Dams across the brooks and rivers of the SuAsCo (Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers) watershed provided hydropower for early industrialization. But today, some of those dams pose flood risks, and are being re-evaluated and removed. This post describes the situation at the River Street Dam in Acton.
Missed the OARS Report Card/SuAsCo Watershed Talk?
Never fear: the slides are here! On Wednesday, January 22, a capacity crowd filled the multi-purpose room at Acton’s Senior Center to hear Alison Field-Juma, the Executive Director of OARS, describe the first-ever “report card” on the health of the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord river system.
Rivershed Health Event
The Green Acton Water Committee hosted the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord River Report Card event, a lively and well-attended gathering at the Acton Senior Center. Alison Field-Juma, the Executive Director of OARS, presented the first-ever “report card” on the health of the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord river system.
OARS Report Card on Our Local Rivers
by Kim Kastens, Lucy Kirshner & Norm Strahle OARS (the Organization for the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers) recently issued the first-ever report card on the status of those rivers, covering water quality, streamflow, scenery, habitat, and recreation. Come learn about the methods and findings from OARS Executive Director Alison Field-Juma on Wednesday, January 22,… Continue reading →
Land Court Decision on Nagog Pond
October 31, 2019: The following is an analysis of the October 11, 2019 decision of the Massachusetts Land Court about Nagog Pond water rights, courtesy of Green Acton Water Committee member Carolyn Kiely, Esq.
Acton’s Health Department and Water Quality
Water is essential to life, and thus to health. Here in Acton, the Town Health Department oversees many water-related activities and entities. It attends to public and private wells, swimming pools, and the NARA Pond swimming beach, potential sources of groundwater contamination (including septic systems, underground storage tanks, and two Superfund sites), and potential sources… Continue reading →
Advocacy on Stormwater Articles
Green Acton advocated, at the 2019 Town Meeting, for the passage of two stormwater articles that would reform the way stormwater runoff is handled during construction projects. Both articles passed, and subsequent votes by the Acton Board of Selectmen enabled the implementation of new stormwater protocols.
Warrant Articles #39 & 40: Amend General Bylaws: Stormwater Management Revisions, Amend Zoning Bylaw: Stormwater
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Water Committee learns about OARS Water Quality Program
On June 10, 2018, the Green Acton Water Committee welcomed Sue Flint, staff scientist for Organization for the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord Rivers — OARS — as a guest speaker at our regular monthly meeting.
What would a good outcome to the Nagog Pond controversy look like?
There has been a lot of negativity around Concord’s proposal to expand its water treatment plant at Nagog Pond and Acton’s reaction to the same. In this post, let’s take a step back and try to envision what a good outcome might look like. A good outcome would safeguard the ecosystems of Nagog Pond and… Continue reading →