At the end of the June 10 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission, the members took up the matter of residents’ concerns over the barren appearance of The Bogs. The massive restoration project undertaken by the Buzzards Bay Coalition has prompted neighbors and others to question possible transport of hazardous chemicals off site during rain events and now its barren appearance.
Chairman Mike King read a letter submitted to the commission by Dennis Winn, 4 Stoney Hill Road, in which he questioned the intent of the project that now, in his estimation, is more like a wasteland then a recreation area. Winn also asked if anything was being done to prevent mosquito breeding.
On hand to respond to these concerns was Sara Quintal, project manager for the BBC. First to the question of revegetation of the site, she said that “Things are greening up.” She said some areas that were seeded earlier in the process are now green, while others are a few weeks behind. Quintal stated that it generally takes two growing seasons before substantial regrowth will be seen and that it is typical when growing native-plant species.
King supported Quintal’s comments, saying for restoration projects the Wetlands Protection Act allows for two growing seasons for the establishment of vegetation before reviewing the growth process to deem its success or failure.
“It takes time,” Quintal said, adding, “Seeding was just completed in May. Some things are greening up. It varies across the site. This is consistent with other restoration projects.”
”We take 23 months before we’d look at it,” King commented.
Regarding spraying water features for mosquito larvae, Quintal said, “No!” She said that the insects are a major food source for all the amphibians at the former commercial bogs and therefore will be naturally removed by being eaten. “It keeps the ecosystem healthy,” she said.
King concluded, “We need to temper everyone’s expectations. This is going to take time.”
In a follow-up with Town Administrator Mike Lorenco regarding testing for chemical transfer at the site, he said a professor has been engaged to review the entire project, and thus, any recommendation for testing will be addressed upon completion of the third-party project review.
In other business, a Notice of Intent filed by Bart and Darcy O’Brien, Highland Avenue, for the construction of a single-family home in a 100-foot buffer zone, was conditioned. Also, a NOI filed by Diane Mello, 4 Spruce Street, for the construction of a residential addition to an existing dwelling, was conditioned.
Two other NOI’s were conditioned for: Prentiss and Mary Higgins, 7 Shipyard Lane, for repairs to a seawall damaged by storms; and Washington Island View, LLC, for the installation of an in-ground pool and associated bathhouse.
A request for a Certificate of Compliance filed by New Dart Holdings/Jennifer Labelle, 12-14 Fairhaven Road, was approved after review by Outback Engineering, stating that the project was in compliance with the plan of record.
A new plan of record filed by Robert and Lisa Barboza, 5-7 Shore View Avenue, was approved and accepted.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Monday, June 24, at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Conservation Commission
By Marilou Newell