This cooperative agreement is provided to the mystic river watershed association (myrwa) to support implementation of the massachusetts BAY estuary partnership comprehensive conservation and…

This cooperative agreement is provided to the mystic river watershed association (myrwa) to support implementation of the massachusetts BAY estuary partnership comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp). The goal is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the estuary and support its sustainable human uses through tasks outlined in annual workplans of the massachusetts BAY estuary partnership and its partners. The cooperative agreement supports activities that continue to engage residents and improve environmental conditions along the mystic river watershed by providing funding to support the mystic river watershed urban waters ambassador to coordinate stakeholder and federal partner involvement for up to two years; provide funding to support the artist-in-residence pilot program to bring community-engaged art to residents around climate and water quality; and to provide funding to plan, design, and engage stakeholders around hydration station siting within the watershed. Activities:this cooperative agreement supports activities to further engage residents and improve environmental conditions along the mystic river watershed. Under task 1, the mystic ambassador will promote and provide forms of community technical assistance for capacity building and meaningful engagement. They will service as the primary point of contact for the mystic river urban waters federal partnership, and coordinate, plan, and collaborate with federal partner agencies. Under task 2, the recipient will solicit and host an artist in residence as one of six pilot locations nation-wide. The artist will increase community engagement and address environmental issues by utilizing art as an avenue to activate spaces in the watershed, enhancing their beauty and emphasizing their value as community resources. The artist will participate in EPA's artist in residence pilot cohort and will coordinate with other urban waters ambassadors and artists in residence. Under task 3, the recipient will plan and design a stakeholder engagement project related to hydration station siting in the mystic river watershed with the goal of reducing plastic waste into the river and its tributaries. The recipient will first perform research to understand existing conditions and regulations around hydration station installations; identify stakeholders and build partnerships with municipalities and other necessary partners; and collect information about vendors and potential installation locations before prioritizing locations for installation, researching costs and benefits, and presenting research to the partners and stakeholders.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:deliverables include the planning and facilitation of at least two steering committee meetings and two stormwater collaborative meetings, monthly emails to community stakeholders, at least three community events in the watershed including educational programs, the support of at least one funding application; the completion of one artist-in-residence with public art in at least three places in the watershed, and at least eight public events hosted by the recipient and the artist; an inventory of current water infrastructure, a comprehensive report on vendor options detailing design, engineering, and permitting requirements for hydration stations, a cost/benefit analysis for future installations, documented collaboration with municipal, state, and federal partners, and a GIS map of optimal hydration station installations for future implementation. Outcomes include increased funding for projects and programs in the mystic river watershed, increased understanding by government agencies about the impacts of environmental justice in watershed communities, stronger communication and enhanced collaboration between and among non-governmental organizations, and municipal, state, and federal agencies; expanded underst