Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Preservationof~8,500 acres ofweti~~ds in the Charles River <br />- , . ;:.. ".;. ., <br /> <br />Charles <br />River <br /> <br />watershed offers analterllative.to upst~eam.damsand levees <br />while maintaining' a way to contain floodwaters and <br />,providing wildlife habitat and recreation. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />MASSACHUSETTS <br /> <br />OBJECTIVES <br />. Flood hazard reduction <br />. Wetland protection <br />. Wildlife habitat <br /> <br />INNOVATIVE ASPECTS <br /> <br />. . The Corps of Engineers proposed a "Natural Valley Storage" ,project to protect 8,500 acres <br />of wetlands in the upper portion of the watershed as an alternative to constructing new <br />flood control structures. <br /> <br />. The Corps of Engineers purchased full title or easements on 4,860 acres of wetlands, 57 <br />percent of the total. Landowners' casements retain title to the land, but prcselVe the <br />. flood carrying capacity. <br /> <br />. The Corps of Engineers funding was devoted to nonstructural flood hazard reduction <br />" measures using land purchases and easements rather than structural measures in the <br />upper waters~ed. <br /> <br />. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts reimbursed local communities to compensate for lost <br />tax revenues from federally acquired land. <br /> <br />. Recreation <br /> <br />. Aquifer recharge <br /> <br />PARTICIPANTS <br />. U:S. Army Corps of Engineers, New <br />England Division <br />. Commonwealth of Massachusetts <br />. Charles River Watershed Association <br />. Private landowners <br /> <br />ACCOMPLIS IlMENTS <br /> <br />. Wetlands selVe as a natural reselVoir for flood waters, providing temporary storage arid <br />gradual release downstream. <br /> <br />. Wetlands store in excess of 50,000 acre-feet of water, comparable to a medium- <br />sized reselVoir. <br /> <br />. Acquisition costs totalled $10 million, compared to $100 million for the alternative, <br />construction of upstream dams and levees. <br /> <br />. Wetlands provide wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation, and help to maintain <br />I' I <br />water qua Ity. <br /> <br />5 <br />