A massive state environmental spending bill moving through the Legislature includes money for Watertown Dam removal and Charles River dredging studies, but environmental groups warn it could strip Newton and other communities of local wetlands protections.
The Massachusetts Environmental Bond Bill, known as the Mass Ready Act, authorizes the state to borrow billions of dollars for climate resilience, clean water and environmental protection. It comes around only once every five years. The House and Senate are now negotiating a final version in a Conference Committee before sending it to Gov. Maura Healey.
Cabell Eames, advocacy director for the Charles River Watershed Association, called the bill a rare opportunity in an Aug. 24 legislative update, noting the stakes of getting the once-every-five-years legislation right.
The bill includes $500 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, which funds climate resilience investments in cities and towns, along with stronger drought management provisions. For the Charles River specifically, it would fund removal of the Watertown Dam and a study of dredging a silted-up stretch of the river in Watertown.
The wetlands concern
The sticking point for local advocates: the Senate version contains a provision that would weaken local wetlands protections. The House version removed those sections, and a coalition of environmental organizations including the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition has urged the Conference Committee to keep them out.
The Land Trust Coalition warned that the Senate's wetlands language could increase flood risks, threaten water quality and force communities to choose between protecting public health and maintaining access to state funding.
The CRWA said it continues to push for removal of the wetland-weakening provision while supporting the bill's funding.
Newton rep's CSO bill in Ways and Means
Separately, state Rep. Greg Schwartz, D-Newton, filed a bill at the CRWA's request that would eliminate combined sewer overflows statewide by 2050. CSOs occur when heavy rainstorms overwhelm outdated combined sewer systems, sending sewage-filled stormwater directly into the Charles River.
The bill is now in the House Committee on Ways and Means. The CRWA called its placement there meaningful progress for a first-time bill.
"The Charles River and all our rivers should not be used as toilets!" Eames wrote.
Why it matters locally
Newton already faces steep costs to clean up the Charles. At a June 3 City Council Public Facilities Committee meeting, officials discussed a $4,329,664 state loan for stormwater projects to reduce phosphorus runoff into the Charles River watershed. The city must cut 1,420 pounds of phosphorus per year by 2028 under EPA requirements, with Phase 1 compliance estimated at $142 million and Phase 2 at more than $500 million.
State funding through the bond bill's climate resilience programs could help offset those local costs.
The Legislature moved into informal sessions in August. Lawmakers return in September, when the Conference Committee could finalize the bill and send it to the governor for signature.
