Reducing Pollutants for Lake Garfield

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is supporting Monterey with two grant possibilities to help reduce pollutants flowing into Lake Garfield. It is hoped that the two grants explained below will be approved for insertion into the Federal Clean Water Act Section 319 grant application by June 30. 

1.     Watershed-Based Plan

The Town of Monterey is teaming up with BRPC and their engineering consultant Comprehensive Environmental Inc. (CEI) to complete a Watershed-Based Plan (WBP) for Lake Garfield. This plan, at no cost to the town, builds on the study completed in 2018 by Water Resource Services Inc. that looked at phosphorus loading and sources of nutrients in the lake that may be leading to algal blooms. In addition, the WBP will look at effective ways of controlling the aquatic, invasive weed Eurasian water milfoil. 

Watershed planning characterizes water quality and impairments in a waterbody—in this case, Lake Garfield. It takes a systematic approach to assessing all the possible causes of pollution and outlines best management practices that will most effectively address phosphorus and invasive, aquatic plants in the lake. In the case of Lake Garfield, this may likely be a combination of education to help reduce phosphorus on private property, and green infrastructure aimed at capturing and treating stormwater runoff along the Hupi Road area. 

The WBP serves as a roadmap for implementing those projects identified by outlining a timeline, milestones, and funding sources available. Once completed, the WBP allows Monterey to apply for state funding allocated through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection under the Clean Water Act Section 319 grant program. This program works to address non-point sources of pollution. That is, pollution that can’t be traced back to one specific source. 

With this funding the town will be able to address phosphorus pollution, mitigate invasive, aquatic plants, and improve overall water quality in Lake Garfield for the Monterey community to enjoy. A draft of the WBP is scheduled to be completed during the week of May 16. 

Comments—We’d like to hear from you. The Lake Garfield Watershed-based Plan draft will be posted soon on the Monterey town website, montereyma. gov, under Lake Garfield Working Group, for review and comments. Comments can be sent to Courteny Morehouse at cmorehouse@berkshireplanning.org, after which a final Lake Garfield WBP will be completed and also posted. 

2. Clean Water Section 604b

The Town of Monterey applied for grant funding a couple years back to improve water quality in Lake Garfield with a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) Clean Water Act 319 grant. The Town’s application was highly rated but unsuccessful that year, however, they received great feedback from the MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and are trying again this year. In preparation for that, Monterey was awarded a grant through the Federal Clean Water Section 604b program administered by the DEP. Funding has been used to hire engineering consultants Foresight Land Services to perform comprehensive site assessments and design conceptual plans for key areas to reduce pollutants flowing into Lake Garfield.  

Not only will the conceptual design plans lay out what management practices will best reduce pollution in the Lake, but they are a key piece of the Lake Garfield Watershed-based Plan that BRPC is helping put together this spring (referred to above). 

3. Federal Section 319 Grant

Both the design plans (604b) and the watershed plan will set Monterey up to be very competitive when reapplying for Federal Clean Water Act Section 319 funding this year. If awarded, the 319 grant will fund the full completion of green infrastructure designs and eventual installation of structures that filter and treat stormwater around the lake. This project will serve to improve the water quality of Lake Garfield for all to enjoy. 

— Courteny Morehouse, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission