"The Res" Survey

The Arlington Reservoir is a 65-acre body of water located in Arlington Heights and Lexington, between Mass. Ave. and Lowell Street. It was created in 1871 by the damming of Munroe Brook. The dam, which consists of an earthen embankment some 600 yards long and as much as 14-feet high, was originally built to supply drinking water for the town. However, as early as 1899 Arlington joined the then Metropolitan Water District and began receiving its water supply from sources outside the town. The Reservoir now serves as:
  • a wooded path around the water for walking, jogging and dog-walking, away from traffic and crowds;
  • a popular habitat for water birds and songbirds (almost 150 species spotted, including grebes, herons, osprey, turkey vulture, hawks, sandpipers, woodpeckers, warblers, and orioles);
  • a local swimming hole, enclosed by a mini-berm, with beach and snack bar.
Please take a few minutes to help us by answering the following questions and returning the completed questionnaire to one of the locations mentioned below. Thank you!  
(Note that this web page is a print-only version of the survey.  Thus if you want to fill it out and send it in, you will need to print it and then mail or fax it to the locations given at the bottom of the form.)
How Do You Use the Res?
  1. How often do you visit the Reservoir? 

    2. Daily _____ Several times per week _____ Once per week _____ Several times per month _____
    Once per month _____ Every few months _____ Not at all _____
     
  2. Rate what you value most about the Res? (1 – most; 3 – least )

    3. Recreation _____ Preferred dog-walking spot _____ Wildlife Habitat _____ Natural beauty _____
    Ecological significance _____ Neighborhood gathering spot _____ Neighborhood symbol _____
    Other ____________________________________________________________________________ 
     
  3. What recreation(s) do you enjoy at the Res? (check all that apply)  
    4. Sit _____ Fish _____ Swim _____ 
    Jog _____ Playground(s) _____ Sunbathe ______ Birdwatch _____ Walk around Res _____ 
    Walk pet(s) _____ Picnic _____ Watch sunset _____ Ice skate _____ X-country ski _____ 
    Other _____________________________________________________________________________
     
  4. When do you use the Res? (check all that apply) 

    5. Season: Spring _____ Summer _____ Fall _____ Winter _____
    Time of Week: Weekdays _____ Weekends _____Both _____
    Time of day: Early morning _____ Mid morning _____ Lunchtime _____ 
    Early afternoon _____ Late afternoon _____ Evening _____
    How much time do you typically spend at the Res during a visit? ________________
     
  5. Where do you like to sit or stop?

    6. Beach area benches/trees _____ Beach area playground _____ Along the shore _____ 
    Lexington/Rindge St. park _____ Walkway connecting to Hurd Field _____ Other __________
     
  6. Do you use the Minuteman Bike Trail?   Yes _____ No _____ Don’t know _____

    7. If yes, do you often stop at the Res along the way? Yes _____ No _____
     
  7. Who comes to the Res with you?  Family _____ Friends _____ Ages? _____________________

    8. How did you find out about the Res?Friends/neighbors _____ Local newspaper _____ Drove past ___ Club/Association _____ Arlington Recreation literature _____ Other (please specify): 
     
  8. How did you find out about the Res?   Friends/neighbors _____ Local newspaper _____ 
    Drove past ___ Club/Association _____ Arlington Recreation literature _____ Other (please specify): 
    9.  
Current Issues

"The Res" is one of our town’s few protected open spaces and bodies of water. It faces several challenges to its future. Among the issues under discussion are:

  • concerns that the roots of existing trees could undermine the dam;
  • the high cost of repairing and properly maintaining the reservoir, as currently operated;
  • the need for a quality public swimming facility; and 
  • the natural role of this body of water, as a wildlife habitat and in the greater watershed.
The town of Arlington has commissioned a study to determine the safety of the current Res dam structure. As always, public safety is the number one concern. It is still too early to know the complete set of solutions. Some of the initially proposed options could impact:
  • trees on the dam (the area from the end of the parking lot all the way around to the playground on the Lexington side);
  • swimming area; and/or
  • larger body of water (non-swimable area) and wildlife using it.
Public input on the future direction is critical!
  1. Which of the following scenarios would you like the town to study and pursue solutions for?

    2. ______ Cut down trees, leave water areas as is: Make necessary repairs to the dam, perform on-going maintenance to the dam and keep the Reservoir area functioning essentially as it does at the present time. (This may require cutting down trees and clearing vegetation.)
    ______ Lower the water level year round: Make required structural repairs to the dam and perform on-going maintenance. (This may save trees but affect operation of the swimming area.)
    ______ Drain the water: Convert and manage the Reservoir as a wetland and decommission the dam. (This may save trees but affect operation of the swimming area)
    ______ Would need more info to respond.
    ______ Other (please specify): ___________________________________________________________
     
  2. What about the swimming hole?

    3. ______ Make necessary repairs so that it remains an outdoor swimming hole.
    ______ Abandon the swimming area and raise funds to build a town swimming pool instead.
    ______ Make necessary repairs for the outdoor swimming hole and raise funds to build a town pool.
    ______ Would need more info to respond.
     
  3. Please identify other improvements most important to you. (circle all that apply and rank the top 3 in each category)
Beach Area at the swimming hole: Improve swimming water quality _____ Fewer birds & droppings on beach _____
Fewer dog droppings _____ Enhanced picnic facilities _____
Additional beach plantings _____ Improved grass in beach area _____ 
Better parking _____ Bicycle racks _____
Handicapped "friendly" paths _____ Better signs _____ 
Better overall maintenance _____  All other areas surrounding the Res: More seating around the shoreline _____ Renovated paths _____
Manage area for wildlife diversity _____ Lowell St. to Bikeway paved path _____
Year-round rest rooms _____ Handicapped accessible paths _____
Year-round trash receptacles _____ Year-round access to parking lot_____
Pedestrian lighting _____ Small fishing pier/wall _____
Water chestnut removal _____ Renovated bridge at dam spillway _____
Remove "stump dump" area _____ Bicycle racks _____
Better signs _____ Other (please specify) _______________
  1. Would you like to work on the committee that is addressing Res issues or stay informed about them? 

    2. Work on issues _____ Stay informed only _____
       
  2. Additional comments (use extra paper, if necessary): _______________________________________

    3. _____________________________________________________________________________________
Name: ___________________________________________ Telephone: (_____ ) _________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________

City: _______________________ State: ______ Zip: ____________ E-mail: ________________

Return survey to:
By Mail: Leslie Mayer, 131 Crescent Hill Ave., Arlington, MA 02474
By Fax: Laura Moore 617-254-6459
By E-mail: Lois Wainstock lwainsto@emerald.tufts.edu

This survey is sponsored by the Reservoir Committee of the Vision2020 Environmental Task Group of Arlington. Survey version October-99.
Visit the website www.arlington2020.org/reservoir  for more information about the committee's activities.

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