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Department of Conservation and Recreation

January 30, 2023

"MDCR" redirects here. For the airport with that ICAO code, see Cabo Rojo Airport.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. The DCR's mission is "To protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources for the well-being of all."[1] The agency is the largest landowner in Massachusetts.[2]

Department of Conservation and Recreation
Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation seal
Agency logo
Department overview
Formed2003
Preceding agencies
  • Metropolitan District Commission
  • Department of Environmental Management
JurisdictionMassachusetts, United States
Headquarters251 Causeway Street, Boston
Department executive
  • Doug Rice, Commissioner
Website[1]

History and structure

 
 
Former seal and logotypes of Mass DEM and the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) which merged into DCR

The Department of Conservation and Recreation was formed in 2003 under Governor Mitt Romney, when the former Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) and Department of Environmental Management (DEM) were merged to form the DCR. The DCR is under the general management of the Commissioner of the DCR. The general administration divisions; Human Resources Division, the Financial Division, and External and Legislative Affairs, report directly to the Commissioner.[citation needed] DCR is responsible for the stewardship of its lands, from general maintenance—such as emptying trash barrels, cutting grass, and making building improvements—to landscape-level management.

DCR also provides services beyond its boundaries, for example, Bureau of Forest Fire Control is available to aid and assist local cities and towns during natural disasters as well as periods of high fire danger, while its Bureau of Forestry administers forest management on both state and private lands.[3] It also manages its land through the help of partners, including road repairs occasionally implemented by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation at the request of DCR. Police protection has been provided by the Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Massachusetts State Police after the MDC's police department was merged into the State Police in 1992. The DCR also maintains its own Bureau of Ranger Services which provides for public safety, search & rescue, and enforces violations on DCR owned and managed property. In addition to partnering with state agencies, DCR coordinates with local and national volunteer organizations, such as the Mystic River Watershed Association, Friends of the Middlesex Fells, Appalachian Mountain Club, and local student organizations.

Division of State Parks

The Division of State Parks is responsible for the maintenance and management of over 310,000 acres (1,250 km2) of state-owned forests and parks. These areas are designated as either Woodlands, Parklands, or Reserves, and are managed to maintain specific land-use characteristics.[4] From the agency's beginning in 2003 until 2012, DCR land management was organized into three divisions: State Parks and Recreation, Urban Parks and Recreation, and Water Supply Protection. In 2012, State Parks and Urban Parks were unified into one division.[5]

Within the greater Boston area there are urban wilds, historic sites, and other naturally aesthetic or significant environmental properties. The origins of the collective environments in this part of the division date back to the creation of the Metropolitan Park Commission in 1893, forming the first such regional system in the United States.[6] (see Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston for history). Lands outside of the greater Boston area includes some 29 campgrounds, over 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of trails, 87 beaches, 37 swimming, wading, and spray pools, 62 playgrounds, 55 ballfields, 145 miles (233 km) of paved bike and rail trails and once private homes and estates that are now a part of the DCR's Historic Curatorship Program.[citation needed]

List of State Parks

Division of Water Supply Protection

The Division of Water Supply Protection manages 150,000 acres (610 km2) of watershed lands and is responsible for the protection of the drinking water supply for approximately 2.5 million residents of Massachusetts, primarily in Greater Boston. This division monitors lakes and ponds, well drillers, and rainfall throughout the Commonwealth.[7]

Protected Water Supply Areas

  • Quabbin Reservoir
  • Ware River Watershed
  • Wachusett Reservoir
  • Sudbury Reservoir

Bureau of Engineering

The Bureau of Engineering provides professional engineering, design, and construction management services in support of DCR properties. In addition to providing engineering services for over 450,000 acres (1,800 km2) of parks, forests, watersheds, beaches, 340 dams, and numerous recreational facilities, the Bureau of Engineering also manages over 525 lane miles of parkways and nearly 300 bridges and tunnels notable for their landmark stature and importance in the Commonwealth’s transportation system.[citation needed] The Bureau of Engineering managed and/or operated a number of bridges across the Commonwealth prior to November 2009. All non-pedestrian bridges were transferred to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on November 1, 2009 as part of a transportation reform law.[8][9] Originally, a certain number of bridges listed in the act creating MassDOT were to be transferred after December 31, 2014 when ongoing construction was completed. However, a Memorandum of Agreement between DCR and MassDOT instead transferred these bridges in 2009 along with all other DCR vehicular bridges.[8]

List of parkways

The Bureau of Engineering manages and/or operates a number of parkways across the Commonwealth, including:

List of dams

The Bureau of Engineering owns and manages and/or operates a number of dams and flood control facilities across the Commonwealth, including:

  • Irish Dam (Grafton)
  • Moose Hill Reservoir Dam (Spencer)
  • Pontoosuc Lake Dam (Pittsfield)
  • Unionville Pond Dam (Holden)
  • Charles River Dam (Boston)

See also

References

  1. ^ . Archived from the original on 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 2005-11-09.
  3. ^ "Bureau of Forestry". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Landscape Designations". Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  5. ^ 2012 Annual Report (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. 2012. p. 27. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. ^ . Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009.
  7. ^ "Division of Water Supply Protection". Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  8. ^ a b Pazzanese, Christina (September 12, 2009). "A big concern on two major parkways". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  9. ^ "Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2009 (Section 177)". The 186th General Court of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2009-11-05.

External links

  • Department of Conservation and Recreation website
  • Roadways under the purview of DCR

January 30, 2023
department, conservation, recreation, mdcr, redirects, here, airport, with, that, icao, code, cabo, rojo, airport, state, agency, commonwealth, massachusetts, situated, executive, office, energy, environmental, affairs, best, known, parks, parkways, mission, p. MDCR redirects here For the airport with that ICAO code see Cabo Rojo Airport The Department of Conservation and Recreation DCR is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs It is best known for its parks and parkways The DCR s mission is To protect promote and enhance our common wealth of natural cultural and recreational resources for the well being of all 1 The agency is the largest landowner in Massachusetts 2 Department of Conservation and RecreationMassachusetts Dept of Conservation and Recreation sealAgency logoDepartment overviewFormed2003Preceding agenciesMetropolitan District CommissionDepartment of Environmental ManagementJurisdictionMassachusetts United StatesHeadquarters251 Causeway Street BostonDepartment executiveDoug Rice CommissionerWebsite 1 Contents 1 History and structure 1 1 Division of State Parks 1 1 1 List of State Parks 1 2 Division of Water Supply Protection 1 2 1 Protected Water Supply Areas 1 3 Bureau of Engineering 1 3 1 List of parkways 1 3 2 List of dams 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory and structure Edit Former seal and logotypes of Mass DEM and the Metropolitan District Commission MDC which merged into DCR The Department of Conservation and Recreation was formed in 2003 under Governor Mitt Romney when the former Metropolitan District Commission MDC and Department of Environmental Management DEM were merged to form the DCR The DCR is under the general management of the Commissioner of the DCR The general administration divisions Human Resources Division the Financial Division and External and Legislative Affairs report directly to the Commissioner citation needed DCR is responsible for the stewardship of its lands from general maintenance such as emptying trash barrels cutting grass and making building improvements to landscape level management DCR also provides services beyond its boundaries for example Bureau of Forest Fire Control is available to aid and assist local cities and towns during natural disasters as well as periods of high fire danger while its Bureau of Forestry administers forest management on both state and private lands 3 It also manages its land through the help of partners including road repairs occasionally implemented by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation at the request of DCR Police protection has been provided by the Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Massachusetts State Police after the MDC s police department was merged into the State Police in 1992 The DCR also maintains its own Bureau of Ranger Services which provides for public safety search amp rescue and enforces violations on DCR owned and managed property In addition to partnering with state agencies DCR coordinates with local and national volunteer organizations such as the Mystic River Watershed Association Friends of the Middlesex Fells Appalachian Mountain Club and local student organizations Division of State Parks Edit Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord The Division of State Parks is responsible for the maintenance and management of over 310 000 acres 1 250 km2 of state owned forests and parks These areas are designated as either Woodlands Parklands or Reserves and are managed to maintain specific land use characteristics 4 From the agency s beginning in 2003 until 2012 DCR land management was organized into three divisions State Parks and Recreation Urban Parks and Recreation and Water Supply Protection In 2012 State Parks and Urban Parks were unified into one division 5 Within the greater Boston area there are urban wilds historic sites and other naturally aesthetic or significant environmental properties The origins of the collective environments in this part of the division date back to the creation of the Metropolitan Park Commission in 1893 forming the first such regional system in the United States 6 see Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston for history Lands outside of the greater Boston area includes some 29 campgrounds over 2 000 miles 3 200 km of trails 87 beaches 37 swimming wading and spray pools 62 playgrounds 55 ballfields 145 miles 233 km of paved bike and rail trails and once private homes and estates that are now a part of the DCR s Historic Curatorship Program citation needed List of State Parks Edit List of Massachusetts State ParksDivision of Water Supply Protection Edit The Division of Water Supply Protection manages 150 000 acres 610 km2 of watershed lands and is responsible for the protection of the drinking water supply for approximately 2 5 million residents of Massachusetts primarily in Greater Boston This division monitors lakes and ponds well drillers and rainfall throughout the Commonwealth 7 Protected Water Supply Areas Edit Quabbin Reservoir Ware River Watershed Wachusett Reservoir Sudbury ReservoirBureau of Engineering Edit The Bureau of Engineering provides professional engineering design and construction management services in support of DCR properties In addition to providing engineering services for over 450 000 acres 1 800 km2 of parks forests watersheds beaches 340 dams and numerous recreational facilities the Bureau of Engineering also manages over 525 lane miles of parkways and nearly 300 bridges and tunnels notable for their landmark stature and importance in the Commonwealth s transportation system citation needed The Bureau of Engineering managed and or operated a number of bridges across the Commonwealth prior to November 2009 All non pedestrian bridges were transferred to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on November 1 2009 as part of a transportation reform law 8 9 Originally a certain number of bridges listed in the act creating MassDOT were to be transferred after December 31 2014 when ongoing construction was completed However a Memorandum of Agreement between DCR and MassDOT instead transferred these bridges in 2009 along with all other DCR vehicular bridges 8 List of parkways Edit The Bureau of Engineering manages and or operates a number of parkways across the Commonwealth including Lynn Fells Parkway in Melrose Alewife Brook Parkway Arborway Birmingham Parkway Blue Hills Parkway Blue Hills Reservation Parkways Boylston Street Back Bay sections Breakheart Reservation Parkways Cambridge Parkway Carey Circle Charles River Reservation Parkways Charles Street Charles Circle to Leverett Circle Chestnut Hill Drive William J Day Boulevard Fellsway Connector Parkways Fellsmere Park Parkways Fenway Fresh Pond Parkway Furnace Brook Parkway Hammond Pond Parkway Hull Shore Drive Jamaicaway Land Boulevard Lynn Fells Parkway Lynnway Lynn Shore Drive Memorial Drive Middlesex Fells Reservation Parkways Morrissey Boulevard Mount Greylock Summit Road Mount Wachusett Summit Road Mystic Valley Parkway Nahant Beach Boulevard Nantasket Avenue Neponset Valley Parkway North Beacon Street Brighton amp Watertown sections Norumbega Road Weston Old Harbor Reservation Parkways Old Colony Parkway Park Drive Parkman Drive Quincy Shore Drive Recreation Road Weston Revere Beach Boulevard Revere Beach Parkway Riverway Stony Brook Reservation Parkways Storrow Drive Truman Parkway VFW Parkway West Roxbury Parkway Winthrop Parkway Winthrop Shore DriveList of dams Edit The Bureau of Engineering owns and manages and or operates a number of dams and flood control facilities across the Commonwealth including Irish Dam Grafton Moose Hill Reservoir Dam Spencer Pontoosuc Lake Dam Pittsfield Unionville Pond Dam Holden Charles River Dam Boston See also EditList of numbered routes in MassachusettsReferences Edit Mission Archived from the original on 2015 04 22 Retrieved 2013 11 11 Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts S A M Archived from the original on 2005 11 09 Bureau of Forestry Commonwealth of Massachusetts Retrieved 11 November 2013 Landscape Designations Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Commonwealth of Massachusetts Retrieved 11 November 2013 2012 Annual Report PDF Department of Conservation and Recreation 2012 p 27 Retrieved 11 November 2013 Division of Urban Parks and Recreation History Commonwealth of Massachusetts Archived from the original on 8 December 2009 Division of Water Supply Protection Commonwealth of Massachusetts a b Pazzanese Christina September 12 2009 A big concern on two major parkways The Boston Globe Retrieved 2009 11 05 Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2009 Section 177 The 186th General Court of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Retrieved 2009 11 05 External links EditDepartment of Conservation and Recreation website Roadways under the purview of DCR Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Department of Conservation and Recreation amp oldid 1124155426, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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