Dear Neighbor,
First, the UGLY: watering down the CSO law
You may remember that, after many years of work, on January 4, the last night of the last session, Rep. Denise Provost, Rep. Linda Dean Campbell and I passed a bill requiring notification of the public when sewage is discharged into rivers. Here's one report on the bill and a previous newsletter on the issue.
However, when the Department of Environmental Protection issued draft regulations, they created a new category of "blended" sewage which would be exempt from notification. The Globe wrote that DEP was inserting a "loophole."
All of us who were cosponsors wrote in opposition to this proposal. Julia Blatt, of Mass Rivers Alliance wrote that it "is contrary to both the plain language of the statute and the legislative intent of its framers." (That should be clear enough!). Former Rep. Denise Provost wrote "Partially treated sewage is simply diluted sewage. If you had it flood into your basement, you would call professionals to remove it and to disinfect what could be salvaged. Why would you expose others to such a known health risk? Would you let your children swim or kayak in contaminated water? " And a river advocate commented: "Blended sewage. So. Gross. Worst smoothie ever."
It is really frustrating to work hard on legislation, finally succeed, and then have an administration ignore the law. This unfortunately is only one example. I hope DEP will reconsider, accept our testimony, and remove the exemption.
The BAD: future floods everywhere
The Resilient Mystic Collaborative (RMC), Rep. Christine Barber and I recently organized a briefing and a boat tour for legislators and staff to learn about the likelihood of flooding in communities surrounding the Mystic River. Most of this newsletter is taken directly from RMC reports. If you'd like to see the actual talking points and presentations from the briefing and boat tour, let me know.
Climate change is bringing warmer temperatures, more extreme rainfall, sea level rise, and storm surges.
The Amelia Earhart Dam and the Charles River Dam currently provide significant protection from coastal flooding to upstream communities. In the next 10 - 20 years, the dams will no longer provide enough protection to prevent significant, increasing risk from coastal flooding. By 2030 the Amelia Earhart will be at risk of being flanked or overtopped.
This graphic shows the likelihood of coastal flooding in the Lower Mystic Watershed around 2070 when Boston Harbor is 3 1/2 feet higher than it was in 2000. Some predictions: Downtown Malden and Medford and Cambridge’s drinking water reservoir will flood on average every five years. Parts of Chelsea, Everett and Boston will flood daily at every high tide.
(historic note: Visionaries of the 19th century)
This marker at Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park reminds me of the vision of Baxter and a group of people in the late 19th century. At the time, the Middlesex Fells contained abandoned mills, quarries, and cottages, and an entertainment stand. The Fells Association built support for legislation, and for purchase, takings, and gifts of private land that created the Middlesex Fells Reservation and the Metropolitan Parks Commission. (info from Friends of the Fells pamphlet, which has lots of fascinating details )
I always wonder if anyone these days has the broad vision to take such dramatic action for the public good of future generations.
The GOOD: Resilient Mystic Collaborative
The Resilient Mystic Collaborative (RMC) is a group of representatives of 20 communities who have that broad vision to protect us and future generations from disastrous floods.
In 2018, at the request of RMC, all of the legislators in the Mystic River Watershed asked the governor to spend the $5 million earmarked in the Environmental Bond Bill for a 5th pump for the Amelia Earhart.
Following that, Cambridge, on behalf of the RMC, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) have studied the risks to the structural integrity of the Amelia Earhart as well as the danger to surrounding communities, not only from failure of the dam but from other flood pathways into our communities.
The solutions will obviously have to be regional, but will require local action. Cambridge City Engineer Kathy Watkins, who produce the map above as well as other graphics, has developed a regional strategy to decrease inland risks of coastal flooding by increasing dam resilience and elevating low shorelines downstream of the dams. (I couldn't resist including this photo from a canoe trip through the locks at Amelia Earhart a few years ago.)
This incredibly important work will benefit from a $750,000 earmark by Congresswoman Katherine Clark in the FY22 appropriations bill. It also will need support from the many major developments proposed along the lower Mystic, as well as funds from the new federal infrastructure bill.
As always, stay well and stay in touch,