MA awards $216K in pollution assessment, quality planning

To address water quality impairments in local water bodies, Massachusetts officials today announced the award of $216,078 in grants to projects across the Commonwealth to conduct nonpoint source assessment and water quality management planning work.

The five projects, selected this year by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), are based in the cities of Amesbury, Lawrence, and Methuen, and in the towns of Ashfield, Buckland, Hanover, Hawley, and Medway.

“Stormwater runoff pollutes our sensitive water resources, so it’s important to find the source of contamination and eliminate it,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “This year’s investment will help communities partner with environmental organizations, collect watershed data, develop green infrastructure plans and, ultimately, fund local efforts to improve water quality.”

The grants are funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through Section 604(b) of the federal Clean Water Act. Since 1998, MassDEP has funded 116 projects under the 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning program, totaling more than $5 million to address nonpoint source pollution problems.

Projects receiving funding are:

Spicket River Nutrient and Pathogen Reduction – $50,000

The city of Methuen will partner with the City of Lawrence, the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, the Merrimack River Watershed Council and GroundWork Lawrence to investigate and develop solutions for pathogen and nutrient impairments in the Spicket River. The project will conduct a land use assessment, collect water quality data, develop a watershed-based plan, prepare preliminary designs for five-to-eight best management practices (BMPs) and implement a multi-lingual water quality outreach campaign.

Green Stormwater Infrastructure at Medway Middle and High Schools – $35,769

The town of Medway will partner with the Charles River Watershed Association to develop seven conceptual BMP design plans for future implementation at the Middle and High Schools to reduce phosphorus pollution to Chicken Brook and provide groundwater recharge. A previously complied list of 92 potential BMP installation sites within the town will also be further prioritized and 10 conceptual BMP design plans will be developed.

Comprehensive Watershed Based Planning for a Sustainable Future – $70,540

The city of Amesbury will develop a community-wide comprehensive plan of prioritized water quality restoration recommendations that can be used as a road map over the next 10 years, with a focus on climate change impacts, sustainability and long-term resiliency and agricultural/backyard farming pollution abatement. Watershed-based plans will be developed or updated for the Powwow River and Lake Gardner, Back River and Lake Attitash watersheds. Five conceptual BMP design plans will also be developed and a preliminary Green Streets survey will be conducted for the downtown.

North River Headwaters Bacterial Source Tracking – $21,269

The town of Hanover will partner with the North and South Rivers Watershed Association and the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program to conduct an iterative bacteria sampling program to determine sources of high bacteria counts identified during a previous sampling program in 2019, conduct outreach to the community and determine solutions to restore water quality.

A Healthy Watershed-Based Plan for Clesson Brook Watershed – $38,500

The Franklin Regional Council of Governments – involving the communities of Buckland, Ashfield and Hawley – will develop this watershed-based plan for Clesson Brook, which is in the Deerfield River Watershed, to identify projects to protect the watershed and address current nonpoint source threats. A robust community outreach campaign will also be executed.

“These grants help the Commonwealth not only build strong partnerships with local communities, but they also directly invest in real solutions that address nonpoint source pollution problems,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.“Local officials are undertaking many worthy projects to develop a comprehensive approach to restoring water resources, and we will continue to support them in their efforts.”

SOURCE: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection