Littleton Conservation Commission Approves Mill Road Order of Conditions, Advances Turtle Mitigation Plan

LITTLETON -- June 4, 2024, Littleton Conservation Commission advances Taylor Street well permitting, clears Mill Road order of conditions. The commission heard June 4 that the Taylor Street well, which will add 500,000 gallons per day to Littleton's water supply and deliver 65,000 gallons daily to more than 1,000 Boxborough residents without safe drinking water, now hinges on a Blanding's turtle conservation management plan expected from the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program within 30 days. A March pumping test found that four of nine monitored ephemeral pools showed measurable water-level impacts from well pumping, prompting Natural Heritage to require a plan that will include a new turtle nesting area, a constructed year-round deep pool, and long-term habitat monitoring, all on private land recorded with the Registry of Deeds. The commission is targeting a close of the notice of intent at its July 9 meeting. Separately, the commission voted 6-0 (with one abstention) to approve an order of conditions for renovation work at 97 Mill Road, MassDEP 204-1004, including a perpetual prohibition on snow storage within 50 feet of the river.