DCR Discusses Allowing Public Access to Winchester Watershed Land

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as well as (D-Winchester) are looking at ways to improve the

Last year, the DCR developed aand how it would accommodate the – dog walkers, joggers, bike riders – it concluded in a

The watershed area is the only part of the Fells that crosses into Winchester, and even though no one is allowed to cross into that land that has not always been the case, according to Lewis.

“It’s been highlighted for the need of Winchester to manage that watershed land,” Lewis said. “That land is not open for public access, but right now, people completely disregard that. There are no enforcement officials in that area. Overall, there’s a complete noncompliance with the Fells land.”

According to Paul Jahnage of the DCR Greenways and Trails Program, agreed with Representative Lewis about the “culture of non-compliance” within the Fells. DCR’s plan would also fully map the 122 miles of trails within the Fells and it would identify the 42 trails that crossover from SCR land to Winchester water land.

“There are a number of trails that go directly from DCR land to Winchester property and there’s no break,” said Mike Nelson of the DCR. “It runs continuously into Winchester. We need to improve signage and enforcement in those areas.”

The DCR plan recommends the closing of a number of the trails that lead to Winchester lands. However, Jahnage said that there has been a desire from the public to have some legal access to the lands surrounding the Winchester Reservoirs. The DCR can offer recommendations and work with Winchester, but ultimately, the town decides how it wants to handle its land.

But members of thewere not as concerned with the watershed area and said that they would prefer to keep the Fells as it is.

“I love the Fells,” said Selectman Doug Marmon. “I’m skeptical we can make it better. Wilderness is meant to be kept wild. It would tough to make it better unless I’m shown that there is real potential for harm.”

“The Fells is a hidden treasure,” said Selectman Jim Johnson. “I’m not as concerned with the water quality issue as some people are.”

But Director, Ed Grant, does not support giving public access to the land near the reservoir. According to Grant, Winchester supplied 422 gallons of water to residents from its reservoirs, which is approximately 50 percent of the water used by the town.

Grant said that if the reservoir would fail because of water quality issues, Winchester would need to spend approximately $1.3 million a year to replace the water.

“Opening one of our main roads in the middle of our reservoirs to the public will only encourage a large number of people to explore the remaining six miles of roads within our reservoirs,” Grant said. “This eventually will lead to water quality issues, erosion, potential fire issues, additional police enforcement and also potential liability issues on town-owned land.”