Notice Alert: CSO Activation in Alewife Brook
TO: EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, Executive Director, Mystic River Watershed Association Patrick Herron, Mystic Monitoring Network Director, Mystic River Watershed Association Sam Lipson, Director, Environmental Health Unit, Cambridge Dept. of Public Health Noreen Burke, Director, Somerville Health Department Christine Connolly Sharkey, Director, Arlington Department of Public Health Stefan Russakow, Director, Belmont Department of Public Health Richard Chretien, Department of Environmental Protection Kevin Brander, Department of Environmental Protection Todd Borci, United States Environmental Protection Agency William Walsh-Rogalski, United States Environmental Protection Agency

FROM: James Wilcox, Cambridge DPW

CC: City of Somerville - Richard Willette, DPW Director of Operations; Vithal Deshpande, Env. Coord. Friends of Alewife Reservation - Ellen Mass MWRA - Ria Convery; Grace Vitale; David Parker; Wenley Jiang Mystic River Watershed Association - Patrick Herron, Beth Meserve, Kim Provo
Town of Arlington - Michael Rademacher, DPW Director Town of Belmont - Glenn Clancy, Director Department of Community Development City of Cambridge Department of Public Works - Lisa Peterson, Owen O'Riordan, Catherine Daly
Woodbury, Jeya Niranjan, Brian McLane, Rebecca Fuentes, Wendy Robinson, Kelly Dunn, Mike Abcunas

RE: Notice Alert: CSO Activation in Alewife Brook
In accordance with the conditions of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Alewife Brook/Upper Mystic River Variance we are hereby notifying you that a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) occurred at CAM401B on and discharged into the Alewife Brook. The Variance approved workplan requires the Cambridge Department of Public Works (DPW) to notify local health agents, DEP, EPA and MRWA within 24 hours of when a CSO event occurs. It was determined that 401B was the most active outfall and would be the most suitable indicator of CSO activity along the Alewife Brook. This notification does not reflect the absence of any activation at other sites. Rather, the notice is intended to be confirmation to users of the resource that untreated sewage discharges to the Brook/River have occurred.

The water quality in Alewife Brook is often impaired due to bacterial and other pollutants from a number of sources, including stormwater runoff, CSOs and cross connections between sanitary sewers and stormwater drains. Water quality in the brook during both wet and dry weather generally fails to meet state bacteria standards for fishing and swimming. Contaminant sources originate in the watershed communities of Belmont, Arlington, Cambridge and Somerville, all of which are undertaking programs to identify and control the sources of pollution to the brook.

Portions of Cambridge and Somerville are served by combined stormwater and sanitary sewer systems, common in older cities. There are eight CSO outfalls on Alewife Brook (see the attached map for locations) which discharge untreated CSO (a mixture of wastewater and stormwater) during moderate and heavy rainfall to relieve the system and prevent sewer backups into homes, businesses, and streets. In addition, bordering communities also have separate drainage pipes that collect stormwater runoff and carry it to the brook. Discharges from CSOs and from separate stormwater pipes include bacteria and other pathogens, oxygen-demanding pollutants, solids and other contaminants. Public health officials recommend avoiding contact with the brook during and for 48 hours following rain storms, as there may be increased health risks during these periods. Contact with floodwaters should also be avoided as they may contain similar contaminants and pose associated health risks. Clean up information following a flood is available on the MA Department of Environmental Protection web site at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/floodcleanup.htm For real-time water data at Fresh Pond Reservoir, you can view the United States Geological Survey National Water System website at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ma/nwis Please contact Catherine Daly Woodbury at 617-349-4818 or James Wilcox at 617-349-6426 if you have any questions.

DATE: August 28, 2011

August 27, 2011CSO Outfalls along the Little River/Alewife Brook
( Unable to duplicate)

REMEMBER CITY AND ENGINEER'S MEETING AT 1PM 164 ALEWIFE BROOK FOR RE-PLANTING VALUABLE BUSHES, ETC.

REMEMBER CITY AND ENGINEERING MEETING SEPTEMBER 7 AT 7 AT WEST CAMBRIDGE YOUTH CENTER ON HURON AVENUE FOR FULL DESCRIPTION OF STORM WATER AND WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT AND OVERSIGHT
FOR WORKING IN CAMBRIDGE'S ONLY WILDLIFE REFUGE.

From DPW and DCR:

NOTICE OF COMMUNITY MEETING Alewife Reservation Stormwater Wetland Project
Dear Resident,
Please attend the informational meeting to learn more about the project and construction process:
Community Meeting Wednesday, September 7, 6:30 to 8:00 PM West Cambridge Youth Center, 680 Huron Avenue

The Cambridge Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) invite you to attend an informational meeting to learn about the upcoming construction activities within the Alewife Reservation, surrounding the construction of the Stormwater Wetland Project (CambridgePark Drive Area Drainage Improvements and Stormwater Wetland Project).
The purpose of this meeting is to provide you with a design overview of the Stormwater Wetland Project, to discuss the construction schedule and sequencing; introduce you to the members of our project team; and answer your questions. When completed the stormwater wetland will improve stormwater discharges to the Little River, enhance wildlife habitat, and increase passive recreational and educational opportunities within the Alewife Reservation.

The City of Cambridge has agreed to undertake this project on behalf of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority as part of a series of court-ordered measures to reduce combined sewer discharges (CSOs). Reducing CSOs and treating stormwater discharges will improve the water quality in the Alewife Brook, improve the ecological environment in the Alewife Reservation, and protect public health. The stormwater wetland design has been developed in conjunction with the DCR Master Plan for the Alewife Reservation.
Please contact me with any questions at cwoodbury@cambridgema.gov or 617.349.4818. To learn more about this project, please visit the project webpage at www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/cityprojects.aspx under CambridgePark Drive Area Drainage Improvements and Stormwater Wetland Project.

Sincerely,
Catherine Daly Woodbury Project Manager Cambridge Department of Public Works

Ellen Mass
President
Friends of Alewife Reservation
186 Alewife Brook Parkway
#304 Cambridge, MA. 02138
617 290-4864
617 415-1884 office