Bellingham Conservation Commission Delays MBTA Herbicide Plan, Demands Zone Changes Near Charles River

BELLINGHAM — March 12, 2025 — Bellingham Conservation Commission pauses MBTA herbicide plan review over Charles River water-quality concerns. The commission voted unanimously at its March 12 meeting to continue its review of the MBTA's 2026-to-2030 commuter rail Vegetation Management Plan to April 9, after members raised concerns about GIS-based wetland mapping accuracy and the proximity of roadbed chemical treatment zones to the pesticide-impaired Charles River headwaters. MBTA representative Matt Donovan offered to reclassify several blue treatment zones — where full roadbed herbicide application is permitted — to more restrictive yellow zones along sensitive segments, and agreed to deliver rescaled maps by March 14. Commission members will negotiate specific zone changes before the April 9 hearing. The board also unanimously approved orders of conditions for notices of intent at 621 Ramshorn Road and 340 Hartford Avenue, continued two new ANR-lot applications on Blackstone Street pending wetland re-flagging and a site walk, and issued an enforcement order against a Granite Street property owner who had continued filling activity in a buffer zone after a prior hearing.