THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 Page 3 City hopes to revitalize Green Creek T By Barbara Taormina he city is taking steps toward cleaning up Green Creek and reclaiming it as one of Revere’s natural assets. Conservation Commission Chairman Nick Moulaison was at a recent City Council meeting to update councillors on plans to dredge the tidal waterway that runs behind Lee’s Trailer Park, Sullivan Tire and Majestic Auto. Illegal dumping in the creek is threatening wildlife and interrupting water circulation, which has caused fl ooding in other parts of the city. “We issued the city an order to correct,” said Moulaison, adding that the Water and Sewer Department plans to dredge about a foot of sediment from the fl oor of the creek. “They will have to have the sediment tested,” explained Moulaison, who added that if hazardous contaminants are found, the city will be forced to send the sediment to a special disposal facility, which will dramatically drive up the cost of the creek cleanup. Moulaison also said fallen leaves from the surrounding woods are a major contributor to the buildup of sediment, and revitalizing the creek will involve cutting a signifi cant number of trees. However, he is hopeful that the area can be replanted with diff erent species of trees, which will keep the area around the creek green without causing natural debris to collect on the fl oor of the waterway. Ward 1 Councillor JoAnne McKenna was pleased to hear that Green Creek is in line for some much-needed attention. McKenna recalled that when she was a kid, the creek was a spot where locals fi shed for smelts and kids hunted for horseshoe crabs. Two years ago, she began receiving complaints from constituents about the creek, and she went out to take a look. “The conditions were deplorable,” said McKenna, who found all types of debris dumped in the creek and large pools of oil fl oating in the water. McKenna turned to the city’s Inspectional Services Department for help. Fines for illegal dumping were issued to waterfront businesses, and a cleanup improved the area. But a couple weeks ago, during a return visit to the creek, she found that many of the problems from two years ago had returned. “There was so much contamination,” she said. “There were birds, ducks – nesting and breeding in fi lth.” McKenna again called the Inspectional Services Department, which again began processing hefty fi nes to businesses along the water. Going forward, she hopes the city will be more vigilant. “We need to be very active about going in and making sure those properties are kept clean,” she said. McKenna is concerned about more than the condition of the creek. She is also GREEN CREEK | SEE PAGE 8
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