In Business for the Blackstone, developed by Massachusetts Audubon, promotes good management for stormwater at stores and offices.  A brochure describing steps such as keeping dumpster closed, washing vehicles responsibly, cleaning storm drains, and diverting run-off to landscaped areas, forms the basis for our conversation and further work with businesses. 

Recent talks with CVS and Brigido's Markets on stormwater management have been productive.  We have a new volunteer who is coordinating site visits for this project.  Recently we attended a conference presented by the Blackstone River Coalition (BRC) which demonstrated stormwater treatment for temperature and pollution control.  We installed a rain garden at Lonsdale Elementary School with volunteers from BRC and Town of Lincoln. The BRC supplied budget for 100 plants and the town supplied mulch. Purple coneflower, blazing star, ever-blooming daylilies, and Joe Pye weed now help to infiltrate stormwater from the school’s parking lot into the ground.

In early February, Supreme Mid-Atlantic, a truck-body manufacturer, agreed to participate in a landscaping project to mitigate stormwater run-off from their site.  The landscaping, with bearberry and daylilies, will mitigate run-off from that location to reduce erosion on the banks of Tarklin Brook. 

We welcome them into the Business Team to improve water quality on Tarkiln Brook, a tributary in the Blackstone watershed. 

According to the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, the Blackstone is out of compliance with copper, cadmium, and bacteria that can be deposited by stormwater.  Thus, Audubon participates to improve water quality and aquatic habitat.