Dear Members and Friends: |
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What a glorious fall!
It is that time of year again when we ask for your support for our Annual Fund Drive. This is our most important fund raiser of the year, and it helps to keep our science, education and outreach programs running strong. We are thankful for all our members’ consistent support, and hope that you will respond generously. You should be receiving something in the mail soon, or you can donate on our web page. A big thanks to all who have given already.
This fall has been a busy time at WRWA, with some clean-up and recycling events, open family days at the River Center, and a renewal of our education programs in the public schools. You can read more about it all in this newsletter.
We have an interesting line-up of speakers planned for an upcoming winter speaker series called “Investigate WOW, The Wonders of the Watershed,” starting in January. We will use a combination of in-person and on-line presentations on a variety of important and entertaining topics. We will have more information in our next newsletter.
Additionally, we are offering members only tours of the River Center between now and mid-December, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a great opportunity to see our resource room and all it has to offer for our education and outreach. Contact Bailey at [email protected] to make a reservation!
Wishing you all good health as we move into the holiday season, and we hope to see you soon. Many thanks for your commitment to WRWA.
All the best,
Deborah
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WRWA 2022 Calendar Now Available
The new WRWA Photo Calendar with local tide charts is now available on line and at the River Center and Partners Village Store. It features the winning photographs from our annual photo contest.
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River Center Open Four
Saturdays in October and November
The Westport River Watershed Alliance will be holding four Family Days at its River Center education room on Saturday, October 23, Saturday, October 30, and Saturdays, November 6 and 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join WRWA educator Bailey for a tour of the aquarium tanks at 9 a.m., or come for one-hour presentations starting at 10 a.m. to view the Center’s other attractions and activities - including seining in the River, viewing aquatic specimens with the high-powered microscope, and using the virtual reality sand table.
The October 23rd tour will be bat-themed, talking about local bats in the area. We will also discuss how bats are important pollinators, and ways to protect them.
October 30th will focus on fossils, and we will discuss what types of dinosaurs roamed the planet from the Mesozoic era. We will look at fossils underneath the microscope, and dig up fossils as paleontologists do in the virtual sand table.
One hour sessions limited to eight people; the fee is $10 per family. To sign up contact Bailey Sweet at: [email protected], or call 508-636-3016 x 1003.
The River Center is located at 493 Old County Road, Westport MA 02790.
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River Center Weather Station Operational
Thanks to Bill Sanford and his bucket truck
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Thank you to Bill Sanford, owner of William S. Sanford Inc., a landscaping business located in Tiverton. Bill and his bucket truck helped us reinstall our weather station on the roof of the River Center. We are extremely grateful for his help because now our weather station is back online.
You can view the weather conditions at the River Center at the Head of Westport anytime online at this link below. Check on the temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure and rainfall totals, updated every few minutes!
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The River Center: An example of efficiency |
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The River Center was designed with many energy saving features. It is very well insulated, with blown in foam on the inside and two-inch foam panels on the outside. The state-of-the -art forced hot air system and burners use natural gas, and the Center’s monthly bills are remarkably low for heating a 4,800 square foot, 3-story building. |
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The solar panels generate almost as much electrical energy the building requires, and in fact, some months the electric company pays WRWA! Since they were installed, the CO2 offset by the panels is over 14,000 pounds, the equivalent of planting 105 trees.
The Center also conserves water, since its toilets are the composting type, with each foam flush only using 3 ounces of water. The only waste water produced in the building is from the sinks, creating a small amount of gray water.
These systems were designed and installed for minimal impact on the environment.
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Annual Fall Beach Clean Up at Cherry & Webb Beach |
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About 40 volunteers came out for the annual fall beach clean up at the Cherry & Webb Conservation Area on October 16. They scoured the beach and adjacent areas for trash and debris, and collected many bags in addition to old fishing nets, beat-up lobster traps and more. |
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Our thanks go out to the many individuals, families, and the Westport High School students who took the time on a pleasant Saturday morning to help with this important task.
WRWA conducts two beach clean up days annually in the spring and fall. Additionally, this year our TerraCorps volunteer, Michaelah, is coordinating monthly clean-up events on Horseneck Beach beginning in November. For more information and to register, email [email protected].
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Electronics Recycling Event Brought in 1,600 lbs. |
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Scores of locals took advantage of WRWA's very popular Electronics Recycling collection day on Wednesday, October 20, dropping off an estimated 1,600 lbs. of old, unused electronic devices.
WRWA partners with IndieCycle twice a year to collect unwanted electronics, including computers, monitors, old TV's, radios and audio equipment. The materials from the old units are extracted and recycled.
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Thanks to our helpful team of volunteers who made the electronics recycling drop-off event run smoothly! |
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Members-Only Tours of River Center Now Through December |
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We are offering members-only weekday tours of the River Center between now and mid-December, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is in addition to our public events on the weekends. It's a great opportunity to see our resource room and all it has to offer for our education and outreach.
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Please save us your Lees Receipts! |
The Watershed Alliance is pleased to be a Lees Community Partner. Please save up your market receipts and either drop them off at or mail to WRWA
493 Old County Road, or mail to PO Box 3427, Westport, MA 02790
Thank you!
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Thank You to our 2021 Corporate Sponsors |
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