Cambridge to Benefit from EPA/Belmont Mystic River watershed Upper Basin agreement: Press Release from EPA

Key Observations:

The mapped area that will benefit from Belmont's upgrade is Little River in Cambridge and Alewife Brook in Arlington and Somerville (See Map.) Belmont's Winn and Wellington Brooks flow into Cambridge's Little River with an EPA report card of D- and then into Alewife Brook in Arlington and Somerville. Please note this map discrepancy in reporting the water bodies without mentioning the mitigated flow's actual town and city location which are important as development pressures grow in the Alewife quadrangle area.

In addition, the new water quality measuring meter at the storm water wetland (sww), a custom-designed and constructed marsh that partially cleans stormwater discharge from Belmont before it enters Little River, has been delayed over a year. The ssw is the pride and joy of various company engineers and the city, and is a pleasure of visitors and wildlife. The promised (but not yet delivered) water quality equipment would monitor the water quality of the newly constructed wetland (2013) and reveal any deterioration. This is important because FAR monitors of the ssw have suggested that water quality deterioration may account for the lack of spring nesting of water fowl.

Friends of Alewife Reservation

Ellen Mass