Water Supply Project Faces Environmental Hurdles and Turtle Concerns

In a recent public hearing, officials discussed the ongoing Littleton Water Supply Connection project, which aims to enhance potable water access for residents in Boxborough. The project involves connecting a new water supply well on Taylor Street to the Littleton Water Treatment Plant (WTP) via a raw water main, and constructing a finished water main to deliver treated water to over 1,000 residents currently lacking safe drinking water.

Corey, a project representative, provided an update on the progress since the last meeting, highlighting that the Taylor Street well will supply an additional 500,000 gallons of drinking water per day. However, the project has encountered regulatory hurdles, particularly concerning the protection of Blanding's turtles in the area. The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program raised concerns about the potential long-term impacts of well pumping on local turtle habitats.

To address these concerns, the project team conducted a pumping test in March, which revealed that four out of nine ephemeral pools showed some level of impact, with a water level decline of approximately one inch. While this decline is considered negligible from a hydrological standpoint, it could significantly affect the turtle habitat.

As a result, the team is collaborating closely with Natural Heritage to develop a conservation management plan aimed at ensuring a net benefit to the Blanding's turtle population. This plan is expected to include the creation of a new turtle nesting area, a constructed deep pool for year-round water retention, and a long-term monitoring strategy for the affected ephemeral pools. The team anticipates that the permit from Natural Heritage will be issued within the next 30 days, allowing the project to move forward.