ARLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
JULY 18, 2002
Mr. Stevens called the meeting to order at 7:30pm in the second floor conference room of the Town Hall Annex. Present were Nathaniel Stevens, David White, Timothy Sullivan and Judith Hodges of the Commission. Christine Wallace and Catherine Garnett were not present.
7:30pm MISCELLANEOUS –
White/Sullivan motioned to approve the 7/11 minutes; motion passed unanimously.
Fiscal: White/Hodges motioned to pay the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commission dues for $265; motion passed unanimously.
Mechanical harvesting of water chestnuts in the Arlington Reservoir is being contracted soon with Gerry Smith of Aquatic Control Technology, Inc. They are getting ready for late July/early August. We have $14,975 for this work.
The Commission signed up for a booth at Town Day on September 14, 2002. We will request to have our booth located next to the Friends of Arlington’s Great Meadows. Education materials need to be assembled.
The Commission discussed the use of Conservation land on Arlmont St. by a contractor and what remediation would be necessary. The Commission would like to see Red Oaks planted to replace cut trees and some sort of stones or blocks placed to prevent access from any vehicles.
Ms. Beckwith reported on the presentation of the Hydroworks modeling for the Cambridge CSO project. The detention basin is being increased in size to over 11 acre-feet and moved slightly to relatively flatter ground. Many more surface storage, swales, internal siphons, pumps and tanks were discussed that are within the drainage basin in Cambridge. The resulting calculations show that no increase in volumes will take place. Therefore the berm proposed on the Arlington side of the Alewife will not be necessary to provide flood protection. MWRA would still include the berm in its proposal in order to protect houses from the sewage overflows.
The report on the Metropolitan District Commission’s draft Master Plan for the Alewife Reservation was given by several members. The draft plan entails many habitat improvements, flood storage creation, stream daylighting, fish run improvements, fewer paths to engender more wildlife use, land acquisition, bank stabilization, wetland creation, education stations, art, stormwater treatment best management practices, pedestrian bridges, a wildlife bridge.
The Land Stewardship handbook and program was discussed. Sign ups, flyers, advertising, meetings all were discussed. More activity on this will take place in September.
Upon advice from Town Counsel, the Commission will not take any further action regarding the land adjacent to the Lower Mystic Lake along the properties on Mystic Bank Street, which some neighbors now allege is owned by the Commonwealth..
The Belmont Uplands Environmental Notification Form has been submitted and comments are due by July 30, 2002. The Commission is drafting comments regarding flooding, habitat loss and the Alewife Reservation Master Plan.
The bench that is being donated to the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery immediately adjacent to Meadowbrook Park should be installed next week.
Winchester Country Club is going to request a Certificate of Compliance for their irrigation system, permit #91-82. The Commission expressed interest to have a site walk.
The Commission voted to convene at approximately 9pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cori Beckwith, Administrator
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