Get the Real Faqs....Part Deux

Get the real faqs indeed!! Now honestly, I am not trying to pick on anyone here but once again I feel the need to comment on something I read recently. Once again, factfinder has posted some interesting facts concerning water supply to Middleboro…but dare I say…taking rainfall data from over 10 years ago and posting runoff data from 67 years ago hardly gives an accurate picture of what the recharge conditions for the watershed is today. In all honesty, I will give kudos to anyone who makes an effort to educate people. My problem with the post below is that the information may be a list of facts, just not all are actual up-to-date facts. Jeez, you cannot expect people to make informed opinions about such an important topic if you choose to give them outdated statistics and only one little piece of the big picture. So once again, I feel the need to comment on the so called "facts" of factfinder. I have highlighted the particular areas of my concern for your convenience.

The sub basin which Middleborough gets its water from is as follows:

Subbasin for Nemasket River - 26.67 sq. miles
Subbasin for Barlett Brook - 5.63 sq. miles
Subbasin for Black Brook - 10.30 sq. miles

Which totals 42.59 square miles.

Average rainfall is 42 inches per year. (TR-55)
Average 1961 to 1990 - 40 to 50 inches per year (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/)
The estimated runoff is 50% (Lee 1915, Theis 1940)

The aquifer is not diminished. It is sustained and unless it stops raining forever, it will recharge again and again and again.

I point people to the water cycle.”



__________________
-Fact Finder

Nice picture! I seem to remember that one from 5th grade science class.

Now I will give factfinder credit where credit is due - average rainfall has remained fairly consistent (average 45 inches per year for the State), and the picture posted is a general overview of the natural water cycle, but factfinder’s post is severely lacking in some very important key factors that affect a balanced water cycle hydrology. Did you notice how there are no buildings, streets or parking lots in the picture?
Although there are several factors that can affect the natural water cycle, I feel the need to point out that urban development (such as building a mega resort casino) creates man-made impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roadways, buildings, rooftops, etc. that directly impact the natural water cycle. Factfinder would have been better to post something more along this line...


















So basicially, when urban growth occurs, you can expect approximately a 10-15% decrease in shallow water infiltration and approximately 10 -20% decrease in deep water infiltration into the natural water cycle, depending on the area of impervious surfaces in the given area - source EPA. This means that the resulting alterations to the land has the potential to lead to dramatic changes to local hydrology. Impervious man-made surfaces and compacted earth associated with urban development create a barrier to rainfall, which would otherwise percolate into and through the soil. Impervious surfaces also increase surface runoff, as well as decrease infiltration and groundwater recharge. This disruption of the natural cycle of water flow and infiltration leads to a number of harmful changes including: increased volume and velocity of runoff; increased frequency and severity of flooding; peak storm flows many times greater than in natural basins; loss of natural runoff storage capacity in vegetation, wetlands and soil; reduced groundwater recharge; and decreased base flow in rivers and streams ( base flow is the groundwater contribution to stream flow), which can result in streams becoming intermittent or dry, and also affect water temperature. Water temperature changes affect the natural ecosystem on which plants, animals and aquatic life rely.

We cannot deny the fact that urban development of watershed areas can create some serious issues with water quality and quantity which is why the MADEP has water conservation programs and the southeast region has groups such as SPREDD. Smart, sustainable and responsible growth is imperative to water conservation. Sorry, I just don't feel that building the worlds largest resort casino falls into the "smart, sustainable and responsible growth" category.

Here are some up to date facts about our watershed condition this year. Again, I urge you not to take my word for it, but to do your own research on this subject. The MA DEP website has a wealth of information regarding the condition of our rivers, streams and watersheds as well as what you can do to help conserve water.

As of Monday, December 03, 2007, the USGS has mapped our area as being in a moderate hydrologic drought and stream flows in the State as of October 2007 are below normal, within the lowest 25% on record. It is this surface water runoff from rivers and streams that contribute greatly to aquifer recharge.




Click here to see the map of surface water run off data for Massachusetts as of October 2007.

“At the end of October stream flows in the State that are monitored by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) were generally below normal (orange area) in most of Massachusetts” – source USGS


Additional information on streamflow is available from the USGS website.

So in my humble opinion, factfinders statement “The aquifer is not diminished. It is sustained and unless it stops raining forever, it will recharge again and again and again” is not only shortsighted and irresponsible, it is inaccurate.

Get the real facts at casinofacts.org

- be the change you want to see in the world -