Neponset River cleanup project
The Neponset River Watershed Association is helping coordinate a river restoration project that directly affects Dorchester. In January 2008, the MA State Riverways Program and Division of Marine Fisheries presented the final results of a long awaited study on restoring the Neponset River. It is proposed that two historic dams be removed. The project will clean up high levels of toxic PCBs from the river bottom in Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park. It would also restore historic herring and shad runs to these neighborhoods and inland towns. There will be a community advisory committee working on this project. For further information, please call Ian Cooke at the NRWA, 781-575-0354, or visit www.neponset.org.
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Latest on Neponset River Project 11/08
Update on
- cleaning up PCBs in the Neponset River that are making freshwater fish inedible as far upstream as Sharon and Walpole, and
-removing 2 dams in Boston and Milton that prevent ocean fish like herring and shad from laying their eggs for 17 miles up the river: Status of Funding
Although NepRWA was unsuccessful in getting funds for Neponset Restoration specifically earmarked in the recently enacted Environmental Bond Bill, there is still plenty of money in the Bond for this type of project which may (at the Governor’s discretion) be spent on the Neponset Restoration Project. We have been assured that “the Patrick Administration is supportive of restoration of the Lower Neponset River ” and “will give full consideration to the recommendations” of the Lower Neponset River Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) [described below]. Once the CAC issues these recommendations, said the Administration, “we will explore all the federal and state funding sources that might be appropriate for the project.”
The Lower Neponset River Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). As you may know, some people in the Lower Mills section of Dorchester , where the Baker Dam is located, are opposed to removing the dam, largely for aesthetic, sentimental and historical reasons. (Far fewer people in Lower Mills Milton, on the other side of the river, seem to object and practically nobody opposes removal of the upstream Tileston & Hollingsworth Dam, which is practically invisible from streets of Hyde Park and Milton .) In order to get the political support to move the Lower Neponset Restoration Project to fruition, NepRWA believes we have to achieve a general, if not complete, consensus with folks in Lower Mills on how to proceed.
Last spring, therefore, NepRWA reached out to local associations in all the neighborhoods near the Neponset River in Boston, Milton and Quincy, as well as some regional organizations like the Mass Striped Bass Association. We established a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on Lower Neponset River Restoration, made up of representatives of 23 groups. With grant funding, we hired the Consensus Building Institute to facilitate the work of the CAC. We also convinced a wide variety of agencies and groups to co-sponsor the “CAC,” including the state Departments of Fish & Game and Conservation & Recreation, the City of Boston , the Town of Milton , and the Lower Mills ( Dorchester ) Merchants Association.
The CAC has had 4 monthly meetings so far and we expect it to hold 2 or 3 more. Members of the CAC are working beautifully together without rancor or grandstanding, and are clearly trying in good faith to reach a consensus. This could, for example, consist of lowering of the dam and constructing a “rock ramp” to allow fish to pass over it. It’s not clear, however, that this solution would work for the fish, so we’ll also be looking at ways to fully or partially remove the Baker Dam while trying to maintain at least some of the “mill pond” that currently lies behind it. There may be other feasible alternatives, as well.
STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE INFO FROM NepRWA and please let us know if you’d be willing to work with other citizens who want to restore the Neponset River.
Gov. Patrick Vetoes $12 mil for Neponset Rver Restoration
ACTION ALERT:
Governor Vetoes $12 million for Lower Neponset Restoration
In late August Governor Deval Patrick vetoed $12 million in the Environmental Bond Bill that was earmarked for the Lower Neponset Restoration Project. [For more information about the Lower Neponset River Restoration Project, go to www.neponset.org and click on "Learn About Restoring the Neponset River."]
We still have not been given a clear explanation for why he did this, but we did get the following reassurance from his Undersecretary for Environment, Phil Griffiths:
I understand your disappointment with the veto, but I assure you that the Patrick Administration is supportive of restoration of the Lower Neponset River. The Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Environmental Protection are actively participating with NepRWA, the City of Boston and others on the Citizens Advisory Committee that is evaluating a range of restoration options for the river. We look forward to the results of that process, and pledge to give full consideration to the recommendations that come out of that process. At that time, we will explore all of the federal and state funding sources that might be appropriate for the project.
Despite this reassurance, Bond funding is likely to be critical to this project. There is money in the Environmental Bond that could be spent on the Lower Neponset project, but it’s not specifically earmarked as we had hoped. We have therefore let Governor Patrick know of our strong disappointment with his veto. To make sure that message gets through, we urge you to contact the Governor as well. The message can be very simple.
Just express your displeasure with his veto of Bond money for the Lower Neponset River Restoration Project. It’s not even necessary to give reasons for your disappointment, though of course you may wish to do so.
WAYS TO CONTACT THE GOVERNOR:
Phoning is the most effective method of getting your message across.
Call 617-725-4005 and ask to speak with a Constituent Services Aide.
Write: Office of the Governor, State House, Room 360, Boston , MA 02133
Fax: 617-727-3666
Email: To send an email, go to “mass.gov/governor,” then scroll to the very bottom of the page and click on “Contact Us.” You must send your email from that page.
QUESTIONS? Contact NepRWA Advocacy Director Steve Pearlman at 781-575-0354 x304 or pearlman at neponset.org.
Evening Celebration on Neponset, June 24
You're invited to an Evening Celebration along the banks of the Neponset Estuary -
On Tuesday evening, June 24, author and educator Tom Wessels has been invited to explore economic success and its environmental sustainability at the Annual Meeting of the Neponset River Watershed Association. Attendees
will enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, and will learn about Neponset conservation activities. There will also be a raffle for a Perception Prodigy 10 Kayak from Eastern Mountain Sports (view kayak at www.neponset.org).
Tom Wessels is a professor of ecology and the founding director of the masters degree program in conservation biology at Antioch University New England. He also conducts workshops on the natural history of the landscape.
Wessels has written the highly acclaimed and debated "The Myth of Progress: Toward a Sustainable Future" and the beloved and often referenced "Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England," among other
titles.
This evening celebration will take place at the edge of the Neponset River Estuary, from 7-9PM, Tuesday, June 24, at the Best Western Adams Inn, 29 Hancock St., Quincy. The public is invited. A $40 donation is requested per
person. Kayak raffle tickets are 1 for $10, or 3 for $20. Proceeds support conservation work within the 14 communities of the Neponset River Watershed.
On-line event registration, kayak raffle tickets and directions are available at http://www.neponset.org.
For more information, contact Carly at 781-575-0354 x303 or
rocklen@neponset.org. We look forward to seeing
you!
Carly Rocklen
Outreach Director & Restoration Manager
Neponset River Watershed Association
2173 Washington St.
Canton, MA 02021
Phone: 781-575-0354, x303
Fax: 781-575-9971
E-mail: mailto:rocklen@neponset.org> rocklen@neponset.org
Web: http://www.neponset.org
urban rivers, smart growth, and trails
Urban Rivers, Smart Growth, and Trails
By Eric Hove, Assistant Director of Sustainable Development, MA Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
Communities across the Commonwealth and the nation have taken a renewed interest in their riverfronts. In doing so, they gain opportunities to increase their tax-base, restore environmentally degraded sites and waters, and expand local and regional recreational attractions like trails.
History
Most of our oldest cities developed along rivers, which served as the main source of power and transportation and as a convenient waste removal system. Over time, industrial activities degraded the health and quality of our rivers. Cities turned their backs on these “linear cesspools” and were gradually cut off from their rivers, both physically and psychologically. With the Clean Water Act and elevated environmental consciousness that began in the 1960s and ‘70s, rivers have experienced vast improvements and protections. Although some of our state’s rivers still have contamination issues, many are now pleasant places to stroll along, canoe on, and even fish and swim in.
Urban Rivers & Smart Growth
The unnatural colors and unpleasant odors associated with some of our rivers are now a thing of the past. Cities are reclaiming a once neglected resource as an asset. From a smart growth perspective, previously developed riverfront sites are appropriate places for new development. Locating new jobs and homes in areas that already have infrastructure, businesses, and transportation options not only reinvigorates downtowns, but reduces sprawl. However, before property owners reinvest in these areas or allow people to move in, brownfield sites should be remediated and environmental problems addressed.
Perhaps most importantly, bringing more people back to the river builds a constituency to work for further improvements and amenities that enhance the quality of life. Recreational trails, neighborhood restaurants and shops, streetscape improvements, and public art all contribute to the remaking of urban riverfronts into desirable destinations. And that’s the key to restoring these rivers - people that love the river will take care of it.
Urban Rivers and Trails
Rivers are natural locations for both water and land trails for a variety of reasons: they’re linear and scenic, they link historic sites and population centers, and they offer the opportunity to reconnect with nature. Recent studies have linked land use to public health - especially obesity rates. Recreational trails provide additional opportunities to get that thirty minutes of daily exercise that we all need. Trails also provide an alternate way to get to work or school, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There’s already been an impressive amount of work planning and constructing regional trails that follow rivers in Massachusetts, such as the Connecticut, Blackstone, and Concord Rivers. And there are more initiatives to come.
Planning
In 2002 and 2007, the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA) hosted UrbanRiver Visions charrettes in thirteen communities. These one to two day planning events brought together a wide range of residents to envision the future of their urban riverfronts. Working with a team of consultants, community members crafted vision plans (www.urbanrivervisions2.org/default.asp) and action steps, accompanied by plenty of energy. Connections among the river, neighborhoods, and local and regional trails figured prominently in all the visions. Other key topics during the charrettes included riverfront access, scenic view preservation, and impassable stream debris.
Implementation
Communities that think seriously about their rivers can make impressive strides in realizing their visions. Just this past month, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded two grants for riverfront work. Shelburne Falls received a Smart Growth/Smart Energy grant to develop a site assessment and design plans for an observation deck overlooking the glacial potholes at Salmon Falls on the Deerfield River. As part of this grant, the town will also plan for the trail node to improve the connection to the Mahican – Mohawk Trail. Haverhill, a more urbanized city, is receiving $400,000 to acquire a rail right-of-way on the south side of the Merrimack River. When complete, this rail trail will connect to the boardwalk on the north side of the river, creating a 2.5 mile walking loop, linking two commuter rail stations, and connecting to a regional trail network. These are just two examples of community efforts to expand trail networks and create unique riverfront destinations.
What’s really exciting about the convergence of river restoration, smart growth, and trail development is the far-reaching social and ecological benefits that result. The impacts range from the global (helping mitigate climate change) to the individual (less risk of heart disease and diabetes). When done right, riverfront revitalization can restore the habitat and health of wildlife, humans, and potentially, the rest of the natural world.
removing the dams
a good thing to have more of the river available to the fish who need spawning room.