April 28, 2005

 $500K Earmarked for the Department of Conservation and Recreation Clean Water Act Violations

What?

The Massachusetts House of Representative gave the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) $500,000 to address the failings of their stormwater management program.  The House passed a consolidated environmental amendment last night by a vote of 158-to-2.  These added funds will enable the DCR Tto develop a stormwater management plan that complies with federal and state regulations, as well as implement interim stormwater management practices such as street cleaning and catch basin cleaning.  Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), a leading regional environmental organization, commended the House action.  CRWA was one of the environmental advocacy organizations that worked with Representative Anne Paulsen (Belmont) to bring this amendment to the table and enable the agency to fulfill their mandate to protect public health and resources, particularly funding for stormwater management.

Why?

The Department of Conservation and Recreation manages many of the parks and roadways in the Charles River Watershed, including the 17-mile long Charles River Reservation.  DCR’s land, including parking lots, roads, parkways and boulevards, contribute to the large quantities of polluted stormwater* (the most significant source of pollution in the Charles River) that runs off into the state’s rivers and harbors.  This stormwater is a major cause of water quality degradation, affecting fisheries, habitat, aquatic plants, and recreational uses. 

Chronic underfunding by the state, which has led to inadequate staff and project time, is causing DCR to fail to meet the most basic EPA and Clean Water Act requirements on stormwater, according to Kate Bowditch, CRWA senior environmental scientist.  “Uncontrolled runoff from DCR properties is one factor causing the Charles River to violate state water quality standards for fish, swimming and, at times, even for boating.  This funding is sorely needed to begin to address this problem,” she added.

All towns in the Charles River watershed are required to file stormwater discharge permits with EPA.  Earlier this year, nine towns in the lower watershed underwent the same permit renewal process as DCR and were found to be in compliance.  Yet, according to advocates, DCR, which is charged with protecting the largest portion of the watershed, as well as many open spaces and water bodies around the state, is doing the worst job at complying with the federal regulations.

“It is vital that the Senate follow suit and provide DCR with adequate funding, so they can design and implement stormwater management plans that comply with the law and effectively address pollution reduction and sustainable water use,” urged Bowditch.  “Stormwater discharges represent one of the last great hurdles before the Charles River is truly healthy.”

When?

The Massachusetts’ House Consolidated Environmental Budget was voted on yesterday, April 27, 2005.

FOR MEDIA: If you would like more information on the budgetary support needed to allow DCR to better manage stormwater – which is the nation’s leading source of water pollution – please contact CRWA at 781-788-0007.

*Stormwater runoff is the most significant source of pollution to the Charles River.  When it rains, oil, grease, gasoline, pet waste, cleaning agents, pesticides, fertilizers, and trash on street, parking lots and other paved surfaces wash into storm drains and are ultimately discharged in the Charles River.

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Charles River Watershed Association’s uses science, advocacy and the law to protect, preserve and enhance the Charles River and its watershed. One of our country’s first watershed organizations, CRWA formed in 1965 in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles River.  Since its earliest days of advocacy, CRWA has figured prominently in major clean-up and watershed protection efforts that have dramatically improved the health of the Charles.