Submitted by State Senator Michael Barrett
If the State Senate has its way, the upcoming annual budget for Massachusetts government will include new funds to test the quality of local waterways, including the Concord River in Bedford.
Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), backed by Sen. Jaime Eldridge (D-Acton), sponsored the $25,000 amendment to the Senate version of the state budget. The new funding is reserved for three rivers in the local area — the Concord, Sudbury and Assabet. Currently the waterways fail to meet certain quality benchmarks set by state and federal law.
“These rivers are treasures — hot spots for local recreation and storied settings for Massachusetts history,” Barrett said. “They run through Minute Man National Historical Park and two federal wildlife refuges.” Residents use the waters and surrounding scenery for kayaking, bird watching and hiking. Several nearby towns draw on the rivers for their public water supplies.
In 1999 the federal government designated parts of the Concord, Sudbury and Assabet rivers as “wild and scenic” for their ecological features and cultural importance. As it happens, they’re the closest “wild and scenic” rivers to a major metropolitan area in the entire U.S.
The water quality testing amendment grew out of a meeting Barrett had with OARS, the non-profit that focuses on protecting and preserving the three rivers. Barrett credits OARS leadership and his colleague Senator Eldridge for helping to develop the thinking behind the amendment. The state does not currently have resources to adequately oversee water quality in the three rivers.
The Senate language still has to survive a budget conference committee between the House and Senate, before going to the governor’s desk.
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