Mystic River Watershed Association Honors DCR’s Rene Morin

The Annual Meeting of the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) was held on October 26, 2016 at Tufts University. As part of the event, the Association awarded Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Rene Morin the Mystic Champion Award. The award recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond to improve the Mystic River environment.

Rene Morin is the Field Operations Team Leader at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation – leading the crew that maintains the entire Mystic River Reservation. He is responsible for keeping the Mystic safe and clean by maintaining beaches, removing snow, and keeping paths and riverfront areas clear of vegetation and debris. His work is instrumental to the Association’s stewardship efforts that bring thousands of volunteers to the river each year – he helps at river and park cleanups, removing the invasive Oriental bittersweet vine at Torbert Macdonald Park in Medford, and moves canoes and plant material at MyRWA’s water chestnut removal events.

“I have worked with Rene for years and he is someone you want on your team - he’s always pleasant to work with, enthusiastic about our projects and available at a moment’s notice to help. His dedication to the Mystic is truly inspiring,” said Beth MacBlane, Outreach and Communications Director at the Mystic River Watershed Association.

For more about the event, see www.MysticRiver.org.

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) was founded in 1972 and has largely functioned through the efforts of professional staff and community volunteers working together on a project-by-project basis. Its mission is to protect and restore the Mystic River, its tributaries and watershed lands for the benefit of present and future generations and to celebrate the value, importance and great beauty of these natural resources which play a vital role in the many cities and towns the watershed includes.