FEATURED ARTICLES

A Place For Our Parks

Senior environmental scientistKate Bowditch examines howthe proposed reorganization ofMassachusetts state govern-ment will affect the MetropolitanParks System

Defending a River

CRWA takes on the Dept. ofEnvironmental Protection in aneffort to save the IpswichRiver

Here Comes The Rain

What’s new with SmartStorm®Rainwater Recovery System:beating the harsh winter, pub-lic appearances and more!

Deposits vs.Trash

New bill to increase the num-ber of containers withdeposits could keep morebeverage containers out ofour waterways. A report from the4th Annual Charles River Cleanup

IN EVERY ISSUE

Letter From The President

CRWA Board President KellyMcClintock discusses thefuture of our parkland system

CRWA News and Notes

Annual Charles report cardreleased; EPA pledges a 400Kgrant; new volunteer opportu-nities abound; CRWA winsleadership award

Run of the River

What’s happening on andaround the Charles? Run ofthe River profiles the projectsthat are making waves

Watchdog for the River

A listing of the quarter’s com-ment letters sent to state leg-islators by CRWA

Cover photos: Moments from the2003 Run of the Charles race

VOL. 33, NO. 4SUMMER 2003

. Protecting the health, beauty and accessibility of the Charles River .

. A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E C H A R L E S R I V E R W A T E R S H E D A S S O C I A T I O N .

page

3

INSIDE: Parks and more parks, riverruns, EPA, MDC, Ipswich, trash and lesstrash, and what to do with all this rain!

page

6

page

11

page

13

page

2page

5

page

8

page

15

If we had been assigned the taskof planning for a Massachusetts statepark system back in the 1890’s,knowing what we know today,most of us never would havecome up with a MetropolitanDistrict Commission (MDC).With an MDC responsible forBoston area state parks, and aDepartment of EnvironmentalManagement in charge of all otherstate parks, our parks system is need-lessly divided. This structure was created because of uniquehistorical and functional reasons, few of which are still validtoday.

As Chairman of Massachusetts’ Green Ribbon Commissionin the early 1990s, planning for the future of the MetropolitanPark System, I studied many state park systems. None sepa-rated one region, like our Boston area, into a different stateagency. All organized their parks into geographic managementareas with centralized common support functions. This struc-ture is efficient and effective.

CRWA and our partners believe the time is right to create anew Department of Conservation and Recreation, as describedin this Streamer’s lead article, Saving the Metropolitan ParksSystem, by senior environmental scientist and policy analystKate Bowditch (page 3).

For years, park advocates have fought against park‘reforms’ that eliminated the MDC and consolidated park agen-cies. We feared that these reorganizations were intended pri-marily to score political points by eliminating an unpopularagency, expanding the state’s public works empire by giving itcontrol of parkways, and perhaps saving a few dollars. The endresult would have been a dismantled park system, not astronger one.

Why is this reorganization effort different? What’s differentis that the drafters of this reorganization care about parks.Doug Foy, formerly president of Conservation Law Foundation(CLF), is Chief of Commonwealth Development and the drivingforce behind this new legislation. He and his Deputy, StephenBurrington, also from CLF, and an 11-year member of CRWA’sBoard, care deeply about the Metropolitan Parks System.What’s different is that CRWA and other park advocates, includ-ing concerned legislators, are able to review drafts andstrengthen park protections. And what’s different is that itlooks like the end result will be something we can build on tomake a better park system.

Much work remains, and many details need to be filled in,but CRWA is optimistic about the future of our park system andis pushing hard for the passage of this very important legisla-tion.

Kelly McClintockPresident

Executive Committee

Kelly McClintock, PresidentPhilip L. Hillman,

Vice President/ EnvironmentJane Sender, Clerk

William Tedoldi, TreasurerEdward E. Watts, III,Assistant Treasurer

Ralph W. Abele, Past President

CRWA StaffRobert L. Zimmerman, Jr., Executive Director

Margaret Van Deusen, Deputy Director and General CounselKathleen Baskin, Project Manager

Kate Bowditch, Senior Environmental ScientistDenise Trapani Hall, Development Director

Dudley Bonsal, Environmental ScientistJohn Carney, Environmental Scientist

Ariel Dekovic, Office and Publications ManagerKenneth Dews, Finance AdministratorAnna Eleria, Environmental Engineer

James Fitzgerald, Laboratory ManagerNigel Pickering, Senior Engineer

Peggy Savage, Environmental ScientistLouise Taylor, Membership Manager

Interns: Robin Curtis, Billie Gould, Maura Kelly, RebecaMonje Perez, Lisa Montesi, Maria Taverna

Streamer logo: Lou MucciStreamer design: Ariel Dekovic

Photography: Bud Burgess, Bruce Conrad (cover photo 1 and page 14 photo), Eric Endlich, Bill Smith

Printed by: Charles River Publishing

StreamerCharles River Watershed Association

48 Woerd Avenue | Waltham, MA | 02453phone: 781-788-0007 | fax: 781-788-0057

crwa@crwa.org | www.charlesriver.org

Streamer is published in January, June and September.

Moving? Send a change of address form to 48 WoerdAvenue, Waltham, MA, 02453.

CRWA is a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation established in1965 to protect and enhance the health, beauty and accessi-bility of the Charles River and its tributaries. CRWA is a mem-

ber of Earth Share and the Massachusetts EnvironmentalCollaborative.

Streamer is printed on recycled paper.

MESSAGEFROM THE

PRESIDENT

PARK REORGANIZATION: A New Opportunity

Board of Directors

Lee BreckenridgeDavid Burmaster

Stephen H. Burrington

2 STREAMER

Lucy Caldwell-StairJohn P. DeVillars

Edward EnglanderElizabeth C. Gilmore

Richard G. GönciJames Healy

Jonathan D. KatzVirginia M. Lawrence

Elizabeth LevinMindy Lubber

Charles D. McCreaBrian O’Donovan

John G. Palfrey, Jr. William D. RiedersRobert F. Sproull

About some of the cover photographers:

Bill Smith (on the key, photos 3, 5, 8) has hundreds of photosof the 2003 Run of the Charles. To inquireabout purchasing prints, send an e-mail torotc@longwharf.com or call 617-325-3780.Please mention the number of your boat.

Eric Endlich (photos 2, 4, 6, 7) is an award-winning nature and landscape photographer.For more information, visit his website atwww.endlichphoto.com or contact Eric at(781) 444-9762 or info@endlichphoto.com.

1

6

4

2

8753

3

After years of debate, changeappears to be on the horizon for theMetropolitan DistrictCommission. Charles RiverWatershed Association hasbeen in the thick of lobbyingfor a reorganization of stategovernment that will ensurean efficient, transparent andlocally-managed parklandagency. CRWA senior environ-mental scientist and policyanalyst Kate Bowditch discuss-es the options.

continued on page 14

After years of trying, changeappears to be on the horizon for theMetropolitan District Commission(MDC). As we go to press, it is stillunclear which of the possible outcomeswill ultimately prevail, but more than atany time in the past, it seems the MDCwe all know will soon be different. Forpeople who have been working toimprove management of theMetropolitan Parks System for years,the pace and scope of activity on park-land issues in the past six monthsseems amazing. The combination of thestate's fiscal crisis, the election of MittRomney as Governor, and his subse-quent appointmentof Doug Foy to reor-ganize environmen-tal administration inM a s s a ch u s e t t s ,have all led to anu n p r e c e d e n t e dopportunity toredesign the man-agement of this unri-valed park system.

CRWA beganworking actively onan effort to improvestewardship of thepark system lastsummer. We havebeen pursuing sev-eral parallel efforts:first, using specificpark projects withinthe watershed toexamine aspects ofnew park manage-ment ideas; second,building a coalitionof partners to advo-cate as one voice forshared goals forchange and improve-ment; and finally,working directly with members of thelegislature and administration to buildsupport for the type of change we need.

Our goals are ambitious: rational,transparent management of the entirepark system; public participation in deci-sion-making; and, perhaps most impor-tant, keeping the park system, includingits integral parkways, intact. It looks asif we may succeed in many of these.

When Doug Foy agreed to workwith Governor Romney to tackle sprawl,he realized that a radical restructuring ofstate government was needed. Foy's

vision was to create a new, coordinatedagency, the Executive Office ofCommonwealth Development (EOCD),which would coordinate the work of thetransportation, environment, housingand energy departments. It is only byhaving these departments work togeth-er that realistic progress can be made totackle sprawl, unplanned development,and unsustainable resource use. Thevision is ambitious and exciting for thoseof us who are used to seeing the envi-ronment always considered last, andhaving no voice in decisions about high-ways, development and infrastructure.

Part of the proposal to form EOCDwas a reorganizationof the state agen-cies that manageparks and forests.The current systemhas theMetropolitan ParksSystem managed bythe MDC, operatingon their own, withobscure financialplanning and virtual-ly no oversight.State parks andforests are managedby the Departmentof EnvironmentalManagement, oper-ating as a complete-ly independent stateparks agency. Thishas long been rec-ognized as an ineffi-cient structure, butnone of the manyattempts to fix it --until now -- pre-served intact themetropolitan parkssystem, and weretherefore loudly

opposed. One option for reorganization is the

creation of a new state park and forestmanagement body: the Division ofConservation and Recreation (DCR).This division would be organized by geo-graphic region, with the MetropolitanParks System comprising one entireregion. Management and maintenanceof the whole system, including recre-ational facilities like rinks and pools, aswell as the parkways, would be underthe control of this regional office.

One of the most important aspects

“Our goals are ambitious:

rational, transparent

managementof the entire park system;

public participation

in decision-making; and

keeping the park system

intact.

It looks as ifwe may

succeed.”

STREAMER

SAVING THEMETROPOLITANPARKS SYSTEM

4 STREAMER

RUN OF THE CHARLES CELEBRATES 21st YEAR;Corbin Wins Pro Race for 8th time

>>RACE ROUND-UP(from upper lefthand corner): kayakerby Eric Endlich; flatwater canoes byBud Burgess; portage by Endlich;Corbin and Kolka pull away byBurgess; canoers by Burgess; kayakerby Endlich; and canoes battle byBurgess. All photographs printed withthe photographer’s permission.

A perfect spring day brought roughly1500 paddlers and thousands of spectatorsto the Charles River for the 21st annual Runof the Charles Canoe &Kayak Race on April 27,2003.

Serge Corbin ofQuebec and Jeff Kolka ofMichigan, teamed up fortheir third consecutivechampionship in the 26-mile Professional FlatwaterCanoe Marathon, finishingin 3:18:57. Corbin, with var-ious partners, has now wonthe Pro Marathon all eightyears the Pro race has beenheld.

In the 24-Mile RelayRace, the QuinobequinCanoe Club posted thefastest time, finishing the 5-leg, 10-personrelay in 3:36:00. The Corporate Relay Racesaw Lantern Films' team beat 67 othercompany boats with a winning time of3:56:36.

MDC Commissioner William McKinneywas on-hand to congratulate CRWA and theracers, and to accept a tree for planting aspart of the Athens EnvironmentalFoundation's Olympian "Global OliveWreath" project.

Charles River Canoe & Kayak clearedthe river of obstructions, arranged boatrentals, monitored safety concerns, andprovided race officials.

Run of the Charles sponsors includedBoston Duck Tours, Community NewspaperCompany, Nantucket Nectars, Payless ShoeSource, Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS),Haley & Aldrich, BSC Group, Mirant Kendall,

SignArt Inc., The Weekly Dig, BendingBranches, Polynesian Racing Craft,

Patagonia, Nantahala Outdoor Center, SRWeiner/WS Development, the Parrot HeadClub of Eastern Massachusetts, and the

Charles River Boat Company. American Red Cross of

Eastern Massachusetts pro-vided medical assistance,Boston Bruins defensemanHal Gill served as HonoraryChairman, and the AmateurRadio Relay League providedemergency communication.

Volunteers came fromthroughout the area, includ-ing CRWA's Stream Team,Parrot Head Club members,BostonCares volunteers, andNewtonServes volunteers.The volunteers did it all, blow-ing up balloons, directingcanoe and kayak traffic, pro-

cessing registrations, handing out water,and cheering on the racers.

In addition to watching the day-long rac-ing competitions, spectators at the FinishLine Festival enjoyed live music from therock band Johnny Park, refreshments,exhibits, award ceremonies, plus barbecuesand picnics. Among the crowd-pleasingspots at the Finish Line Festival were theBoston Duck Tours duck boat, captained by"Sven the Viking," and the free rides in theDragon Boat Club of Boston's 41' foot longblue and white dragon boat.

Plan now to attend the 22nd AnnualRun of the Charles Canoe & Kayak Race onSunday, April 25, 2004. For information, call781-788-0007. Sponsorship and other infor-mation can also be obtained by e-mailingrotc@crwa.org.

A FEW OF THE WINNERS

Pro Flatwater CanoeMarathon

Corbin and Kolka3:18:57

24-Mile Relay RaceQuinobequin Canoe Club

3:36:00.

Corporate Relay RaceLantern Films

3:56:36

by Janice Halpern, special to Streamer

For the fourth consecutive year, theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) announced a report card grade of"B" for the Charles River. EPA RegionalAdministrator Bob Varney announcedthat the river was clean enough for boat-ing 91 percent of the time last year, upfrom 39 percent in 1995 when the riverearned a "D", and met swimming stan-dards 39 percent of the time, comparedto 19 percent in 1995. After severalyears of dramatic improvements in waterquality, data collected by CRWA volun-teers have indicated that improvementsin the Charles continue to stay level.

The EPA also announced a $400,000grant to help CRWA in cleanup efforts

along the Charles River. Of more than176 nominations from around the coun-try, CRWA's project was selected alongwith 19 others. "This national competi-tion for these Watershed Initiative grantsgenerated a torrent of outstanding pro-posals," said former EPA AdministratorChristie Whitman, who announced thewinners. "EPA is very excited to commitsignificant federal dollars to supportthese top watershed efforts, all of whichwill serve as national models for othercommunities to follow."

"This is fantastic,” enthused CRWA'sExecutive Director Bob Zimmerman. “Itallows us to move ahead with some ofthe most innovative solutions in the

country for water pollution and in-streamflow." One initiative to be funded underthis grant includes the boosting of in-stream flows in the river by capturingand reusing rooftop rainwater withSmartStorm®, CRWA's cistern and dry-well system. Recycling and reusing rain-water is a high priority for CRWAbecause it will boost in-stream flows inthe river and help ensure ample drinkingwater supplies for Upper Charles com-munities. Other initiatives are continua-tion of CRWA's boathouse flagging pro-gram for the summer, and incentives forpollution dischargers to increase flow inthe river.

Charles Earns a "B" on Annual Report Card;CRWA Wins EPA Grant for “Innovative Solutions”

With herring migrating from the Atlantic Ocean and upthe Charles River, CRWA has embarked on a program tocount the fish that move upstream of the Watertown Dam.The data obtained will be provided to a state fisheries biolo-gist who is monitoring the long-term population trends of her-ring in the Charles River.

Typically, alewife and blueback herring, which are indistin-guishable without dissection, and which are collectivelyknown as river herring, run from the middle of April to late

June. When temperatures failed to rise to optimum condi-tions, volunteers saw a delay in the start of the run. Duringthe height of the run in mid-May, volunteers counted upwardsof six hundred fish, during ten-minute periods, passingthrough the fish ladder at the Watertown Dam.

This is a long-term project for CRWA, and we will beseeking volunteers to count during next year’s run. For moreinformation, please visit our website, www.charlesriver.org,or call Ariel Dekovic at 781-788-0007 ext. 200.

CRWA Introduces New Fish Monitoring Program

5

NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.Are you a lover of the Charles River?.Want a hands-on role in protecting the

river?.Looking for an excuse to get out on the

Charles once a month?

STREAMER

CRWA samples along the entire length ofthe river, from Milford to Boston, once amonth at 6 AM. We need your help! If youare interested in sampling at a site near yourhome or work, please call Peggy Savage at781-788-0007 ext. 221 for more information.

Join over 80 volunteers who participate in

CRWA’s water quality monitoring project!

CRWA WINS UNITED NATIONS

ASSOCIATION ‘03 LEADERSHIP AWARDThis past May, the United Nations Association of Greater

Boston awarded CRWA their 2003 Leadership Award for excel-lence in addressing water quality and availability needs. Here’swhat the Association had to say about CRWA:

“Charles River Watershed Association provides highly com-petent technical and scientific services to local communities andprivate entities requiring solutions to water and sanitation prob-lems impacting on the Charles River Watershed. Of particularnote is a current CRWA initiative in two township areas to helpreverse the present declining watershed aquifer waterreserves.... Working with a local power company, township agen-cies and local communities, CRWA has devised a comprehen-sive water resource management strategy involving stormwaterretention through cleaning and recharging of the groundwateraquifer; retrofitting of municipal buildings and schools with lowervolume water fixtures; public education and community outreachabout water conservation and low-flow remediation; leak detec-tion and remediation programs; modeling of groundwaterreserves and identification of the best practices to managethem; and septic system repair. “

CRWA Files Suit Against DEP For Failure to C

CRWA has teamed up with theIpswich River WatershedAssociation (IRWA), Essex County

Greenbelt Association, a land trust, and12 concerned citizens to sue theMassachusetts Department ofEnvironmental Protection (DEP) for itspermitting of water withdrawals in theIpswich River basin. The complaint, filedin Salem Superior Court on April 11,2003, alleges that DEP has failed to com-ply with the state Water ManagementAct (WMA) and its own rules which reg-ulate water withdrawals greater than100,000 gallons per day. CRWA's gener-al counsel, Margaret Van Deusen, is rep-resenting the plaintiffs in this lawsuit.

The Ipswich was recently namedone of the ten most endangered rivers inthe country by American Rivers, a nation-al environmental organization, and theIpswich basin is classified by the state asone of the most highly stressed basins inMassachusetts. The Ipswich suffersfrom a severe lack of water, or flow, par-

ticularly during the summer andearly fall months. Last summer,

record low flows were set, and largereaches of the river dried up completely,causing massive fish kills and habitatdestruction. Dirt bikes and ATVs wereseen driving on the exposed riverbed,altering its physical characteristics anddestroying the biota.

Recent government studies haveshown that the primary cause of theIpswich's dire condition is water with-drawals. Streamflow depends on thegroundwater that supplies it. Municipalwater withdrawals in the Ipswich basincollectively average about 30 million gal-lons per day. DEP is charged with regu-lating these withdrawals to ensure a bal-ance among water uses and protectionof the water resource itself. However,DEP's WMA permitting decisions havefailed to achieve these goals, and it hasgiven resource protection, habitat andrecreational uses short shrift. A broadIpswich stakeholder group has recom-mended a number of measures thatwould result in better river protection.

Because water permits are issuedfor an extraordinarily long 20-year period,the WMA requires DEP to review thepermits every five years, and, if permitconditions are not adequate or the "safeyield" of the basin is being exceeded, tomodify the permits. While DEP hasknown about the impact of water with-drawals on the Ipswich River for sometime, it was reluctant to take definitiveaction to address the low flow issues.Last fall, we notified DEP of our intent tosue for its failure to conduct the five-yearreviews of the Ipswich permits and mod-ify them. While DEP is now conductingthose reviews, we are not convincedthat DEP will issue strong and effectivemodified permits without a lawsuit.

CRWA believes that the Ipswich per-mits are critical to establishing a sustain-able water management program and todeveloping a comprehensive water poli-cy for Massachusetts. The science onstreamflows for fish and habitat that hasbeen developed for the Ipswich mustnow be incorporated into the permitsthemselves.

by Bob Zimmerman, Executive Director

>>Parts of the Ipswich riverbedare completely exposed duringthe late summer and early fall

6 STREAMER

DEFENDING THE IP

“Last summer, record low flows were

dried up completely, causing massive

Comply With the Water Management Act

The future health of the Charles Riveris closely linked to the Ipswich WMA out-comes. The upper Charles watershed isbecoming highly stressed, and the Ipswichwater permits will set the bar for permits inthe Charles basin. Dwindling water sup-plies already require upper watershed com-munities to impose water use restrictionsand bans in the summer months. Greaterwater demand, coupled with developmentand increased impervious surfaces, whichlessen the ability of rainwater to rechargegroundwater, are impacting stream flowsand species diversity in the Charles River.

This is one of the most importantissues we face and CRWA will continue tofight for a balance between competingwater uses and for protection and preserva-tion of the river itself.

<<www>> Interested in reviewing CRWA’scomplaint? The complete complaint is avail-able on our website:http://www.crwa.org/ipswich/complaint.html.

“...to restore the health of the river and its tributaries...”

Excerpts of CRWA’s Complaint Against DEP1. This is an action against the Department of EnvironmentalProtection ("the Department") for failing to carry out itsduties to protect the Ipswich River. The Ipswich River wasnamed one of the 10 most endangered rivers in the UnitedStates today. The river is in crisis because it suffers froma severe lack of water, or flow. Instead of fishing andcanoeing on the river, last summer the dry riverbed was usedfor dirt biking. Water withdrawals have drastically reducedstream flows in the Ipswich River resulting in fish kills,habitat destruction, and severe ecosystem impairment. TheDepartment's administration and mismanagement of its waterwithdrawal permitting program is a primary cause of theriver's condition. The Department has repeatedly violatedthe Water Management Act, G.L. c. 21G ("the WMA"), and itsown regulations at 310 CMR 36.00, in issuing and administer-ing permits for water withdrawals in the Ipswich River basin.The Ipswich River Watershed Association, Essex CountyGreenbelt Association, and twelve citizens bring this actionto require the Department to comply with the WMA and its reg-ulations in the Ipswich River basin ("the Ipswich basin") andto restore the health of the river and its tributaries.

2. In violation of the WMA and its regulations, theDepartment issued water withdrawal permits ("permits") in theIpswich basin that exceeded the "safe yield" of the basin andviolated state water quality standards, failed to modifythese permits despite clear evidence that the water with-drawals were drying up the river, failed to conduct timelymandatory reviews of the permits, failed to lower the100,000-gallon per day permit threshold withdrawal volume(threshold volume) in the Ipswich basin, and failed to con-duct rulemaking as required to review and reassess the ade-quacy of the general threshold volume. The plaintiffs seekdeclarations that the safe yield of the Ipswich basin hasbeen exceeded and that the basin is in need of special pro-tection, and a permanent injunction requiring the Departmentto modify the Ipswich basin permits to comply with the WMAand its regulations, to lower the threshold volume in theIpswich basin, and to conduct rulemaking to review andreassess the necessity and adequacy of the WMA's generalthreshold volume.

SWICH

7STREAMER

set and large reaches of the Ipswich river

e fish kills and habitat destruction.”

Residential Development Attempts to Offset

Impact

Project developers propose to build a 365 000

to the MBTA commuter rail station at the DedhamCorporate Center. The EOEA secretary has ruledthat the project will not require an Environmental

the intersection of Saw Mill Parkway and SpiersRoad in Newton. The site plan shows a WetlandRestriction Order boundary set in 1977 that is offset

.From Echo Lake to South Natick Dam.River mile 0 to mile 38

BY DUDLEY BONSAL AND ANNA ELERIA

Impacts to the

Headwaters

Quarry Place, the proposedretail development situatedapproximately 500 feet fromthe Charles River near theheadwaters in Milford, would

include 17.3 acres of imperviousarea, create over 1,000 parking

spaces, and generate at least 10,000vehicle trips per day. CRWA believes that the proj-ect proposal does not adequately address stormwa-ter management on the site with no discussion ofbest management practices (BMPs). CRWA recom-mends that the project proponents implement infil-tration measures to minimize the loss of annualrecharge of groundwater to the maximum extentpracticable. CRWA also believes that the projectdoes not represent smart growth as it pertains totransportation concerns. It would create greaterautomobile dependency and use by building at ascale that is inappropriate for bicycles and pedestri-ans, and building far from areas presently accessibleby or suitable for mass transit. CRWA has called onQuarry Place to discuss the measures it will take tomitigate the adverse impacts in its EnvironmentalImpact Report (EIR).

'Hotspot' Near Godfrey Brook

In early March, a citizen complained that a sewer

manhole was overflowing near Godfrey Brook, a trib-utary to the Charles River, in Milford. CRWALaboratory Manager Jim Fitzgerald collected andanalyzed a sample of the discharge, as well as sam-ples upstream and downstream of the discharge inGodfrey Brook. The fecal coliform bacteria concen-tration of the dischargewas over five hundredtimes higher than theState water quality stan-dard for primary contact(greater than 200colonies/100 milliliters),such as wading, whileconcentrations inGodfrey Brook werelower than the dischargebut still much greaterthan the standard.According to the MilfordSewer Department,runoff from snowmeltexceeded the capacity of the local wastewater treat-ment plant, causing the manhole overflow. To stopthe overflow and minimize its adverse effects, thedepartment pumped the excess flow from the man-hole and treated the discharge with lime. CRWAnotified the Department of EnvironmentalProtection (DEP) of the problem and is working withMilford to develop a long-term solution.

Second Change to Proposed Residential

Development

Developers of Dynasty Estates in Milford haverequested a second project change to their originalproposal submitted for MEPA review in 1996. Underthe proposed changes, additional impacts could

occur near Huckleberry Brookand Louisa Lake and include twoadditional acres of imperviousarea, intrusion into the riverfrontarea, additional wetlandresource area alteration, andmore housing units and vehicletrips. CRWA requested a sup-plemental EIR for this project tosufficiently address the out-standing water resource issues.Because groundwater suppliesand streamflow in the CharlesRiver are currently stressed,CRWA recommended that theproponent implement best man-

agement practices that maximize recharge of treat-ed stormwater runoff. Finally, CRWA supports theproject proponent's decision to either deed 11.9acres to the Town of Milford or maintain it as openspace, however, CRWA suggests that this openspace be protected by conservation restrictions.

.From South Natick Dam to Watertown Dam.River mile 38 to mile 69MIDDLE WATERSHED

“The fecal coliform bacteria

concentration of

the discharge was over500 times

higher than the State waterquality standard.”

RUN OF THE RIVERCRWA’S REPORT OF WHAT’S HAPPENING ON (AND AROUND) THE CHARLES

UPPER WATERSHED

Cemetery Needs More Water

Mount Auburn Cemetery in Watertown has submit-ted a Water Management Act (WMA) permit applica-

tion to withdraw up to 250,000 gallons perday from an existing groundwater well.

CRWA has advocated that water-related permits should belinked not only to

demand needs but also toenvironmental impacts sothat reduced streamflowsare avoided. Contingent

upon receiving a WMA permit,CRWA recommended that the

cemetery employ a number of actions tomaximize groundwater recharge includingminimal lawn areas, drip irrigation, andstormwater recharge structures. CRWAalso recommended a number of additionalrestrictions on irrigation during times when

streamflow falls below certain thresholds.

Park Restoration Plan Under Review

CRWA fully supports efforts to restore the MuddyRiver, the centerpiece of Olmstead's EmeraldNecklace Park system, which hasbeen adversely impacted byurbanization and development inBrookline and Boston.Restoration efforts involve dredg-ing sections of the river andimplementing best managementpractices (BMPs) to reduce flood-ing and improve water qualityand habitat conditions, and bettermanagement and oversight ofthe project to ensure both short-term and long-term success ofthe project. CRWA recommendsthat the project proponentsimplement additional silt curtains near the outlet ofthe Muddy River and conduct water quality monitor-ing during construction.

In addition, CRWA believes that the project'sBMP plan must be developed in full detail andinclude a monitoring program for the in-stream sed-

imentation basins and meas-urable environmental perform-ance standards or bench-marks.

Finally, CRWA requests aSupplemental EnvironmentalImpact Report for the manage-ment structure of this project,which should recognize theMuddy River RestorationProject Maintenance andManagement OversightCommittee as a vital and inte-gral component of this project,and outline the management

and financial responsibilities of each of the projectpartners.

Project developers propose to build a 365,000square-foot development in Dedham and offset itsenvironmental impact by reducing runoff volumes,r e c h a r g i n gstormwater,and replicatingover 8,000square feet ofwetlands asmitigation forthe filling in ofalmost 3,000square feet ofw e t l a n d s .CRWA sup-ports thes t o r m wa t e rrecharge plansof the project. CRWA has proposed that the projectinclude a monitoring plan to ensure the proper func-tioning of the replicated wetlands. CRWA has alsocalled for the project developers to create, in associ-ation with the town, pedestrian and bicycle access

that the project will not require an EnvironmentalImpact Report.

Large Traffic Impacts with New

Development

The proposed Chestnut Hill Square project,located on Route 9 in Newton, includes a10.3-acre site for 330 apartments, a hotel, ageneral office building, and retail space.CRWA has urged the developers to imple-ment a rainwater recovery system that willput water back in the ground. Because theproject would also generate an additional9,600 vehicle trips per day, CRWA hascalled for a review of increased mass transitavailability and a traffic study of the roadsand intersections impacted by the potentialdevelopment. The State has ruled that the

project will require an EIR.

Replacement of Radio Towers

Clear Channel Radio is seeking to replace two 350-foot radio towers with five 199-foot radio towers at

Restriction Order boundary set in 1977 that is offsetby about 50 feet from the delineat-ed wetland boundaries shown inthe same plan. CRWA hasrequested that the StateDepartment of EnvironmentalProtection review the WetlandRestriction Order boundary,which would help determinewhere copper-coated ground-ing wires could be laid in thesoil. CRWA has alsorequested amore thor-ough analy-sis of theeffects ofcopper onsalamandersand frogs at thesite.

LOWER WATERSHED .From Watertown Dam to New Charles River Dam.River mile 69 to mile 78.4

“CRWA has advocatedthat water-relatedpermits should be

linked to environ-mental impacts so

that reducedstreamflows are

avoided.”

“Project developers propose tooffset environmental impact by

reducing runoff

volumes, recharging

stormwater, and

replicating over

8,000 square feet of

wetlands...”

STREAMER

>>A WATERSHED EVENT (clock-wise from below): Girl scouts findtheir watershed address; Steven

DiFlorio demonstrates how riversrun; intern Maura Kelly shows offsome baby salmon; volunteer Talia

Goodkin (center) cuts it up at thearts and crafts table with kids fairparticipants; and volunteer Pete

Zimmerman and CRWA engineerAnna Eleria expound on aquifers.

10

On April 5th, Charles RiverWatershed Association presented itsfirst annualTake Me to the River Kids Fairand welcomed over 100 members andfriends to its new headquarters inWaltham for several hours of fun andinquiry.

The afternoon featured nine activitystations, presided over by our environ-mental scientists and friends. StevenDiFlorio, Educator at the HabitatSanctuary at Mass Audubon joined us tolead several informative stations, includ-ing "Scales and Tails", an exhibition thatintroduced baby salmon to our partici-

pants (like Charles River resi-dents the alewife, salmon are

migratory fish). Other topics included"The Ever-Changing River," discussingthe mutability of rivers' courses overtime; "Where Water Goes," a hands-onexploration of water flow patterns in awatershed area; "Bugs, Bugs, Bugs,"starring the smallest critters of the river;and "H2O Olympics", a blue ribbon exer-cise in experiments with water.

A party would not be complete with-out ice cream - and we used the wonder-ful treat donated by Lizzy's Ice CreamParlor in Waltham to create AquiferParfaits. Each edible parfait had a layer of"rocks" (oreos), “sandstone” (chocolate

ice cream), "clay" (vanilla ice cream),"grass" (green candy), and other fun top-pings.

Using recycled materials, childrenalso made floatable works of art to carryhome. Girl Scouts from Waltham joinedus to work on their Environment badges.

Co-Chairs Sierra Bright, BonnieEmmons, and Sara Molyneaux helpeddevelop the concept of the event andencouraged friends and members toattend. The accompanying photographsattest to the joyful success of this event.Please plan to attend our next memberevent, and become a more active mem-ber of the CRWA community!

KIDS EDUCATIONAL FAIR A SUCCESSOver 100 members, friends attend event to inaugurate new CRWA headquarters

by Denise Trapani Hall, Development Director

SmartStorm® receives itsfirst true test….

11STREAMER A W

INT

ER

INN

EW

EN

GLA

ND

>>CRWA’s finance administrator, KenDews, installed a Smartstorm® last year.The system is easily hidden behind sim-ple landscaping or fencing.

CRWA is proud to announce thatits SmartStorm® Rainwater RecoverySystem will be made available for pur-chase by the public starting June 1stthis year. The system is used to col-lect and store rainwater from a resi-dential roof. The stored water canthen be used for such things as water-ing a lawn, washing acar, or topping off aswimming pool. Thesystem also has a drywell that is designed tocollect the overflowfrom the storage tanksand allow it to infiltrateback into the ground.SmartStorm® helpsthe environment in twoways, by reducing theuse of municipal wateron lawns and gardens,while helping torestore rainwater infil-tration that is essentialto maintaining ground-water levels.

A standard two-tank system, withpump, dry well, andfirst flush device willcost $3,000 plus applicable statetaxes. Installation will be a separatecost, which will depend on the homesite characteristics. If you are interest-ed in purchasing SmartStorm® or find-ing out more information, contactJohn Carney at CRWA (781-788-0007x223) or visit our website atwww.charlesriver.org.

Harsh winter conditions prove to be

no match for System

The pilot installations of CRWA'sSmartStorm® Rainwater RecoverySystem underwent the first true testof durability recently: a harsh NewEngland winter. CRWA LaboratoryManager and SmartStorm® ownerJim Fitzgerald monitored the progressof his and several other installed sys-tems throughout the winter. In somecases, up to six inches of ice wasreported inside the tanks. Aside from

some minor problems withthe first flush device, all sys-

tems passed the test with flying col-ors. Prior to the beginning of winterthe drain valve inside the tanks isopened to remove most of the watercollected. This is done to protect theinternal plumbing of the tanks fromdamage due to freezing. In earlyspring, the drain valve is closed again

and the tanks canbegin to collectrainwater. Withthe wet springwe've been hav-ing, Jim's tanksare already filledto capacity, andhe's ready for theupcoming drysummer months.

SmartStorm®

debuts at the

New England

Home and

Flower Shows

SmartStorm®has been "on theroad" during thepast few months,at the NewEngland Home

Show in February, and the NewEngland Flower Show in March.CRWA staff members Ken Dews andJim Fitzgerald constructed a workingmodel for the shows, complete withrainfall to demonstrate howSmartStorm® works. The response atboth of the shows was very encourag-ing, with over 200 homeowners, con-tractors, and developers joining thegrowing SmartStorm® mailing list.

CRWA was also given a chance toshowcase the Charles River in a mainhall display at the Flower Show.CRWA Board member Richard Göncideveloped a beautiful display usingphotographer Stephen Maka’s extraor-dinary images of the Charles Riverthrough the seasons and listing all thecommunities within the watershed.Many thanks to both Richard andStephen for creating a spectacular dis-play!

“CRWA staff memberand SmartStorm®

owner JimFitzgerald moni-

tored the progressof his and several

other installed systems throughout

the winter. Up tosix inches of ice

was reported insidethe tanks... but all

systems passed thetest with

flying colors.”

by John Carney, Environmental Scientist

Governor Mitt Romney, his staff,and over 700 dedicated and die-hard vol-unteers braved the heavy rains and 40-degree temperature to pick up trashalong the banks and in the waters of theCharles River for the4th annual CharlesRiver Earth DayCleanup on April 12.The Governor kickedoff the event at theMDC Hatch Shell inBoston by thankingthe volunteers formaking a huge differ-ence in the healthand beauty of theriver, and by acknowl-edging the numerousorganizers anddonors who worktogether on thisevent. Although vol-unteer numberswere lower than lastyear due to theinclement weather,participants made asignificant, visible impact on the river bycleaning up over twenty river sectionsthat stretched from Bellingham toCambridge.

"After a long, cold winter, it isfun to get out on the river and

make a difference with so many greatpeople and organizations connected bythe Charles," remarked RobertZimmerman, CRWA's ExecutiveDirector. "Even Governor Romney, who

lives on theboundary of theCharles andMystic Riverwatersheds, wasout helping tokeep the Charlesand its parksclean."

Vo l u n t e e r sfrom universities,businesses, stateemployees, neigh-borhood associa-tions, alumnaegroups, boy andgirl scout troops,rowing clubs, andother civic organi-zations filled over1,500 trash bagswith small items,such as coffee

cups, plastic bags, and returnable andnon-returnable bottles (see the adjacentarticle about the efforts to expand theState's Bottle Bill), and removed larger

items including shopping carts, large carparts, a mattress, bicycle tires, largewooden cable spools, and fencing.

After picking up trash, volunteersgathered at the Community RowingBoathouse in Brighton where they weretreated to lunchprovided by theCenter Houseof Pizza inBrighton andBread & CircusWhole FoodsMarket, andmusic by theP a h u dKissinger Band.Organizers ofthe eventi n c l u d e dCRWA, theMassachusettsC o m m u n i t yWater Watch, aproject ofM A S S P I R G ,Americorps, the MA Service Alliance,State Senator Steven Tolman's Office,the Charles River Stream Team, theCharles River Conservancy, the CleanCharles Coalition, and MDC. AltheaChen, a Massachusetts College of Artstudent, designed the cleanup postersand t-shirts.

To deposit or not to depowhen you look at our pilof non-redeemable bottleon the right is of redeem

12 STREAMER

by Anna Eleria, Environmental Engineer

GOVERNOR ROMNEY JOINSHUNDREDS IN CHARLES CLEAN UP

“Volunteersbraved

heavy rainsand 40-degree temperaturesto pick uptrash along

the banks and inthe waters ofthe Charles.”

SPONSORS

Many thanks to the volunteer groups listed

below and the countless other individuals

not mentioned here.

1. Bread & Circus Whole Foods Market2. Milford Women's Club3. Box Pond Association4. Friends of Hemlock Gorge 5. Needham Girl Scout Troop - Broadmeadow School6. Needham Women's Club7. Needham League of Women Voters8. Needham Brownie Troop - St. Joseph's School9. Dexter School Boy Scouts10. Dover/Natick Homeschoolers11. Wellesley Natural Resources Commission12. Boston Society of Civil Engineers13. Charles River Stream Team14. Newton Marriott Hotel15. Island Neighborhood Association16. Massachusetts Medical Society/New EnglandJournal of Medicine17. Newton North High School18. Waltham Land Trust19. Watertown Police20. Polaroid Corporation21. Sasaki Associates22. Newton Girl Scouts

23. Community Rowing, Inc.24. Elisabeth Harper and Friends25. New Balance26. Coolidge Avenue Condominium Association27. Harvard Law School28. WUMB 91.9 FM Radio29. Harvard University Environment & Safety Office30. Cambridge Boat Club31. First Parish Church32. Cambridge Rindge and Latin Crew33. Harvard University34. Saunders Inc.35. Genzyme Corporation36. Riverside Boat Club37. Brookline High Crew38. Friends of Magazine Beach39. Triumvirate Environmental, Inc.40. Hyatt Hotel41. Pfizer Corporation42. Emmanuel College43. Boston University44. MASSPIRG45. Governor Mitt Romney and his staff46. Esplanade Association47. Union Boat Club48. City Year49. University of Virginia Alumni

50. St. Michael's College Alumni51. Community Boating52. Hill House53. Massachusetts Institute of Technology54. United States General Accounting Office55. Emerson College56. Suffolk University Environmental Law Society

Also much appreciation goes to our

financial supports and in-kind contributors.

1. Althea Chen - t-shirt design2. Bread and Circus Whole Foods Market3. Clean Harbors4. Community Rowing5. Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel6. Finagle-A-Bagel7. Genzyme Corporation8. Harvard University9. Home Depot10. Newton Marriott Hotel11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology12. Northeastern University13. Pfizer Corporation14. Roche Bros. Supermarkets15. Royal Sonesta Hotel16. Triumvirate Environmental, Inc.

When the 4th Annual Charles RiverEarth Day Cleanup commenced this pastApril, some volunteers weren't just clean-

ing up trash. Theywere counting it upas well.

As part of aninformal data-gath-ering project, volun-teers focused onthe presence ofnon-returnable (non-redeemable) bever-age containersretrieved during thecleanup. Led byRuss Cohen of theM a s s a ch u s e t t sRiverways Program,the container tallyaimed to show thatnon-returnable bot-

tles (including bottled water, juice andsports drinks) significantly exceed the num-ber of returnable bottles in the make-up ofour litter. MA Governor Mitt Romney, in his2004 budget, has proposed that the stateBottle Deposit Law should be expanded tocover other drink containers, andthe findings at the Earth DayCleanup certainly support thatmove.

At the cleanup, beveragecontainers were sorted out of arandom sample of trash bagsreturned by volunteers to the HatchShell and to the MDC's Ice Rink inNonantum. Here's what was found:

Number of non-returnable beveragecontainers: 431 (81.78%)

Number of returnable (deposit) contain-ers: 96 (18.22%)

Total number of beverage containersretrieved in the sample: 527 (100%)

Thus, non-returnable (non-deposit) bev-erage containers exceeded the number ofredeemable (deposit) beverage containersby a 4.5 to 1 ratio.

As dramatic as this evidence is, it

understates the actual disparity betweenthe deposit and non-deposit containers inour litter, because non-deposit containersstill make up much less than 50% of theactual beverage containers sold. When therespective market shares for deposit andnon-deposit containers are factored in, thefindings are much more dramatic.According to Peter Allison at theDepartment of Environmental Protection,the current (2000 data) market share inMassachusetts for nonalcoholic beveragecontainers is 69.56% carbonated (Coke,Pepsi, etc., covered by the currentMassachusetts "Bottle Bill" law) and30.44% non-carbonated (bottled water,juice, sports drink, etc., not covered by thecurrent bottle deposit law). In other words,about two nonalcoholic depositbottles/cans are sold in this state for everyone non-deposit container sold.

If this market share statistic is factoredin to the results of our cleanup tally, ourfindings are even more striking. You willrecall that non-deposit containers made up81.78% of the beverage containers collect-ed, whereas deposit containers made uponly 18.22% of the total, an approximately4.5:1 ratio. Factoring in the market share

data, it means that although non-depositcontainers make up less than 25% of

the beverage market, they made upover 80% of the beverage contain-ers found in the cleanup. In con-trast, although deposit containersmake up at least 75% of the bev-

erage market, they only made upless than 20% of the bottles/cans

found in the cleanup. Thus, according tothe Charles River Cleanup tally, it is overthirteen times more likely that a non-deposit beverage container sold inMassachusetts will end up littering ourwaterways than will a deposit container.

What can you do? The beverage con-tainer tally conducted at the Charles Rivercleanup provides ample evidence of thevalue of placing a deposit on beverage con-tainers to encourage their proper disposal.Write to your state senator in support ofGovernor Romney's state Bottle DepositLaw.

osit? There’s no questionles. The one on the left ises (431 bottles); the one

mable ones (96 bottles).

BEVERAGE CONTAINER TALLY AT CLEANUP SHOWS

BOTTLES WITH DEPOSITS STAY OUT OF THE TRASH

13STREAMER

PUTTING THE MONEY WHERE THE MOUTH IS

by Ariel Dekovic, Publications Manager

14 STREAMER

continued from page 5SAVING THE METROPOLITAN PARKS SYSTEM

of the proposed reorganization, and one CRWA and our coali-tion partners worked hard to see included, is the creation of aStewardship Council. This Council would serve as an inde-pendent oversight body, with citizen representatives, to pro-vide critical transparen-cy and accountability toDCR's management.

The legislature ulti-mately voted down theGovernor’s proposal, asit was part of a largerpackage they could notsupport. However, rec-ognizing the importanceand timeliness of actionon improving park man-agement, the legisla-ture focused significanttime and energy on avariety of proposals andstructures for reorgani-zation. Both the Houseand Senate passedsome version of envi-ronmental reorganiza-tion as outside sectionsto their budgets. TheSenate budget mostclosely resembles whatCRWA had worked for,including provisions tokeep the parkways withthe Metropolitan Parks System, and the creation of aStewardship Council.

As we go to press, the House and Senate conference

committee is working to resolve the differences between theirbudgets. Look for updates on the CRWA website,www.charlesriver.org, under state reorganization.

CRWA sees this as an opportunity not only to improve theMetropolitan Parks System, not only to improve manage-ment of all of the Commonwealth's public lands andresources, but to actually tackle the large structural prob-lems that have led so many parts of the state downunsustainable development paths. The chance we havenow is the creation ofan Executive Office,and the support for itin the legislature, thatwill strengthen envi-ronmental decision-making, and makesustainable develop-ment a possibility inour future.

Where will all ofthis end up? It is tooearly to know, but thestatus quo is not goodenough. We want ab e t t e r - m a n a g e dMetropolitan ParksSystem, of course.We want better management of all theCommonwealth's public lands and resources. We wantto see the state begin to follow sound, sustainabledevelopment practices, and to assist local communitiesin making that possible. We will continue to push hard,

first to get the legislation we need, and then to develop thedetailed structure to implement badly needed changes.Change is never easy, but for our beloved parks, it is time.

CRWA MetropolitanParklands Coalition

Partners

Boston GreenSpace AllianceCharles River ConservancyConservation Law

FoundationEnvironmental League of

MassachusettsMass AudubonThe Island AllianceThe Esplanade AssociationSierra Club MassachusettsThe Trustees of Reservations

“We want better

management of all the

Commonwealth's public

lands and resources.We want to see the statebegin to follow sound,

sustainable develop-

ment practices, and toassist local communities in

making that possible...

Change is never

easy, but for our

beloved parks, it

is about time.”

The chase is on...

A Run of the Charles 2003 moment; photo by Bruce Conrad

...bringing Boston’s backyard river to your front door...

THE RIVER CURRENT

CRWA’s NEW, FREE,mostly monthly email newsletter

Get advocacy alerts, river healthinformation and event invites

straight to your inbox!

How to subscribe:send an email to

rivercurrent@crwa.orgfrom your email address

with “subscribe” as the subject line.

THANKYOU

While the solutions CRWA

finds for watershed chal-

lenges are locally and nationally applicable, and often tech-

nically complicated, the rewards our donors receive are

simple. Simple equates to a good feeling, making a posi-

tive difference in the natural and man-made systems that

affect the Charles River watershed and the environment at

large. Through generous donations and memberships,

individuals, corporations, foundations, government agen-

cies, and institutions alike share in the challenges and

goals CRWA faces. We are proud to have such a dedicated

constituency of supporters. Thank you. And welcome to

all members who have recently joined CRWA.

CRWA has received many gifts since the Winter

Streamer went to press in December. Over $200K has

been raised in unrestricted gifts since the beginning of our

fiscal year in October 2002. CRWA asks our members to

contribute to the Annual Appeal in the fall and renew

memberships in the spring. The Annual Appeal raised

$48,740. Thanks to all of you who contributed. We're now

in the middle of our spring membership drive. If you

haven't already done so, please renew your membership

as soon as possible. Early renewals help reduce mailing

costs and conserve paper. Thanks to those of you who

have already renewed and to those of you who increased

your gift level.

Donations from Millennium Society members ($2,500 ormore) were received from an anonymous donor, along with theBlossum Fund, Bea and Woolsey Conover, and Robert D.Rands. In this same category, restricted gifts were donated byMr. and Mrs. Rodrigo Botero for the parklands, and CrossroadsCommunity Foundation for fish ladder maintenance. Giftsfrom our Headwaters Society members ($1,000 to $2,499)include: William and Constance Bennett, The Honorable andMrs. Levin H. Campbell, Anne and Jim Davis, Larry R.

Gottesdiener, Belle L. Halpern and MitchRosenberg, Gunst Charitable Trust, Roberta and Bill Schnoor,Virginia M. Lawrence, Richmond and Nancy Mayo-Smith,Jeannette McC. Atkinson, Kelly McClintock, Andy and LindaMcLane, Jane and Robert Morse, Geri and Douglas Payne,Nancy B. Soulette, Lucy Caldwell-Stair, Caroline D. Standley,Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Steiner, Lucy B. Stroock, and DinahVischer-Buechner. Tim Moore's donation was given in memoryof Kate C. Moore, an ardent CRWA supporter. We are alsograteful for recent contributions from our Corporate Members:NSTAR, Polaroid Corporation, and Sun Life AssuranceCompany of Canada.

CRWA received three anonymous donations of $50K andover for which we are immensely grateful. Thanks are alsoextended to The Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundationwhich awarded CRWA with a $12K grant. Many thanks toBoston Duck Tours for their $13K contribution towards Run ofthe Charles and to The Paul and Edith Babson Foundation fortheir generous $1,000 grant.

More than thirteen organizations donated financial supportand gifts-in-kind to the 2003 Earth Day Clean up in April. Theyinclude: Community Rowing, Doubletree Suites, Finagle aBagel, Genzyme Corporation, Harvard University, Home Depot,Marriott Hotel, MIT Environmental Management Office,Northeastern University, Pfizer Global Research, Royal SonestaHotel, Triumvirate and Whole Foods (Bread and Circus). Manythanks also go to Earth Share for their continuous support ofCRWA.

Thanks to Vince Paratore of Gearon Hoffman for designingthe 2003 Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race T-shirt. Weare also indebted to Charles Riverboat Company for donatingthe Henry Longfellow for our V.I.P. reception at the Run of theCharles. Special thanks go to the New New Orleans JazzBand, which made the reception even more fun. Many thanksto our co-chairs Sierra Bright, Bonnie Emmons, and SaraMolyneaux for helping to make CRWA’s first Take Me to theRiver Kids Fair a great success, and to Lizzy’s of Waltham fordonating the ice cream for the event.

THANK YOU15STREAMER

-contributed by Louise Taylor

Town

Boston

Cambridge

Dedham

Milford

Milford

Newton

Newton

Watertown

Regional

Project

Final Environmental Impact Report for Phase I Muddy River Restoration Project

Final Environmental Impact Report for North Point Project

Environmental Notification Form for Jefferson at Dedham

Environmental Notification Form for Quarry Place

Notice of Project Change for Dynasty Estates Subdivision

Environmental Notification Form for Chestnut Hill Square

Notice of Intent Application for Radio Tower Array

Water Management Act Permit Application for Mt. Auburn Cemetery

Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Modification for the Massachusetts

Water Resources Authority

WATCHDOG FOR THE RIVERA list of projects on which CRWA commented to the state, town or developer between December 1, 2002 and April30, 2003. Copies of the comment letters are available at CRWA.

NON PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDNATICK, MA

PERMIT NO. 61

STREAMERCharles River Watershed Association48 Woerd AvenueWaltham, MA 02453

FROM THE MAILBAG...After receiving a CRWA membership renewal noticethat advertised “new benefits for members,” a memberhad this to say about the state of the river...