Annual Report 2015 - Merrimack River Watershed Council

2015 Annual Report
2015 Annual Report
SCIENCE
• Identified key watersheds for protection/
restoration
• River herring habitat
report
• Completed 5 year
strategic plan
• Regional watershed
collaboratives
WATER TESTING
• Trend analysis from
1965-2015
• Comprehensive water
strategy for Lawrence
EDUCATION/OUTREACH
• Educated 92 school kids
• 2 river cleanups
• 3rd annual MerriFEST
ADVOCACY
• Opposed KinderMorgan natural gas
pipeline
• Commented on
draft MS4 permit for
Massachusetts
• Combined sewer
overflow outreach bill.
• Herring Alliance
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STAFF
The Merrimack River Watershed Council Annual Year Report
It’s been a busy and productive year here at MRWC! We’ve been working both
on the big picture, with strategic planning and regional conservation initiatives
with other nonprofits, state, and federal officials, GIS analysis and mapping, and
on the ground, clearing trails, removing invasives, and restoring wildlife habitat.
We tried new member events, worked more broadly across both states, and
established closer connections to our home city of Lawrence, MA. Our mission
over the last 39 years has been to protect, improve and conserve the Merrimack
River watershed for people and wildlife through science, water testing,
education and advocacy.
SCIENCE
Some MWRC science
initiatives this year included:
Our Executive Director helped to
develop computer models for
restoration of fish habitat for select
species as head of the Science and Data
Committee for the Atlantic Coastal Fish
Habitat Partnership.
We completed the first year of our
three year US Forest Service grant.
This grant is focused on protecting and
repairing the riparian buffers along the We partnered with the USEPA, City
Merrimack River and its tributaries as a of Lawrence, other nonprofits, and state
officials on EPA’s Making a Visible
vehicle for improving water quality.
Difference in Communities Initiative.
As part of the USFS grant, we
identified the six most important
subwatersheds for restoring and protecting riparian buffers in both NH and
MA to benefit water quality, climate
resiliency and wildlife habitat.
We removed invasive plants and
cleared trails in our urban bird
sanctuary in Andover.
We completed a report identifying
priority actions for river herring
restoration on six East Coast rivers,
based on local experts, funded by
NFWF.
In the summer of 2015, we compiled
information from various studies to give
an accurate representation of the long
term river health, showing how far we
have come and how much further we
have to go. This information is invaluable to promoting public awareness of
the Merrimack River and how it affects
clean water supplies.
We completed a 5 year strategic plan
with funding provided by the Jessie B.
CLT-Cox Family Fund and the Horne
Foundation.
Page 2
and Policy Clinic in drafting comments
opposing the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
Conducted trend analysis of water
quality data for the Merrimack River These comments, submitted to FERC,
detail the MRWC’s concerns on the
from 1965 to 2015.
potential impacts to the health of the
Partnered with the City of Lawrence, river. We also spoke at a FERC scoping
Groundwork Lawrence, and the USEPA meeting in Dracut about our concerns.
to develop a Comprehensive Water
We commented on the draft MS4
Strategy for Lawrence.
permit for Massachusetts.
WATER TESTING
Volunteers at the Shawsheen River
Bird Sanctuary
EDUCATION/OUTREACH
Educated and engaged 92 schoolchildren with talks on the river and its
wildlife, hands-on demonstrations, river
cleanups, trail-clearing, and invasive
plant removals.
Community Day Charter Public
School - Prospect students
planting at our Sanctuary
We assisted in improving language
for a combined sewer overflow (CSO)
outreach bill.
The MRWC joined the Pew Herring
Alliance to make a difference on
We held our third annual MerriFEST migratory and coastal fish abundance
and diversity.
river festival to bring families and
businesses together, enjoy a day on the
river, and to shine a light on the river’s STAFF
importance in their lives and
Dr. Caroly Shumway
communities. This year’s festival was at Executive Director
the Greater Lowell Boathouse and we
had around 150 people attend.
Josh Chase
Landscape Scale GIS Manager
Conducted two river cleanups, one at
Hanscom Air Force Base, one in Lowell. Dee Guardino
Kids volunteering at the Hanscom
Air Force river clean up
Created film and craft beer tasting
night for our members and the public.
Sponsored or co-sponsored ten
paddling trips.
ADVOCACY
MWRC helped shape public policy
through advocacy in the following
ways:
Kayakers participating in summer
paddling program
We partnered with the Harvard Law
School’s Emmett Environmental Law
Director of Development
(December ‘14 - May ‘15)
Marcia Regan
Director of Development
(May ‘15 - November ‘15)
Page 3
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Craft Table at MerriFEST 2015
Kim Goddu - President.................. July 2014 - Present
Jack Mabon - VP............................ July 2014 - October 2015
Frank Lahey - Treasurer................ July 2014 - Present
Alex DiFronzo - Secretary.............. July 2014 - July 2015
Tom Holt......................................... July 2014 - Present
Maurice Balboni............................. July 2015 - Present
Kimberly Leczynski........................ July 2014 - Present
Maureen Sakakeeny...................... July 2014 - June 2015
Paula Kullberg................................ July 2014 - June 2015
Kimberly Nguyen-Lara................... July 2014 - June 2015
Paul Geoghegan............................ July 2014 - June 2015
ASSETS
Cash and Equivalents
Restricted Cash
Accounts Receivable
Prepaid Expense
Los Sugar Kings performing at
MerriFEST 2015
Merrimack River Watershed
Council
60 Island Street,
Suite 211-E
Lawrence, MA 01840
(978) 655-4742
www.merrimack.org
127,252 127,570
42,466
39,241
2,645
1,241
476,783 477,325
Total Assets:
671,299 648,911
LIABILITIES
Currient Liabilities (Accounts Payable, accrued expenses, deferred revenue)
Temporarily Restricted Net Assets
Photographed by The Eagle Tribune
2014
3,534
Land, Buildings, Equipment (Net)
Unrestricted Net Assets
Woman kayaking during
MerriFEST 2015
2015
22,153
51,197
16,614
434,400 459,963
59,819
46,451
Permanently Restricted Net Assets
125,883 125,883
Total Liabilites & Net Assets:
671,299 648,911
PUBLIC SUPPORT & REVENUE
Grants
2015
128,149
2014
73,136
Memberships
11,055
12,333
Contributions
17,666
13,693
Investments
2,042
1,641
Total
158,912 100,803
EXPENSES
Program Services
147,458
70,191
23,094
15,099
555
8,565
171,107
93,855
12,195
6,948
General and Administrative
Fundraising
Total
Gain/(Loss) From Operations
Funders, Sponsors, Members, and Volunteers 2015 OUR FUNDERS FY’15 US Forest Service Horne Foundation Jesse B. Cox CLT-­‐Cox Family Fund National Fish and Wildlife Foundation New Horizons Foundation MA Department of Conservation and Recreation ANNUAL FUND Sponsor ($250 and up) Alan Sherburne Ann Jones Clarke Esler Eleanor Baker Flavia Cady Jean Soucy Larry Smith Maureen Sakakeeny Param Singh Sponsor ($100 and up) Anne Weber David Eikenberry Elizabeth Baker Frank Pizzuto James Milinazzo James Van Bokkelen Linda Smith Robert Birnbaum Robert Faiman Roger Bradford Sen. Sue Tucker Victor Barbosa Other Alan Cormier Arvind Kumar Daniel Brown Deanne Guardino Eileen Berube Elizabeth Townsend Evelyn Lacroix Frank Stevens Gloria Mirick Helena Strykowski James Marin Judith Tighe Kenneth Myers Kincade Webb Krishna Ambati Larry Olasky Linda Berger Maureen Smith Nancy Hurlin Philip Nyman Rama Vaddi Ryan Fucella Yvonne Topping Enterprise Bank (1/2 Mile) Horsley Witten Group (1/2 Mile) Normandeau Associates (1/2 Mile) Pentucket Bank (1/4 Mile) SAK Environmental, LLC (1/4 Mile) Donations in Memory of Edward Byrne MerriFEST2015 Sponsors Anna Papleacos Barbara and Bob Nealon Brenda and Tom King Eileen Berube Elizabeth Frappier Elizabeth Townsend Frank Grady Helena Strykowski James Quale Marilyn Gallardo Nancy Byrne Param Singh Phil and Barbara Claudy Philip Nyman Rose Pisari Steven Connell Yvonne Topping Corporate Support Merrimack Miles Sponsors Charles River Canoe and Kayak (1/4 Mile) Construction Engineering (1/4 Mile) Other Corporate Sponsors Bristol-­‐Myers Squibb Foundation Services Charles River Recreation, Inc. Double C Racing French Foundation Greater Lowell Community Foundation Worthen Industries AAA Northeast DCU Enterprise Bank Lawrence General Hospital Normandeau Associates Club Contributors Andover Garden Club Crescent Yacht Club Hanscom Air Force Base Lowell Motor Boat Club Tewksbury Rod and Gun Club MEMBERS Welcome to our newest members! A. Joseph Dibiase Aaron Marsh Adam Nylen Alex DeFronzo Amanda Duvall Andrew Elkind Ann Jones Ann Manson Anne Weber Anthony Grassi Balaji Musaboyna Brijeshkumar Rami Bruce & Susan MacDougall Bryan Williams Chad Moffat Chakrapani Mayakuntla Chris Watson Christine Geoghegan Christopher O’Brien Christopher Barrett Clarke Esler Corey Lincoln Cynthis Davidson Daniel Bernstein Daniel Brown Daniel Cwalinski David Smith David Peng David Sweeney David Garrett Diane Butts Donna Mayo Douglas Waitt Earnest Pearson Elizabeth Baker Elizabeth Jones Ernandes De Souza Fernando Neto Flavia Cady Francis Foley Frank Pizzuto Frank Lahey Fred Scheer Gary Crago Gaurav Rastogi George Edmonds George Kattar Herbert & Doris Noyes Jagdish Gadde James Marin James Milinazzo Jason Buchanan Jeffrey Ziegler Jeffrey Haavisto Jesse Meyer-­‐Mino Jessica Lundstrom Joan Kulash Jocelyn Clark Jody Reynolds John O’Connell Joseph Gallant Joseph Czapski Judith Tighe Julia Maloney Justin Dube Kathryn Bailey Kathryn Valente Kenneth Myers Kincade Webb Krishna Ajjampur Krista Witt Kristen Gauthier Kyle Cahoon Larry Smith Larry Olasky Lee Basna Linda Arnow Lisa Lambert Logan Robinson Malcolm Brown Mark Hutchings Mark Duvall Mark Rodrigues Matthew Dallett Maura McNult Maureen Lagasse Maurice Balboni Maxine Simpson Mitchell Keamy Modestino Conte Mohammed Khan Nancy Hurin Nancy Silvernale Neil Buckley Nicole Nanai Pamela Giannatsis Paul Cronin Paula Kullberg Peter Jandrisevits Praveen Polika Preetam Kalathuru Raghavendra Iyyer Rajesh Arora Rama Vaddi Ravinder Malela Richard Claytor Richard Girard Richard Winters Richart Cartee Robert Bussewitz Robert Birnbaum Robert Groskin Robert Wisniewski Robert Gilman Robert Faiman Ryan Fucella Sam Shay Scott Sheehan Sen. Sue Tucker Stephen Fink Stephen Avery Steven Nezer Syed Badi Uz Saman Syed Tavares Hambrick Thomas Holt Victor Barbosa William Lincoln William Dunlay CURRENT MEMBERS Individual Memberships Andrew Erickson Anne Anderson Arnie Kerzner Carol Drapeau David Barker David Miller Denise Hurt Donna Pignone Doris Parthum Edward Harnden Edward Stokes Elizabeth Janeway Frederick Kettenring Gary Comins Gene Porter George May Gerald Kenney Gilbert Gagnon James Deadder James & Patricia Critchlow Jane Beane Jeffrey Alexander Joan Wiggin Joan Zardus John Fitzgerald John MacKenzie Joyce Pelrine Kim Goddu Kristine Irving Linda Demerjian Marcy Stanton Mary Eysenbach Myrna Livingstone Nathan Tufts Pamela Parkinson Patricia Cronin Paul Dishong Paul DeGagne Peter Haack Phyllis Duffy Richard Kinnal Robert Reich Robert Brown Robert Guaraldi Sarah Boehm Steven Brennan Timothy Thomas William Keaney Family Memberships Alan Cormier Allen Beebe Anne Frantz Brian Wells Bruce Willard Carl Popolo Carol Grueneich Christopher Foran Daniel Edson Donald Ratliff Edward Fowler Henry Marsh Jerry Klima Joda WormHoudt Kathleen Hutchins Lawrence Budreau Margaret Keck Maureen Sakakeeny Peter Hoyt Raymond Noel Richard Howe Stephen Loring Stephen Anderson Susan Burkhardt Ted & Terry Bailey William Bartol William Cook William Lowenthal William Lewis Extended Family Memberships Alan French Benedict Andreozzi Christopher Chen Darrell Scott David Lambert Guy Berube Joshua Boger Nancy Soulette Nina Talayco Peter Bundschuh Peter Frotten Richard Kallery IN-­‐KIND CONTRIBUTIONS Greater Lawrence Community Boating Program, Jed Koehler, Joan Kulash, Jericho Road, Craig Gibson, Paul Prue, the band SIX, Northern Essex Community College, Whole Foods, EMS Sports, UMass Lowell Recreation Center, Eastern Mountain Sports VOLUNTEERS/INTERNS FY’15 Alexander de Jesus Alyssa Donovan Alyssa Lash Amy Berggren An Nguyen Angie Hernandez Annie Marsh Anton Zemba Bonnie Mace Brendan Healy Caroly Shumway Charissa Rigano Chris Rice Chris Williams Chuchy Vilorio Conor O’Shaughnessy Dan Jaffe Deanne Guardino Doris Peterkin Dustin Yang Ellie Baker Emmie Cutler Francisco Burgos Fred Earnshaw Genesis Lopez Gerry Plante Glen Aspesiash Glen Hartford Hannah Farrell Henjol Sanchez Jake Golan Jeff Kasputis Jennifer Chan Jennifer Lara Jevan Rosado Jim Petty Joe Bernard Joel Espinal John Cuneo John Jannetti Jonnely Ovalles Justin Damon Kevin Blanchette Kim Goddu Kirk Marshall Laurie Cusack Lisa Ferrisi Maeve Grady Mark Cutler Martha Owen Maureen Aversa Maureen Sakakeeny Melanie Cutler Melissa Bates Michael Schlosser Paul Brown Paula Kullberg Robert Medaglio Richard Barry Rick Elias Ruth Garcia Sarah Lopez Sharon Dubois Sophie Cutler Stephen Fink Steve Regan Steven Witt Sue Sanborn Susan Hegarty Ted Curtin, Sr. Terry Chan Tin Chan Tom Hert Van Shrestinian Yensy Cepeda