HAL is coming knocking again. You may have noticed some one-sided stories in the press lately which vigorously report the doom that HAL and Mrs. Durfee are trying to impose on the business and building community. Nowhere do the various letters and articles is even faintly mention the doom that is predicted if our population grows as projected and we do not get an additional water supply or keep the Swift Creek Reservoir's supply. I personally think the reporting is seriously unfair both to Mrs. Durfee and to HAL
Our supervisors do have hard decisions facing them on July 30th. We are convinced that the .16 limit of phosphorus run-off into the tributaries will not be approved, even though good science supports that choice - Yes, it does. It's a good life insurance policy for the Reservoir.
HAL's back-up recommendation is pretty logical: Since the state has mandated that the in-lake Phosphorus level must be lowered 20% whether it's a drinking water source or not (from .05 to .04) HAL recommends that the run-off limit into the tributaries be lowered 20% (from .22 to .18 for residential and from .45 to .36 for commercial) This is a huge compromise recommendation that we ask you to support. It will help the reservoir, along with conservation and good practices by citizens.
So far as we know it today, the Planning Department will be likely to recommend a "graded" or "graduated" lowering of the run-off limits for phosphorus into the tribs for RESIDENTIAL only. No reduction for COMMERCIAL at all, yet 15.2 million sq. ft. of commercial are already zoned with 4.9 million sq. ft. in the pipeline. that's 20 million sq. ft. in the WATERSHED! To leave commercial out of the reduction of phosphorus run-off is to jeopardize the reservoir seriously.
Many of you came on June 25th. Some of you spoke up for our drinking water supply. YOU MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE OUTCOME. The opposition to our compromise suggestion will probably be severe, if the negative campaigns the past three weeks are any indication.
Please don't give up now. Hang in there with us. We will have "badges" again for you to wear. Come and dazzle their eyes with a sea of support for water protection. Wear some fighting boots, if you are so inclined! We seem to be in a water war of sorts! We need all the troops that you can help muster.
July 30, Wednesday, 6:30 pm, Public Meeting Room, Administration Building, corner of Lori Road and Route 10.
Thank you. Betty Clapp
P.S - The zoning case for Roseland will be heard on July 30th, also, as well as other matters of importance.
