The Charles River Basin Commission, consisting of three members appointed by the governor with federal authorization, was established pursuant to St 1903, c 465 to make examinations and plans for and to carry out the construction of a dam across the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge. This included removal of the Craigie Bridge, construction of a lock and drawbridge and wasteways, dredging, reinforcing canal walls, and construction of marginal conduits for sewage overflow; also construction of an embankment and public park by the City of Boston. St 1906, c 402 transferred the last responsibilities to the commission; other related construction including that of boathouses and landings was authorized by St 1905, c 65; St 1907, c 404; and St 1908, c 445 and c 663. At the completion of all these projects in 1910 the commission was disbanded and control over the Charles River Dam was transferred to the Metropolitan Park Commission, pursuant to St 1909, c 524. For an expanded agency history, see http://sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf.

The Dept. of Environmental Management (DEM) was established pursuant to St 1974, c 806 (effective July 1975), superseding the Dept. of Natural Resources, and including its Board of Natural Resources (renamed Board of Environmental Management per St 1975, c 706, s 36); also its Division of Forest and Parks and Division of Water Resources (but not its divisions of fisheries and game, law enforcement, conservation services, marine fisheries, and mineral resources, placed elsewhere) and the Bureau of Solid Waste Disposal of the Dept. of Public Works. The Division of Waterways (construction function only) was transferred to DEM from the Dept. of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE) per St 1983, c 289, s 61 and c 589, s 16. The Bureau of Solid Waste Disposal was deleted from DEM per St 1987, c 584, s 2A and its functions transferred to DEQE. For an expanded agency history, see: http://sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf.

St 1893, c 407, established the Metropolitan Park Commission, also known as the Board of Metropolitan Park Commissioners, to acquire, maintain, and make available to the public for exercise and recreation open space in Boston and surrounding communities to be known as the Metropolitan Parks District. The legislation set limits to be observed in acquiring property, but granted the commission authority to make and enforce regulations for its use. For an expanded agency history, see: http://sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf.

On May 28, 1890, the Massachusetts House of Representatives resolved that there be investigations and reports on local birds and their destruction of crops. On Feb. 6, 1894, Edward Howe Forbush was elected Ornithologist to the State Board of Agriculture in accordance with its by-laws. St 1908, c 245 established the office of State Ornithologist under the State Board of Agriculture (State Dept. of Agriculture per St 1918, c 268). The duty of that official was to investigate the distribution and food habits of local birds, to determine the relationships between the birds and outbreaks of insects and other animals, and to discover the best method of protecting fruits and crops from birds. Forbush was appointed to the post and served until 1928, from 1919 as director of the Division of Ornithology in the Dept. of Agriculture, per St 1919, c 350, s 37. The division was abolished by St 1933, c 74. St 1934, c 173 reestablished the office of State Ornithologist in the Division of Fisheries and Game of the Dept. of Conservation. For an expanded agency history, see: http://sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf.

Per Massachusetts St 1919, c 350, s 123-129, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) inherited from the Metropolitan Park Commission and the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board, which were abolished, functions relating to the metropolitan parks, water, and sewerage districts, consisting of Boston and surrounding communities. Per St 2003, c 41, s 1, the MDC was replaced by the Division of Urban Parks and Recreation in a new Dept. of Conservation and Recreation. For an expanded agency history, see: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf

When the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) was established in 1919 as a successor to the Metropolitan Park Commission and the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board, the Engineering Dept. of the MDC's Parks Division continued the functions of the Engineering Dept. of the Metropolitan Park Commission, namely, to plan, engineer, and supervise the construction of parkways, bridges, locks, rinks, and other recreational and park facilities under the commission's jurisdiction. Known also as Park Engineering, Parks Engineering, and the Parks Engineering Dept., it was designated at least as early as 1953 as the Division of Parks Engineering. By 1975 it had been absorbed into the Engineering Division. Name authority note: Series relating to the agencies described above can be found by searching the following access points for the time period stated: 1893?-1919--Massachusetts. Metropolitan Park Commission. Engineering Dept.; 1919-1975?--Massachusetts. Metropolitan District Commission. Division of Parks Engineering.

St 1947, c 583, which abolished the Metropolitan Water Supply Commission, placed all its water and sewerage system projects then under construction within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), which has authorized to establish a Division of Construction. The Construction Division, as it was called, carried out construction projects for the commission's Water and Sewerage Divisions. By 1972 it was known as the Engineering (or Construction Engineering) Division. By 1975 it had absorbed the functions of the Division of Parks Engineering. In 1981, in reorganization of the MDC, the division was abolished, and its functions distributed among Parks, Water, and Sewerage Divisions. For an expanded agency history, see: http://sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf.

The Metropolitan District Water Supply Commission was established by St 1926, c 375, for the purpose of extending and increasing the water supply of the metropolitan water system, and of such cities and towns not members of the Metropolitan Water District as might require water from that system. Abolished by St 1947, c 583, its functions were transferred to the Metropolitan District Commission, specifically to its Construction Division. For an expanded agency history, see: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf

St 1893, c 407, established the Metropolitan Park Commission, also known as the Board of Metropolitan Park Commissioners, to acquire, maintain, and make available to the public for exercise and recreation open space in Boston and surrounding communities to be known as the Metropolitan Parks District. The legislation set limits to be observed in acquiring property, but granted the commission authority to make and enforce regulations for its use. For an expanded agency history, see: http://sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf.

Massachusetts St 1914, c 720 established the State Forest Commission (1914-1919) consisting of three commissioners, one of whom was the State Forester. Earlier, St 1904, c 409 established the Office of State Forester within the State Board of Agriculture to: promote the perpetuation, extension, and proper management of the forest lands of the Commonwealth, both public and private. St 1919, c 350, ss 39-44 established the Dept. of Conservation (1919-1953), and merged into one agency the Office of the State Forester (1904-1919), the State Forest Commission (1914-1919), the Commission on Fisheries and Game (1902-1919), and the Dept. of Animal Industry (1912-1919). The Dept. of Conservation was organized into three divisions: Forestry, Fisheries and Game, and Animal Industry. For an expanded agency history, see: http://sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf.

For an expanded agency history, see: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/collection-guides/FA_EN.pdf