The Town of Hamilton has just announced (on June 29th) a water ban and has called for conservation measures because the “discharge flow rate of the Ipswich River near the Willowdale Dam has dropped below the flow rates deemed necessary by MassDEP to sustain a healthy watershed.”

The Ipswich River is listed as #8 on the list of endangered American rivers.  All of us living in this area need to protect our remaining water resources now and for future generations.

The aquifer and watershed of the Chebacco Lake area that includes Beck Pond, Round Pond, Gravelly Pond and Chebacco Lake is the last remaining critical water resource for three towns — Hamilton, Manchester and Essex.

The 133 Essex Street proposed development would be a major threat to this critical watershed. The blasting required for the development would be dangerous to this aquifer and the risks of contamination to the watershed are very high.

Please continue to send your letters of concern to the Planning Board (to preffett@hamiltonma.gov) to help us protect this important natural resource.

UPDATE on Planning Board meetings:

Due to a missing board member, the June 23rd agenda to focus on the 133 Essex Street project was postponed until July 12th.  Then, there will be a meeting on July 26th for the closing arguments from the applicant, Save Chebacco Trails & Watershed. and YOU.  These two meetings will be the last opportunity to ask your questions of the applicant or Planning Board and the last opportunity to add YOUR voice to the public record.  It is likely that the public hearings will then be closed, and the Planning Board will go through their deliberation process in two meetings in August to come to a final decision. 

Please continue your support for our efforts to stop the destruction of this critical natural habitat and watershed area.

What you can do to help:

Please attend the meetings in July and make your concerns known.

Send a letter to the Planning Board expressing your opinions.

Also please consider donating to our efforts!
Take advantage of a NEW $20,000 matching gift! Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar.

https://www.savechebaccotrails.org/donate
 
SAVE CHEBACCO TRAILS & WATERSHED, Inc.
A 501c3 Corporation
P.O. Box 2184
South Hamilton, MA 01982
savechebaccotrails@gmail.com

And THANK YOU for caring and for your support!