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Committee adds water-quality objective, discusses improving access to waterways
Summary
The committee added an objective to study water-quality impacts to support water-based recreation (Plum Island and Parker River), discussed parking and safety constraints at boat ramps and agreed to identify improvements and potential phases to implement access projects.
The committee agreed to add an objective to the action plan to identify ways to study water-quality impacts and to use findings to enhance water-based recreation across Newbury, including Plum Island and the Parker River.
A member recounted a resident's request to launch a canoe from a municipal ramp and suggested towns could consider accommodating nonresidents for a fee; members discussed safety concerns (boat traffic), parking limitations and the difference between launching small craft and larger boats. "I had a woman call me the other day because we have an access on the Rowley River and, you know, she she was saying she wanted to launch a canoe and she didn't understand why the municipal ramps wouldn't just like offer that service for a fee," a committee member said.
Members proposed phasing improvements: identifying needs and funding sources in earlier phases and commencing physical improvements in later phases; they also discussed coordinating with planning and public-works departments and incorporating water-quality study results into future objectives and public outreach.
Because the planning board’s Zoom account was needed elsewhere, members postponed remaining items and voted to carry them to a future meeting before adjourning.
