SOUTHWICK – Lake Management Director Richard Grannells is supporting the preservation of 140 acres of land along Congamond Lakes’ North Pond.
The Open Space Planning Committee (OSPC) met last week to discuss the land, which is privately owned. The Committee is partnering with the Commonwealth’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, which own 250 acres next to the 140 acres in question, the location of one of the wildlife management areas. The DFW is interested in preserving some of the acreage for bird habitat for endangered species like Sand Pipers and Sparrows. Their goal is to form a landtrust with the town of Southwick to keep the lake frontage safe from development.
The property owner once considered building a resort on the site, but now wants to preserve the land rather than see it developed.
Conservation Commission Coordinator Dennis Clark, a member of the OSPC, spoke about the enironmental benefits of the land preservation. Grannells, also a water department engineer, said there are financial benefits as well.
“There are no sewer plans for that area, so we would need a sewer extension if it was developed because there is nothing there,” said Grannells, adding that it would be a very costly endeavor.
“We would have to cross Great Brook and add three pump stations to brings sewers there,” Grannells said. “Then there’s the problem of capacity.”
Grannells said the town just completed its parallel sewer interceptor project, which brings the Southwick sewers to the Westfield wastewater treatment facility. The capacity of the interceptor is based on the planned sewer system for Southwick, which does not include any potential development at the lakes.
“We purchased a half-million gallons a day capacity, and that’s pretty much spoken for,” he said.
If the land was developed without sewers, they would have to add septic systems around the lakes, which Grannells said “is undesireable.”
Both Grannells and Clark touted the pristine condition of North Pond and said further development would compromise the lake.
The OSPC is in the process of approaching the town’s Community Preservation Committee for funding for the preserve and contacting other town boards, including the Lake Management Committee and Board of Health.
