The Mystic River Water Quality Commission was created
through special legislation signed by former Governor Deval Patrick on December
24, 2014. The 13-member Commission is
charged with investigating and studying the conditions necessary to bring the
water quality in the Mystic River Watershed to a level that supports wildlife
and recreational endeavors, such as fishing, boating, swimming and bird and
wildlife viewing.
The Mystic River
Watershed covers 76 square miles and consists of 44 lakes and ponds in Boston
and 21 communities north of the city, including the Mystic River; the Upper and
Lower Mystic Lakes; the Aberjona River; Horn Pond; Horn Pond Brook; Mill Brook;
Alewife Brook and its tributaries; Winter Brook; the Malden River; Chelsea
Creek; Island End River; and Belle Isle Marsh.
In 2013, the watershed was able to meet state water quality
standards for boating 83 percent of the time, but only 49 percent of the time
for swimming due to bacterial contamination.
“The Mystic River Watershed is an important environmental
resource that has undergone significant improvements since the 1970s, but still
falls short of meeting the state’s water quality standards on a consistent
basis,” said Representative Jones. “I am
confident that Representative Wong will do an outstanding job to help develop a
plan for improving the water quality within the watershed for the enjoyment of both
current and future generations of Massachusetts residents.”
In addition to Representative Wong, the Commission will be
comprised of three other legislators; the Commissioner of Conservation and
Recreation; the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; the Director of
Fisheries and Wildlife; and six members appointed by Secretary of Energy and
Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton.
The six appointees will include: a member of the Massachusetts Water
Resources Authority; an environmental water quality expert from a state
university; a representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
two members representing environmental justice communities in the Mystic River Watershed;
and a member of the Mystic River Watershed Association, Inc.
The Commission is due to submit a final report, along with
any legislative recommendations, by July 31, 2017.
Representative Wong represents the
Ninth Essex District, which consists
of Precincts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Saugus; Ward 1, Precincts 1 and 2 in
Lynn; and Precincts 1, 2, 3 and 7 in Wakefield.
A former Saugus Town Meeting member and former Chairman of the Saugus
Board of Selectmen, Representative Wong is currently serving his third term in
the Massachusetts Legislature.
