Spot Pond plans moving ahead
Published on September 2nd, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Boats skimming along Spot Pond, folks on the banks - it's all part of the Spot Pond Committee's vision. But don't get too excited if you see that happening in the next few weeks. The commotion you'll be witnessing will be the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) performing its water quality tests.
MWRA representative Grecthen Roorbach advised the Spot Pond Committee on Monday night that the pond's water quality testing is currently being performed weekly and the testing will begin to extend out across the pond. To accomplish this, a row boat will be used to perform the testing for quality and water level.
The Spot Pond Committee has been appointed by the Board of Selectmen to define and promote the Town of Stoneham's interests and vision regarding the development of a regional recreational area at Spot Pond.
Of major concern to the committee as well as to the MWRA is maintenance of the pond's water level. According to Roorbach, the level has been kept at 159 feet and a variance of one to two feet has been deemed acceptable.
With the pond now off line as a drinking water supply, Roorbach maintained that the MWRA would not like to see the level exceed 160 feet or fall below 158 feet.
"We're not looking for a major elevation change," stated Roorbach.
She explained that despite its official off-line status, the pond will be relied on as an emergency back-up supply. If the level falls below 155 feet, the MDC would be unable to pump water into the MWRA system if needed. If the level rises above 160 feet, significant downstream flooding may occur.
Thus far, that level has been naturally maintained. Roorbach stated that, should the pond level need to be supplemented, the additional water would come from Wachusett Reservoir. This situation is one that the MWRA would like to avoid for two reasons:
First, she stated, "no one wants to see their rates go up because we're maintaining Spot Pond's level."
Secondly, aquatic systems do not like treated water and the additional water from Wachusett would have to be detreated before being added to the pond.
The MWRA has also been working closely with the MDC on drafting an MOU (memorandum of understanding), a legal document outlining the transfer of ownership of land from the MWRA to the MDC.
Roorbach advised that the MOU pertains to the transfer of land at Spot Pond that was previously part of the MWRA Water Works Department. Since the MWRA determined that the land is no longer needed for Water Works, the land will revert to the MDC's control.
"We're not far apart," reported Roorbach regarding the status of discussions between the two parties. January 1, 1999 has been estimated as a target date for the finished document. As a result of the transfer, Roorbach stated that responsibility for public access to this land around the pond, as well as for public safety, will become the responsibility of the MDC. The MWRA, however, will continue with its focus on protecting water quality.
As anticipated, Roorbach stated that the MWRA will not likely allow swimming in Spot Pond in the future due to potential water quality issues.
"The MWRA wants to decrease the burden of its ratepayers," stated Roorbach in explaining the MWRA's reasoning behind the land transfer to the MDC.
Selectman Anthony Kennedy requested a copy of the MOU draft for the committee's review.
Al Pratt, Park Planner for the MDC's Reservations and Historic Sites Division, has been working on a plan for the MDC to develop a circumferential trail for the perimeter of Spot Pond. There are, he said, two or three places that pose a challenge to connecting the trail.
"We don't expect a finished document for at least a year," stated Pratt.
"We have Al's plan in hand...We need to figure on where that fits with our plan," stated Roorbach.
Another area that will be addressed is the issue of fencing. Roorbach advised that the MWRA would like to discourage easy access to the water and that if swimmers or dogs get into the water, the MWRA, she said, "will close off the trail:"
"These places are a magnet for dog walkers," Roorbach stated.
Despite the MDC's leash law, Roorbach cautioned that any waste from pets along the water's edge will threaten the water quality.
It is imperative therefore, she stated, that users comply with the regulations regarding public access in areas with or without fencing.
"We're getting a barrelful of information tonight," Spot Pond Committee Chairman Steven Sylvester said and acknowledged that although the plan for a circumferential trail will take significant time to complete, the MDC should consider opening portions of the trail.
"It will show progress even if we opened the trail partially to the public," he said.
Cynthia Mead, a representative from the Stone Zoo which abuts the banks of Spot Pond, attended the meeting and advised the committee that, as the zoo rebuilds itself, it will be committed to showing the vista of Spot Pond. She called this an "exciting time" and invited members of the committee to visit the zoo to walk the area that abuts Spot Pond in order to better understand the space between the boundaries and its topography.
Also in attendance were MWRA representatives Tom Gawrys, Karl Pastore and Rene Morin of the MDC, Carmen O'Rourke from State Representative Paul Casey's office, Barney Bolton, Director of Facilities for Boston Regional Medical Center and Arthur Hitchman from State Senator Richard Tisei's office who stated "we'll try to find money, once the plan is set up, to fund some of this."
Sylvester thanked the many guests for their input, updates and continued interest. The committee's next scheduled meeting will be on September 14 at the BRMC.
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