Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated with Water Cleanup
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH WATER CLEANUP STATEWIDE SUMMARY VOLUME 1 . c.l ; SACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ENGINEERING c.\ RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH WATER CLEANUP VOLUME 1: STATE SUMMARY (A 208 Water Quality Management Plan) Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering The preparation of this report was financed through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency under the provisions of Section 208 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendment of 1977 (P.L. 92-500) 9k& o/ c� C!fo� o1� <t � � � ANTHONYD. CORTESE, Sc. D. ?fl ONE o{<ff � g� Commissioner If/� J� 9Bod<m, 02108 Oc tober 1, 1981 Dear Concerned Citizen: The clean-up of Massachusetts' waters has made new open space and recreational opportunities possible. This same clean-up increases shore line land values and, in many cases, has spurred development. Unfortunately, all too frequently, such development has restricted public access to these wa ters. However, the large investment of public funds in wa ter quality management planning and pollution control facilities means the public should · also have a right to the benefits of clean water. Over the past two years, we have examined polluted wa ter bodies in Massachusetts for their recreation po tential. Simula taneously we looked at multiple-use opportunities at wastewater treatment facilities across the state. In areas where it was suitable, we recommended parks and open space areas along polluted shorelines scheduled for clean up: the use of sewer interceptor lines as trails ; and the development of parks, boat launch ramps, tennis courts, and other recreation facilities at wastewater treatment facilities. This is Volume the summary volume of our study. Volumes are 1, 2-13 regional reports which examine the recreation and open space opportunities at both polluted wa ter bodies and treatment facilities (existing and proposed) for each city and town. Priority projects are identified and ranked accord ing to regional and local needs. This volume describes the variety of multiple use opportunities ; suggests resolutions for the legal, institutional and funding issues for these projects ; and reproduces the regional summaries for each region. An additional chapter summarizing activities since the inception of this project is also included. The Appendices include responses to the comments made on Volumes 2-13. The recent reductions in funding for bo th wastewater treatment and recreation projects make multiple use projects more attractive to bo th the locality and the state. Such projects can combine funding sources and reduce overall project costs. As part of the State Wa ter Quality Ma nagement Plan, adopted by the governor and certified by EPA, the recommendations in these reports must be considered in all facilities plans for wastewater treatment. - 2 - Facilities plans are funded through the Construction Grants Program as authorized under section 201 of the Clean Water Act. DEQE will cooperate with towns or other public bodies proposing mul tiple use projects on high priority wastewater treatment projects . For more information, please contact Ri chard Gioiosa, Division of Wa ter Pollution Control Construction Grants or Suzanne Kilner , Office of Planning and Program Management. Sincerely, . f' · ./�-'---+--_ (//{7�.� \___t;c>LCo.. Anthony D. Cortese, Sc.D. Commissioner df ACKNOWL EDGEMENTS Department of Environmental Quality Control: Anthony D. Cortese, Sc. D., Commissioner Robert Frost, Office of Planning and Program Management Suzanne M. Kiln er , Proj ect Manager Helen Waldorf, Planner Edward P. McNeill, Landscape Architect Louise Stokar, Administrative Assistant Scott Gibbs, Planning Intern Judy Lovell, Intern Abbie Melideo, Planning Intern Cynthia 0' Conn ell, Intern Elaine White , Typist Diane Ferullo , Typist Portions of this study were prepared under contract as follows : Research on Multiple Use Opportun ities : Northern Middlesex Area Planning Comm ission Research on Legal, Institutional Fundingissues : Merrimack Valley Planning Commission Environmental Protection Agency Proj ect Coordinator: Bart Hague Assistance from Regional Planning. Agenc�es was Provided By : Berkshire Regional Planning Commission : Steve Roy Franklin County Planning Commission: Fred Meuhl Lower Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission: Elizabeth Kidder Massachusetts Regional Planning Comm ission : Debra Dachos Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission: Marion Blunt Northern Middlesex Area Comm ission: Mary Gene Myer Merrimack Valley Planning Commi ssion: Jeffrey Riotte Metropoli tan Area Planning Council: Tom Conroy i Old Colony Planning Council : Daniel Crane Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Divelopment District : Alexander Zaleski Cape Cod Regional Planning and Economic Development District : Paula Magnuson Martha 's Vineyard Commission: Bill Maravel Nantucket Pla�ning and Economic Development Comm ission: Bill Klein Appreciation for their assistance in developing the study content and reviewing initial drafts is expressed to: Division of Water Pollution Control: Richard Gioiosa Department of Environmental Management: Debra LeBlanc Division of Cons ervation Services : Joel Lerner Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and. Recreational Vehic les : Paul Mugford Environm ental Protection Agency: Paul Pineault Department of Food and Agriculture: Susan Redlich Costal Zone Management Program: Rich Thibedeau * * * * * * * * * * * Cover Drawing : Cynthia B. 0 ' Connell ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduct ion . 1 Part One: Overview Chapter One : Mul tiple Use Opportunities . 3 Chapter Two : Legal and Institutional Issues 12 Chapter Three: Funding . 20 Chapter Four : State Overview . 34 Part Two : Region-By-Region Asses sment Berkshire County . 51 Franklin County 56 Lower Pioneer Valley 63 Montachusett Region 75 Central Massachusetts • 84 Northern Middlesex . 99 Merrimac Valley . 108 Metropolitan Area (Parts A, B, C and D) . 115 Old Colony . 143 Southeast Region 14 9 Cape Cod . 159 Islands 162 Part Three: Implementation Proj ects . 164 Appendix A Methodology and Public Participation A-1 Appendix B Sample Multiple Use Easement B-1 Appendix C Comments on Regional Volumes and Responses C-1 iii FIGURE S · Figure 1 Planning Regions . 2 2 River Interceptors , Lowell , Massac husetts . 9 3 Springfield Regional Wa ter Reclamation Center .11 4 Berkshire County Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Water Clean-Up 35 5 Frankl in County Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Water Clean-Up 59 6 Lower Pioneer Valley Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Treatment facilities 68 7 Lowe r Pioneer Valley Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Water Clean-Up 74 8 Montachusett Recreation and Open Space Opportunities As sociated With Water Clean-Up 80 9 Central Massachusetts Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Water Clean-Up . 88 10 Nor thern Middlesex Area Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Treatment Facilities ..104 11 Northern Middlesex Area Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Water Clean-Up . 107 12 Merrimack Valley Region Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Water Clean-Up . 112 13 Metropolitan Area A Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Wa ter Clean-Up . 116 14 Metropolitan Area B Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Wa ter Clean-Up . 117 15 Metropolitan Area C Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Water Clean-Up . 118 16 Metropolitan Area D Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated With Wa ter Clean-Up . 119 iv 17 Old Colony Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated Wi th Wa ter Clean-Up . 148 18 Southwestern Regio n Recreation and Open Space Opportunities Associated Wi th Water Clean-Up . .152 TABLES Table 1 Existing Multiple Use Projects . 4 2 Timing and Coordination for Mu ltiple Use Project. 17 3 Mu ltiple Use Funding Sources . .21 4 Mu l tip le Use of Trea tmen t Facilities : Potential Proj ects by Commui ty . 36 5 Polluted Water Bodies Examin ed for Recreation Potential Associated Wi th Water Clean-Up . 45 6 Berkshire County Treatment Facilities: Potential Projects . 52 7 Berkshire County Polluted Water Bodi es : Potential Projects . • 5 5 8 Franklin County Treatment Facilities and Potential Projects . 57 9 Franklin County Polluted Water Bodi es : Potential Projects . 61 10 Lower Pioneer Valley Trea tment Facilities: Potential Projects . 64 11 Lower Pioneer Valley Polluted Water Bodi es: Potential Proj ects . 70 12 Montachusett Treatment Facilities: Potential Projects 77 13 Montachusett Polluted Water Bodi es : Potential Proj ects . 82 14 Central Massachusetts Treatment Facilities: Potential Proj ects 86 15 Central Massachusetts Polluted Wa ter Bodi es: Potential Proj ects . 90 16 Northern Mi ddlesex Treatment Facilitie s: Potential Projects .103 17 Nor thern Mi d dlesex Pollut ed Water Bodi es: Potential Proj ects .106 18 Merrimack Valley Treatment Facilities: Potential Projects . .110 19 Merrimack Va lley Polluted Water Bodi es: Potential Proj ects .114 LU Me tropolitan Boston Trea tmen t Facilities: Poten tial Projec ts .123 21 Me tropolitan Boston Polluted Water Bodies : Poten tial Projec ts . .135 22 Old Colony Polluted Water Bodies : Poten tial Projec ts .145 23 Southeas tern Re gion Trea tmen t Facilities : Potential Projec ts . .151 24 Southeas tern Re gion Polluted Water Bodies : Poten tial Projects