sign in sign up
<<
Home , Charles River, Massachusetts

3 IMPLEMENTATION

A. DESIGN PROCESS AND PRIORITIES A. Design Process and Priorities B. Schedule This Master Plan makes recommendations for the restoration of the Ale- C. Budget wife Reservation and the Alewife Brook and its adjacent parkland. It will D. Funding Sources serve as a framework for the more detailed design stages currently under- E. Required Permits way. The conceptual ideas described herein will be modified and refined, F. Encroachment as the design moves toward construction documents. Critical Reservation Solutions resources such as plant and animal habitat will be revisited to ensure that G. Maintenance and Management they are considered, enhanced, and protected in the final design. The MDC H.Community will provide citizens with opportunities to respond as these detailed plans Involvement and take shape. Stewardship

DESIGN PROCESS 1. Master Plan Stage: Visionary plan for the whole and conceptual designs for selected sites are produced. 2. Design Development Stage: Design elements are refined for certain areas and developed to a higher level of specification. Preliminary cost estimates are produced. 3. Construction Documents Stage: Designs are worked out in detail using drawings, technical written specifications, and a detailed cost esti- mate allowing the recommended restoration designs to be build by a qualified contractor.

ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN 51 Metropolitan District Commission planners identified priorities for implementation within the project area at the outset of the Master Plan process. These areas include the Little area, the former ADL parking lot, and the greenway along the west bank of Alewife Brook, and to ensure continuity, a segment on the between the Henderson Bridge and Broadway. However, the MDC is commit- ted to implementing all the recommendations put forward in this document to the extent funding allows. Funding to bring the design Figure 69: The greenway west of Alewife Brook is one of for the greenway along the west bank to a more the three priority areas identifi ed and will undergo detailed detailed level has been secured. The MDC is design in the next phase of planning. now seeking funding for 100% design and con- struction documents, specification preparation, by O’Neill Properties (see Section 4A for more and funds for the actual construction that will detail). While there is significant opposition to reclaim and rehabilitate this area, as well as the Belmont Uplands development by those additional funds for the design development concerned with the ecological impacts of this stage for the other two priority areas. This will project, the developer has discussed some miti- be a phased program requiring determination gation options with the MDC. and continued support from the public, con- Although the MDC opposes the development stituents, and elected officials. of any remaining open space around Alewife, In addition to design and implementation of the there are currently limited resources to pur- three MDC priorities, two other major projects chase these private lands. Given this reality in the Reservation area are moving forward. the MDC has worked with O’Neill Properties One is the design of a stormwater in and the of Belmont to provide as much the Reservation south of the Little River. This protection and mitigation for the Reservation project by the City of Cambridge and the Mas- as possible. Among the numerous beneficial sachusetts Water Resource Authority in con- results will be a gift from O’Neill Properties junction with the MDC is described in more to the MDC of a permanent Conservation Re- detail in Section 4A. The work is being closely striction for approximately 7.8 acres of upland coordinated with the Master Plan team to en- and wetland habitat abutting the Reservation. sure consistency with the goals and objectives defined in this Master Plan for the Alewife B. SCHEDULE Reservation. The improvements this project The time frame for implementation of the rec- will bring to the southern Reservation will be ommendations identified in this Master Plan significant. If these improvements were not in depends on available funding for the necessary process, this southern section of the Reserva- design and construction activities (refer to Sec- tion would be among the MDC’s top priority tion 3D for potential funding sources). The areas listed above. MDC anticipates a 10- to 20-year design and implementation process for this Master Plan. The second project is the development of the Full implementation for the three priority ar- Belmont Uplands adjacent to the Reservation eas is expected to be possible within a 5-year

52 IMPLEMENTATION ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN period. Recommendations that require more extensive study and modeling regarding their 5-YEAR ACTION PLAN feasibility, design development and construc- Spring 2003- Spring 2004: tion (labeled as long-term recommendations in Design development and 100% construc- Section 2C) are not expected to be fully imple- tion documents for West Bank Greenway mented within the 5-year time frame. (area west of Alewife Brook) The development of the design for the identi- Starting 2004: fied priority areas will be the next step in the Design development and construction planning process and is expected to be com- documents for ADL parking lot and Little pleted by the summer of 2004. Partial funding Pond is already secured for this phase of work.

Starting 2004-2008: A 5-year action plan follows, based on the Construction of restoration recommenda- assumption that funding can be secured and tions starting with West Bank Greenway, permits can be obtained in a timely manner. followed by ADL parking lot, and Little All those actions will either be executed by the Pond in phases as funding becomes avail- MDC or implemented under close coordina- able tion with the MDC and with MDC’s Master Starting Fall 2003: Planning team. Actions will be consistent with Design development followed by construc- the goals and objectives put forth in this Mas- tion documents for stormwater wetland ter Plan. south of Little River (by others with MDC coordination) C. BUDGET 2004/2005: Cost estimates will be prepared for implement- Anticipated construction of stormwater ing the conceptual designs and Master Plan wetland and associated recreational and recommendations. Recent restoration projects educational features such as boardwalks of similar size cost roughly one million dol- and gathering area south of Little River in lars per mile of greenway. However, restoring a natural to the Alewife Brook will Alewife Reservation (by others with MDC raise the cost of improvements along the Ale- coordination) wife Brook Corridor significantly. The MDC is Starting 2005-2008: eager to identify other agencies or businesses Design for remaining areas in the Reserva- that share an interest in the restoration of the tion, especially restoration of Wellington Alewife area. For example recent negotiations Brook and supplementation of boardwalk have been conducted by MDC Planning with and path system as well as de-channeliza- the City of Cambridge and O’Neill Properties tion of Alewife Brook between Route 2 to fund design and construction of portions and Henderson bridge, restoration of the of proposed work within the Reservation and cattail marsh, and restoration of the east within the 7.8 acre Conservation Restriction side of the Parkway including redefining to be gifted to the MDC by O’Neill Properties the Parkway edge with tree planting, his- (see Section 4A for details). toric lighting, etc.

ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 53 D. FUNDING SOURCES The phased implementation of this ambitious, ecologically oriented Master Plan will require ongoing support and adequate funding. Given the present fiscal climate, it is unlikely that restoration and enhancement of the Alewife Reservation and Alewife Brook corridor can be accomplished solely by support garnered from state funding of the MDC. There must be con- tinued creative exploration by the MDC for al- ternative funding, new productive partnerships, and continued public support. FIGURE 70. Biodiversity Days 2002. From right to left: Mayor Sullivan, Ellen Mass of FAR receiving $2000 Riverways Inventory Grant check from former Secretary Bob Durand, D1. PUBLIC SECTOR SOURCES Representative Alice Wolf, Representative Anne Paulsen, Representative Jim Marzilli

State and Federal Programs 1996. This program provides funds for eco- Sources of potential state-level support include system restoration projects up to five million other state agencies that manage state parks, dollars, with a cost-sharing plan that asks the establish wetland mitigation banks, restore project sponsor to share 35% of the cost total. fish and game populations, do transportation The USACE carries the remaining 65%. The planning or river management, or have envi- USACE has shown interest in the past in the ronmental and public health concerns. The restoration of the ADL parking lot, Alewife of passed a Brook, and the cattail marsh and has included $750 million bond bill in 2002 to support envi- these sites among others in the proposed Mas- ronmental capital projects such as these. sachusetts and Ecosystem Res- toration Feasibility Study. Federal funding opportunities include the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), Construction of past and recent MDC green- the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), way restoration projects was mainly possible the US Environmental Protection Agency through funding from the federal TEA-21 pro- (USEPA), the Federal Emergency Management gram. The TEA-21 program derives from the Agency (FEMA), the US Fish and Wildlife Intermodal Surface Transportation Equity Act Service (USFWS), and the National Marine (ISTEA) authorizing funding of a wide vari- Fisheries Service (NMFS). Recommended eco- ety of transportation infrastructure projects, logical restoration projects (e.g., construction including improvements to public greenways. of a wetland on the site of the former ADL The MDC plans to seek TEA-21 funding for parking lot and dechannelization of Alewife the proposed greenway development on the Brook) will require significant funding. One west bank of the Alewife Brook. This will cre- viable funding source for such projects is the ate a vital link in the regional path network and ecosystem restoration program administered provide extensive ecological rehabilitation of by the USACE that is described in Section 206 the Alewife Brook corridor. of the Water Resource Development Act of

54 IMPLEMENTATION ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN Public Agency Joint Ventures Many of the local, state and federal agencies listed above should be approached to formalize working partnerships that are mutually benefi- cial to both the MDC and the respective public service mandate of the partnering agency. One such current initiative is the coordination and planning effort between the MDC, the City of Cambridge’s Department of Public Works and the Metropolitan Water Resources Authority (MWRA) to create a stormwater wetland on a portion of the Reservation. The project will benefit wildlife and the park user, and will help FIGURE 71. A recent fundraising event in November 2002 alleviate serious pollution presently entering for an environmental mural received broad support, from community members to state offi cials. From left to right: the Little River and Alewife Brook through MDC Project Manager Dan Driscoll, Naturalist Peter Alden, overflows (CSO). Massachusetts .

Public Finance Foundation and Individual Grants Under federal and state tax laws, companies Some of the most successful wetland and river and individuals can receive tax benefits by do- corridor restoration projects in the country nating some of their wealth to nonprofit chari- have obtained a large funding base through lo- table organizations (e.g., a community-based cal voters approving a special bond to manage land trust). Creating such an entity for the Ale- the specific project. Another approach being wife area would be one way to raise funds for used elsewhere in the country involves estab- land acquisition, Reservation enhancements, lishment of a stormwater user through and seasonal maintenance. which residents and businesses are charged relative to the amount of runoff that leaves Special Events and Fundraisers their properties. of such a program for the Alewife watershed could help sustain Many opportunities exist for creating public supplemental funding of options discussed interest and financial support for ongoing res- above. toration and enhancement efforts within the Alewife Reservation and Alewife Brook Green- way corridor. A recent event organized by the D2. PRIVATE SECTOR SOURCES Friends of the Alewife Reservation (FAR), in Private sector sources should be regarded more which Massachusetts Environmental Secretary as supplemental funding sources since they Robert Durand began the state-wide Biodi- are generally capable of generating limited versity Days campaign from the banks of the resources compared to federal or state funds. Little River, brought helpful attention to the Nevertheless they represent an important area. Similar opportunities exist for engaging funding source, for example, for small-scale government officials, the public, and business- educational or interpretive projects. es to raise visibility and support for the Alewife

ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 55 Reservation and Brook. The highly successful residents. Attempts should be made to engage Run, in which joggers symbolical- those businesses that are situated within walk- ly follow the spawning run of alewife upstream ing distance of the MDC lands. MDC and sup- to the race finish line is another engaging, eas- port groups should encourage good corporate ily adaptable model for mobilizing public sup- citizenship through supporting the overall port through recreation and education. neighborhood improvements that will ensue through implementation of the Master Plan.

Merchandise Sales Revenue might also be generated by communi- ty groups through the sale of products such as clothing sporting the Alewife logo, field guides to the flora and fauna of the Alewife area, and maps of trails and other points of interest for pedestrians and cyclists. FIGURE 72. The Alewife logo can be used on signs, clothing, brochures, and other items to help raise public awareness of and commitment to restoring the Alewife area. E. REQUIRED PERMITS Permits are required whenever proposed work Abutting Business Contributions affect environmentally sensitive areas such The Alewife Reservation and Alewife Brook as water bodies, , floodplains, rare or are fringed by numerous abutters including endangered species habitat, historic and ar- apartment complexes, retail businesses, in- cheological sites, and sites with hazardous ma- dustries, and commercial office spaces. These terials. Some federal, state and local agencies institutions should be solicited to help sponsor will need to review and/or permit components restoration improvements along the particular of the Master Plan prior to construction. Plan section of the MDC lands to which they are implementation may fall under the jurisdiction adjacent. The strategy employed would be to of the following policies and regulations. establish an “adopt a wetland/greenway” pro- gram in which site improvements in the imme- Clean Water Act, Section 404 and Rivers and Har- diate area would be credited to the sponsoring bors Act of 1899, Section 10. (33 USC 401-426; group in a newsletter or some other form of 40 CFR 230). This act controls discharges of public notification. dredged or fill material in wetlands and water bodies in order to restore and maintain the Neighborhood Business Contributions chemical, physical and biological integrity of Restoration of the Alewife Reservation and US waters (federally defined wetlands and water Alewife Brook Greenway will provide numer- bodies). Section 10 of the Rivers and ous economic benefits to the area. Green space Act requires coordination with and approval by has been shown to positively affect local com- USACE for dredging in US waters and/or con- munities by providing amenities that attract struction of structures in US waters. to live and work in these communities. Clean Water Act, Section 402 and the National Proximity to open space increases property val- Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). ues. Opportunities for ecotourism and recre- (33 USC 1342; 40 CFR 122-125, 131, 14 CMR ation generate economic benefits for area busi- 3.00.) This act sets standards for point and nesses, which create jobs and income for local nonpoint discharges of wastewater into surface

56 IMPLEMENTATION ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN water bodies and sets ambient water quality Projects with impacts to areas less than 5,000 criteria that must be met. It also sets forth a square feet are reviewed and approved by the process by the US Environmental Protection local Conservation Commission. Projects Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Depart- with impacts on areas more than 5,000 square ment of Environmental Protection (MADEP) feet are reviewed by the MADEP Division of for granting General Permits, Group Permits Water Quality Control and are issued a Major and Individual Permits. In Massachusetts, the Water Quality Certification. USEPA issues permits and the MADEP certi- fies permit conditions. Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act and the Water- ways Licenses Law. (91 MGL 1.00 et seq.; 310 Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. (30 MGL CMR 9.00.) This act defines private property 61; 301CMR 11.00.) This policy is the state rights in tidal areas to mean low water. It de- equivalent of the National Environmental Pol- fines public access rights to tidal land be- icy Act. It sets forth a process of environmen- tween mean low and mean high water for the tal impact analysis and public review of state purposes of , fowling and navigation. projects. It is applicable to projects directly Public access rights extend to mean high water undertaken by state agencies; private projects in tidal bodies and ordinary high water in non- seeking permits, funds or lands from the state; tidal bodies. Access rights are also extended and any projects that will dredge, fill or alter to “filled tidelands,” i.e., to the historic high more than 1 acre of wetland. (It does not ap- water in areas filled as long ago as the . ply to private projects requiring local approval Proposed activities that will occur below mean only.) Review is based upon an Environmental high water in flowed or filled tidelands requires Notification Form and/or Environmental Im- a Waterways License from the MADEP Divi- pact Report. Upon approval by the MA Office sion of Waterways. of Environmental Policy Act, the project is is- sued a Certificate. Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. (131 MGL 40; 310 CMR 10.) This act prohibits damage Massachusetts Water Quality Certification for Dis- to inland wetland, river, and coastal resource charge of Dredged of Fill Material, Dredging, and areas within 100- foot buffer zones (25 feet Dredged Material Disposal in Waters of the US in designated urban areas). No resource areas within the Commonwealth. (21 MGL 26-53; 314 may be altered, filled, dredged, or removed CMR 9.00.) These regulations outline proce- in such a way as to adversely impact water dures for the Massachusetts administration of supplies, groundwater sources, surface water the Clean Water Act Section 401 for discharges quality, flood prevention, shellfish habitat, in US waters within Massachusetts. Discharge fisheries, and wildlife habitat. It also sets forth is not permitted if there is a practicable alter- the MA Stormwater Management Policy and native with less adverse impact on aquatic eco- its performance standards. The jurisdictional systems. Potential adverse impacts to wetlands riverfront resource area of the Little River in and land under water must be minimized and Belmont and Arlington is 200 feet wide; how- mitigated. Activities must comply with State ever, the riverfront area of Alewife Brook and Surface Water Quality Standards. A Water Little River in Cambridge and Alewife Brook in Quality Certification is required when a fed- Somerville is only 25 feet wide. Proposed proj- eral permit (Clean Water Act 404/Section 10) ects with impacts less than 5,000 square feet is needed for filling wetlands or waterways. are reviewed and permitted by municipal Con-

ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 57 servation Commissions. The MA Department The framework for resolving encroachment of Environmental Protection reviews projects issues includes surveying property lines to with greater impacts. determine ownership and to identify possible violations. With this information, abutting Municipal Conservation Ordinances. Belmont, property owners must be notified and opportu- Cambridge, and Somerville do not have ordi- nities created for amicable resolution. As part nances. The Town of Arlington has Wetlands of the Master Plan a new survey was developed Protection Town Bylaws that regulate wetlands by Judith Nitsch based on aerial in more detail than the Massachusetts Wetland photography taken in the spring of 2002. This Protection Act. survey information will be used by the MDC in resolving existing encroachments. Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. (131A MGL; 321 CMR 10.00.) This act prohibits The MDC developed a detailed guide for en- the taking of state-listed rare and endangered croachment resolution from their experience species and damage to their habitat. The Mas- sachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program will review proposed activi- ENCROACHMENT RESOLUTION PROCESS ties to determine whether any priority habitats 1. Create a list of owners and occupants. or state-listed species occur in the project area and will recommend how to minimize any po- 2. Notify tenants of an upcoming survey. tential impacts. 3. Conduct a survey to delineate property lines and set boundaries in the field. The Mas- Historic and Archaeological Preservation. 4. Photograph the site and film video sachusetts Historical Commission may need to documentary. review proposed activities to determine if they have potential impacts on historic or archaeo- 5. Check all past leases. logical resources. 6. Decide long-term restoration strategy and restoration plan. F. ENCROACHMENT RESOLUTION 7. Hold meetings with encroachers. Key steps toward implementing the Master 8. Develop an encroachment compensa- Plan involve reclaiming properties from unau- tion formula. thorized commercial, industrial, and residential 9. Calculate the size of all encroach- abutters that have illegally extended their prop- ments. erty onto MDC parkland. Such encroachments 10. Establish an Encroachment Reclama- include gardens, storage of materials, vehicle tion Trust Fund. parking lots, fences to and along the water’s edge, and portions of buildings. 11. Send abutter notification letters. 12. Distribute Acknowledgement of State Using the process outlined below the MDC Ownership/Agreement to Quit Forms. Planning Office resolved approximately 75 13. Distribute Memorandum of Agree- encroachments along the , above ment. Watertown Square. Several of these former “encroachers” are now stewards helping to 14. Return signed Acknowledgments and maintain the new greenway along the Charles MOAs to abutters. River. 15. Continue abutter communication.

58 IMPLEMENTATION ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN along the Charles River Reservation. The pro- KEY MAINTENANCE STRATEGIES cess will be used for resolving encroachments and reclaiming public land along the Alewife • Establish a schedule of routine activities Reservation and Alewife Brook corridor. (weekly, monthly, seasonally, annually) to tend the landscape and perform minor G. MAINTENANCE AND MANAGE- repairs. Routine activities include clean MENT up of litter and trash, seasonal removal of debris, and maintenance of storm Restoration of the Alewife Reservation and drainage structures. Inspection and Alewife Brook Greenway is a long-term invest- repair of paths, walkways, and site fur- ment that requires a comprehensive mainte- nishings should also be carried out. nance and management program. The success of the Master Plan depends on a commitment to execute maintenance and management plans • Establish a program for invasive species after construction is completed. The MDC control in both the Alewife Reserva- acknowledges citizen criticism voiced about in- tion and Alewife Brook Greenway. The adequate maintenance and management in the full range of invasive species should past and is dedicated to improving the current be monitored and managed, including effort. However, increased maintenance will aquatic, herbaceous, and woody types. result in increased costs that in the past MDC Long-term monitoring is critical, be- was not able to bear due to budget constraints. cause once an invasive species enters the It is therefore unlikely that adequate and effec- landscape, eradication becomes very dif- tive maintenance can be performed solely by ficult. the MDC. Hence this Master Plan recommends • Provide turf and plant maintenance that the MDC take advantage of the grow- for the , includ- ing public interest in natural areas and create ing regular weeding, pest and disease mechanisms for citizens to participate in the control, watering, fertilizing, mulching, ongoing care and maintenance of the Alewife pruning, replanting, seeding and mow- area (refer to Section 3H for proposed strate- ing. Meadow areas in the Reservation gies). will also require mowing once or twice a year, as well as possible overseeding dur- G1. MAINTENANCE ing the first three years to combat weeds The following maintenance recommenda- and invasives. tions (described in detail in Appendix D) are • Develop a schedule and budget for the designed to ensure the long-term ecological replacement of infrastructure, site ame- health and integrity of the Alewife system. nities, and plantings as they wear out or Conventional maintenance strategies typically decline with age. used for urban parklands are unlikely to meet the needs of a complex ecological system like the Alewife area. use of low-, low-residue compounds; and strategies such as Integrated Pest Manage- In general, maintenance strategies should re- ment (discussed in Appendix D). flect a commitment to environmentally sensi- tive methods. Such methods typically favor The Alewife Reservation and Alewife Brook physical labor over chemical applications; the corridor share some maintenance require-

ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 59 ments, however, they also have significant dif- ardship. All of those factors are required to ferences. The Reservation should ultimately properly restore the Alewife Reservation and develop into a self-sustaining, natural system Alewife Brook corridor. that requires limited intervention (e.g., servic- ing of infrastructure elements such as paths H1. VOLUNTEER EFFORTS and boardwalks). The Alewife Brook corridor is a more controlled area that will require more Restoration frequent intervention. Sustainable, and therefore successful, environ- mental restoration projects involve more than G2. MANAGEMENT simply repairing degraded physical landscapes. It is essential that the entire Alewife system, Restoring the degraded human–nature rela- from Little Pond to the confluence with the tionship is equally important. Efforts should Mystic River, be managed as a single entity be made to engage the local community to to ensure uniformity of the vision and pro- help restore the Alewife Reservation and Ale- gramming of the management decisions. For- wife Brook corridor rather than relying solely tunately the entire site is under the MDC’s upon professional practitioners. The success- jurisdiction. Consideration should be given to ful removal of water from the Alewife hiring an Alewife MDC ranger to be respon- area water bodies is an example of excellent sible for oversight of the entire parkland. The MDC–volunteer coordination and partnering. six key components that have frequently been Well-managed and organized public involve- identified as being essential to open space ment in restoration projects can help ensure management programs include consideration ongoing maintenance and support for the area. of user safety and risks, patrol and emergency All such efforts must receive the guidance and procedures, administration, programming and approval of the MDC. events, stewardship and enhancement, and funding for ongoing activities. Stewardship Public involvement is critical to a successful H. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND planning effort. A lack of public involvement STEWARDSHIP and caring generates “orphan” open spaces and parklands. The continued involvement of con- Planning is a vital component of open space cerned individuals for periodic trash clean-ups management. This Master Plan is a critical step and removal of invasive plants will be essential toward proper stewardship. Often the plans to achieving the Master Plan recommendations that work best are those supported by organi- and sustaining a long-term stewardship pro- zations, corporations, institutions, and a mo- gram for the Alewife Reservation and Brook. bilized community of concerned individuals, which this one is. Public–private partnerships can provide the best opportunities to ensure H2. ORGANIZATIONS implementation success by combining commu- Education nity spirit, entrepreneurial drive, volunteerism, good corporate citizenship, financial resources, The creation of interpretative programs at professional expertise, and long-term commit- Alewife for school children and adults will ment. It is also important to cultivate a sense help generate the needed commitment to re- of community pride, support, and shared stew- store and enhance the Alewife Reservation and

60 IMPLEMENTATION ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN • East Arlington Good Neighbor Associa- tion • Friends of Alewife Reservation (FAR) • Friends of Blair Pond • Friends of the Community Path • Friends of Fresh Pond • Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition • Mystic River Watershed Association • North Cambridge Stabilization Commit- tee FIGURE 73. Teenagers displaying good stewardship of the Alewife Reservation by performing a trash clean-up. Merging some of these groups could provide a Alewife Brook corridor. Educational materials centralized, more effective, and better funded could include brochures, newsletters, videos, advocacy organization. models, and school curricula. After-school Faculty and students from Tufts , programs and guided tours will provide on-site the Graduate School of Design at Harvard, education. and Antioch Graduate School have been involved in study and in Coalition Building the area. At Master Plan public meetings the There are currently more than a dozen citizen MDC and team members emphasized the need groups with interest in the long-term well be- for cooperation among these citizen groups. ing of the Alewife Reservation and Alewife In addition, the importance of working with Brook corridor. These groups are focused municipal departments and state agencies was on flooding, water quality, municipal projects highlighted. All of these stakeholders have to separate storm and sanitary sewer drains, expressed strong interest in holding forums to cleaning up the Alewife Reservation, educa- facilitate cooperation and a unified call for at- tional opportunities for local schoolchildren, tention and resources for addressing Alewife’s and influencing proposed developments and watershed challenges. re-developments in the area. These include, in alphabetical order: Summary Recommendations: • Alewife Neighbors • Create an efficient agency mechanism for • Alewife Study Group coordination of volunteer efforts (e.g., • Belmont Citizens’ Forum hire a full-time park ranger) • Society of Architects • Establish a regional forum or roundtable • Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood that brings all involved citizen groups, Association institutions, and numerous municipal departments and state agencies together • Coalition for Alewife to discuss and coordinate efforts • Concord-Alewife Study Group

ALEWIFE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 61