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TBHA Home > What We Do > Back to the Beaches |  |
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Back
to the Beaches
Thanks to the strong advocacy of The Boston Harbor Association, the efforts of the State Legislature, and the Senate President William Bulger, $30 million was appropriated by the State Legislature in 1993 for the Department of Conservation and Recreation's "Back to the Beaches" program to restore and enhance Boston Harbor beaches. TBHA's on-going work with the DCR, the cities of Boston and Quincy, and community residents and groups has resulted in the tremendous restoration of Boston Harbor Beaches including new sand on beaches, new and restored bathhouses, benches, shade shelters, body and foot showers, walkways, landscaping, access consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and much more. TBHA has played a significant role in the "Back to the Beaches" campaign since its inception, including helping develop a detailed report and recommendations for water quality improvements at Wollaston Beach in Quincy, an educational campaign to get the public to utilize the MBTA system to the beaches, co-sponsoring of "Back to the Beaches" summer weekend events, advocacy with state agencies to facilitate capital spending, and educating the public about the revitalization of Boston Beaches. Special thanks to the Boston Water and Sewer Commission for supporting TBHA’s “Back to the Beaches” efforts. Water Quality at Boston
Harbor Beaches To continue to monitor water quality, Boston Harbor Beaches have the most comprehensive water quality sampling program for beaches in the country, with samples collected at least weekly at each beach during the summer season. The water quality testing program includes daily testing during the summer season at some of Boston's most used beaches, including Carson, Constitution, Tenean, Wollaston, Savin Hill, M Street, and Pleasure Bay. Water quality flags at Boston Harbor Beaches let swimmers know when the waters are swimmable. Blue flags indicate good swimming conditions, and red flags indicate a potential water quality problem. Swimming is discouraged for 24 hours after a red flag posting or after a rainstorm of a half-inch or more. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority maintains a website with updated daily water conditions. Water quality information can be accessed by following the “Massachusetts Coastal Beaches” link to the right of the MWRA web page or by calling the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Beach Water Quality Hotline at 617-626-4972. As part of the “Back to the Beaches” Program, The Boston Harbor Association coordinated storm drain stenciling activities by volunteers and staff. The stencils are friendly reminders to residents not to dump into storm drains, as the flow goes directly to beaches and Boston Harbor. During the year, Massachusetts Institute of Technology students participating in the school’s “City Days” orientation program joined TBHA, and Quincy City Councilor Doug Gutro in stenciling storm drains from Lakin Square to Labadine Street, part of the drainage area which flows directly onto Wollaston Beach. With funding from Massachusetts Environmental Trust, TBHA distributed absorbent bilge water pads and bilge oilsorbers free of charge to seventeen area marinas for use by boaters. The absorbent products hold and retain petroleum products to keep the bilge clean and reduce the risk of oily discharge into Boston Harbor and pollution onto the beaches. TBHA coordinates a number of waterfront cleanups each spring and summer in an effort to reduce the amount of debris washing up onto beaches. Groups ranging from Starbucks employees to school groups participated in volunteer cleanup projects throughout the summer. Metropolitan Beaches Commission To strengthen the commitment for cleaner beaches, the Massachusetts Legislature established the Metropolitan Beaches Commission in 2006 to take an “in-depth look at each of the region’s beaches, identify the current conditions on each beach, identify the best management practices across the region, and make recommendations that would bring our beaches to their fullest potential as significant recreational and economic resources, ultimately improving the quality of life for residents and visitors, and strengthening our capital city and the region.” The Metropolitan Beaches Commission was the recipient of The Boston Harbor Authority 2007 Senator William M. Bulger Award for outstanding creativity in solving a major problem of Boston Harbor, in recognition of outstanding service in the development and implementation of a plan to improve the public beaches from Nantasket to Nahant. The 2008 and 2009 budgets for the Department of Conservation and Recreation provided funds to implement the recommendations. The Boston Foundation is providing funds for the foundation of Friends groups at local beaches in 2008. Boston Harbor Beach Descriptions
More information about specific Harbor beaches can be found below. Check with the Department of Conservation and Recreation for daily water conditions by calling their Beach Water Quality Hotline at 617-626-4972 or by checking their Beach Water Quality website at mass.gov/dcr/waterQuality.htm.
As part of its “Back to the Beaches” program, The Boston Harbor Association sponsors a number of free events to celebrate Boston’s beautiful beaches. This summer, TBHA is sponsoring a number of free events at Spectacle Island, Boston Harbor’s newest beach. Upcoming events include:
Join The Boston Harbor Association for a visit to Spectacle Island. Visitors will learn about the island’s unique history, including its recent restoration, explore exhibits at the Visitor’s Center, and walk to the top of the island for breathtaking views of the city and the Harbor. Bring a beach towel, swimsuits, and sunscreen as we enjoy the newest beach on Boston Harbor. Sand toys and free refreshments provided. Free, reservations required. For further information, please contact The Boston Harbor Association at mail@tbha.org or 617-482-1722. |
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The Boston Harbor Association - 374 Congress Street, Suite 307 - Boston, MA 02210 - 617-482-1722 (P) - 617-482-9750 (F) - mail@tbha.org |
Winthrop Beaches