Friends of Alewife Reservation (FAR)
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In support of protection for the silver maple forest
letter to Henrietta Davis, Chairperson, Health and Environment Committee Health and Environment Committee 795 Mass. Ave. Cambridge, MA. 02139 From Cornerstone Co-Housing Harvey Street Cambridge, MA. 02140 Dear Ms. Davis, We are writing in support of protection for the silver maple forest located in Belmont, along Route 2 adjacent to the Alewife Reservation in Cambridge, We are asking for your support in reassessing the need to preserve this vital green forest from development. There must be better suited sites that can be redeveloped rather than to develop on pristine old-growth forest land. A recent unanimous Council order requested that the forest be preserved and flooding be considered by City manager's office. Order 24, dated 7/29/02, "Ordered: that the City manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Conservation Commission and the appropriate Belmont offices to request that all efforts be made to preserve the forest and protect Cambridge from the floodwaters that removal of the forest would bring to North Cambridge and be it further ordered: That the City manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter." Green space in an urban area is a treasure to the neighboring residents, in that it provides floodwater retention and detention, controlling storm damage. It purified stormwater laden with silt and pollutants. It provides habitat for a wide variety of birds and animals, and fish. It helps to control temperature and light impacts as well as adding beauty. We ask you to consider these benefits and the thought of deprivation for future generations. Mary White and Michael Arnott Suzanna Schell Jane Eisenstark Sylvia Willson Lisa Fox Betsy Germanotta & Dante Germanotta Walter D. Locke Lisa Maisels Lynne Molnar Anish Goyal Ken Thomson Shirley Schell Elizabeth Locke Bob Leigh Janet Childs Jesse Gordon Hari Arisetty |