Two new aluminum gangways are going in at Grassi Bog to provide trail access for hikers after the Marion Conservation Commission on August 13 approved the Marion Open Spaces Acquisition Commission’s request – but it did not go through without a little harsh criticism about MOSAC and the Grassi Bog property from one commission member.
Before opening the public hearing for the Request for Determination to install the gangways, the commission briefly touched upon a MOSAC memorandum sent to the commission in response to a memo dated June 11, 2014 that ConCom sent MOSAC regarding damage to seven of the eight water control structures at the wetlands site off Route 6.
The June 11 memo to MOSAC requested an investigation into the root cause of the damage that some ConCom members observed on May 24, stating its concern that “something is not correct,” as written in the memo.
“Within months of the modification,” the memo reads, ”[water control structures] have been effectively destroyed by one storm event.” The memo continues, “Either the design is not sufficient for the expected rainfall events or the modifications are not per plan.”
In response, MOSAC Chairman John Rockwell sent their memo explaining that the Natural Resources Conservation Program – the federal program that funded and designed the project – is looking into the issues. Rockwell wrote that, in addition to the significant water flow due to the five and a half-inch rainstorm back in March, “the structures were the recipient of flood waters suddenly released from 50 acres of several upstream cranberry bog reservoirs.”
“It’s kind of a mess,” said Conservation Commission member Stephen Gonsalves. “My question is: If they can’t even get this right, how do they expect to take over Sprague’s Cove?”
Gonsalves said it did not make sense to him to “fix something that’s not broken” while the focus should be on “fixing what’s in the backyard.”
“This is a mess,” said Gonsalves. “I don’t know what we’ve accomplished.”
ConCom Chairman Lawrence Dorman stated that Gonsalves’ sentiments were not necessarily those of the commission, and Gonsalves confirmed that it was just his opinion.
In a follow-up phone interview, Rockwell explained that since the NRCP plan was implemented, the water management structures would often fail, requiring constant upkeep while the intention was to devise a system that required no management.
“It was just a constant problem,” said Rockwell. He said during the March rainstorm event, the 50 acres of floodwater from the bogs upstream overloaded the eight-acre storage pond. “He (the owner of the upstream bogs) let it all go,” said Rockwell. “
And 50 acres of floodwater does not fit into eight, as Rockwell put it.
“It’s just a pretty big problem for us now,” he added. “We had an unexpected occurrence of events.”
MOSAC will have to file with the Conservation Commission once the NCRP devises a new water management plan.
Jeff Oakes of MOSAC appeared before the commission for the RDA to install the gangways, which received a Negative 3 determination, meaning the project may proceed and no further action under the Wetlands Protection Act is required.
In other matters, the commission gave a Negative 2 and 3 determination for a RDA for fellow commission member Jeffrey Doubrava to remove phragmites in a beach above the high tide line.
Doubrava said two years ago he had no phrags on his property and now he has roughly 200. He said he plans to use an herbicide in early September, treat the plants again two weeks later, and then remove and properly dispose of them.
Doubrava said he did not need a license to apply the herbicide as long as he remained within his own property.
“Ah, so you can have your phragmites and eradicate them too,” said Gonsalves.
A Notice of Intent for Thomas Stemberg of 114 Point Road was again continued until September 10. Stemberg seeks to demolish the existing structure on the property, construct a single-family dwelling, as well as a pool, pool house, tennis court, driveway, and walkways.
The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is August 27 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
