Despite what might be a universal desire for lazy summer afternoons and long summer vacations, that doesn’t seem to be the norm across the North Shore this summer. Town and city staff and volunteer board members are on the receiving end of more and more applications for development and redevelopment projects. One local Planning Board we know of had a full agenda of public hearings on the evening of July 3rd! After a ten year lull, the pace of development is increasing rapidly.
Here at Ipswich River Watershed, it seems not a day goes by that one of us doesn’t receive a call or email from citizens concerned about the impact a new project may have on their town, and, in particular, on their water supply and the overall environmental resources of their community. Questions come our way regularly: what is the town’s obligation when a property recently cleared for development releases a torrent of sediment and silt runoff during a heavy rain storm? How much water would a new business actually use? What are the best ways to protect a property in a water supply protection district?
While we try to answer any questions that come our way, we also always refer these callers to reach out to their hard-working municipal staff. We also stay in regular touch with our partners in city and town halls across the watersheds. The best way to both understand and potentially influence the impacts a proposal might have on its environmental resources is through direct and regular communication, and by sharing ideas and strategies for smart growth.
Recently, many communities have been holding “Water Talks”, often asking watershed staff to participate and collaborate. With 14 communities in the Ipswich watershed, and additional projects in our neighboring Parker and Essex watersheds, we know that our small staff can’t do it all. So we also rely on volunteers in these communities to stay in touch with us, and to be our eyes and ears. Together, we can work to be regional watch dogs – and we hope that our comments and our conversations (hopefully not a bark!) is more effective than a bite. Through our Municipal Services program, we can work together with our towns, to protect our natural resources, our water, and our river.
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