterway protection finds its greatest strength when the community appreciates and understands the needs and vulnerabilities of their local rivers and streams. The Annual Fort River Festival has been a splendid opportunity for Rushing Rivers to bring the community of Amherst and neighboring towns together to explore and celebrate this meandering river. Rushing River’s staff presented a guided two hour canoe trip observing Blue Heron, protected Wood Turtle, and other wildlife. They detailed the vital fish habitat that is the Fort River, threats to the river, and the best methods for studying and protecting this resource. With help from several area businesses and environmental organizations; live music, a complimentary lunch, the Duck Derby and other kid friendly activities completed the Festival. Go to: Fort River Festival to see a movie of last year’s festival. Help us continue this event.
If you are a Florence Savings Bank customer, consider nominating Rushing Rivers (and the Fort River Festival) for FSB’s Customer Choice Community Grants Program. “This program, now an annual event, allows the bank’s customers to vote for their favorite nonprofit organization to receive a share of a $50,000 grant.”
Rushing River’s has applied for a federal grant to continue this event, and to parlay community interest into the Fort River Research and Education Initiative. This grant would offer opportunities for scientific exploration to children and young adults, while taking advantage of the wealth of environmental experts to provide monitoring and research data to area town managers, and advance river science globally. However, even if we are awarded this grant, it will not provide for the organization of this year’s Fort River Festival.
Please donate at: Rushing Rivers Institute

Rushing River Institute in Madrid!

Dr. Parasiewicz, and Joe Rogers, traveled to Spain in October. They presented an annual two -tiered course in our MesoHABSIM Instream Data Collection and Modeling protocol. MesoHABSIM represents a unique, cost effective tool for evaluating freshwater habitat and designing effective management. The participants evaluated the course very highly. New course schedule is coming. Please stay tuned.

Renewed protection for Massachusetts Rivers:

Rushing Rivers Institute offered to participate in providing recommendations for new Massachusetts waterway management regulations now being developed. Massachusetts Rivers are stressed by seasonal drought, as well as by the ever increasing drinking water needs of our cities and towns, and the competing water demands of industry. Responding to intense lobbying from environmental research and advocacy groups, like Rushing Rivers, the Patrick administration has reconsidered disturbing changes it announced to the state’s working definition of Safe Yield, on October 8th of this year. Public protest has elicited new temporary standards, which will address habitat protection. Additionally, the administration has agreed that all water use permits issued will eventually be subject to the more stringent standards now being developed. The state has also requested scientific assistance in determining the new standards for water withdrawal.

History: Safe Yield is a legal standard which informs the amount of water that may be withdrawn from our state’s rivers and streams. Safe Yield was previously understood to represent the flow of water that could be safely diverted from rivers and streams, during times of stress like drought, and still preserve the species that lived there. The state had decided to delete any reference to the preservation of species from the standard, and to define safe yield as “the maximum amount of water that would be present during a drought.” Effectively, they could drain a river dry. How could this standard have offered any protection for our waterways?

Many recent advances in river science arise from experts like Dr. Parasiewicz, here in Massachusetts. At Rushing Rivers Institute, we develop technology and conduct scientific studies of waterways, and the flora and fauna they host. Scientific knowledge and technological tools have greatly advanced our ability to understand fresh-water habitat, anticipate stressors applied by Climate Change, and calculate sustainable management guidelines for our rivers and streams. Massachusetts seems poised to take advantage of this wealth of scientific expertise. Rushing River’s welcomes this opportunity for our community to design better management regulations, and therefore improve the protection of our vital river resources.

Dear Rushing Rivers Friends!

Here is the update of the latest excitement:

1.      Madrid Course Announcement!
This fall, October 19-20 and October 19-22, 2009 is the annual MesoHABSIM Instream Data Collection and Modeling Course.  Students will learn to develop multivariable habitat suitability criteria for native fish species, habitat-flow rating curves, habitat time series analysis (UCUT Curves) and action guides for river-decision-makers. For more information or to register visit us online at www.RushingRivers.org.

2.      Dr. Parasiewicz featured on The Sky Radio Show

At the close of August, Dr. Parasiewicz,  the renown scientist, was featured on the Doug Clifford Show on WSKY. He gave an informative speech of our era’s water problems and crises. To listen to this exclusive dialogue, simply visit www.RushingRivers.org and tune in!

3.      The New and Improved: SimStream 8.0

Coming soon, the updated SimStream 8.0 software for MesoHABSIM modeling will be facing beta-testing before the close of this year, 2009. This new edition includes the latest modifications that stimulate greater efficiency and speed.  Technological changes better the program for smoother techniques and calculations (see www.Sim-Stream.com).

On Saturday, the first of August, a terribly sad incident occurred. Shanara Henry, 18, disappeared on the Deerfield River while tubing with eleven companions without a life vest. Unable to swim, law enforcement officials are worried that she may have drowned. The group claims that they had all hit strong rapids and everyone tipped over on their tubes, everyone but Henry came up.

During June and July, the Deerfield River builds up the highest rapids and most dangerous flows, making it more difficult for rescuers to continue the search.
20-30 police and fire fighters have been on the search as well as the K-9 unit and expert kayakers. An aerial search was not able to be conducted due to fog and rain. However even though it gets worse every day without results, the search continues.

For more information visit:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/law_enforcement_continue_to_se.html

http://www1.cw56.com/news/articles/local/BO120609/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbsXM6lMl4A

For the past eight years villagers in Nyamongo, Tanzania suffered from 300 Cow deaths and 30 human deaths from contamination in the Tigite River due to leakage from the North Mara Gold Mine’s tailing ponds. Patty Magubira writes an article about the calling for resignation of the Social Welfare minister who allegedly ignored health problems from protesting villagers.

The former storekeeper of the mine knowingly admitted that mine has been leaking toxic waste into tailing ponds due to poor construction of liner fences. The Tigite river was also contaminated due to potential acid forming (PAF) rocks whose dust drifted downstream. This has led to serious diseases and illnesses among villagers some including tuberculosis.
Also when the mine was first being built, it was promised that their profits would fund for the vilages’ roads, schools hostpitals etc. These promises were not kept.  Tension between villagers and the mine’s operation manager has risen. To read more about this issue go to http://allafrica.com/stories/200907070854.html 

On Wednesday, July 22, 2009, at 11 am our very own Dr. Piotr Parasiewicz entered the Massachusetts State House to give his professional scientific testimony on the new House Bill 834, An Act Relative to Sustainable Water Resources filed by Representative Frank Smizik. This Bill had the ears of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, in attention of the Honorable Chairmen Strauss and Petrucelli.

This bill addresses the need for updating our water policies to fight the troublesome matters facing the ever-growing problem of water shortages. It advocates the removal of unused dams, excessive withdrawals and outdated watershed development. As a solution it defines important mitigation methods such as setting streamflow standards, regulating appropriate water withdrawals in regards to the ecology and water supply as well as altering dam management in accordance to wildlife and human and economic use.

Dr. Parasiewicz gave a riveting speech filled with passion towards the approval of this bill, he said, “I was SO pleased when I heard about this bill and what a wonderful idea it is! We scientists are READY.”

He also gave his professional opinion with recommendations to amending the bill, such as 1) the development of a comprehensive plan in the permitting and management process to fight long-term global climate change, 2) Underscoring the need for State-of-the-Art application and establish a River Research Management Authority to oversee these applications by trained scientists, managers and legislators, 3) establishing clear quantitative definitions and standards of ecologically sound metrics such as safe yield or habitat to evaluate the current status and success of implemented measures, and, 4) to specify the language that the goal is to protect the habitat, ecological integrity and human water use rather than only flows as a component of habitat as flows alone is insufficient to protect the fauna.

In conclusion, Dr. Parasiewicz presented forth his sixteen-year-old daughter, Sylvia, and two young bright employees of Ocean River, Ryan Czekanski-Moir and Harper Dangler, who came to the hearing to advocate for the passing of this bill, as this decision will affect their future, their entire youth and next generation, significantly.

Rushing Rivers Institute also stated their extreme pleasure to work with them in modifications of HB 834 with the assist of their professional perspective.

After the testimony, Senator Eldridge, an avid supporter of the bill who has actively petitioned for the passing of this bill to the Senate, personally approached Dr. Piotr Parasiewicz and recognized his valuable and moving speech with mention of future contact and possible collaboration.

To view the full testimony simply click the below attachment

Hello Everyone!

More press has been generated on the Russell Biomass case.  Today’s Valley Advocate contains this article

http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=9240

which exposes the exclusion of Dr. Parasiewicz’s testimony to the public.  His involvement, as well as that of many other concerned citizens, advocates, and scientists, is detailed.

This quote,

“The DEP ruled that testimony from all those sources was “irrelevant” because it related to discharges of pollutants regulated under federal law, not to water withdrawal, the subject of the state permit. But that mischaracterizes Parasiewicz’s testimony, which analyzes the withdrawal in detail. And Margaret Sheehan, an attorney (…) and the other river activists, says the ruling misrepresents the pertinent state law. In an email Sheehan told the Advocate, “The Water Management Act, Mass. General Laws, Chapter 21G, Section 7, says in granting a permit for someone to take water from the river, DEP ’shall consider& reasonable protection of water quality, fisheries, wildlife, recreation,’ and the ability of the river to absorb wastewater from the plant that is taking the water.”

Gives an idea of the flavor of the article. 

Please, support our effort in the Russell Biomass case by submitting your letters to the editor at the above link, or posting on our blog.

Also, our affiliates at the Ocean River Institute have initiated a call to action to stop the destruction of the Westfield River on their site,

http://oceanriver.org/WestfieldRiverRussellMA.php

It only takes a moment to help us preserve these wonderful natural areas. 

Thank you so much for your support.  Have a wonderful day.

Good Afternoon River Enthusiasts!

Welcome to 2009!

This is going to be a challenging year for Rushing Rivers.  We have some exciting events and projects coming up, but we are aware that our economy is in recession right now and that conditions are not fantastic for non-profits.

We are optimistic, however, that our affiliates will remain firm in their support of our work in the face of this financial crisis, and that our community’s commitment to strong science and well-structured conservation will remain steadfast.

That being said, some News for you:

1. MesoHABSIM Courses!

Our popular courses in river system maintenance and restoration are coming up very soon in Amherst and in Madrid.  Please visit the Rushing Rivers Institute website to take advantage of our special early registration discount.

2. Russell Biomass Plant- Controversy

Professor Parasiewicz has become embroiled in the bitter debate surrounding the new Russell Biomass Plant slated to be built on the Westfield River.  Currently proposed in the Western Massachusetts area is what is known as the Russell Biomass; a wood-fueled power plant designed to supply the surrounding area with a renewable energy source. Built on the ruins of a closed paper mill, the Biomass seeks to reduce the area’s carbon footprint while at the same time converting Brownfield areas into a place for viable employment. With so much emphasis being placed on reducing carbon emissions, potentially negative impacts on the environment have been largely ignored, specifically with regards to rivers.

While the appropriate authorities have investigated the environmental cost and benefits, they have done so without applying the most up-to-date technology and resources.  The impact of cooling water withdrawals for the plan purposes on the ecology of Westfield River has been assumed to be neglectably small, but sufficient research to document that has neither been done by the applicant nor state agencies responsible for stewardship of our natural resources.  Among other shortcomings of planning process the economical analysis assumes the value of withdrawn water with zero in times where we may be facing increasing water shortages on the planet. The influence of climate change on the river and the facilities operation, for example, has neither been thoroughly investigated not precautionary measures have been proposed.  Piotr will be providing testimony in this case, and we will be posting updates to our blog to keep you informed about the use of rivers in our communities.

3. Rivers Climate Action

Please be sure to be checking our new Rivers Climate Action campaign site for information on how to reduce your water “footprint” and for other ways to get involved in stopping the damage being done to our rivers from the effects of Global Climate Change.

4. Google

Has generously awarded the Rushing Rivers Institute a $10,000 a month Google ads advertising budget.  Watch out for us the next time you search Google for river-related information and services!

Warmest Regards,

Rushing Rivers