North Coastal Watersheds 5-Year Action Plan June 30, 2004, page 1 Jesse Gordon, [email protected] NCW 5-Year Action Plan: Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................5 Political Boundaries / Transportation Map.................................................................................................... Insert 1 North Coastal Wetlands Map....................................................................................................................... Insert 2 North Coastal Open Space Map ................................................................................................................... Insert 3 North Coastal Land Use Map....................................................................................................................... Insert 4 1. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................6 1A. NORTH COASTAL WATERSHEDS: Physical and social setting...................................................... 6 Ecoregions ............................................................................................................................................................6 Physical Features...................................................................................................................................................7 Social Setting........................................................................................................................................................8 1B. HISTORICAL CONTEXT................................................................................................................. 9 1C. THE MASSACHUSETTS WATERSHED INITIATIVE .................................................................. 10 2. ISSUES AND STRATEGIES...........................................................................11 2A. Open Space: Sustainable Development .............................................................................................................. 11 2B. Habitat Conservation......................................................................................................................................... 11 2C. Water Quality Improvement .............................................................................................................................. 12 2D. Water Quantity Management............................................................................................................................. 13 2E. Recreation as Economic Resource...................................................................................................................... 14 2F. Capacity Building & Outreach ........................................................................................................................... 14 Public Input Process ................................................................................................................................................ 15 3. PUBLIC INPUT ...............................................................................................16 Waterways .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 Non-point sources ................................................................................................................................................... 17 Non-point sources (continued) ................................................................................................................................. 18 Development........................................................................................................................................................... 18 Marine .................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Marine (continued).................................................................................................................................................. 19 Wastewater ............................................................................................................................................................. 19 Water supply ........................................................................................................................................................... 19 Water Supply (continued) ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Land Use................................................................................................................................................................. 20 Invasive Species...................................................................................................................................................... 20 Ecology................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Outreach ................................................................................................................................................................. 22 4. RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................................23 4A. Study and rehabilitate closed coastal shellfish beds ............................................................................................ 23 4B. Initiate and develop salt marsh recreational and ecological survey....................................................................... 23 4C. Reinstitute beach maintenance & develop area beach management plans............................................................. 23 4D. Expand river and lake cleanups.......................................................................................................................... 24 4E. Publicize and reduce contaminated stormwater runoff......................................................................................... 24 4F. Restore and Protect Water Quality/ Reduce Pathogens........................................................................................ 25 4G. Protect, evaluate, and restore sensitive habitat.................................................................................................... 25 4H. Maintain natural water flow regime ................................................................................................................... 26 4I. Restore anadromous fish habitat.......................................................................................................................... 26 4J. Watershed-wide flood planning .......................................................................................................................... 25 4K. Watershed-wide open space planning ................................................................................................................ 26 4L. Preserve and protect farmland............................................................................................................................ 27 4M. Implement the Grow Smart North Shore Open Space Plan................................................................................. 27 4N. Direct outreach to communities / build sense of stewardship............................................................................... 27 4O. Liaison for grant opportunities........................................................................................................................... 28 4P. Meet watershed goals via other projects.............................................................................................................. 28 A VISION FOR THE WATERSHED....................................................................29 North Coastal Watersheds 5-Year Action Plan June 30, 2004, page 2 Jesse Gordon, [email protected] APPENDIX A: ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND ..........................................30 A1. The Massachusetts Watershed Initiative............................................................................................................. 30 A2. Watershed Teams and Community Action ......................................................................................................... 31 A3. Watershed Team Structure and Process.............................................................................................................. 31 A4. North Coastal Watersheds Team History............................................................................................................ 32 A5. Seven Years in Review...................................................................................................................................... 33 APPENDIX B: NCW TEAM MEMBERS..............................................................35 COMMUNITY GROUPS .....................................................................................37 APPENDIX C: ISSUES BACKGROUND ............................................................39 NCW subwatershed list ........................................................................................................................................... 39 C1. Saugus River subwatershed .............................................................................................................................