Great article. I've recently subscribed to The Plymouth County Observer ( will have to cheack and make sure it was a paid subscription) and am happy that information, as has been discussed here, is getting out to the general public. Dr. Cronin, will you be holding any public speaking engagements with possible outdoor rallies calling for the protection of S.E. Mass wetland areas. Seems groups/companies like Claremont are willing to destroy environmentally sensitive areas for "30 pieces of silver". No moral character. Bill Duggan
Thank you so much, Bill! I appreciate your kind words! I would be delighted and honored to speak in favor of our common waters and lands. And I certainly agree it is troubling to see projects like these proposed. It seems there may be some good news, though, which I hope to cover shortly.
These Glacial lakes are very sensitive to change, especially development & pollution within their watershed. These are not artificially constructed "highland" lakes as you see across the the southeast and mid-south, which are deep and very well flushed. Those artificial lakes can handle much more disturbances within their watersheds than these shallow & fragile natural ecosystems. The 100 ft buffer is a joke, if Massachusetts really wants to protect it's rare glacial lakes, rivers and their surrounding habitat, they will need to put laws into place that extends this buffer to 1000 feet in which no future development or disturbances would be allowed to occur.
I like the idea of a 1,000 foot buffer. I really think we have to do a better job as a society in educating people just how rare and fragile glacial lakes are. There are whole sections of the country that simply lack them. I think the tendency to take them for granted must be resisted. Greater protections at the level of statutes and regulations seem like an avenue of exploration.
Thank you for keeping us informed, well informed. I hope this information will keep the vested-interest, development profits at bay, protecting the environment. Here’s hopin’.
Thank you so kindly, Rosemary! I think the friends of common places and things (res publicae) are in a better position than at this time last year -- thank you as always!
Once again, Ben, you hit it out of the park. The way you unearth the relevant maps and bring the history and geography and politics of yore to the present, and find the cosmic perspective we so need in these times, when so much--really, all --is at stake...thank you!
Thank you so kindly, Henrietta; I deeply appreciate your comment. I think this really is, as you say, a matter of all-encompassing importance. We cannot have an economy if we lack water -- the "sine qua non," or, "without which, nothing" -- of life itself. Thank you for reading and caring!
Great article. I've recently subscribed to The Plymouth County Observer ( will have to cheack and make sure it was a paid subscription) and am happy that information, as has been discussed here, is getting out to the general public. Dr. Cronin, will you be holding any public speaking engagements with possible outdoor rallies calling for the protection of S.E. Mass wetland areas. Seems groups/companies like Claremont are willing to destroy environmentally sensitive areas for "30 pieces of silver". No moral character. Bill Duggan
Thank you so much, Bill! I appreciate your kind words! I would be delighted and honored to speak in favor of our common waters and lands. And I certainly agree it is troubling to see projects like these proposed. It seems there may be some good news, though, which I hope to cover shortly.
Thanks again!
These Glacial lakes are very sensitive to change, especially development & pollution within their watershed. These are not artificially constructed "highland" lakes as you see across the the southeast and mid-south, which are deep and very well flushed. Those artificial lakes can handle much more disturbances within their watersheds than these shallow & fragile natural ecosystems. The 100 ft buffer is a joke, if Massachusetts really wants to protect it's rare glacial lakes, rivers and their surrounding habitat, they will need to put laws into place that extends this buffer to 1000 feet in which no future development or disturbances would be allowed to occur.
I like the idea of a 1,000 foot buffer. I really think we have to do a better job as a society in educating people just how rare and fragile glacial lakes are. There are whole sections of the country that simply lack them. I think the tendency to take them for granted must be resisted. Greater protections at the level of statutes and regulations seem like an avenue of exploration.
Thank you for keeping us informed, well informed. I hope this information will keep the vested-interest, development profits at bay, protecting the environment. Here’s hopin’.
Thank you so kindly, Rosemary! I think the friends of common places and things (res publicae) are in a better position than at this time last year -- thank you as always!
Once again, Ben, you hit it out of the park. The way you unearth the relevant maps and bring the history and geography and politics of yore to the present, and find the cosmic perspective we so need in these times, when so much--really, all --is at stake...thank you!
Thank you so kindly, Henrietta; I deeply appreciate your comment. I think this really is, as you say, a matter of all-encompassing importance. We cannot have an economy if we lack water -- the "sine qua non," or, "without which, nothing" -- of life itself. Thank you for reading and caring!