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Home , Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Quabbin Reservoir, Wachusett Dam, Wachusett Reservoir, Weston Reservoir

Water Level Control When it rains, it pours...into the reservoirs John Gregoire, MWRA Reservoir Operations Program Manager

The holds back up to 65 billion gallons of water from the in the . While the amount of water varies with the weather and the seasons, the supply to the river remains relatively constant. reservoir is essentially a bowl designed to collect runoff from its watershed. Some reservoir watersheds are Aconsidered “flashy” in that they are less able to absorb rainfall, resulting in runoff that quickly fills the bowl. Typi- cally this is due to a high percentage of impervious surfaces, like paved parking lots. Large watersheds with substantial forest cover have a greater ability to act like a sponge and hold the rainfall and release it more slowly. Even these watersheds, however, can become saturated, for example with spring rain- fall on top of melting snowpack, resulting in more runoff fill- ing the bowl. Reservoir managers have to balance runoff with existing water levels and operational needs for each reservoir. DCR’s Division of Water Supply operations vary across the system and the Protection oversees the well being seasons. of the reservoir systems and the MWRA monitors reservoir elevations, land that surrounds them. The Mas- precipitation, inflows and discharges at sachusetts Water Resources Author- all of the reservoirs (see Page 4). Data ity (MWRA) operates spillways, are collected hourly and daily and several gates and valves at source and reports are generated to keep a wide emergency distribution reservoirs audience of MWRA, DCR and other to maintain elevations for water interested parties informed. The follow- supply needs, as well as to control ing details the way the reservoirs in this NUMBER 34 routine and storm-related inflows drinking water system are managed. and releases for dam safety, and Fall 2015 public safety downstream. The The Quabbin Reservoir watershed is two agencies work cooperatively Department 120,000 acres (187 square miles). This to operate this massive, complex of Conservation and Recreation source reservoir’s surface area is 38 system that provides drinking Division of Water Supply Protection square miles. There is a main spillway at www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply.htm water to a third of the state. These Continued on Page 4 2 Downstream • Fall 2015 Kiosks Along Route 122 Describe Lost Villages Remembrance of a busy time By George Barnes, Worcester Telegram and Gazette (reprinted with permission) here are few reminders any- more, but along Route 122 from TPaxton through Petersham was once a thriving area of industry and community life. The small villages along the way were lost to the need for good drinking water, and there has been little until now to remind people of the history of the area. Through the efforts of local residents, the Regional Planning Commission, the state and the Federal Highway Admin- istration, some of that history is now available to those traveling the Route 122 Lost Villages Scenic Byway, if

Jonathan Yeo, at left, director of DCR’s Division of Water Supply Protection, and In This Issue: Wesley Dwelly of Oakham talk after an unveiling ceremony for the Route 122 Lost Vil- lages Scenic Byway information kiosk in Oakham. (Photo: T&G Staff/Paul Kapteyn) Water Level Control 1 they are willing to stop for a few min- to Orange. Along with Coldbrook How reservoirs function for flood control utes, read a bit and look around. Springs and White Valley, the lost “People drive a scenic byway and villages include in Route 122 Kiosks 2 Roadway to the past all they see is scenery, not history,” Paxton, Nichewaug Village in Peter- said Bill Musha of Oakham, whose sham and the Village of West Rutland. Fishing Wrap-up 3 family came from the lost village of All were lost because of the creation of A successful Quabbin fishing season White Valley, which is on the Oakham- the Quabbin Reservoir and Wachusett Just for fun 7 Barre line. Reservoir and the need to preserve Flood control word search In helping dedicate historical kiosks land around water sources to keep the for Coldbrook Springs in Oakham and reservoirs clean. Then and Now 8 Reservoir discharge infrastructure White Valley, Mr. Mucha said the his- At the dedication of the White Vil- tory is there for people willing to stop. lage kiosk, Barre Selectman Kathlyn Photo/Image Credits In Coldbrook Springs a kiosk and Inman suggested the lost villages pres- Page 1 DCR Page 2 Top - Paul Kapteyn, Worcester T&G an engraved stone mark the area. Wes ent a teaching opportunity. Bottom - MWRA Page 3 Clif Read Dwelly of Oakham said the area once “All students who are juniors in Page 4 MWRA Page 5 MWRA had inns, homes, stores, a post office schools should take a civics Page 6 Top - Paul Penner Bottom - MWRA and factories. course about the Quabbin Reservoir Page 8 Mass Archives “Along here there were once three and what each of us have given up,” gas stations,” he said. “Now there are she said. none in Oakham, and Barre has one.” Trish Settles of the Central Mas- One family, the Parker family, was sachusetts Regional Planning Com- so prominent and successful with busi- mission said the lost villages byway is nesses that Coldbrook was also called 29 miles, and more kiosks are planned Parkersville by many people. along the way to give visitors an The Route 122 Lost Villages Scenic opportunity to discover the history of Byway includes Barre, Oakham, the area, which is now generally unde- Paxton, Petersham and Rutland and is veloped state watershed land. Wachusett Dam being extended into Franklin County Continued on Page 6 Downstream • Fall 2015 3 Fishing Wrap-Up Quabbin’s Fishing Area 3 Another great season at Quabbin Reservoir Named to Honor Paul Lyons, DCR/DWSP Environmental Analyst Senator Stephen Brewer uabbin Reservoir provides Quabbin was first opened for fish- high-quality fishing opportuni- ing (from portions of the shoreline) in Qties in a wilderness-like setting 1946 – just 2 weeks after the reservoir for tens of thousands of visitors each filled for the first time. Boat fishing year. The clear clean water, varied was first allowed in 1952; by 1954, aquatic habitats, and outstanding scen- almost 18,000 anglers fished from ery make for rewarding experiences, boats on the reservoir. More than regardless of the catch! 12,000 others fished from the shore- The Quabbin fishing season runs line. from mid-April through mid-October, Since then, numbers of users have and in a typical year, more than 30,000 fluctuated, usually in response to visitors use the three Boat Launch weather conditions. During the 2015 Areas (BLAs) that DCR operates at the fishing season, more than 30,700 Quabbin Reservoir’s Fishing Area #3 reservoir. Those with a fishing license people visited Quabbin’s BLAs – was dedicated in October of 2014 to honor retired State Senator Stephen M. can launch their own boat or rent a almost 12,000 used DCR rental boats; Brewer. State officials, local legislators, rowboat, motorboat, canoe or kayak more than 14,000 launched private and members of the senator’s family for very reasonable full or half-day boats; and about 3,500 parked at a gathered at Quabbin Fishing Area #3 in rates. Once on the reservoir, they have BLA and then fished from shore. Hardwick for a ceremony to designate access to more than 15,000 acres of Despite the modest rates, DCR still the facility as the “Stephen M. Brewer Fishing Area.” Senator Brewer served prime fishing habitat. Although 27 fish generates a fair amount of income - in the Massachusetts State Legislature species can be found at Quabbin, par- from its boat rentals and from park- since 1988, representing the second ticularly popular target species include ing and boat launching fees. Those largest Senate district in the Common- lake trout, landlocked salmon, several revenues only partially offset the cost wealth. A long time advocate for parks and open space issues throughout the bass species and rainbow trout. of operating the fishing program. state, Senator Brewer was a passion- In addition to those who access the Since 2009, fishermen have been able ate supporter of effective watershed reservoir through the three BLAs, an to purchase a Season Pass that allows management, as it had a direct impact unknown number of fishermen choose them to park and/or launch a private to his constituents. He led the creation to hike in through one of many gates boat all season long for just one initial of the Water Supply Protection Trust in 2004, which provides effective oversight, around the reservation to fish from fee. On average, more than 600 people support and consistent funding from the shoreline. More than 46 miles of annually use this money-saving option. MWRA to DCR’s Division of Water Supply reservoir shoreline are open to shore In 2014, one avid fisherman used his Protection for watershed protection. fishing. season pass 106 times! Continued on Page 6 - Reservoir Watch - Reservoir levels and 6-month precipitation Reservoir Quabbin Wachusett System-wide 6-month Water Usage Minimum 526.01’ 387.12’ (in million gallons per day) March to August 2015 % Full 92.6% 84.5% Date(s) 8/31/15 3/26/15 250 248.47 253.89 222.37 223.75 200 193.7 184.84 Maximum 528.37’ 390.87’ 150 % Full 96.9% 91.8% 100 Date 4/28/15 6/23/15 50

Precipitation 20.85” 17.17” A peaceful day fishing on the Quabbin Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Reservoir. Seasonal Avg 25.09” 23.18” 4 Downstream • Fall 2015

Water Level Control From Page 1 Dams and Reservoirs in the DCR/MWRA Water Supply System This map of the DCR/MWRA reservoir water supply system shows the dams and reservoirs that are located across the state from Quabbin to Boston. The light shaded communities are many of the 51 municipalities that obtain their water supply service from MWRA and DCR. The safety ranking lists the hierarchy of dams under the regulations enforced by DCR’s Office of Dam Safety.

Legend Safety Ranking DCR/MWRA Dams and Dikes (shared responsibility) (H) High Hazard Class DCR Watershed Dams (S) Significant Hazard Class MWRA Dams (L) Low Hazard Class MWRA Water Service Communities (N/A) Not Regulated by DCR Office of Dam Safety ¶

530 ft. elevation (full reservoir) with a releases of 45 MGD and 71 MGD Massachusetts statute, MWRA must lower notch at 528 ft. elevation. This when the River reaches release 12 million gallons to the lower spillway has stop logs which lower flows between June 1 and Nashua River each week; this amount can be inserted and removed to release November 30. is often exceeded. During the non- water. MWRA consults with DCR Given the massive size of Quab- winter months, this is typically done Quabbin staff over this operation. bin, however, there is really little that by release of water through the foun- There is also an auxiliary spillway can be done to “control” the elevation tain below the main dam. which has never been used since the in a short time frame. In a wet year The reservoir’s spillway design reservoir first filled in 1941. Quabbin is like a large freight train, it analysis required a full Probable Maxi- MWRA releases water through is slow to gain momentum but, once it mum Flood analysis because there two recently upgraded valves into starts, it will continue to fill and then is a hydropower facility at Cosgrove the Swift River. Under a 1927 “War spill. For example, in 2006, Quabbin Intake that is permitted by the Federal Department” Permit, a minimum flow spilled continuously for 306 days! Energy Regulatory Commission. That of 20 million gallons a day (MGD) analysis required a major reconstruc- must be released daily to the Swift Wachusett Reservoir tion of the main spillway, an expanded River, which flows to the Chicopee The Wachusett Reservoir is the auxiliary spillway and a new hydrau- River and then the . catchment for a watershed that is lically-operated 100 ft. long stainless The permit also requires higher 75,000 acres (117 square miles). This steel crest gate. source reservoir is Wachusett Reservoir elevation is The Quabbin managed very differ- much more responsive to storm and Reservoir’s spillway ently than Quabbin. runoff events than Quabbin because releasing water The reservoir elevation it is a smaller reservoir with a smaller over the top of the wall (used when the is maintained in the watershed with a bit more impervious reservoir exceeds range of 390 ft. to 391.5 surface. For major rain storms or hur- 100% capacity) and ft.; when there is full ricane preparation, MWRA can lower the lower spillway. ice cover the operat- water elevation by releases through a The lower spillway enables water ing band is dropped to valve in the main dam’s Lower Gate- releases even when 388 ft. to allow storage house. Should the reservoir elevation the reservoir is not for spring runoff. As be above 390 ft., the spillway crest completely full. required by an 1895 gate can also be used to discharge Downstream • Fall 2015 5 record snowpack in the watersheds to prevent uncontrolled spilling. MWRA elevation control in the Sudbury system is much attuned to downstream conditions given the urbanized nature of the area. MWRA staff routinely monitors the Sudbury River at Saxonville for flood conditions during significant rain events. There are limits, however, to MWRA’s ability to control flows to the Sudbury River, though at times the gates at both Sudbury and Foss Reser- Wachusett crest gates, raised (at left) and lowered (right) allowing excess water to flow voirs are closed to temporarily detain through the spillway and into the Nashua River water or more water may be released in advance of a storm to create stor- excess water. During major storms, operating band at . age. MWRA also cooperates with the MWRA will often adjust the crest gate Sluice gates are raised to discharge Northeast River Forecast Center by elevation throughout a storm period to water into Stony Brook, which dis- routinely providing reservoir opera- “pace” inflows to outflows so as not charges to Foss Reservoir. At just tions data for their flood modeling. to create downstream problems in the 3,400 acres (five square miles), the The last time these two reservoir Nashua River. MWRA staff monitors Foss Reservoir watershed is truly spillways were activated was during a Nashua River conditions from just “flashy” with the elevation respond- series of spring storms on top of snow- below the Wachusett Dam and at criti- ing quickly to large rain storms. melt in 2010. cal nodes along the river as it flows When gate operations are made at the downstream. Sudbury Gatehouse, there is typically MWRA Distribution Reservoirs an associated gate opening at the Foss Sudbury Reservoir System There are a number of smaller Reservoir Gatehouse, which releases During the late 19th century, the emergency distribution reservoirs to Stearns Reservoir, and subsequently Sudbury Reservoir System was the in the MetroWest and Metro Boston spills to the Sudbury River. Mainte- primary source of drinking water for areas that are also part of the overall nance of the 1.5 ft. operating band at the much smaller but rapidly growing water transmission system. Most Foss Reservoir prevents uncontrolled Boston area. But with the completion distribution reservoirs were originally spilling. MWRA lowered the operat- of the Wachusett reservoir in 1906, designed to be filled by aqueducts ing bands in the spring of 2015 to this system was designated to backup and drawn down periodically accord- accommodate runoff from last winter’s status, where it remains today ready Continued on Page 6

Quabbin Reservoir Capacity to be employed if an emergency need Quabbin & Wachusett Reservoir's First of the Month Thursday, December 03, 2015 105% 530 Daily Elevation 395 Quabbin should arise. 528 394 * 7 am elevations * Elevation % Full 393 526 95% Quabbin Reservoir 523.60 88.2% 392 88.2% 524 The Sudbury Reservoir watershed is 391 522

Spillway 0.00 mg Quabbin 390 Wachusett % Capacity % 85% Precipitation 0.64 inches 520 14,000 acres (22 square miles). This 389 Quabbin Transfer 134.4 mg 518 388

Swift River Release @ USGS 516 387 75% Jan/14 Apr/14 Jul/14 Oct/14 Jan/15 Apr/15 Jul/15 Oct/15 Jan/16 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec emergency source reservoir is man- West Ware Gage 32.3 mg Quabbin Wachusett Connecticut River @ Montague 5Year-Ave Long Term -Ave Below Normal 2014 2015 City 7,570 cfs aged in conjunction with the down- Swift & Nashua River Release 3 day Conn. River Average 8,400 cfs 400 Quabbin Transfer & Diversion 450 stream Foss Reservoir. According to 400 Ware River Release 29.7 mg 300 350 an 1872 law, MWRA must release 1.5 Shaft 8 Diversion (to Quabbin) 0.0 mg 300 Wachusett 200 250

Wachusett Reservoir 390.38 90.8% MGD 200 MGD 150 MGD to the Sudbury River from this Precipitation 0.40 inches 100 Spillway 0.0 mg 100 50 Angle Pattern Sleeve Valve & system, which includes the off-line 0 0 Fountain Release 6.6 mg Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 Jan-16 Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 Jan-16 Total Nashua River Release 6.6 mg Swift River Release Nashua River Release Quabbin Transfer Shaft 8 Diversion to Quabbin Stearns and Brackett Reservoirs (Stea- USGS Gage @ Water St. 5.1 mg 0 mg Precipitation rns, Brackett, and Foss Reservoirs are 3.00 Precipitation 2.50 * (12:00 am to 12:00 am) * 2.00 commonly referred to, respectively, as 1.50 Quabbin 0.64 Worcester Airport 0.35 Inches 1.00 0.50 Framingham Reservoirs 1, 2, and 3). Stillwater River 0.40 Sudbury Dam 0.13 0.00 0.36 Boston Airport 0.32 Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 Jan-16 Quabbin Reservoir Wachusett Reservoir Sudbury Reservoir dam has a main Cosgrove Intake 0.40 Shaft 8 (Ware River) 0.29 spillway, but elevation control is done predominantly by the operation An example of the daily water report produced by MWRA for quick ref- of sluice gates. There is a one foot erence to vital water flow and usage information. 6 Downstream • Fall 2015 focus on the lost towns of the Quabbin Route 122 Kiosks - from Page 2 Reservoir, Indian caves in New Salem, “This is in recognition that the vil- Oakham Common, a tiny but perfect the Rutland Prison Camp and other lages and their history is compelling,” New England common, and the road small mill villages and farm settle- she said. “We encourage tourists to travels through Paxton and Barre ments. travel the byway, to explore, to seek commons. Barre Common is under There are six state-designated scenic and understand.” reconstruction. The route also passes byways in . The The focus on the lost villages is also close to the centers of Petersham and Lost Villages byway is the only one an effort to put a focus on the com- Rutland. in Central Massachusetts. They are all munities Route 122 passes through Ms. Settles said this is only the part of the U.S. Department of Trans- and the businesses visitors might like beginning. Along with the already portation’s National Scenic Byway to discover. Not far from Coldbrook is listed lost villages, there will be a program.

Kiosks with posters describing the “Lost Villages” in central Massachusetts are placed along a 29 mile stretch of Rt. 122 from Paxton to Orange.

same incentive to private boat owners Quabbin Fishing - from Page 3 as well. The state has also banned all For the most part, the Quabbin program of boat inspection and decon- lead sinkers and fishing jigs to reduce boat fishing program has operated on tamination was put in place. Since incidents of lead poisoning in loons. a seven day a week schedule. How- then, only boats that are contaminant- DCR has run a fishing line recycling ever, it’s also gone through a number free and secured with a DCR seal are program since 2006 that has 10 collec- of changes in recent years, largely in allowed to launch on the reservoir. tion containers for used monofilament response to factors beyond DCR’s In addition to the boat decontamina- line placed at key locations around control. Following the events of tion program, several other regulations the reservoir for use by fishermen. In September 11, 2001, the reservation and/or procedures help to minimize 2014 alone, that program removed was temporarily closed to all public potential environmental impacts from 42,000 feet of fishing line from the access. In 2009, when zebra mussels the fishing program. For example, Quabbin environment, thereby reduc- were discovered in a western Massa- DWSP is switching its rental motors ing a major threat to the health of chusetts lake, private boat launchings over to larger but cleaner 4-stroke loons, cormorants, owls, and other were halted for several weeks, until a outboard motors and is providing the Quabbin wildlife. Water Level Control - from Page 5 ing to demand needs. All of these reservoirs are maintained at specific operating bands. Excess water can be discharged through drains as needed. Some of these reservoirs, such as Norumbega Reservoir in Weston, Left: The Foss Dam spillway in Framingham. and Fells Reservoir and Spot Pond in Above: Parapet wall at . Stoneham, have emergency spillways storm inflows and protect the dam designed for major flood events. Yet from overtopping. others such as Weston Reservoir in shed so that a major storm event, MWRA and DCR will continue to Weston, and with the right combination of condi- cooperatively monitor the water levels in Boston, do not have spillways. tions, could produce enough inflow to of its reservoirs. The goal is for each Chestnut Hill Reservoir has practically overtop the dam. For that situation, facility in the drinking water supply no watershed, so runoff and flood- based on a detailed analysis, MWRA system to continually meet state and ing there is not generally a concern. constructed a parapet wall (also known federal requirements, including down- Weston Reservoir has a small water- as a wave wall) to contain the design stream releases. Downstream • Fall 2015 7

Just for Fun R U N O F F V Z N I V U X D F

The Flood Control T J D I D M E A S U R E S H C Word Search T M W J B C K Q U T P Z F L R The words below are taken from the H C Z S M A D U Z F V A L V E flood control article starting on page 1. See if you can also find them in the N B D J V A D N I A R W R P C puzzle; they are vertical and horizontal as well as forwards and backwards. I W A T E R S H E D W O F S K

Good luck! B E M D O O L F K M S W S I J

WORD LIST: B S D O W N S T R E A M E M M Dams Downstream Flood Measure A Q V B I V S P I L L W A Y R Quabbin Rain U Q R C R I O V R E S E R H O Reservoir River Runoff Saturated Q T H Q R E V I R J X I B F T Sluice Snow Spillway Storm E C I U L S Q N C V Z R T G S Valve Wachusett Watershed Weir M P D E T A R U T A S N O G R

H L M Q T T E S U H C A W G J

L T X J C S P N W O N S F B D

For more information about... And another thing... Dams and Flood Control by J. Taylor MWRA Dam Safety Modification Projects www.mwra.com/projects/2011/dams/damsafety.html DCR Office of Dam Safety www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/conservation/dam-safety

Mass Scenic Byways Route 122 www.bywayswestmass.com/byways/route-122/ Other Western Mass Scenic Byways www.bywayswestmass.com/

DCR Fishing Quabbin www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/water-res-protection/ watershed-mgmt/quabbin-reservoir-fishing-guide.html Wachusett/Sudbury www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/water-res-protection/ watershed-mgmt/wachusett-and-sudbury-reservoir-fishing- guide.html MassParks “I don’t care what that thing says. www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/recreational- This doesn’t look like Florida!” activities/fishing.html 8 Downstream • Fall 2015 Then and Now

ByReservoir Clif Read, Director, DCR Quabbin Discharges Visitors Center and Joel Zimmerman, DCR Regional Planner he Swift River exits the Quabbin Reservoir through Tthe Outlet Works and when water is flowing over the Winsor Dam Spillway, via the Spillway Channel. The Outlet Building was constructed in the late 1930s to regulate the release of water back into the Swift River. A minimum of 20 million gal- lons per day is released, as required by a 1927 law, into the Discharge Channel which flows southeastward Center: Construction of the Wachusett Dam in May to meet the Spillway Channel at 1903 (top) shows the discharge pipes that will carry water from under the dam, through turbines, and the “Y” Pool, a popular catch and down the Nashua River through a fountain. The base release fly fishing spot. From there, of the fountain can be seen below, along with signifi- the Swift River resumes it historical cant progress on the dam in just five months. channel southward where it joins Right: The Quabbin Outlet works and channel under construction in 1940 (top) and completed in 1941 the Ware and Quabog rivers to form (below). the . The Chicopee flows westward for 15 miles where it meets the Connecticut River. The Wachusett Reservoir also has legally mandated discharges: 12 million gallons must flow to the Nashua River each week. This water passes through the fountain below the main dam or flows via the spillway. See currents views of the Wachu- sett Dam on pages 1 and 2. downstream Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of Water Supply Protection Office of Watershed Management 180 Beaman Street West Boylston, MA 01583 (508) 792-7806 ex. 363

Downstream is produced twice a year by the Massachusetts Department of Con- servation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection. It includes articles of interest to the Watershed System communities. Our goal is to inform the public about watershed protection issues and activities, provide a conduit for public input and pro- mote environmentally responsible land management practices. Governor: Charles D. Baker Lt. Governor: Karyn E. Polito EOEEA Secretary: Matthew A. Beaton DCR Commissioner: Leo P. Roy DWSP Director: Jonathan L. Yeo Downstream Editor: James E. Taylor