Blackstone River 'Community Scientists' Wanted To Watch Water Quality

WORCESTER, MA — If you have an interest in local history, science or the ebbs and flows of rivers (or all of those), the Blackstone River Coalition has an opportunity for you.

The coalition is recruiting "community scientists" to monitor water quality along the Blackstone watershed in Worcester County this season. The river was a dumping ground for decades, but the coalition — which is a product of the Zap the Blackstone movement — has a goal of restoring the river to its pre-industrial condition.

The coalition has been conducting water quality tests for the past 21 years at more than two dozen sites in the area. The coalition needs volunteers for those sites, but also to help in the water testing lab at the Tri-River Family Health Center in Uxbridge. Volunteers fan out on the second Saturday of each month between April and November to collect samples.

"The goal of this long-running program is to gather information about the current status of, and long-term changes in, the health of the Blackstone River watershed. This information helps local policymakers, state officials and concerned community members make the Blackstone River cleaner for people and wildlife," the coalition said.

Although there are far fewer industrial uses along the river today, the Blackstone is still an outflow for wastewater treatment plants, and collects sewer overflows during heavy rain events. The river is safe for activities like kayaking, but not swimming or fishing.

To volunteer in the field monitor or in a testing lab, contact Blackstone River Coalition volunteer coordinator Heather Parry at (508) 579-9188 or heatherparry.wqm@gmail.com.