Environment

Watertown Group Co-Sponsoring Environmental Action Conference

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Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment announced it is co-sponsoring a grassroots environmental action conference that will bring together over 400 activists working to protect their communities’ health and environment. Organized by Toxics Action Center, this year’s 30th annual Local Environmental Action 2017 connects citizens with the information, skills, and experts to effectively advocate for their communities. This year’s keynote speakers are Kandi Mossett and Lois Gibbs. Kandi has been a powerful indigenous leader as well as an environmental justice hero on the frontlines of the fight to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, and bring visibility to the impact that injustices have on indigenous groups across North America. Lois Gibbs, founder and executive director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, has actively played a critical role in the grassroots environmental health movement.

Environment

State Sen. Brownsberger Hosting Discussion on Energy, Climate Legislation

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State Senator Will Brownsberger announced he will host a community discussion on energy and climate legislation filed in the 2017-2018 legislative session. The discussion will be from 2-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 18 in the Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room at the Watertown Public Library, located at 123 Main Street. This event is free and open to the public.

Environment

Town Has Free Street Trees, See Which Species are Available

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The Watertown Tree Warden has street trees available to be planted on the street in your front yard close to the sidewalk. 

If you would like a tree to be planted, please email your top three choices to Tree Warden Chris Hayward at chayward@watertown-ma.gov. He will come out to your site to see if there is a suitable planting location and let you know whether a tree can or cannot be planted. Keep in mind, if you are interested, that trees can also be planted on private property within 20-feet of the public right of way. Watertown Fall 2016 Street tree availability list Species (Common ) Species (Botanical ) with height and then spread listed. Small and Front Yard trees

Celestial dogwood Cornus rutgan 15′ to 25′ 12′ to 15′

Canada red cherry Prunus virginiana 20′ to 25′ 18′ to 20′

Coral burst crab Malus × moerlandsii ‘Profusion’ 10′ to 15′ 10′ to 15′

Snowgoose cherry Prunus serrulata “Snowgoose” 20′ to 25′ 15′ to 20′

Kwanzan cherry Prunus serrulata “Kwanzan” 20′ to 25′ 20′ to 30′

Medium sized trees

Cleveland select pear Pyrus calleryana ‘Cleveland select’ 25′ to 35′ 15′ to 20′

Hop-Hornbeam Ostrya virginiana 15′ to 30′ 12′ to 25′

Sun valley maple Acer rubrum “Sun Valley” 20′ to 30′ 20′ to 30′

Large Shade Trees

Pin oak Quercus palustris 50′ to 70′ 30′ to 40′

Red oak Quercus rubra 75′ to 100′ 60′ to 75′

Elm “Princeton” Ulmus spp. 50′ to 70′ 30′ to 50′

Ginko Ginko biloba 50′ to 80′ 35′ to 45′

Skyline Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos inerms 45′ to 60′ 25′ to 35′

Autumn blaze red maple Acer rubrum 40′ to 50′ 30′ to 40′

Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua 50′ to 70′ 30′ to 40′

Tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera 60′ to 90′ 30′ to 50′

Horsechesnut Aesculus hippocastanum 40′ to 60′ 30′ to 40′

Black gum Nyssa sylvatica 40′ to 65′ 30′ to 40′

Department of Public Works

Two Spots Chosen for Demonstration Stormwater Retention Projects

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The Department of Public Works building and Hosmer Elementary School will have new installations that drain rainwater into the ground, rather than the town’s storm drains, and will serve as demonstration projects for what can be done around town. The search started with 22 potential sites for the demonstration projects, but that was cut down to 18 viable sites on property owned or controlled by the town. The Watertown Stormwater Advisory Committee met in September to pick two locations for the project. The group wanted to spots that would drain a significant area, be visible to the public and be located in different parts of town. The last criterium was the one that led to the Hosmer School location being chosen. The top two choices were in the parking lot of the DPW facility, and a spot at the bottom of the hill beneath Lowell Elementary School.

Environment

Stormwater Committee to Choose Sites for Green Infrastructure Projects

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The Stormwater Advisory Committee will discuss which projects to choose as the pilot projects for stormwater, green infrastructure projects. 

In June, the committee hosted an event where consultant Horsley Witten Group presented 22 options for the projects, which were ranked on their ability to absorb stormwater, their visibility and their cost. The committee will meet on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 4 p.m. in the DPW Facility, 124 Orchard St., Watertown. At the meeting they will pick the two projects to recommend to pursue first. See the presentation made by the consultants at the June 21 meeting by clicking here.

Environment

Watertown Residents Can Take Part in Home Solar Discount Program

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From June 15, 2016, to December 31, 2016, Neighborhood Solar offers the communities of Watertown, Cambridge, Belmont, Arlington, and Somerville a solar group purchase discount program, according to resident Jocelyn Tager. Massachusetts continues to provide excellent incentives for installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and the federal government has extended the 30 percent tax credit on renewable energy systems, including solar PV and solar hot water systems. The goal of Neighborhood Solar is to combine these incentives and tax credits with the best solar prices and the best solar quality and craftsmanship. With this in mind, Neighborhood Solar asked SunBug Solar to be its installer. For the first time, Neighborhood Solar is offering solar hot water systems in addition to photovoltaic systems. Compared to the current cost of residential solar installations in Massachusetts, Neighborhood Solar’s base price on eligible PV systems represents a discount of 23 percent; for solar hot water systems the discount is over 25 percent. Friends and neighbors using this program can reduce their electrical bill, reduce their carbon footprint, become more energy independent, and invest in renewable energy.

CVS Trees

LETTER: Trees Dying, Planted Incorrectly at New CVS in East Watertown

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To the Editor:

This week Councilor Angie Kounelis brought to Watertown’s official attention the terrible condition of brand new landscaping in the East End CVS parking lot. Trees for Watertown asks Watertown citizens to join in demanding a strong municipal response. The landscaping plan in the CVS parking lot was approved by the Planning Board and Planning Department. But what Watertown approved was a pretty picture, not a functional plan, and Watertown is now reaping the ugly consequences. 1.

Environment

Places Sought to Install Green Infrastructure to Cut Stormwater Going to River

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Spots around town are being considered to put “green infrastructure” projects that will reduce the amount of rain runoff going into the storm sewers and eventually into the Charles River. Tuesday night, consultants working with the town presented more than 20 options for places on town-owned property where project such as rain gardens, tree trenches that collect stormwater or permeable pavement can be installed. The efforts grew out of the town’s need to meet new, more stringent stormwater regulations from the federal government, which requires the town to reduce the amount of pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, going into the river. The water going into storm drains does not get treated before going into the river. Interested residents filled the Town Council chamber to hear more about the effort.