Department of Public Health issues new fish consumption advisories based on PFAS in fish at 13 state parks

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Department of Public Health issues new fish consumption advisories based on PFAS in fish at 13 state parks Press Release | Department of Public Health | March 6, 2023 https://www.mass.gov/news/department-of-public-health-issues-new-fish-consumption-advisories-based-on-pfas-in-fish-at-13-state-parks BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued new fish consumption advisories to provide guidance for people who catch and consume freshwater fish from 13 waterbodies at state parks operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Recent testing of fish from these locations found levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above DPH-recommended levels for regular consumption. During recent testing of recreational waterbodies, elevated levels of PFAS were detected in fish sampled from: Ashland Reservoir in Ashland Chicopee Reservoir in Chicopee Lake Cochituate in Natick Dennison Lake in Winchendon Dunn Pond in Gardner Fearing Pond in Plymouth Houghtons Pond in Milton Pearce Lake in Saugus Pequot Pond in Westfield Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester Walden Pond in Concord Wallum Lake in Douglas Watsons Pond in Taunton DPH also sampled surface water at these locations, and PFAS was not found at levels that would be...
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Letters: With insufficient funds and staff, we’re loving our state parks to death

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Letters: With insufficient funds and staff, we’re loving our state parks to death https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/13/opinion/with-insufficient-funds-staff-were-loving-our-state-parks-death/ The Letters to the Editor below are in response to Short-staffed and strapped for cash, state parks struggle to handle surge of warm-weather crowds, The Boston Globe, June 7, 2022. Years of disinvestment call for a greater outlay to support DCR Alexander Thompson’s story about the continuing budget needs at the Department of Conservation and Recreation points to a $10 million increase in state funding on the table to support the agency (“Everyone’s ready for summer, but the parks might not be,” Page A1, June 8). This funding is long overdue, but it is not enough. DCR parks and reservations have played an important role in helping our residents to cope with the public health pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also add value to the magnificent quality of life that Massachusetts has to offer, and they are an economic driver of our economy. It’s amazing that we can go from...
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Municipal officials and advocates line up to support Gov. Baker’s economic development and infrastructure bill

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Municipal officials and advocates line up to support Gov. Baker’s economic development and infrastructure bill By Doug Pizzi, Executive Director | May 10, 2022 The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on Monday, May 9, held a hearing on Gov. Charlie Baker’s massive, 113-page plan to spend $3.5 billion on capital projects. H.4720, An Act Investing in Future Opportunities for Resiliency, Workforce, And Revitalized Downtowns (FORWARD) funds projects in every community in the state. Of that sum, $2.2 billion would come from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $1.3 billion from state capital funds. A parade of municipal officials and advocates from across the state testified in favor of various provisions in the bill, and equally important, the Governor’s timely submission of the bill. MCV is submitting written testimony to the joint committee in favor of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) spending in the bill. Within the bill, Gov. Baker is proposing $258 million for DCR facilities,...
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