Primary Purpose:
Flood control district – constructed by Corps of Engineers.
Secondary Purpose:
Conservation and passive recreation.
Created By:
Massachusetts Legislative Acts of 1972, Chapter 787
Location:
Between Summer Street in Weymouth and Liberty Street in Braintree
Physical Characteristics:
320 Acre watershed and conservation land, 20 acre holding pond, 290 foot dam, smelt brook, 8 foot diameter viaduct under Weymouth Landing.
Governed by:
Seven Member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayors of Weymouth and Braintree.
Employees:
Two full-time Park Rangers.
Funded by:
Equal appropriations by the Towns of Weymouth and Braintree.
Conservation Activities:
Summer nature program for children, nature classes conducted by local schools, tree planting, erosion control, outreach program to nursing homes, service organizations, etc.
Recreational Activities:
Hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, biking, and snow-shoeing. Also have a Boy Scout campground and picnic grounds for families and organized groups.
Auxiliary:
Friends of Pond Meadow, a non-profit group funds small nature projects.
Public Commitments:
To the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – to maintain the flood control district to prevent loss of property and life due to flood conditions. To the Massachusetts Land & Water Conservation Fund – to maintain a facility for public use that is attractive and reasonably safe.
Specific Benefits to Towns:
- A Corps of Engineers publication states that our flood control project prevented damage amounting to $824,000, which would have resulted from a storm depositing 9” of rain in April 1987. There is no data on recent storms and hurricanes; however, there is no doubt that the district has prevented considerable flood damage.
- Existence of our flood control project has qualified Federal Flood Insurance policyholders for a 5% discount.