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Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 3, 2019 ASK | from page 2 our 16th year helping to clean up the park. Q: Why are events like this important? A: It brings communities worldwide together to show awareness and appreciation of the earth. It is an opportunity that we have to express our love for the environment and show others how to protect it. Without the beginning of Earth Day in 1970, there is a good chance some of these accomplishments may have never happened: • The establishment of Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 • The Clean Air Act of 1970 • The Clean Water Act of 1972 • The Endangered Species Act of 1973 • The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 • The Federal Occupational Health and Safety Act aimed at “in-plant pollution” Q: How did you get involved with the environment as an activist? A: I love this question. My father was in the National Park Service; he personified the core challenge facing our National Parks. He devoted his life to finding the delicate balance between recreation and preservation. I was fortunate to grow up in some of the most amazing places on earth; as a child I spent much of my time growing and planting native flora for re-vegetation programs and hiking the tallest peaks. My parents were incredible role models and in many ways pioneer environmentalists. I guess you can say it’s in the genes. Q: What are some of the groups you belong to and have worked with over the years? A: Student Conservation Association (SCA) – I spent a life-changing summer of my junior year in high school in Rocky Mountain National Park as part of SCA – Chair of the Lynn Conservation Commission. I’m a Certified Professional Geologist accredited with American Institute of Professional Geologists. I’m an active member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. Q: Let’s talk about your involvement with the Saugus River Watershed Council. How long have you been involved with that organization? How long as executive director? A: I have been on the board since 2012 and Executive Director for the past year. Q: Briefly, describe how the council has evolved over the years and some of the major projects it focuses on, its mission. A: The Saugus River Watershed Council [seeks] to protect and restore the natural resources of the Saugus River watershed. The watershed encompasses all of Saugus and portions of the following communities: Revere, Lynn, Wakefield, Lynnfield, Stoneham, A CALL FOR ACTION: “Make it every day,” State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus), right, says of April 27’s annual Earth Day cleanup of Marshview Park in Lynn near the Saugus town line. Wong, who joined Mary Lester, left, the executive director of the Saugus River Watershed Council, said Earth Day shouldn’t just be a once-a-year affair. He said he’d like to see the School Department step up by offering to organize students on yearround “community service” projects at all state-run parks throughout the area. “Once you get the kids involved, they have respect in their adult life. They learn to respect the environment,” Wong said during an interview at Marshview Park. Melrose, Malden, Everett, Reading and Peabody. Most of the Council’s initial priorities and focus areas continue to be important today. One of our main goals is promoting environmental stewardship through education. Understanding and following environmental conditions in the watershed, coordinating volunteer cleanups, and commenting on proposed development to ensure protection of environmental resources have been consistent priorities since the Council was founded. More recently, we expanded our environmental protection efforts to encompass promoting watershed protection in a changing climate. Rising seas, coastal storm surge, increasing frequency and intensity of rainfall events, warmer temperatures and less predictable weather patterns all have an impact on watershed resources. Together with watershed communities, environmental agencies and other nonprofit organizations, we are working to develop climate adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect habitat, water quality and valuable coastal resources for the future. Q: What would you consider the five biggest accomplishments during the time you have been involved with Saugus River Watershed Council? A: 1) Education: During the past 18 years, the Saugus River Watershed Council has provided innovative watershed education programs to over 16,000 students from schools in our 11 watershed communities. Thanks to support from local businesses, individuals and foundations, students have explored the river and marshes while learning about their role in becoming environmental stewards for the future. 2) Illegal dumping and non-permitted sites: Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with local, state and federal agencies to stop illegal dumping, disposing of contaminated materials and even the burying of hazardous waste on several sites along the Saugus River. Thanks to expanded local and state efforts to prevent illegal dumping and restore watershed natural areas, this problem is much less significant than in the past, a sign of increased appreciation for keeping the local environment clean. 3) Habitat restoration: Although my involvement with some of these projects is somewhat limited, the Council has played an important role in partnering with environmental consulting firms, environmental agencies, and communities to promote restoration of habitat throughout the watershed. Our best successes include partnering with the Division of Marine Fisheries to develop and install the first eel ramp of its kind to promote passage of American eels over a dam upstream in the river; working in partnership with the National Park Service to promote a turning basin project that balanced restoring a historic river landscape with protecting key fish spawning habitat and removing several acres of invasive wetland plants; and partnering with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation to successfully advocate for removal of thousands of gallons of fuel oil from an underground storage site along the river that was then transformed into a passive park. 4) Protecting watershed resources in a changing climate: The Council has taken an early, proactive approach to working with our watershed communities to raise awareness and take action to mitigate and respond to the real challenges of protecting watershed resources in a changing climate. Whether working with the City of Lynn on the MVP process or to help develop a Waterfront Vulnerability and Resiliency Study, developing a climate change curriculum for local students, or partnering with the National Park Service to create a Climate Adaptation Plan for protecting waterfront resources, we anticipate that this aspect of our work will continue to increase in importance into the future. 5) Being present and a voice for the river: Our role as environmental advocates has been crucial to protecting natural resources and public health throughout the watershed. We take an active role in responding to proposed development projects and potential environmental threats. We are present and available in many situations; whether attending public hearings or submitting written comments through the environmental permitting process, we strive to balance environmental protection of valuable vegetated buffers, wetlands and natural areas with positive sustainable development in the watershed. Q: What one thing are you most proud of as you look back at the council’s work? A: For me, it is holding local corporations and businesses along the Saugus River and within the watershed accountable for their actions. We’ve had several situations where we’ve been able to stop major contamination for occurring due to noncompliant companies. This for me is incredibly important, not only for now but for the future of our children and watershed. Q: How old is the organization? A: SRWC was founded in 1991. Q: As we look upon Earth Day, what are the major challenges facing the Town of Saugus right now from an environmental perspective? A: In some ways, Saugus is at a crossroads. There is currently much interest in reinvigorating the waterfront with enhanced public access and amenities. At the same time, however, more work still needs to be done to continue improving water quality conditions in the river and ensure that waterfront economic and natural resources are protected from potentially damaging coastal storms and sea level rise in the future. Another ongoing challenge for Saugus is striking a balance between development pressures and the need to protect limited natural areas and ensure that there is sufficient capacity to handle wastewater from new housing and other development projects. Q: What about the DEP [Department of Environmental Protection]? How would you rate the job the agency is doing, as far as protecting the environment? How about other state and federal agencies? What kind of job are they doing? A: There are major challenges right now; the biggest for state agencies is lack of funding. Many of the Commonwealth’s environmental agencies, including DEP, have faced budget and staffing cuts leaving departments with inadequate resources to address environmental monitoring and enforcement activities. Q: How would you rate the state of the environment in Saugus right now? A: I feel there could be a lot more being done – at a crossroad, perhaps – there is both progress and ongoing environmental challenges throughout Saugus and the rest of the watershed. I do feel that there is success and progress moving forward, as well as opportunities to continue improving water quality, wildlife habitat, recycling efforts and open spaces Q: Has your grade for the environment gone up or down from when you first got involved with the Saugus River Watershed Council? A: Things in the watershed have definitely improved. The wildlife variety has vastly improved over the past few years; this is a great sign of population expansion. Q: Is this something that town government – the town boards – bear some responsibility with? A: Yes, local governments in Saugus and the other watershed communities are integral to protecting and restoring environmental resources in the watershed. Saugus officials have played an important and proactive role in pushing for sustainable development along the river and protecting the Rumney Marshes Area of Critical Environmental Concern by passing a series of bylaws to ensure environmentally sound management and siting of landfills in the town. Q: There have been some very aggressive boards in local government that have intervened in the past on the environment issues. So, are you happy with today’s town agencies and boards? A: We are always happy to work with local boards and agencies in all of our watershed communities. We don’t have to agree on everything to make significant progress toward protecting the environment over time. That said, Saugus has very proactive leadership and members on its volunteer boards and committees right now when it comes to protecting the environment. ASKS | SEE PAGE 20

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