Around Town

Public Works Has Rain Barrels Available for Purchase at a Discounted Price

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With spring here (or almost here?) the Watertown Department of Public Works announced it has rain barrels for residents to purchase at a discounted rate. 
Rain barrels can offset homeowner’s water usage, particularly in the spring, summer and fall seasons when outdoor watering needs increase. Also, stormwater from the Town’s drainage system flows directly to the Charles River without treatment and is one of many contributors to pollution in the river. Rain barrels can help reduce stormwater runoff. The DPW requests that people call in advance (617-972-6420) before picking up a barrel. The DPW sent out the following information:

Did you know that using a rain barrel to collect precious rainwater not only conserves energy and you may even save money on your next water bill?

Environment

Watertown State Reps. Call for State to Invest in Electric Vehicle Technology, Infrastructure

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Representatives Jonathan Hecht and John Lawn joined 36 other legislators who weighed in on the allocation of $75 million that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is scheduled to receive from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund, the two reps from Watertown announced. Members urged the Department of Environmental Protection, which is charged with dispensing the money, to invest in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and invest the balance of the funds in fully-electric transit and school buses. The money will be received as part of a multi-state settlement with Volkswagen after it used a cheating computer system that ran emissions controls during testing but not during normal vehicle operation. Emissions from these vehicles were 15-40 times the federal Environmental Protection Agency compliance level. Volkswagen has agreed to spend nearly $15 billion on remedial action, including $2.9 billion that is being divided up among participating states and territories.

Environment

Conservation Commission to Hear About Studies of Whitney Hill Park’s Plant, Animal Life; More Info from Annual Report

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The annual report on Watertown’s last piece of wooded land, Whitney Hill Park, recommends continuing to study the trees and animals on the land. The report will be discussed by the Conservation Commission on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 7 p.m. at the Lower Hearing Room in Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. Activities in 2017

Several studies of Whitney Hill took place last year, looking at the plants, animals and more. Data about the lower woody vegetation (which includes saplings and shrubs) on Whitney Hill have been digitized by ConCom member Patrick Fairbairn. This will be used as a baseline to track future changes of the hill.

Environment

Noted Environmentalist Speaking at Charles River Watershed Association’s Annual Meeting

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Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), the leading science and advocacy organization for the Charles River and its watershed, announced it will highlight its programs and progress helping Massachusetts communities better withstand climate change at its annual meeting on March 8th at the Boston Marriott Newton. At the meeting, executive director Bob Zimmerman will review CRWA’s recent accomplishments and current efforts to improve neighborhoods’ resiliency to the extreme storms and frequent droughts brought on by the warming of the earth’s climate system. The keynote speaker will be noted environmental activist Alexie Torres-Fleming, who will demonstrate the power a community has in shaping its own environmental destiny. Drawing from her experience in spurring restoration of the Bronx River in New York City, Torres-Fleming will help frame CRWA’s work in climate resilience through the lens of community empowerment. “At a time of retrenchment in federal environmental policy, Torres-Fleming’s insights on activism are particularly instructive,” said Bob Zimmerman, CRWA executive director.

Environment

OP-ED: Sen. Brownsberger Looks at Local Flooding Risks From Climate Change

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As a legislator, I’ve been concerned to reduce our contributions to climate change.  Over the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to better understand the local flooding risks caused by the climate changes we seem unable to prevent. It’s hard to know how much the seas are going to rise. First, no one knows how much the people of the world will be able to reduce carbon emissions. Second, even within a given emissions scenario, the uncertainties are considerable.  For example, if we just assume continually growing emissions, the estimates of probable local sea level rise vary by a factor of two from 3.2 feet to 7.4 feet by 2100. Much of Boston lies quite low, so these uncertainties matter.

Environment

Charles River Watershed Group Pushing for Removal of Watertown Dam

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A short distance from Watertown Square the waters of the Charles River back up in a placid pool and then cascade several feet down into an area frequented by birds and other animals. This area, however, could be vastly changed if the Watertown Dam, which holds back the river, is removed as proposed by the Charles River Watershed Association (CWRA). 

A dam was first built in the location in 1632 as a fish weir. The dam was rebuilt in 1962 after it suffered damage from flooding in 1918 and Hurricane Diane in 1955. Earlier this month, Elisabeth Cianciola, aquatic scientist with the CWRA, spoke to the Conservation Commission about the possibility of removing the dam. “There is no recognized use for the dam,” Cianciola said.

Environment

Group Holding Discussion of How Climate Change Could Impact Massachusetts

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A meeting will be held about how climate change will impact Massachusetts. ProgressiveWatertown sent out the following announcement:

Please save Saturday, Oct. 21, when ProgressiveWatertown will host a public forum on Climate. The Forum will take place at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., starting at 1:30 p.m. Attendance is free. We have three wonderful speakers to lead the discussion; Emily Norton, the Director of the Sierra Club of MA, George Bachrach, the former President of the Environmental League of MA (ELM), and Chris Dempsey, the director of Transportation of MA.

Business

Tufts Health Plan HQ Receives Superior Energy Performance Designation

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Tufts Health Plan’s Watertown office buildings have received the top designation for superior energy performance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company announced. “We’re honored to earn the ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance. It is a testament to our outstanding staff who work tirelessly to reduce our energy footprint,” said Ronald Reppucci, Vice President of Real Estate and Support Services at Tufts Health Plan. “Saving energy is just one of the ways we show our community we care, as we do what we can to support the environment.”

This is the 12th consecutive year the office at 705 Mount Auburn Street has received the distinction, and the second year in a row the office at 64 Grove Street has received this distinction. Mount Auburn received a score of 91, while Grove received a 93.