To the editor:
Thanks to the leadership of Lincoln’s State Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), the new state budget now provides funds to test the water quality of the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers. Sen. Barrett’s $25,000 amendment, approved as part of the fiscal 2016 Senate budget, debate, paved the way. Although vetoed by the governor, the House and Senate voted to override the veto on Thursday, July 30. The money will be used to support water quality monitoring to measure progress in complying with state water quality standards.
The amendment, co-sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge and supported by Senator Richard Ross (representing Wayland and Natick), will ensure that the quality-controlled data will be available to municipal, state and federal decision-makers so that decisions can be based soundly on science. Monitoring has shown that for a key pollutant, phosphorus, the substantial municipal investments in wastewater treatment have been paying off. In recent years, the three rivers have become significant recreational and wildlife resources. The Assabet River, once referred to as the “cesspool of Massachusetts,” is now an asset to the towns it flows through.
There is much work ahead to ensure that the rivers meet the goal of being “fishable and swimmable” and remain healthy in the face of climate change and stormwater pollution. This work should be based on scientific information. The determined commitment Sen. Barrett has shown to our environment by securing these funds is very much appreciated.
Laura E. Rome, President
Alison Field-Juma, Executive Director
OARS for the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers
Concord, MA
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
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