Ten years in ten minutes: learn about Advisory Board successes and issues in progress from 2010 to 2020. read more
Category: Watershed
A 90-Second Summary of the WSPT
How do MWRA communities, watershed management, and the Water Supply Protection Trust relate? Check out our short 90-second video. read more
Advisory Board Holiday Wishes
Happy Holidays from the staff of the MWRA Advisory Board! What's on our wish list for 2019? read more
November 2018 – Asking Questions, Demanding Answers
This November 2018 edition of News and Notes focuses on Water Supply Protection with an editorial by Executive Director Joe Favaloro. read more
April 2018 – Climate Change Forum Planning in Full Swing
In this April 2018 edition of News and Notes, we outline the speakers and panelists planned for our June community forum. Other highlights from this newsletter include: A preview of our emerging comments and recommendations, And the recent appointments of Kathy Murtagh read more
Moving from Rhetoric to Useful Information
Editorial by Executive Director Joe Favaloro
Following months of escalating rhetoric on both sides, it’s time to take a step back and assess what we need to do to move forward. If there is ever going to be a resolution to the off-trail activity debate, there needs to be a better understanding – on all sides – of all the impacts.
With this in mind, I strongly believe that any review of the Ware River Watershed public access plan must be preceded by a comprehensive study. The research, conducted by an independent third party, should investigate the issues in question: the impacts of unauthorized trail construction and off-trail activities.
The study should explore how these factors affect the core mission of DCR’s Division of Watershed Supply Protection and Office of Watershed Management, as well as how watershed stakeholders may be impacted, from all trail users, to MWRA customers, and even Ware River communities.
The study must look at the potential technical impacts, including water quality, forest management, and endangered species habitat.
Beyond the technical components, the study should dive into community impacts. What would be the enforcement and cost implications of changes to the access plan?
The study should also establish the context for this debate by examining the history of watershed development: how recreational uses were allowed, the court decision permitting the filtration waiver, and the regulatory and management impacts of this decision.
Finally, we see it as wise to “go beyond” our system and review how other filtered or unfiltered systems manage recreational activities.
This is just a rough outline. Once the study is completed, then an informed determination on the next steps could be made.
I would recommend to the MWRA that they share in the cost of this study with the State. I would further recommend that a representative of recreational activities have a seat on the working committee, along with DWSP, EOEEA, MWRA, and the Advisory Board. Together, their responsibility would be to flesh out the scope of the study and to evaluate the proposals, perhaps with varying perspectives, but equipped with the same facts. In return, I expect the public access rules to be respected and obeyed by all recreational users in the meanwhile.
Again, I stress that my job is to represent the interests of MWRA communities, and this means protecting our watersheds, ensuring our filtration waiver, and providing high quality drinking water to 2.5 million residents of Greater Boston.
I fully recognize that this issue is not limited to the most vocal debaters so far, but rather, affects many. In that spirit, the study ensures the most responsible path moving forward by providing all parties – myself included – with the knowledge to make the most educated decision possible. The stakes are enormous and allowing some fact-finding is the right next step.
April 2017 – Moving from Rhetoric to Useful Information
This April 2017 edition of News and Notes brings the focus back to watershed management, and what we believe to be the necessary steps going forward. read more
January 2017 – Shaping MWRA Projects and Initiatives
This installment of News and Notes for January 2017 talks about giving the communities a voice. read more
Just the FAQs – Watershed Management
The Green Sheet is a monthly video series that focuses on financial topics. The question staff asked was what to do if we had a great topic for a video that wasn’t financial in nature? Voila, the Just the FAQs video series was created. The inaugural episode outlined the role and responsibilities of the Advisory Board, followed by other editions. Unlike the regular Green Sheet, this series was intended to be used on an as-needed basis.
The latest edition of Just the FAQs takes on the topic of watershed management, explaining the history and the importance of watershed protection in the MWRA waterworks system. As always, we hope you find these videos informative and helpful.
Just the FAQs – Watershed Management from MWRA Advisory Board on Vimeo.
November 2016 – Advisory Board Raises Concerns over Mountain Biking
This installment of News and Notes for November 2016 talks about the current state of watershed land. read more