Supporters
We thank the following groups for their contributions and involvement in our mission to restore and enhance ecological health to our region and beyond.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them.
From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need it.
NOAA’s roots date back to 1807, when the Nation’s first scientific agency, the Survey of the Coast, was established. Since then, NOAA has evolved to meet the needs of a changing country. NOAA maintains a presence in every state and has emerged as an international leader on scientific and environmental matters.
NOAA’s mission touches the lives of every American and we are proud of our role in protecting life and property and conserving and protecting natural resources. I hope you will explore NOAA and how our products and services can enrich your own life.
MA Division of Ecological Resources (DER)
The Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) was created in July of 2009 with the merger of the Riverways and Wetlands Restoration Programs. DER coordinates ecological restoration to improve habitat for fish and wildlife and to restore important ecosystem services that benefit the quality of life for all Massachusetts citizens.
The Riverways Program has been maintained within the DER and continues to coordinate outreach and technical assistance to support river conservation and protection.
The Division and partners facilitate capital-based projects including (but not limited to) dam removal and culvert replacement with the goal of restoring aquatic habitats and ecosystems across the state. These projects support commercial and recreational fisheries and provide many other benefits such as reduced flooding, improved water quality, and the replacement of aging infrastructure.
Ecological restoration is also an important component of the Commonwealth’s efforts to enhance habitat resiliency to better allow fish and wildlife to adapt to climate change – including sea level rise, elevated water temperatures, and increased floods and periods of drought.
Sheehan Family Foundation
The Sheehan Family Foundation has been a sustaining contributor to the Jones River Watershed Association, and the acquisition efforts of Jones River Landing. Since 1991, The Sheehan Family has supported staff positions and structural improvements to the storm water infrastructure in the Jones River watershed. These contributions together with their significant donations to the land conservation effort throughout southeastern Massachusetts are enormously important to protecting the quality and natural resources of our region.
The Island Foundation
The Island Foundation of Marion has supported JRWA for several years. This family foundation has been most interested in supporting our efforts to restore the herring run to their Silver Lake spawning grounds. With the Sheehan Family Foundation, Island helps JRWA and other regional watershed associations in networking and training for environmental advocacy.
New England Grassroots Environmental Fund
The Grassroots Fund is dedicated to co-creating healthy and sustainable communities throughout New England. They empower individuals, groups and organizations working across a broad range of environmental and social justice issues by helping them identify, select and access the specific tools, resources and connections they need to challenge existing systems and develop lasting solutions to the complex problems affecting their communities.
Robbins de Beaumont Foundation
The Robbins de Beaumont Foundation, a family foundation based in Boston with local roots, has provided support to JRWA in the past. Late in 2005, Robbins de Beaumont provided a grant to fund a part-time volunteer coordinator at Jones River Landing. Volunteers and in-kind contributions have been the sustaining lifeblood of this project.
The foundation seeks nonprofit organizations whose goals are helping people reach their full potential as contributing members of their family, neighborhoods, and society at large. Limited funds are available for unsolicited grants for new, innovative projects which address identified needs of the community served and have relatively modest operating budgets. The foundation also has an interest in the education of children and adults in the areas of parenting, volunteerism, employment/life skills, preservation of the environment, the performing and visual arts, and substance abuse.
Patagonia
Patagonia invested in the Forge Pond dam fish passage planning and engineering in 2012 and 2013, and has continued its support in 2015 and 2016. Recently, Patagonia announced that they would be donating 100% of their $10 million in global ‘Black Friday’ sales to environmental grassroots organizations! We are proud to have them as a sponsor, and grateful for all that they do.
Patagonia’s support for JRWA has been encouraging, and is essential for us to continue our well-founded efforts in enabling fish to move freely throughout the river system, from Cape Cod Bay to Silver Lake, by solving the root causes of impairments: lack of flow due to out-of-basin diversions, and removal of obstacles such as dams.
Watershed Action Alliance
JRWA is part of the eleven-member Watershed Action Alliance of Southeastern Massachusetts (WAA). From our early alliances, working on environmental issues of mutual concern, this group is emerging as an important unified voice for the water and natural resources of Southeastern Massachusetts.
WAA members include Jones River Watershed Association, the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, Taunton River Watershed Association, Neponset Watershed Association, Eel River Watershed Association, Six Ponds of Plymouth, and Save the Bay – Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
WAA members collaborate on regional issues that are too big for any one of us. The Taunton River Desalinization Project and the development of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station are two important issues that have required significant amounts of attention this year. WAA has a part-time coordinator who is working this year to get us to write the South Coastal Basin Watershed Action Plan. We also hope to win a grant for a public education project to support the stewardship of river herring. The groups meet regularly to discuss policy issues and comment on a range of items that impact our cherished natural resources.
Taunton River Watershed Alliance
The Taunton River Watershed Alliance (TRWA) has been a voice for the Taunton River and its watershed since 1988. We are an Alliance of concerned residents, businesses and organizations united to restore and properly manage the water and natural resources within the Watershed. We advocate for environmental protection, sustainable development and responsible stewardship of our precious and irreplaceable water resources.
Our mission is:
To protect and restore the Watershed’s natural resources for current and future generations
To build and support responsible stewardship of our fragile ecosystems, water quality, forests, farmland and wetlands
To be an integral resource for environmental education that is so crucial to the continued health and enjoyment of the Watershed’s waterways, woodlands, meadows, marshes, wildlife and open spaces
To be a voice for threatened land and water resources
Eastern Bank, Kingston Branch
Litecontrol
We thank LiteControl for their generous contribution of analysis, layout, and energy efficient lighting units for our main work spaces and boat shop. This has been very essential to our mood, efficiency, and bottom line over these many recent years.
WindSun Institute
Community Center of St. Bernard
The Community Center was founded in 2006 to serve local residents of St. Bernard Parish after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and Rita. As our center evolved, we realized our focus needed to change. In 2016, our center focused on providing food and essentials to St. Bernard Parish. We currently operate as a food pantry for low income residents of St. Bernard, serving over 200 families per month and are growing weekly.
Our center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and was established to provide residents of St. Bernard Parish with the services and resources needed to rebuild their lives, their homes and their community. We are a United Way Partner Agency as well as a Second Harvest partner agency.