From Kathy Johnson
Site Visit Proponent
Appellate
Neighborhood Resident

Observations at Yates Pond

As I have many years of observations at the whole of Alewife Reservation, I can again report from 3 to 6 days a week when weather is alright, that I have seen a large increase in the number of wildlife species in the Alewife area, especially at Yates Pond since the cantilever bridge has been completed there. particularly in the last few months after the wetlands project was constructed and an opening was held October 15th which displayed the enormous amount of water fowl and bird habitat. One of the 150 million dollar project's goals was to attract wildlife through plantings and appropriate environment for wildife as a long term goal. This includes not only bird life (ducks, geese, great blue heron, peregrine falcon, red-tail hawks etc.) but otter, cottontail, deer, fox, mink, beavers, muskrats, coyote, turtles, snakes, fish) among a very wide variety of species in this Reservation.*

Since a "Vulnerability Assessment" is in process in Cambridge with a long list of noted advisors and scientists and university advisors, I ask the DEP to hold off on permits related to flood storage and water elevation. The City’s Assessment will expand from the BSC calculations in the NOI which was limited and not regional.

At our DEP site visit, we were barely able to walk because of the saturated grounds throughout the area. I was surprised to find the level of muddiness and water on the land that was walked (I was unable to ride my scooter on the hard which can be dry land as it was too wet). On my return down the nearby path, there were several flooded areas as well.I will send my photos under separate cover. Friends of Alewife Reservation has a professional survey of wildlife at Alewife Reservation area: http://www.friendsofalewifereservation.org/inventories.htm

With the increase of wildlife, and efforts by the city to protect our river, ponds and other natural resources, my community in north Cambridge adjacent to the Reservation is upset that the city would give a building permit before the Vulnerability Assessment is completed. Kathy Johnson, 30 CambridgePark Drive, apt. 1133, Cambridge, MA home phone 617-945-7380; cell phone 617-955-7421.

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*The riverine habitat associated with the Alewife Brook has been significantly impacted by urbanization and the associated impervious surfaces. According to MAGIS, the four member municipalities range from 34% (Belmont), to 41% (Arlington), to 58% (Cambridge), to 77% (Somerville) imperviousness. According to a recent publication by the USGS and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that examined the relationship between impervious areas and the health of fish communities as an indicator of ecosystem health, watersheds that exceed impervious levels of 15% are considered to be significantly impacted, with even higher impacts in those watersheds where impervious levels exceed 35% (Armstrong et al, 2011).
------Horsley and Witten Upper Alewife Basin Technical Report 2012