New Hope for the Mystic River

The Mystic has consistently received a “D” grade from the Environmental Protection Agency, and advocates for the river, like bill co-sponsor Representative Denise Provost (27th Middlesex – D) hope that establishing the commission brings the entire watershed one step closer to cleanup.

“Right now there is no single entity that has responsibility for the Mystic River or authority over the Mystic River,” Provost explained to Somerville Neighborhood News (SNN). “The commission is a group who have mandate to look at information about water quality in the river and to prioritize the best order of tasks toward making river cleaner and more accessible to recreational use and safer.”

According to the State House website, the goal of the commission is to find ways to bring the water quality in the river “to a level that supports wildlife and recreational endeavors,” including kayaking, canoeing, rowing, fishing and swimming.

Co-chaired by the House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, the commission will consist of government officials, environmental scientists and community members, to be chosen during the upcoming legislative session.

The group must submit recommendations on how to improve water quality before July 31, 2017.

“I will contact the Executive Office of Energy and Environment and remind them that this is a priority and has a deadline for reporting to the legislature,” Provost told SNN.

The contamination of the Mystic River dates back to nineteenth century when many factories sprang up and later left behind industrial waste in the river sediment. Today water quality is also impacted by sewer overflow, which can contain rain runoff and domestic sewage, during periods of heavy rainfall. [See

The Environment Protection Agency has given the Mystic River grades of “C” or “D” since 2008. Provost hopes that the study by the commission will improve the condition of the entire Mystic River watershed area.

“What I hope to see is more public awareness and enjoyment of the Mystic River,” she said. “People are delighted to discover that the river is there, and that it’s so beautiful. They come to see the ducks and swans, to bike or walk, and to see the big sky and beautiful landscape over the horizon.”

See these previous stories from SNN:

http://www.scatvsomerville.org/bottom-slider/working-to-clean-up-the-mystic-river/

http://www.scatvsomerville.org/snn/some-flooding-fixes-planned/