Temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s this weekend and are likely to send Bay Staters flocking to beaches, lakes, ponds and other outdoor spaces to keep cool.
That's fine with Gov. Charlie Baker, so long as everyone keeps their distance or wears a mask.
"While we think it's critically important for people to continue to wear face coverings if they can't distance both indoors and outdoors, we do want them to enjoy the outdoors," Baker said during a visit Friday to Middleborough
Baker was there to highlight a regional planning effort to mitigate flooding throughout the Assawompset Pond complex. The towns that border the great pond are using a $100,000 state grant from the Division of Ecological Restoration.
"We're obviously here to talk a little bit about a great pond, which is what you get to be if you're not a lake, and you're this big," Baker said.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides said some mitigation ideas that will be studied include replacement of undersized culverts and wetland and cranberry bog restoration to catch and store flood water. Discussion about mitigation began after a massive flood in 2010 that caused extensive property damage, according local leaders.
Baker said climate change will continue to create environmental issues like the problems with flooding at the Assawompset Pond complex and make mitigation planning increasingly important. Over the next five to 15 years, Baker said thousands of culverts will need to be upgraded, even though culverts "are not sexy" and "don't generate a heck of a lot of votes."
