Projects Aim to Help Lower Mystic River Watershed Damaged by Oil Spills

From the Department of Environmental Protection:

The Patrick Administration today awarded nearly $239,000 in grants to projects in the Chelsea and Malden/Medford areas that will help to repair damage done to natural resources from past oil spills into the Lower Mystic River Watershed and open up these restored areas to the public.

The funds, awarded through the Massachusetts Natural Resource Damages (NRD) Trust, will provide $220,205 to the Chelsea Collaborative, Inc. for a project to repair damage done to Chelsea Creek and Mill Creek, and provide $18,505 to the Mystic Valley Development Commission to repair damage done to the watershed that includes the Malden River and the Lower Mystic River in Medford.

“Watersheds contain vital fish and waterfowl species, as well as flora and fauna that define a healthy ecosystem,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett, who is the NRD Trustee for the Commonwealth. “When spills pollute these critical areas, restoring the impacted natural resources and returning their proper use to the public is a priority.”

“When contaminants degrade our waterways, they degrade our quality of life,” said Commissioner David W. Cash of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), which implements the NRD program. “These grants will improve the Mystic watershed by eliminating invasive species, controlling storm-water runoff and allowing local citizens to once again enjoy the quiet beauty of nature.”

The Chelsea project funding is available through an NRD Trust settlement with Irving Oil Corp., Irving Oil Terminals, Inc. and Global Petroleum Corp. that is associated with a 2006 release of 18,000 gallons of fuel oil into Chelsea Creek and its tributary, Mill Creek.

The Mill Creek Water Quality and Habitat Restoration Initiative project, through the Chelsea Collaborative, will expand public access to 150 feet of riverbank along the Mill Creek, remove and manage invasive plant species and plant native species to enhance riverbank habitat, improve water quality through green infrastructure and integrate with the larger Environmental Justice community-based effort to implement the Chelsea Creek Community Vision.

“I am pleased that the settlement monies from an oil spill will be invested into the environment and community where the release occurred,” said Chelsea Collaborative Associate Executive Director Roseann Bongiovanni. “With this grant, greater public access and environmental benefits will be brought to fruition for the Mill Creek, Chelsea Creek and neighborhoods surrounding our waterfront.”

The Malden/Medford project funding is available through a settlement with Hallmark Health System, Inc. associated with a 1996 release of No. 6 fuel oil into the Lower Mystic River from the Lawrence Memorial Hospital site in Medford.

The Wetlands and Bank Resource Area Restoration project, through the Mystic Valley Development Commission, will create and restore 1,220 square feet of wetland habitat, restore and stabilize 1,192 square feet of degraded river bank and expand public access to and link pedestrian pathways along the Malden River at the confluence of Little Creek in Medford.

“On behalf of the Mystic Valley Development Commission (MVDC), I want to thank MassDEP for awarding these grant funds to the MVDC,” said MVDC Chairman and Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn. “The grant will allow us to further the goals of the comprehensive ecosystem restoration program underway within the Malden River Corridor. The proposed project represents the continuation of efforts designed to provide unique public benefits, in terms of passive open space and recreational areas available to several communities. The project will provide the aesthetic value of community access and enhance greater connectivity between the general public and the Malden River.”

The NRD Trustee Council assesses injuries to natural resources from spills of oil and other hazardous materials, seeks monetary damages from responsible parties to compensate the public for those injuries, and selects community-based projects that use the settlement funds to restore, enhance or preserve critical aquatic riparian and wetland habitats and improve water quality within impacted waterways.

For more information on the Massachusetts Natural Resource Damages Trust, turn to: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/cleanup/nrd/

MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.