Water Management Issues: Boston Harbor Islands

Mark Flora
Water Resources Division
National Park Service

Bruce Jacobson
Boston Harbor Islands Project Office
National Park Service

 

Delivered at 2003 Boston Harbor Islands Science Symposium.

---

Whether supporting natural systems or providing for visitor use, water is a significant resource in units of the national park system. In 2002, the Boston Harbor Islands Water Resources Scoping Report was published by the National Park Service in order to assist the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership in identifying and understanding water-related issues of importance to the management of the national park area.

This report provides a discussion of water-related issues and concerns identified by the national park area Partnership including: 1) the inadequacy of available baseline resource information; 2) water quality issues; and 3) water-related infrastructure issues (including public water supply and sanitation); and 4) shoreline erosion issues. The report further provides the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership with a number of considerations for future action, designed to assist the Partnership in achieving the protection and preservation of water-related resources in as healthy condition as is possible in this urban environment.