Legislative Support and Update on Storm Drains on Lake Avenue - FALL 2015
by Janice Bourque
Watershed storm water and rainwater are the only sources of water for Crystal Lake. This creates a great deal of pressure on Crystal Lake as all the runoff from the surrounding watershed and all of its pollutants and nutrients flow directly into the lake year round. There are over 1200 people PER DAY that use the bathhouse (not including swimming from the coves). The ages range from numerous children’s camp swim programs to the elderly who line the benches to escape the heat.
The Crystal Lake Conservancy has worked closely with the City to install phosphorus filters in 23 out of the approximately 40 catch basins. Only 23 filters were installed because they fitted within the existing structure of some of the storm drains. The remaining storm drains need a range of structural improvements in order to allow any filter/storm water interceptors to be fitted into the structures. Lake Ave, which was under reconstruction, is the main street that wraps around the majority of the Lake and contains the key storm drains that receive the storm water before flowing into Crystal Lake. The CLC contacted the Department of Public Works in February 2015 to inquire and discuss the plans for the unfiltered storm drains on Lake Avenue. We felt strongly that the reconstruction of Lake Avenue was the perfect time for the additional storm drain to be addressed and the key drains fixed. Otherwise, once paved, the city would not open up the street for another five years and Crystal Lake will have five more years of unmanaged pollutants. CLC observed that both Jamaica Pond and Walden have suffered algae and bacterial issues this year.
After much persistence, the Crystal Lake Conservancy met with the Newton Dept of Public Works and the Parks and Recreation Department along with Aldermen Blazar and Danberg to discuss a potential plan and potential funding sources. We also did an investigative walk along Lake Ave with these city representatives and Alderman Dick Blazar and limnologist and engineer Larry Beals of Beals Associates. Mr. Beals has been a watershed and lake consultant for CLC and the City. It was determined which key drains at Lake Terrace, Cronin’s Cove and Levingston Cove handled the largest amount of storm water load from the watershed. Additionally the pitch of the streets near Levingston Cove cause increased velocity of the storm water street runoff. This velocity forces the runoff to hit the curbing near the storm drain to “jump the curb” causing significant erosion and flow of nutrient rich soil into Crystal Lake. The CLC believes the repair and filter placement is very important to reduce the pollutant/nutrient load.
In addition, the CLC has been working closely with Rep Ruth Balser and Senator Cynthia Creem and their staff to create language for the State budget to obtain additional sources of funding beyond City funds to improve the quality of the water in Crystal Lake. Due to the strong efforts of Rep. Balser and Sen. Creem, the CLC was able to obtain $88,000 for the Newton Parks and Recreation Department under the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) section of the budget.
We were thrilled that our efforts paid off!
However, our work is not finished. We expect the City to complete an analysis of the storm drains on Lake Ave, on the specific retrofitting to accommodate the filters along with a cost analysis for storm drain reconstruction work on Lake Terrace, Cronin’s Cove and Levingston Cove. Once completed, CLC plans to have the $88,000 State budget funds used alongside any additional City funds to complete the work. We are assured by the Mayor that the recent paving of Lake Ave would not deter the necessary work on the storm drains.
It is crucial this work be completed and we will continue to work diligently with the City to accomplish this goal.
The Crystal Lake Conservancy has worked closely with the City to install phosphorus filters in 23 out of the approximately 40 catch basins. Only 23 filters were installed because they fitted within the existing structure of some of the storm drains. The remaining storm drains need a range of structural improvements in order to allow any filter/storm water interceptors to be fitted into the structures. Lake Ave, which was under reconstruction, is the main street that wraps around the majority of the Lake and contains the key storm drains that receive the storm water before flowing into Crystal Lake. The CLC contacted the Department of Public Works in February 2015 to inquire and discuss the plans for the unfiltered storm drains on Lake Avenue. We felt strongly that the reconstruction of Lake Avenue was the perfect time for the additional storm drain to be addressed and the key drains fixed. Otherwise, once paved, the city would not open up the street for another five years and Crystal Lake will have five more years of unmanaged pollutants. CLC observed that both Jamaica Pond and Walden have suffered algae and bacterial issues this year.
After much persistence, the Crystal Lake Conservancy met with the Newton Dept of Public Works and the Parks and Recreation Department along with Aldermen Blazar and Danberg to discuss a potential plan and potential funding sources. We also did an investigative walk along Lake Ave with these city representatives and Alderman Dick Blazar and limnologist and engineer Larry Beals of Beals Associates. Mr. Beals has been a watershed and lake consultant for CLC and the City. It was determined which key drains at Lake Terrace, Cronin’s Cove and Levingston Cove handled the largest amount of storm water load from the watershed. Additionally the pitch of the streets near Levingston Cove cause increased velocity of the storm water street runoff. This velocity forces the runoff to hit the curbing near the storm drain to “jump the curb” causing significant erosion and flow of nutrient rich soil into Crystal Lake. The CLC believes the repair and filter placement is very important to reduce the pollutant/nutrient load.
In addition, the CLC has been working closely with Rep Ruth Balser and Senator Cynthia Creem and their staff to create language for the State budget to obtain additional sources of funding beyond City funds to improve the quality of the water in Crystal Lake. Due to the strong efforts of Rep. Balser and Sen. Creem, the CLC was able to obtain $88,000 for the Newton Parks and Recreation Department under the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) section of the budget.
We were thrilled that our efforts paid off!
However, our work is not finished. We expect the City to complete an analysis of the storm drains on Lake Ave, on the specific retrofitting to accommodate the filters along with a cost analysis for storm drain reconstruction work on Lake Terrace, Cronin’s Cove and Levingston Cove. Once completed, CLC plans to have the $88,000 State budget funds used alongside any additional City funds to complete the work. We are assured by the Mayor that the recent paving of Lake Ave would not deter the necessary work on the storm drains.
It is crucial this work be completed and we will continue to work diligently with the City to accomplish this goal.
