Mystic River Watershed Association Honors Winchester’s John Kilborn

The Annual Meeting of the Mystic River Watershed Association was held on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at Tufts University. As part of the event, the Association awarded Winchester resident John Kilborn the Ripple Award of dedication and appreciation. The award highlights the work of an individual that impacts the larger community.

John Kilborn was recognized for his successful advocacy for the installation of a fish ladder at the Center Falls dam in Winchester Center. His interest began in the spring of 2012 upon seeing herring schooling at the base of the dam – unable to migrate any further upstream to spawn. Since that time, John has succeeded in galvanizing community interest and municipal support for the project. Construction of the fish ladder – including a public viewing platform – began at the end of October.

“John has truly been a leader for the Winchester fish ladder. The results of this work allow for an important natural history reconnection – the herring will be able to once again freely make their way to Horn Pond this spring. We are incredibly grateful for his efforts to see this project through to further restore the herring run in the Mystic River watershed,” 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.