July 2018 Neponset River Greenway News

No Trail Opening Yet!
Due to rain, we did not celebrate the official opening of the trail segment connecting Mattapan and Milton on Saturday, May 12. As of now, no date convenient to the DCR and elected officials has been set, and the communities have been unable to get a permit from the DCR to hold their own event. An email will go out if a date is set before the July newsletter is mailed.

NOAA: Exceptionally High Tides Will Be More Frequent

From https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2018/05/supplemental/page-1: [bold not theirs]
As relative sea level increases, it no longer takes a strong storm or a hurricane to cause coastal high tide flooding. High tide flooding causes frequent road closures, overwhelmed storm drains, and compromised infrastructure.

Such coastal flooding is increasing in frequency, depth and extent in many areas of the U.S. due to ongoing increases in local relative sea level. For example, the report finds that the Southeast Atlantic coast is currently experiencing the fastest rate of increase in annual high tide flood days, with more than a 150 percent increase since 2000 predicted in 2018 at most locations.

1. During the 2017 meteorological year (May 2017-April 2018), the U.S. average number of high tide flooding days was the highest measured at 98 NOAA tide gauges. More than a quarter of the coastal locations tied or broke their individual records for high tide flood days.
2. Water reached a flooding threshold at NOAA tide gauges a record-breaking number of times in the Northeast and Gulf of Mexico due to a combination of active nor’easter and hurricane seasons combined with sea level rise to make these events more impactful.
3. The top five cities that saw the highest number of flood days across the U.S. and broke records include Boston, MA; Atlantic City, NJ; Sandy Hook, NJ; Sabine Pass, TX; and Galveston, TX. These cities faced the brunt of active nor’easter and hurricane seasons and sea level rise, which has made these and other less extreme events more impactful.
4. The projected increase in high tide flooding in 2018 may be as much as 60 percent higher across U.S. coastlines as compared to typical flooding about 20 years ago and 100% higher than 30 years ago. This is due to long-term sea level rise trends and, in part, by El Nino conditions that may develop later this year.

July 14: Neponset Riverfest at Neponset Landing Park
Join us as we celebrate the Neponset River and the beautiful parks and pedestrian paths along the shore, along with the natural salt marshes and wetlands that support more than 200 species of birds, fish and other wildlife.
on Saturday, July 14 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in the DCR's Neponset II Park in Dorchester at the corner of Granite Ave. and Hilltop St.

This is a family-friendly, public event. We encourage you to bring a blanket and a picnic, and spend the day!
Try out out a canoe or kayak, for free, courtesy of PADDLEBOSTON : NEPONSET RIVER.
There will also be music, food, children’s activities – and lots of fun and interesting people to interact with.

Activities include: 28′ Climbing Wall, Art activities, Fishing/casting clinic, FREE boating (canoes & kayaks), Face painting, Live animals, Raffles: fishing rod, gift baskets, Re-usable bag making, Splash Park, Traveling tide pool touch tank, and Yummy Food.

Exhibitors include: 92.5 The River, Boomerang Bag Team, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Public Library Bibliocycle, Boston Solar, Capriotti’s Food Truck, Delphi School of Milton, Greater Boston Trout Unlimited, Liveable Streets, Mass Energy, Mass Fisheries, Mattapan Cultural Arts Development, Mattapan Food & Fitness Coalition, Mr. Kool Ice Cream, Neponset Greenway Council, Neponset River Watershed Association, New England Aquarium, PaddleBoston, Perfectly Free Fruit Bites, The Popcorn Man, UMass Boston, and Zoo New England.

July 21: Mattapan on Wheels
The Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition Vigorous Youth invites you to their 8th Mattapan on Wheels (MoW) Bike-a-thon! This year we will be biking from Walker Playground at Norfolk Park (528 Norfolk Street, Mattapan, MA 02126) on the Neponset Trail- heading towards Hyde Park and Quincy! During MoW, riders of all ages and skill levels come together, get physically active and work to make Mattapan a more bike-friendly neighborhood. After the ride, grab some food and join Mattapan partners at the 13th Annual Hoops and Scoops event!

On-site registration and check-in begins at 8:00 am.
Bike rides begin at 9:00 am
The rain date is Saturday, July 28, 2018
Anyone 8 or older may ride, but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult
The event is FREE, but there is a $5.00 suggested donation
The Vigorous Youth have a goal of raising $8,000 to attend the 2019 Youth Bike Summit, put on MoW 19, and pay stipends! They hope you consider donating.

Visit the Event Brite registration page for more information about the event, how to donate, sign up to be a bike volunteer and MORE!

The long ride gets this view from Chickatawbut Road. (photo by Jessica Mink)