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Weir River Estuary Park Committee

Committees: Weir River Estuary Park Committee

Weir River Estuary Park Committee

Click for Full Size Weir River Estuary ACEC Map

The Weir River Estuary is one of Boston Harbor’s most valuable natural resources, and was designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1986. Hingham, Hull, and Cohasset share the Weir River Estuary, which includes 900 acres of salt water, fresh and salt water wetlands, and upland habitats.

During the past year, the Weir River Estuary Park Committee (WREPC) continued to partner, working to protect the environmental integrity of 4 major properties identified in the Weir River Estuary Land Protection Plan for Hingham, Hull, and Cohasset. As of the writing of the report, the CPC (Community Preservation Committee) has one of the parcels recommended by the WREP committee "under consideration". The Amonte property abuts 400 feet of the salt marshes northeast of the Rockland Street bridge and along Rockland Street. This property is on the WREP Pedestrian and Bike Path which provides views of the tri-town estuary (pictured inside the back cover of the 2006 Hingham Town Report).

The Committee is most gratified that Mass Highway adapted the Rockland Street bridge reconstruction plan to include the five WREPC issues of concern as follows:
• The major stormwater drainage and pollution issues by incorporating four stormwater catch basin systems.
• The 16” water main which passes through the bridge concrete arch will be relocated to the bridge fill on top of the arch. This will elevate the road so that kayaks/canoes can safely pass under the bridge to the Foundry Pond dam.
• The wingwalls of the bridge will be extended to limit impact to the surrounding wetlands as the profile is raised.
• Anti-scour counter measures will be placed in the river channel and the scour areas under the abutments will be filled.
• The street will have granite curb sidewalks and bike lanes, and crosswalks, as appropriate, within the work area of 275 feet west of the bridge and 235 feet east of the bridge.

Rockland Street-George Washington Street Boulevard and Foundry Pond clean-ups occur annually in the spring and when possible in conjunction with Coastsweep clean-up in the fall. All citizens are encouraged to help conserve the resource’s health.

The Committee has up to three representatives per community appointed by the Boards of Selectmen of Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull. Other non-governmental groups, such as, neighborhood associations and environmental groups are also represented. The Committee works with national, state and local government agencies, and non-profit organizations as well. The goals, noted in the Weir River Estuary Land Plan are to provide for and/or advocate for:
• acquisition, protection, health, safety, and restoration of the estuarine waters and fisheries habitat;
• linkage of the wildlife habitat and scenic parcels in the Estuary into greenways to preserve wildlife and to provide human viewing areas along the street bike and pedestrian path and along the Weir River Estuary waterway as mapped on the back cover of the 2006 Hingham Town Report; and,
• education and stewardship opportunities for tri-town community citizens, students, and visitors at the Estuary Center (now under construction next to the George Washington Boulevard bridge, in Hull) and access to the estuary from street and waterscape viewing sites and properties owned by the Hingham Conservation Commission.

Public meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month on a rotating schedule amongst the three towns and are posted on the Hingham Town web-site.

The Committee wishes to thank all federal, state, and local officials, committees, citizen volunteers, and voters for all their hard work in advancing land protection, conservation, and acquisition along Rockland Street and George Washington Boulevard.

Richard Avery, Co-Chairperson, Cohasset,
Faith L. Burbank, Co-chairperson, Hingham
Judeth Van Hamm, Co-chairperson, Hull
James Rodgers, Hingham
Darrell Baker, Hingham Alternate