Celebrating 15 years
as a grassroots voice
for the natural environment!
The Brookside Area is critical to our drinking water supply
November 15, 2011
Water Geology Talk with Joe Duggan, former Wellesley Water and Sewer Superintendent
Mr. Duggan spoke on the town's infrastructure and local geology, and entertained many questions from the interested audience. Over forty people attended the talk, which was extremely well received. We only wish we had more time to learn from Joe's long and experienced tenure in Wellesley.
Schmutzdecke: from German, meaning "dirt cover."
The complex biological layer formed on the surface of a slow sand filter, which provides effective purification in potable water treatment, the underlying sand being the support medium for this biological treatment layer. The composition of any particular schmutzdecke varies, but will typically consist of a gelatinous biofilm matrix of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, rotifer and a range of aquatic insect larvae. Hence, sometimes "muck" can do good things!
Click on the above presentation link to see what else we learned!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Town of Wellesley Water and Sewer Department Page
PFAS Information from Wellesley Public Works Department
Consumer Water Confidence Reports, Wellesley
Water Customer Portal: Track your water use, lower your water bill, and conserve water!
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
In keeping with Town of Wellesley goals, Friends of Brookside supports good stewardship of the land over our aquifers and efforts to reduce pesticide use throughout our town. We're all about the water.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf is an award winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. By helping people enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations, the program serves an important environmental role worldwide.
Learn more on the Audubon Site.
Town of Wellesley INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY for Town-owned land
Town of Wellesley Natural Resources Commission
An elected five member board with the mission to provide stewardship of, education about, and advocacy for the Town of Wellesley’s parks, conservation, recreation and open space areas so the full value of the Town’s natural assets can be passed onto future generations.
A five-member Committee appointed by the Natural Resources Commission, the Wetlands Protection Committee (WPC) is responsible for reviewing and permitting any proposed work within a Wetland Buffer Zone, a Riverfront Area, or a Wetland Resource Area. The WPC should be consulted with prior to initiating any work within these areas.
Wetland Resource Area Information
The entire Brookside Area is located in a Well Head Protection Area, a Water Supply Protection District, and sits atop the Rosemary Brook alluvial aquifer. Much of the area is also Riverfront and Wetlands, which have special protection under the 1996 Riverfront Act and our Town's Wetlands Protection Bylaw.
Protecting Water & Wildlife
Greenbelts, or Buffers, absorb fertilizers, pesticides, sediments and floodwater. They stabilize shoreline and provide wildlife habitat.
Vegetated Buffer Strips are the single most effective way to prevent contaminants from entering bodies of water. Wellesley's Natural Resources Commission, the Charles River Watershed and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America all advocate for the establishment and widening of vegetative buffer strips to protect water quality.
WHY ARE RIVERFRONT AREAS SO IMPORTANT?
Riverfront Areas provide many free services to the community and to the environment. The Riverfront Area, in its natural condition, provides a natural flood storage area, slows down surface water runoff, and can limit flooding and damage caused by storm events. Rivers, including their abutting 200 foot upland areas, are important wildlife habitat areas, providing food, shelter, breeding sites, migration, and overwintering areas, for both wetland and upland species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
The Wetlands Protection Act identifies eight protected riverfront interests, including: flood control, prevention of storm damage, prevention of pollution, fisheries, land containing shellfish, groundwater, public or private water supply, and wildlife habitat.
Six of the Town's Water Wells are located within the Brookside Area, making it a Well Head Protection Area. The area is also a Level 2 Water Supply Protection District.
Mass DEP Priority Resource and Water Supply Protection Area Maps
Click on images to expand
Town Map of Watershed Area
2017: Wellesley Unified Plan
Chapter 4, Natural Resources and Conservation
Groundwater resources: Two major aquifers supply drinking water. There are ten public wells, which provide the majority of drinking water (with the remainder purchased from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority), two private wells on the land of the Wellesley Country Club that are used for golf course irrigation, and two wells on Wellesley College land. (See Figure 4.x) On the east side of town, the aquifer is protected by conservation areas around Rosemary Brook, Longfellow Pond and Bezanson Pond, the Town Forest, as well as the Wellesley Country Club lands. Morses Pond and Lake Waban and town-owned wellhead protection lands, along with Fuller Brook lands, Wellesley College lands, and North 40 lands help protect the aquifer in the western part of town.
Wellesley Comprehensive Plan Update, 2007 to 2017
See: Chapter 8, Open Space and Recreation
Changes in Land Use around the Rosemary Brook Alluvial Aquifer
These projects and developments demonstrate land use changes over time, and their impact on water may need closer scrutiny.
MAJOR INSTITUTIONS AND BUSINESSES:
VOLANTE FARMS
BABSON COLLEGE
MASS BAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
NORTH HILL
NEEDHAM ROSEMARY POOL
TOYOTA CAR DEALERSHIP
WELLESLEY COUNTRY CLUB:
Stockpiling, Dumping and Soil Removal
Zoning Board Discussion of Dump Activities May 16, 2013
Wellesley Country Club New 6-hole Course in Zone 2 Water Supply Protection District on Brookside Road at the Wellesley Needham Line Permitted
Wellesley ZBA Draft Decision
To be voted by the ZBA Friday, June 3, 9:30am., Juliani Rm. Town Hall.
Country Club Wellesley decision.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [202.6 KB]
Needham ZBA Permit Decision
Decision_0_Forest_St_Wellesley_Country_C[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [4.0 MB]
Charles River Watershed
2002-2006 Water Quality Assessment Report
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Supporting Documents:
Dr. Sarah Little on Pesticide Use
Wellesley resident Dr. Sarah Little's testimony during the ZBA Wellesley Country Club Public Hearing regarding the use of pesticides.
ZBA WCC SLittle.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [39.1 KB]
WCC Proposed Short Course Application to ZBA
Major Site Plan Review & Aquifer Overlay District Special Permit
WCC Short Course Special Permit Applicat[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [2.6 MB]
Site Plan Review by Wellesley Engineering Division
Memo ZBA SIte Plan Review WCC Short Cour[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [1.1 MB]
Wellesley Natural Resouces Commission Letter to ZBA
WCC ZBA Letter_NRC.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [93.1 KB]
Wellesley Country Club IPM Plan
May 2007 (revised June 2012)
Turfgrass Management Plan WCC 2012.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [107.7 KB]
Site Changes at Wellesley Country Club
Brookside Road, Aerial View, Wellesley Needham Town Line, from 2004:
2013: Wellesley Country Club Facility Maintenance Building Plans
(in reverse order)
Thursday April 25, May 9 and May 16, 2013: Public Hearing, Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30PM, Town Hall, The Great Hall
For demolition of the existing maintenance building and construction of a new 2,300 square foot Equipment Service Center & 56 parking spaces, construction of a 1,700 square foot material storage structure, a 24,700 square foot multi-use Turf Care Maintenance Building, and a 2,330 square foot Environmental Management Center... also Construction of a Comfort Station off Brookside Road.
ZBA Site Plan Approval
Turfcare Maintenance Building June 2013
ZBA Turcare Permit.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [156.2 KB]
For replacement of the existing pool & pool house and renovation of the pool area.
ZBA Site Plan Approval
Pool and Pool House June 2013
ZBA Pool Permit.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [149.6 KB]
See Abutter Notices for description and details:
Zoning Board of Appeals Notice of Public Hearing
Notice to Abutters
ZBA Maintenance Notice.jpg
JPG image [2.3 MB]
Zoning Board of Appeals Notice of Public Hearing
Notice to Abutters
ZBA Pool Notice.jpg
JPG image [2.1 MB]
January 22 and February 4, 2013, Town Hall, The Great Room
WELLESLEY PLANNING BOARD Project of Significant Impact (PSI) Public Hearings for Wellesley Country Club Pool Project
PROJECT OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACT SPECIAL PERMIT DECISION was Issued by Wellesley Planning Board on 2/4/13
Tuesday January 22, 2013, Town Hall, The Great Room (Upstairs) 7:30 PM
WELLESLEY PLANNING BOARD Project of Significant Impact (PSI) Public Hearing for Wellesley Country Club Facilities Maintenance Project
PROJECT OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACT SPECIAL PERMIT DECISION Issued by Wellesley Planning Board 1/25/13
Maintenance Facility PSI Document List
Tuesday January 8, 2013, Town Hall, The Great Room (Upstairs) 7:30 PM
BROOKSIDE ROAD SCENIC ROAD APPLICATION DECISION
Issued by Wellesley Planning Board, dated 1/29/13
Brookside Road Scenic Decision.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [98.6 KB]
Thursday January 3, 2013 Wetlands Protection Committee Meeting
On January 3, 2013 the Wetlands Protection Committee approved Wellesley Country Club's Request for Change to the Order of Conditions, MassDEP#324-647: Replace GrassPave System with natural vegetation in the Riverfront Area and the Buffer Zone.
From the Request:
- The proposed construction would include the installation of an 8" crushed stone base on top of which 4" of loam would be spread. A New England Wildflower seed mix will be spread in keeping with the rest of the restoration area.
This change also eliminates the need for an asphalt apron at the site on Brookside Road.
Order of Conditions MA DEP #324-647
(See November 2012, below, for details on the entire project)
December 2012
Request for Change
9:30 PM - Wellesley Country Club, 300 Wellesley Avenue - Request for Change to Order of Conditions, MassDEP#324-647, Replace GrassPave System with natural vegetation in the Riverfront Area and the Buffer Zone.
November 2012
The Club has filed new plans with the Town's Planning Board
Monday December 17, 2012 - Planning Board - Town Hall - 7:30 PM:
Scenic Road Hearing for Brookside Road re: Proposed New Driveway (7:30 PM)
Project of Significant Impact (PSI) for New Maintenance Facilities (7:45 PM)
According to the plans, the proposed location for the new maintenance facility building will be underneath the Club's current paddle courts, which are located across Wellesley Avenue from the Club's main parking lot. The proposed bulk storage facility will also be in that same vicinity. Access will be from Forest Street. The wash-down and fuel facilities will remain in their current location on Wellesley Avenue, but reconfigured to allow more parking. The proposed new comfort station / lightening shelter and grass-paver access off of Scenic Brookside Road near the Community Gardens are also detailed in the plans. See Thursday October 4 meeting, below, for background information.
Written comments can be mailed to the Planning Board, Town Hall, 525 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 or emailed to mjop@wellesleyma.gov
See MA DEP #324-565 - the Restoration of Academy Brook under Environmental Considerations for more information about this site.
Scenic Road Regulations, Section 6 - Criteria for Work Projects.
The Planning Board's decision on any application for proposed action affecting Scenic Roads or Scenic Road Layouts shall be based on consideration of the following criteria:
1. The degree to which the proposed action would adversely affect the scenic and aesthetic values upon which the road designation was originally based;
2. The necessity for the proposed action in terms of public safety, welfare or convenience;
3. Compensatory actions proposed, such as replacement of trees, or walls;
4. Availability of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action which could reduce or eliminate anticipated damage to trees or stone walls;
5. Whether the proposed action would compromise or harm other environmental or historical values; and
6. Consistency of the proposed action with previously adopted Town plans and policies.
How Brookside Became a Scenic Road!
Maintenance Facility Civil Plans
Wellesley Country Club Maintenance Facility Plans as filed with the Town Planning Board
WCC Site Plans.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [15.4 MB]
Maintenance Facility Architecture Plans
Wellesley Country Club Maintenance Facility Architectural Plans as filed with the Town Planning Board
WCC Architecture Plans.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [14.2 MB]
Monday November 26, 2012
Board of Selectmen - Traffic & Pedestrian Safety
7:45 PM, Juliani Room, Wellesley Town Hall
Written comments can be sent to the Board of Selectmen at 525 Washington Street, Wellelsey, MA 02482-5992 or emailed to: sel@wellesleyma.gov
Traffic Impact and Access Study
Thursday October 4, 2012 - Wellesley Wetlands Protection Committee Meeting
The Committee permitted a new 12' wide by 35' long fiberglass reinforced grass driveway into Club property by the Community Gardens.
Public Hearing - Wellelsey Country Club NOI MassDEP #324-647 - Closed
10.4.12 WCC Revised Presentation to Committee
Includes responses to Committee Questions from 9.13.12 meeting and new maps
WCC's Revised Presentation 10.4.12.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [4.1 MB]
Minutes of October 4, 2012 Wetlands' Meeting
Committee and Applicant were notified in advance of tape recording taking place.
10.4.12 Wetlands Meeting Transcribed.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [273.7 KB]
See other documents below.
Comments from Wetland Scientist Patrick Garner
Notes from WCC Public Hearing on Comfort Station and Roadway
Patrick Garner 9.13.12 WPC Meeting.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [245.4 KB]
We'd like to thank the more than 100 of you who signed our letter to the Committee:
9.28.12 Letter to Wetlands Protection Committee
Signed by Wellesley residents, presented to Committee at 10.4.12 Meeting. Signatures on file at Town Hall.
Community to WPC.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [61.0 KB]
You can read more about the Wetlands Protection Act and the Rivers Act and our Town bylaws on our Resources page.
Thursday September 13, 2012
Wellesley Wetlands Protection Committee Meeting
WELLESLEY POLICE STATION, 7:30 PM, Kingsbury Room
A Notice of Intent has been filed for a proposed Comfort Station and Lightning Shelter along Brookside Road, next to the Community Gardens @Oakland Street
8:05 PM: Continued -- NOTICE OF INTENT
MassDEP #324-647, Wellesley Country Club, 294 Wellesley Avenue, Amended proposal to install utilities for Comfort Station and Restoration and Drainage Improvement in the Riverfront Area.
Minutes of September 13, 2012 Wetlands' Meeting
Committee and Applicant were notified in advance of tape recording taking place.
9.13.12 WPC Minutes Transcribed.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [224.7 KB]
Information and Filed Documents:
9.12.12 WCC Letter to Committee
WCC Response to questions posed by Asst. NRC Director regarding applicant's August 30th NOI Package.
WCC_resp to rev NOI.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [105.8 KB]
8.30.12 Comfort Station Notice of Intent
Mass DEP #324-647
WCC NOI Aug 2012.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [3.6 MB]
Comfort Station Stormwater Report, Part 1
August 30, 2012 Part 1
WCC stormwater 1 of 2.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [6.5 MB]
Comfort Station Stormwater Report, Part 2
August 30, 2012 Part 2 of 2
WCC stormwater 2 of 2.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [3.6 MB]
Comfort Station Site Restoration
Showing gravel driveway and planting areas
Site Restoration 8.30.12.png
Portable network image format [557.6 KB]
Site Restoration Legend
Site Rest Legend.png
Portable network image format [503.5 KB]
Comfort Station Utilities
Utilities CS.jpg
JPG image [2.2 MB]
Comfort Station Existing Site Map
Existing Site.jpg
JPG image [1.9 MB]
Comfort Station Site Layout
Layout CS.jpg
JPG image [1.5 MB]
Notice to Abutters
Comfort Station Abutter Notice.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [446.4 KB]
Wetlands Viewer Map
Image taken from Town of Wellesley website, annotated with approximate site of lot.
Wetlands Viewer Map.png
Composting Toilets
Alternative to Riverfront Disruption
Composting Toilets.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [26.5 KB]
2012: Wellesley Country Club Presents New Plans for Proposed Buildings, 2012
The Club held an Informational Meeting for Neighbors on March 1st at the Wellesley Community Center.
The new proposed location for the Turf Care and Maintenance Facility is south of Wellesley Avenue, near the Needham Line, with access from Brookside Road. This was not one of the 8 Alternate Locations proposed by the Community in January 2011. (below)
One of our members posted a detailed description of the meeting on our Blog. You can read it here.
2010: Proposal for Maintenance Facilities on Brookside Road
Beals and Thomas Independent Peer Review
Commissioned by the Wellesley Wetlands Protection Committee and paid for by the applicant.
Beals and Thomas Peer Review.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [1.7 MB]
Alternate Locations for Maintenance Facilities
January 27, 2011: Community Presents Alternate Sites for Maintenance Facilities
We retained the services of Patrick Garner, Wetland Scientist, Hydrologist, PLS, to identify and present 8 alternate sites for Wellesley County Club's maintenance facilities.
P.Garner AS.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [1.6 MB]
(Detailed Information and Location Descriptions are found in the above document.)
FLYER: Please Attend Wetlands Protection Committee Meeting
includes project information
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