Town of Palmer's Land Management & Open Space Committee

09/19/2022

The Connecticut River Stormwater Committee wants to remind you that proactive septic maintenance can save you money and help protect the health of your family, community, and environment.

Make sure to evaluate your tank every 1-3 years and pump when solids reach 1/3 of tank volume. For more tips, visit: https://thinkblueconnecticutriver.org/septic-system-care/

07/27/2021

Help Stop Pointless Poo-llution! Studies have found that roughly 40 percent of Americans don't pick up after their dogs' waste. Dog waste accounts for 24 percent of the bacteria that pollutes our urban and suburban waterways. You can help by picking up after your dog 100 percent of the time. Below are some tips on what you can do to help keep our watershed clean and healthy:

• Always clean up after your dog on walks and remind your neighbors and friends to do the same.

• Don't wait to scoop in your own yard - keep an eye out and scoop immediately.

• Take multiple bags on walks, just in case.

• Throw out dog waste using a bio-degradable bag OR flush waste down the toilet (where it will eventually end up in a wastewater treatment plant).

• Do NOT throw dog waste in a compost bin.

• Start a campaign to get your community involved, installing pet disposal facilities, p**p scoopers and other convenient items to encourage locals to clean up after their pets.

07/05/2021

Just a reminder that if you haven’t participated in our survey yet please do!!! This will shape the towns recreation and open space priorities for the next 7 years!!

We are in the process of updating our Open Space and Recreation Plan!! Please take a few moments to participate in our survey so your voice is heard!

PLEASE FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE ONLINE AT: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Palmer_OSRP_Survey

06/07/2021

We are in the process of updating our Open Space and Recreation Plan!! Please take a few moments to participate in our survey so your voice is heard!

PLEASE FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE ONLINE AT: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Palmer_OSRP_Survey

05/13/2021

Local artists Laurie Bogdan and Kimberley Harding have completed a piece of artwork that hangs on the bridge on the Rail Trail in Maynard center.

05/08/2021

Come join our clean-up!! We are here until 12pm and we have snacks!!!

05/07/2021

Excessive watering of lawns and gardens can lead to increased runoff carrying chemical pollutants to storm drains and, ultimately, to our local waterways. Herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and oils from the street contaminate the water and increase public health risks.

http://ow.ly/McNZ50EryKd

05/05/2021

It's a puddle jumping, rainbow chasing kind of day.

Remember that runoff from streets, roofs, and yards goes untreated into our storm drains and eventually to our lakes, rivers, and the ocean.

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04/14/2021

How does my septic system affect water quality?

Having regular maintenance inspections and pump-outs of your septic system will keep it working efficiently and can prevent costly repairs. However, there are also daily precautions that you can take to help your septic system function properly.

• Think before you flush: Aside from wastewater, toilet paper is the only other thing that should be flushed. Using the toilet to dispose of items such as sanitary products, paper towels, disposable diapers, cigarette butts, and even tissues will harm your septic tank and cause you to need pump-outs more often.

• Don’t put food down your sink: Septic systems are not intended to dispose of food waste, coffee grounds, grease, or fat, and, in fact, they will harm the septic tank. Try using a compost pile for non meat food waste; it will help you avoid paying for unnecessary septic system repairs!

04/13/2021

Poor training and material management practices at restaurant and retail locations can cause pollutants such as waste oils, solvents, detergents, and other waste to enter our stormwater system. These pollutants can build up in stormwater lines and cause blockages, negatively impact the operation of stormwater retention areas and drywells, or degrade water quality of our local waterways. Pathways of this pollution include the direct pouring or dumping by ill-trained employees, poor cleaning habits, improper storage of chemicals and waste, and poor maintenance of waste containers.

Tip! Connect all sink drains and floor drains to the sanitary sewer system to prevent wastes from entering the storm drainage system.

Many of the BMPs identified on our website are non-structural and cost little or nothing to implement. http://ow.ly/fk4V50E8Fql