Monterey Receives State Funds for Waterway Cleanup
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BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration awarded Monterey a $139,000 grant to address the stormwater runoff that is affecting Lake Garfield.
To advance local waterway pollution control efforts, the Baker-Polito Administration announced more than $1.15 million in grants administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protect (MassDEP) to support eight projects targeting stormwater runoff and erosion across the Commonwealth.
"Addressing pollution from stormwater is critically important to reduce threats that directly impact the health of the Commonwealth’s rivers, lakes and wetland areas," said Governor Charlie Baker. "Significantly, these MassDEP grants bring state and federal resources together to help improve water quality in watersheds within communities across Massachusetts."
The grants, which utilize funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded under section 319 of the Clean Water Act, will fund projects based in Braintree, Milton, Monterey, and Sturbridge, as well as in Barnstable, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties.
"The Commonwealth is proud to partner with local communities and regional organizations to help keep nonpoint source pollution from contaminating our environment," said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. "These funds will directly benefit drinking water sources, aquatic recreational areas, and marine ecosystems."
The grant program focuses on implementation of measures to control nonpoint source (NPS) pollution to both surface and groundwater. Unlike pollution from industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants, NPS pollution is unregulated and comes from a variety of sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and ground waters.
"The State of Massachusetts is taking a big step toward cleaner waterways by funding eight local projects aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution," said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Deb Szaro. "Phosphorus and nitrogen are pollutants that have been exacerbating problems like toxic algae blooms in the Commonwealth and reducing the runoff that carries these pollutants is a big first step in water quality."
Common types of NPS pollution include phosphorus and nitrogen from lawn and garden fertilizers and agricultural operations, bacteria from pet waste and waterfowl, oil and grease from parking lots and roadways, and sediment from construction activities and soil erosion.
"These projects represent important approaches to addressing the issue of stormwater," said Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg. "The reduction of bacteria and nutrients in our waterbodies through the implementation of green infrastructure is a key step in our water resource protection efforts across the Commonwealth."
The projects will help to protect Massachusetts’ water resources by restoring and preserving watershed areas, constructing BMPs, demonstrating innovative technologies, and educating the public on how to protect sensitive natural resources. Recipients include municipalities, regional planning agencies and environmental organizations.
Each of the projects was reviewed and approved by MassDEP’s regional and program staff, and staff from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the EPA.
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