The Patrick-Murray Administration Awards $750,266 to 11 communities
Commonwealth Funds Eleven Projects to Help Clean Up Watershed ContaminantsBoston - As part of the Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, the Patrick-Murray Administration awarded $750,266 in grants to 11 communities for projects to conduct watershed non-point source pollution assessment and planning work to address water quality impairments. These grants are funded under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and Section 604b of the U.S. Clean Water Act.
“A strong water supply infrastructure keeps our communities safe. These funds will both create jobs and help communities assess and protect vital local resources,” Governor Patrick said.
The projects, selected by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), are located in Amesbury, Brewster, Cambridge, Duxbury, Marshfield, North Reading, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Provincetown, Sharon, and in the Connecticut River watershed.
“These projects are a key to our overall water resource protection efforts in threatened water bodies across the Commonwealth,” MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt said. “The infusion of federal stimulus funding into this program allows us to greatly expand the development of plans to help remediate water quality concerns in more watersheds.”
“This investment will create jobs and ensure Massachusetts maintains its excellent track record on water quality. I applaud the Patrick-Murray Administration’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of people across our state,” said US Senator John Kerry.
“Our watersheds and salt marshes are not only critical to the environment, but to the local economy,” said Congressman Bill Delahunt. “In these tough economic times, I am pleased the federal government can help ease the financial burden on our cash-strapped local communities.”
Since 1998, MassDEP has funded 59 projects under this program for a total of $2,796,403.
Non-point source (NPS) pollution is caused by diffuse sources that are not regulated and are normally associated with precipitation and stormwater runoff from the land or infiltration into the soil. Common types of NPS pollution include phosphorus and nitrogen from lawn and garden fertilizers, bacteria from pet waste and waterfowl, oil and grease from parking lots and roadways, and sediment from construction activities and soil erosion.
Water Quality Assessment of Windsor & Cady Brooks – $69,300
City of Pittsfield
This project will implement recommendations of the MassDEP Surface Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Report and will assess sources of sediment to Windsor and Cady brooks. Significant sediment deposits and the re-suspension of these materials during storm events and/or high flows may be contributing to increased turbidity that is impacting Cleveland Reservoir – the City of Pittsfield’s principal water supply. Appropriate management measures to prevent sediment from entering the reservoir will be identified.
Water quality investments are a critical component of Gov. Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan, which combines state, federal and, where possible, private efforts to provide immediate and long-term relief and position the Commonwealth for recovery in the following ways:
* Deliver immediate relief by investing in the road, bridge and rail projects that put people to work today and providing safety net services that sustain people who are especially vulnerable during an economic crisis;
* Build a better tomorrow through education and infrastructure investments that strengthen our economic competitiveness, prepare workers for the jobs of the future and support clean energy, broadband and technology projects that cut costs while growing the economy; and
* Reform state government by eliminating the pension and ethics loopholes that discredit the work of government and revitalize the transportation networks that have suffered from decades of neglect and inaction.
For more information about what the federal recovery law means for Massachusetts, please visit www.mass.gov/recovery.
