The Acton Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) is an official committee of the Town of Acton that advises the Board of Selectmen (BoS) on issues related to water resources in Acton, including water supply, surface water, groundwater, stormwater, and wastewater. Meetings are approximately monthly, are open to the public, and are announced here.
Background for Nov. 20, 2017 hearing on Nagog Pond
On Nov. 20, 2017, the Acton Board of Selectmen (BoS) will re-open the hearing for Concord’s proposed work to replace and upgrade their water pumping and treatment facility on Nagog Pond. Here’s a link to the hearing notice. Green Acton’s position is to urge our Board of Selectmen to vote no on Concord’s application to… Continue reading →
Background: Stormwater and Its Regulation
Stormwater: Stormwater is water that runs off the land when it rains or when snow melts. On landscapes impacted by human development, stormwater carries fertilizer, harmful bacteria, oil, gas, toxic metals, and salt into nearby waterways. Julia Blatt, executive director of the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, says in the Boston Globe, “Stormwater is the state’s No. 1… Continue reading →
Sustainability
When elected officials and Town staff in Acton are making decisions, they are thinking of maintaining health, welfare, financial solvency, and other measures of the town’s well-being. “Sustainability” takes those same measures, but deepens them to include future generations, and broadens them to include the wider web of life of which we are a part,… Continue reading →
Background: Water in Acton
Water flows into Acton from rain and groundwater, and from a few small streams that flow into Acton.
Background: Community Choice Aggregation
Community Choice Aggregation or CCA is a relatively new way for communities to bring the financial and environmental advantages of bidding for alternate electrical suppliers to homeowners and local businesses.
Background: Climate Change
Earth’s climate has gone through many changes.
Background: the Nuclear Metals Superfund Site: 1958-2015
From the EPA Superfund information site for Nuclear Metals The Nuclear Metals, Inc. (NMI) property is located on a 46.4-acre parcel located at 2229 Main Street in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The facility includes five interconnected buildings, a paved parking area, a sphagnum bog, a cooling water recharge pond, and a holding basin. The topography… Continue reading →
Background: Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market
This Week at the Market
Background: How to Measure a Town’s Carbon Footprint (Marlborough model)
In 2007, Jennifer Boudrie released a 65 page report entitled “Energy and Environmental Inventory For Marlborough, Massachusetts“. She shows how to use EPA formulas and data from utilities and the municipality to create a detailed carbon emissions inventory. The carefully documented details in the report give an excellent starting point for creating and updating an inventory… Continue reading →