on 04-16-2010 02:13 
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By JON BAKER
LINCOLN — Old grammar school pals Frank Matta and Ron Belliveau sat at a picnic table near the historic Kelly House in Quinnville, a couple of stone throws from the latter's home, on sunny Wednesday.
The tandem pridefully but quietly explained how far the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone has come since the two groups merged in 2005.
“Taking care of the river is an ongoing, never-ending task,” stated Belliveau, the council's River Access Coordinator for 30 months.
That's why Matta, current BRWC President and a member since the beginning, and Belliveau want so desperately to spread the word about the organization — a non-profit corporation dedicated to the river's restoration and continuous preservation for future generations — and its upcoming spring and summer events.
First and foremost, they're searching not only for new members but also two people who want to be involved with its board of directors.
“We're looking for more than a few good people who will get 'down and dirty' with us, get into helping the river and its surroundings thrive,” Matta stated. “We have one member whose sole responsibility is to record what we do by taking photos. You know, we have a very diverse group of folks involved with the council; they're hard-working, dedicated people with multiple talents.
“We have those who are wizards with chainsaws, and a woman with a doctorate in languages who helps edit newsletters,” he added. “We have scientists to engineers to investment consultants. They all provide input. That's one reason our group is so dynamic, because of what everyone can bring to the table.”
In 2009, the 60-strong BRWC/FOB has completed design work for the Broad Street fish ladder; raised funding for two other fish ladders; installed a buoy safety system and signage at the Pratt Dam; achieved a massive cleanup of years of debris along the river at the Central Falls Landing and in the Blackstone Canal; established a “river
curriculum” at Cumberland middle schools; and advocated for responsible development of the watershed, while also delivering testimony at public hearings at Dowling Village in North Smithfield and Mann Chemical in Cumberland.
This tandem also revealed – over the coming months – they hope to address ongoing safety issues at Pratt Dam; detrimental effects of storm water runoff; continued diligence for much-needed cleanup projects; and the need for its own building to store safety, maintenance and recreational equipment.
In fact, this Saturday, the group will host a cleanup beginning at 70 New River Road in Manville (beyond the bike path) between 8 a.m.-noon. At least three or four times monthly, the organization performs such tasks at sites along the river and its tributaries.
“Right now, we're in the process of raising funds for our own central location,” Belliveau said, noting the BRWC/FOB is awaiting word on a Champlin Foundation grant. “At this point, we have all our equipment stored in a 53-foot container located on (Cumberland resident/businessman) Brad Dean's Martin Street property. We're looking for a locale on the river because we really do need a central site.
“The new building must be multi-purpose, as we're not only going to use it for storage but also a class for river safety training for four fire departments. Of the 10 in the class, which will start in May/June, six will be firefighters,” he continued. “We're also presently involved in checking water quality at nine locations along the river, including three in Woonsocket, three on the Cumberland/Lincoln line, one in Manville, another in Quinnville and one more on the Pawtucket/Central Falls line.”
Group officials take samples to a laboratory for analysis of pollutants, levels of bacteria, nutrients and phosphates. That way, they know how “healthy” the river is for those who recreate in and around it, not to mention fish, birds and other animals.
“The bottom line is we get things done,” Belliveau explained. “The Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Management has been impressed with our ongoing river cleanups. You know, over the past 10 years, we've removed 25,000 old tires in the river and along its banks; and we've installed buoy safety systems at the Manville and Pratt dams.
“The State Police called us a couple of years ago, stating they had a stolen car in the river that could contain weapons from a violent crime,” he added. “They asked, 'What can you do to help?' They told us they had the divers, but no way to recover that and other vehicles. We contacted Robinson Crane Service in Lincoln, rented one and retrieved six cars.”
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Matta and Belliveau noted they're in the process of installing three more river access points -- one at the Kelly House (located under the Route 116 bioduct), one at the Albion Dam and another at the Manville well field adjacent to the bike path. Those would provide easier canoe and kayak launchings for wildlife watching or simple recreating.
Of an $85,000 grant issued by John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor Commission, the organization has spent approximately $35,000 on permits and constructing those river access locations, as well as a park area extension in Manville (near the bikeway).
“Another project we're about to finish is the West Hill Dam in Uxbridge,” Belliveau offered. “We've stabilized the river banks in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Frank and I went up there last August and worked with a local contractor provided by the corps.
“We used granite curbing for stabilization, and built a couple of platforms where fishermen could stand without further deterioration of the banks. By mid-May, we're heading back there to plant shrubs for further stabilizing and beautification.”
It's not all about “busting their humps,” Matta laughed. On April 28-29, the council will work with Cumberland High Aquatic Director Bruce Calvert and teacher/wrestling coach Steve Gordon to provide 115 students with their annual River Trip. That event allows the kids to canoe from Manville to Pratt Dam (near Front Street in Lonsdale).
“We've contacted eight fire departments to help support and provide safety for the students,” Matta stated. “We provide the canoes, and the departments (including Cumberland Hill, Cumberland, Valley Falls, Albion, Quinnville, Lime Rock, Lonsdale and Manville) – as well as personnel from Cumberland and Lincoln rescues – keep an eye out.
“This summer, we'll be starting the construction of fish ladders at the Pawtucket/Main Street and Slater Mill dams; and working with the Environmental Protection Agency,” he added. “We've applied for a technical assistance grant which will allow (the council) to hire an engineering consultant as to the best uses for the J.M. Mills Landfill (adjacent to Pratt Dam). It's going to be capped over the next few years.”
On June 5, the council will hold its annual Riverfest Canoe and Kayak Race, a 4.5-mile flat-water trek from Woonsocket's River Edge Park to Manville and back. Sponsored by the group, which uses it as a fundraiser, it will begin at 9 a.m.
“We're looking for registrants,” Matta smiled. “We're hoping to raise as much as we can, the reason being every time we do a cleanup, it costs a certain amount of money for equipment, supplies, maintenance, etc.”
The group continues to address the recent flooding.
“With every storm comes a new crop of tires, trash and miscellaneous garbage,” Belliveau said. “We have to monitor a lot of spots, and now we're looking at the Canal bike path just south of Kelly House; under the Martin Street bridge; Central Falls Landing; and the Valley Falls marsh.
“Whenever we have a flood or heavy rains, people who've thrown their roadside trash aside, that stuff flushes into the basin and then into the river, so we head in and do cleanups,” he continued. “This time around, we'll have to get plastic bags that are stuck in trees six-seven feet up. Every day, I take my Golden Retriever, Indiana, for a walk around here at Kelly House, and every day I see beer bottles and coffee cups littering the ground.
“That's just one reason we're so passionate about this. This river is a beautiful place – nature at its finest. We'd come here to canoe in the early 1970s, and if you fell in, you'd have to go home and disinfect yourself. It's not that way anymore, and we want to keep it from becoming that again. This means the world to us.”
For more information on BRWC/FOB, or to become involved, visit www.blackstoneriver.org, or call Joe Pailthorpe at (401) 374-7857.
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