Posted Jan. 22, 2014 @ 6:01 pm

Cambridge, Mass.

This past month, the Department of Environmental Protection accepted a 10-citizen appeal of Cambridge Conservation Commission’s permit of 85,000 square feet for a four-story hotel directly on the Alewife floodplain at a time when Cambridge has begun its region-wide vulnerability study that will include Alewife and the Charles River watershed. The study is on hold for another six months to wait for the Mass Highway Central Artery flooding study with Woods Hole research that pertains to adaptation preparation of this region.

The plaintiffs in the appeal — myself, Quinton Zondervan, Kathy Johnson, Elena Saporta, Sam Seidel and four others — have appealed the permit for a delay until the citywide study is published and interpreted by the extensive committee, which includes the BHX LLC (Bulfinch is source company) or hotel proponent. The study will likely cover the Alewife floodplain and sub-watershed and Upper Basin of the Mystic River watershed of more than 500 acres. Heavy impacts are expected with an eight-foot storm surge, such as the recent hurricane’s devastations. A delay request letter from three environmental groups was read by Green Cambridge during permitting meeting and given to Conservation Commissioner Jennifer LeTourneau. Signing groups, Friends of Alewife Reservation, Green Cambridge and Mystic River Watershed Association stated their deep regret that a permit on the FEMA 100-year floodplain was given. More than 2,000 units are planned all around the floodplain in Belmont and Cambridge.

On Jan. 15, the site visit area was saturated with storm water, almost entirely. Walking on grass was extremely difficult and large pools lay throughout. Geese and birds covered the grass. The Wetlands Protection Act designation (Bordering Land Subject to Flooding-BLSF) is present throughout the building plan area. Three remaining proposed buildings that would be on the 100-year floodplain are part of the Bulfinch Master Plan permitted in 2008 for nearly a million square feet. Proponents are trying to finish up their plan.

Citizen advocates at the site were Lucia Levison, Kathy Johnson, Quinton Zondervan, legislative aides, Maxwell Chalkin and Michael Allen, and newly elected city Councilor Dennis Carlone attended for the environmental community position. Anne Marie Lambert, Belmont Town Meeting member, pointed out drainage concerns. We asked that the project be put on hold until the completion of the official regional Cambridge climate vulnerability study, which will examine this parcel with broader hydrological assessment for the larger watershed.

Issues of open space proponents included a changed FEMA map that benefited the proponents and lowered the flood elevations; design of detention pond that holds Discovery Park storm water should provide proof of functioning and updated drainage into Little River; flood storage design functioning in the 100-year floodplain needs proof of successful precedent; flood storage operations with high ground water and expansive clay layers at the surface need full geologic soils testing; town of Arlington must be fully involved in the permitting.

The hotel plan is within 50 feet of Arlington wetlands, a vital retention area containing birch trees, abundance of ferns, a deer yard, and covered regularly after heavy rain with at least one foot or more of flood water. Arlington would likely be impacted because the entire building plan is on a floodway, which is the most restricted flood category of a 100-year storm of FEMA designation. In fact, much of Discovery Park is on a floodway, which includes Arlington and Cambridge lands. FEMA spokespersons have tried for years to avoid Cambridge’s floodway development, but they are not enforcement.

The Alewife Upper Basin urban wild area was surveyed by professionals and contains rich biodiversity. Regional botanist Walter Kittredge found 131 identified native plants, part of an official botanical survey of protected state park open spaces in the Boston area. Wildlife assessor David Brown assessed the area with 23 species of mammals and 90 bird species. Weekly wildlife and history walks are given at the Acorn Park site by Brown from FAR, and Belmont Citizens Forum as well as DCR Interpretive Rangers. FAR initiates invasive species projects, pathway maintenance projects, seasonal ceremonies and clean ups on a regular basis to highlight the areas rich natural resources.

Ellen Mass is president of the Friends of Alewife Reservation.