DOCSLIB.ORG

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900 Boston, MA 02114 Charles D. Baker GOVERNOR Tel: (617) 626-1000 Karyn E. Polito Fax: (617) 626-1181 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR http://www.mass.gov/envir Kathleen A. Theoharides SECRETARY July 16, 2021 CERTIFICATE OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ON THE EXPANDED ENVIRONMENTAL NOTIFICATION FORM PROJECT NAME : Quinapoxet Dam Removal PROJECT MUNICIPALITY : West Boylston PROJECT WATERSHED : Nashua EEA NUMBER : 16390 PROJECT PROPONENT : Massachusetts Water Resources Authority DATE NOTICED IN MONITOR : June 9, 2021 Pursuant to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA; M.G. L. c. 30, ss. 61- 62I) and Section 11.03 of the MEPA regulations (301 CMR 11.00), this project is subject to the mandatory requirement to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). In accordance with Section 11.05(7) of the MEPA regulations, the Proponent submitted an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) with a request that I grant a Waiver of the requirement to prepare an EIR. In a separate Draft Record of Decision (DROD), also issued today, I propose to grant a Waiver of the EIR requirement. This Certificate sets forth the issues that must be addressed by the Proponent during permitting and discusses recommendations that were submitted on the project during the MEPA comment period. Project Description As described in the Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF), the project includes the removal of the Quinapoxet Dam, located adjacent to the outlet of the Quabbin Aqueduct in the Town of West Boylston (Town), as well as the restoration of the Quinapoxet River in-stream habitat. The project is intended to enable fish and wildlife passage, maintain public river access, maintain flood control, protect water quality, ensure climate change resiliency, and reduce long-term maintenance costs associated with the dam. The project has been designated by the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) as a Priority Project. EEA# 16390 EENF Certificate July 16, 2021 The dam was constructed by excavating of the riverbed downstream of the dam, which was constructed at-grade, to create a spillway with a 9-foot-high drop. As such, the removal of the dam primarily entails the removal of native substrate behind the dam, and less sediment management than is typically required with dam removals. The wingwalls, spillway, and concrete fish ladder will be removed, the riverbed will be graded upstream of the dam (a length of approximately 600 feet), and fill will be placed immediately downstream of the dam. Riffles and pools will be created in the riverbed upstream of the dam and boulders of various sizes will be relocated within the Quinapoxet River to provide adequate water depths, habitat refuge, and appropriate flow velocities for fish passage. Vegetated areas of sediment deposition within the channel downstream of the dam will be mechanically dredged. Together these actions will create a uniform stream width in the area of the exiting dam, resulting in a decrease in the width of the channel immediately upstream and downstream of the dam as compared to existing conditions. Approximately 3,950 cubic yards (cy) of sediment will be dredged from the channel. Most of this sediment (2,530 cy) will be relocated to the southern bank of the Quinapoxet River in order to formalize an earthen berm between the main channel and the Quabbin aqueduct outlet. Following construction, the berm will have a length of 350 feet with a bottom width of 20- to 30-feet and top width of 4- to 10-feet. An existing overlook/fish platform will be relocated approximately 140-ft downstream, and an existing pedestrian path will be extended to provide public access to the new location of the platform. The project will require two temporary construction access roads, with a width of 12 feet, totaling 1,415 linear feet (lf). The shorter construction access road will be located south of the channel/downstream of the dam, extending off the existing access road to the building on-site. A temporary sediment stockpile area will be located adjacent to this access road. The longer construction access road will extend from River Road to an area south of the channel/upstream of the dam; a temporary staging area will be located south of this road, near the channel. All disturbed upland areas will receive a minimum of 6” of topsoil and be seeded with appropriate seed mixes upon completion of the project. The removal of the dam will occur in three phases. Phase 1 includes the partial removal of the dam. Phase 2 will involve disassembling the remaining portions of the dam, fish ladder, and appurtenances and the removal of the downstream islands and the reconstruction the channel. Phase 3 will formalize the berm between the reconstructed channel and the Quabbin aqueduct outlet. Each phase will require temporary cofferdams to dewater construction areas – Phase 1 will require a 4,150 square foot (sf) (0.10 acre) area to be dewatered around the southern portion of the dam, Phase 2 will require a 77,675 sf (1.78 acre) area to be dewatered surrounding the dam, and Phase 3 will require a 11,900 sf (0.27 acre) area to be dewatered around the exit of the Oakdale Power Station outlet channel. A gravity bypass culvert, consisting of two 5-foot diameter pipes, and four culverts (4-foot diameter pipes) located under a temporary stream crossing, will also be required for Phase 2. Project Site The 2.85-acre project site consists of the Quinapoxet Dam, a section of the Quinapoxet River, and surrounding upland areas. Adjacent to the dam, at the outlet of the Quabbin Aqueduct, is the Oakdale Transfer Facility. The dam is located upstream of two sediment basins serving the Wachusett Reservoir, and in turn is part of the water supply infrastructure for the City of Boston. 2 EEA# 16390 EENF Certificate July 16, 2021 As described by the EENF, the Quinapoxet Dam was constructed in the early 1900’s as part of the Wachusett Reservoir construction project. The dam is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is under the care and control of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Division of Water Supply Protection. As describe above, the dam was constructed in an atypical way, involving excavation of the riverbed downstream of the dam, which was constructed at-grade, to create a spillway. Unlike most dams, which are constructed to impound waterways and trap sediment upstream, the Quinapoxet Dam was constructed to allow lowering of the gradient of the downstream channel reach for the purpose of reducing flow velocities such that sediment accumulation would occur in the downstream channel, prior to entering the reservoir. According to the Proponent, the dam is no longer necessary to prevent sediment from entering the reservoir, as the downstream channel has stabilized in the century since its construction, and Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s (MWRA)’s modern reservoir operating system no longer includes the function of the channel.1 The dam includes a 250-foot long, 18-foot-high earthen embankment and a 135-foot long, 6-foot-high stone masonry and concrete horseshoe-shaped spillway weir that spans the Quinapoxet River from bank to bank. The earthen embankment portion of the dam is adjacent to the terminus of MWRA’s Quabbin Aqueduct at the Oakdale Power Station. A concrete pool/weir fishway, 86 feet long and 4 feet wide, is located along the northern abutment. According to the EENF, the Quinapoxet Dam has a Hazard Potential Classification of Class II or “Significant Hazard”. As specified in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dam Safety regulations (302 CMR 10.00) failure of a Class II dam may result in loss of life and damage to homes, industrial or commercial facilities, and secondary highways or railroads or cause the interruption of the use or service of relatively important facilities. A 2007 inspection of the dam found the structure to be in fair condition with several deficiencies, including deteriorated concrete at the downstream face and apron of the weir, missing stone masonry at the spillway, scour at the toe of the spillway, minor depressions in the embankment, and voids, missing/displaced stones, scour damage, and leakage in the fish ladder. The EENF indicated that a more recent inspection was not available. The impoundment extends approximately 400 to 500 feet upstream of the dam and is shallow and fairly narrow. The Quinapoxet River bifurcates around a large, vegetated island, converging to a single channel approximately 600 feet upstream of the dam. Wetland resource areas present in the vicinity of the dam include: Bank, Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (BVW), Land Under Water (LUW), Bordering Land Subject to Flooding (BLSF), and Riverfront Area (RFA). The project is not located within mapped Estimated and Priority Habitat of Rare Species as delineated by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) in the 14th Edition of the Massachusetts Natural Heritage Atlas or an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). The Quinapoxet Dam is listed on State Register of Historic Places (WBY.905). The Wachusett Reservoir Public Water Supply Watershed is listed as an Outstanding Resource Water (ORW). A portion of the project site was previously regulated under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP; 310 CMR 40.0000) and assigned Release Tracking Number (RTN) 2-14334. This was associated with arsenic detected in groundwater in 2001 which was later determined to be naturally occurring and not associated with a release of 1 Information regarding the current function of the dam provided in an email from Katherine Ronan (MWRA) to Eva Murray (MEPA Office) sent on July 15, 2021.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Connecticut River Watershed
    34-AC-2 CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED 2003 WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT REPORT COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS IAN BOWLES, SECRETARY MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAURIE BURT, COMMISSIONER BUREAU OF RESOURCE PROTECTION GLENN HAAS, ACTING ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DIVISION OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT GLENN HAAS, DIRECTOR NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY LIMITED COPIES OF THIS REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST TO: MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT 627 MAIN STREET WORCESTER, MA 01608 This report is also available from the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Watershed Management’s home page on the World Wide Web at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wqassess.htm Furthermore, at the time of first printing, eight copies of each report published by this office are submitted to the State Library at the State House in Boston; these copies are subsequently distributed as follows: • On shelf; retained at the State Library (two copies); • Microfilmed retained at the State Library; • Delivered to the Boston Public Library at Copley Square; • Delivered to the Worcester Public Library; • Delivered to the Springfield Public Library; • Delivered to the University Library at UMass, Amherst; • Delivered to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Moreover, this wide circulation is augmented by inter-library loans from the above-listed libraries. For example a resident in Winchendon can apply at their local library for loan of any MassDEP/DWM report from the Worcester Public Library. A complete list of reports published since 1963 is updated annually and printed in July. This report, entitled, “Publications of the Massachusetts Division of Watershed Management – Watershed Planning Program, 1963-(current year)”, is also available by writing to the DWM in Worcester.
    [Show full text]
  • Boston Harbor Watersheds Water Quality & Hydrologic Investigations
    Boston Harbor Watersheds Water Quality & Hydrologic Investigations Fore River Watershed Mystic River Watershed Neponset River Watershed Weir River Watershed Project Number 2002-02/MWI June 30, 2003 Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Resource Protection Boston Harbor Watersheds Water Quality & Hydrologic Investigations Project Number 2002-01/MWI June 30, 2003 Report Prepared by: Ian Cooke, Neponset River Watershed Association Libby Larson, Mystic River Watershed Association Carl Pawlowski, Fore River Watershed Association Wendy Roemer, Neponset River Watershed Association Samantha Woods, Weir River Watershed Association Report Prepared for: Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Resource Protection Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary Department of Environmental Protection Robert W. Golledge, Jr., Commissioner Bureau of Resource Protection Cynthia Giles, Assistant Commissioner Division of Municipal Services Steven J. McCurdy, Director Division of Watershed Management Glenn Haas, Director Boston Harbor Watersheds Water Quality & Hydrologic Investigations Project Number 2002-01/MWI July 2001 through June 2003 Report Prepared by: Ian Cooke, Neponset River Watershed Association Libby Larson, Mystic River Watershed Association Carl Pawlowski, Fore River Watershed Association Wendy Roemer, Neponset River Watershed Association Samantha Woods, Weir River Watershed
    [Show full text]
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office
    Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office Environmental Notification Form For Office Use Only EEA#: MEPA Analyst: The information requested on this form must be completed in order to submit a document electronically for review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, 301 CMR 11.00. Project Name: Monatiquot River Restoration Street Address: Hancock Street and Plain Street Municipality: Braintree Watershed: Boston Harbor Universal Transverse Mercator Latitude: 42.198310 Coordinates: Longitude: -71.003542 334,584.25 E 4,673,737.82 N; UTMZ 19T Estimated commencement date: Estimated completion date: July 2022 June 2021 (in-water work estimated completion date: March 2022) Project Type: River Restoration Status of project design: 60 %complete Proponent: Town of Braintree, in cooperation with Hollingsworth Pond, LLC. Street Address: 1 John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive Municipality: Braintree State: MA Zip Code: 02184 Name of Contact Person: Matthew Sanford Firm/Agency: Milone & MacBroom, Inc. Street Address: 99 Realty Drive Municipality: Cheshire State: CT Zip Code: 06410 Phone: (203) 271-1773 Fax: E-mail: [email protected] Does this project meet or exceed a mandatory EIR threshold (see 301 CMR 11.03)? Yes No If this is an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (ENF) (see 301 CMR 11.05(7)) or a Notice of Project Change (NPC), are you requesting: a Single EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.06(8)) Yes No a Special Review Procedure? (see 301CMR 11.09) Yes No
    [Show full text]
  • Ffy 2019 Annual Listing of Obligated Projects Per 23 Cfr 450.334
    FFY 2019 ANNUAL LISTING OF OBLIGATED PROJECTS PER 23 CFR 450.334 Agency ProjInfo_ID MassDOT _Project Description▼ Obligation FFY 2019 FFY 2019 Remaining Date Programmed Obligated Federal Advance Federal Fund Fund Construction Fund REGION : BERKSHIRE MassDOT 603255 PITTSFIELD- BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, P-10-049, LAKEWAY DRIVE OVER ONOTA 10-Jul-19 $2,919,968.00 $2,825,199.25 Highway LAKE MassDOT 606462 LENOX- RECONSTRUCTION & MINOR WIDENING ON WALKER STREET 15-Apr-19 $2,286,543.00 $2,037,608.80 Highway MassDOT 606890 ADAMS- NORTH ADAMS- ASHUWILLTICOOK RAIL TRAIL EXTENSION TO ROUTE 21-Aug-19 $800,000.00 $561,003.06 Highway 8A (HODGES CROSS ROAD) MassDOT 607760 PITTSFIELD- INTERSECTION & SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS AT 9 LOCATIONS ALONG 11-Sep-19 $3,476,402.00 $3,473,966.52 Highway SR 8 & SR 9 MassDOT 608243 NEW MARLBOROUGH- BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, N-08-010, UMPACHENE FALLS 25-Apr-19 $1,281,618.00 $1,428,691.48 Highway OVER KONKAPOT RIVER MassDOT 608263 SHEFFIELD- BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, S-10-019, BERKSHIRE SCHOOL ROAD OVER 20-Feb-19 $2,783,446.00 $3,180,560.93 Highway SCHENOB BROOK MassDOT 608351 ADAMS- CHESHIRE- LANESBOROUGH- RESURFACING ON THE 25-Jun-19 $4,261,208.00 $4,222,366.48 Highway ASHUWILLTICOOK RAIL TRAIL, FROM THE PITTSFIELD T.L. TO THE ADAMS VISITOR CENTER MassDOT 608523 PITTSFIELD- BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, P-10-042, NEW ROAD OVER WEST 17-Jun-19 $2,243,952.00 $2,196,767.54 Highway BRANCH OF THE HOUSATONIC RIVER BERKSHIRE REGION TOTAL : $20,053,137.00 $19,926,164.06 Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Page 1 of 20 FFY 2019 ANNUAL LISTING OF OBLIGATED PROJECTS PER
    [Show full text]
  • Proposed Revisions to 314 CMR 4.00 (Tables and Figures, Clean)
    Please see the 314 CMR 4.00 Summary and Notice to Reviewers document, as well as the Fact Sheets on particular topics for additional information and explanatory detail associated with these proposed regulatory changes. These documents are available on the MassDEP Website. 314 CMR: DIVISION OF WATER POLLUTION CONTROL 4.06: continued LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES* TABLE & TABLE AND CORRESPONDING FIGURE TITLE Page # FIGURE # A (Figure only) River Basins and Coastal Drainage Areas TF-2 1 Blackstone River Basin TF-3 2 Boston Harbor Drainage Area (formerly Boston Harbor Drainage System and Mystic, Neponset and Weymouth & Weir River Basins) TF-8 3 Buzzards Bay Coastal Drainage Area TF-17 4 Cape Cod Coastal Drainage Area TF-22 5 Charles River Basin TF-30 6 Chicopee River Basin TF-34 7 Connecticut River Basin TF-40 8 Deerfield River Basin TF-49 9 Farmington River Basin TF-58 10 French River Basin TF-60 11 Housatonic River Basin TF-62 12 Hudson River Basin (formerly Hoosic, Kinderhook and Bashbish) TF-70 13 Ipswich River Basin TF-76 14 Islands Coastal Drainage Area (formerly Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket) TF-79 15 Merrimack River Basin TF-81 16 Millers River Basin TF-86 17 Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay Drainage Area TF-90 18 Nashua River Basin TF-93 19 North Coastal Drainage Area TF-103 20 Parker River Basin TF-109 21 Quinebaug River Basin TF-113 22 Shawsheen River Basin TF-116 23 South Coastal Drainage Area TF-118 24 Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord (SuAsCo) River Basin (formerly Concord) TF-123 25 Taunton River Basin TF-128 26 Ten Mile River Basin TF-132 27 Westfield River Basin TF-134 28 (Table only) Site-Specific Criteria TF-144 29 (Table only) GenerallyApplicable Criteria: 29a.
    [Show full text]
  • (Osmerus Mordax) Spawning Habitat in the Weymouth- Fore River
    Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report TR-5 Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) Spawning Habitat in the Weymouth- Fore River Bradford C. Chase and Abigail R. Childs Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Commonwealth of Massachusetts September 2001 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report TR-5 Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) Spawning Habitat in the Weymouth-Fore River Bradford C. Chase and Abigail R. Childs Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station 30 Emerson Ave. Gloucester, MA 01930 September 2001 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Paul Diodati, Director Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement Dave Peters, Commissioner Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Bob Durand, Secretary Commonwealth of Massachusetts Jane Swift, Governor ABSTRACT The spawning habitat of anadromous rainbow smelt in the Weymouth-Fore River, within the cities of Braintree and Weymouth, was monitored during 1988-1990 to document temporal, spatial and biological characteristics of the spawning run. Smelt deposited eggs primarily in the Monatiquot River, upstream of Route 53, over a stretch of river habitat that exceeded 900 m and included over 8,000 m2 of suitable spawning substrate. Minor amounts of egg deposition were found in Smelt Brook, primarily located below the Old Colony railroad embankment where a 6 ft culvert opens to an intertidal channel. The Smelt Brook spawning habitat is degraded by exposure to chronic stormwater inputs, periodic raw sewer discharges and modified stream hydrology. Overall, the entire Weymouth-Fore River system supports one of the larger smelt runs in Massachusetts Bay, with approximately 10,000 m2 of available spawning substrate.
    [Show full text]
  • Open PDF File, 1.08 MB, for Boston Harbor 1999 Water
    LITERATURE CITED Ackerman, M.T. 1989 April. Compilation of Lakes, Ponds, Reservoirs and Impoundments Relative to the Massachusetts Lake Classification Program. Publication: #15901-171-50-4-89-c.r. Technical Services Branch, Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution Control, Department of Environmental Quality Engineering, Westborough, MA. ACOE. 1998. Use Attainability Study of the East Branch Neponset River Canton, Stoughton, and Sharon, Massachusetts. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District. Waltham, MA. ACOE. 30 April 2001. Update Report for Massachusetts. [Online]. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District. http://www.nae.usace.army.mil. 4 January 2002. ACOE. 31 October 2001. Update Report for Massachusetts. [Online]. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District . http://www.nae.usace.army.mil. 4 January 2002. ACOE. 2001. Annual Water Quality Report Fiscal Year 2000. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District. Waltham, MA. AMRA. 1997. Comprehensive Report of the Lower Mystic Watershed: Shoreline Survey Results and Analysis for Mystic River, Alewife Brook, Malden River. Alewife/Mystic River Advocates. Somerville, MA. Beaulieu, K. 2001. ([email protected]) Fish community and Benthic Invertebrate Protocol and Datasets for Aberjona and Neponset rivers. United States Geologic Survey, New England Coastal Basins National Water Quality Assessment Program, East Hartford, CT. E-mails to Katie O’Brien, MA DEP dated 22 and 26 October 2001. Berasi, B. and L. Harrahy. 2001. Benthic Macroinvertebrate Phase of BUDGETS. Neponset River Watershed Association. Canton, MA. Big Dig. 2000. The Central Artery Tunnel; The Big Dig Worth Its Wait [Online] http://www.bigdig.com/ Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Boston, MA.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Space, Recreation, and Multi-Use Trail Plan (2018-2025)
    Open Space, Recreation & Multi-Use Trail Plan (2018-2025) Open Space, Recreation, and Multi-Use Trail Plan This plan is Northampton’s vision and blueprint for open space, recreation and multiuse trails. It is consistent with broader city goals for quality of life, vibrant urban centers, and sustainable and resilient community. The plan is consistent with the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan (2008), the City’s duly adopted comprehensive plan, and has been adopted as an additional component of that plan. For information on related projects, visit Planning & Sustainability at www.northamptonma.gov/plan. Plan Adopted or Endorsed by 7 City boards Planning Board (June 14, 2018) adopted as part of the city’s comprehensive plan Conservation Commission (June 14, 2018) Parks and Recreation Commission (June 5, 2018) Historical Commission (April 30, 2018) Transportation & Parking Commission (April 11, 2018) Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee (March 21, 2018) Agriculture Commission (April 24, 2018) Plan Approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (August 31, 2018) Staff Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning & Sustainability (project manager) Sarah LaValley, Conservation, Preservation, and Land Use Planner Carolyn Misch, AICP, Senior Land Use Planner Ann-Marie Moggio, Director of Parks and Recreation James Thompson, GIS Coordinator Table of Contents 1 Plan Summary 3 2 Introduction 4 3 Community Setting 5 4 Environmental Inventory and Analysis 18 5 Conservation and Recreation Inventory 33 6 Community Vision 99 7 Analysis of Needs 100 8 Goals and Objectives 102 9 Seven-Year Action Plan 108 10 Public Comments 118 11 References 120 A ADA Self-Evaluation Report 121 1 Plan Summary Th e Open Space, Recreation and Multi-Use Trail Plan is Northampton’s vision and its blueprint for using its resources to meet the City’s open space, agriculture, conservation, multi-use trail, parks, and recreation needs.
    [Show full text]
  • Armstrong Dam Removal Feasibility Study Final Report
    Armstrong Dam Removal FEASIBILITY STUDY Monatiquot River - Braintree, Massachusetts Prepared for: In partnership with: Prepared by: FINAL REPORT DECEMBER 2016 This page intentionally left blank. Executive Summary Armstrong Dam Removal FEASIBILITY STUDY – DRAFT REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Project Purpose The purpose of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of restoring access for diadromous1 fish to historically native habitats in the Upper Fore River Basin including its tributaries, the Monatiquot, Farm and Cochato Rivers by removing the Armstrong Dam, also known as Hollingsworth Dam, in Braintree, MA. The ultimate goal is restoring river herring access to the 180-acre Great Pond Reservoir in the Farm River basin headwaters. Great Pond serves as a water supply source for the towns of Braintree, Holbrook and Randolph (Tri-Town Water Board). A recent river herring and spawning nursery habitat assessment (Chase et al. 2015) was conducted that demonstrated Great Pond provides suitable river herring spawning habitat. Imagery Credit: Duane Raver/USFWS Species targeted for restoration include both species of river herring (blueback herring and alewife), American eel, and sea lamprey, all of which are diadromous fish that depend upon passage between marine and freshwater habitats to complete their life cycle. Reasons for pursuing fish passage restoration in the Upper Fore River Basin include the importance and historical presence of the target species, the connectivity of and significant potential habitat within the watershed, and active public input and support. F.X. Messina Enterprises, the Armstrong Dam owner, is interested in removing the dam to The impact of diadromous fish species extends eliminate maintenance costs and liability and far beyond the scope of a single restoration potentially developing the site.
    [Show full text]
  • Connecticut Weekly Anadromous Fish Report
    CONNECTICUT WEEKLY DIADROMOUS FISH REPORT Report Date: April 14, 2015 This is a report generated by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection/ Inland Fisheries Division- Diadromous Program. For more information, contact Steve Gephard, 860/447-4316. For more information about fish runs on the Connecticut River call the USFWS Hotline at 413/548-9628 or visit the USFWS website at www.fws.gov/r5crc. For more information about Atlantic salmon, visit the Connecticut River Salmon Association at www.ctriversalmon.org. CONNECTICUT RIVER LOCATIONS FISHWAY ATLANTIC AMER. BLUEBACK GIZZARD STRIPED SEA SEA-RUN AMER. (RIVER) SALMON SHAD ALEWIFE HERRING SHAD BASS LAMPREY TROUT EEL Rainbow* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (Farmington) Leesville 0 - - 0 - - 0*** 0 0 (Salmon) StanChem* 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 (Mattabesset) Moulson Pond* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - (Eightmile) Mary Steube+ - - 0 - - - - - (Mill Brook) Rogers Lake+ - - 0 - - - - - - (Mill Brook) WestSpringfield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (Westfield- MA) Holyoke 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (Connecticut- MA) Manhan River* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (Manhan- MA) Turners Falls* 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 - (Connecticut- MA) Vernon* 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 - 0 (Connecticut- VT) Bellows Falls* 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 - 0 (Connecticut- VT) Wilder* 0 - - - - - 0 - 0 (Connecticut- VT) Other 0 (all sites) TOTALS= 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (last year’s totals) 31 374,232 1,549 942 475 61 27,585 4 17 Fishways listed in gray font above are not yet opened for the season.
    [Show full text]
  • Outdoor Recreation Recreation Outdoor Massachusetts the Wildlife
    Photos by MassWildlife by Photos Photo © Kindra Clineff massvacation.com mass.gov/massgrown Office of Fishing & Boating Access * = Access to coastal waters A = General Access: Boats and trailer parking B = Fisherman Access: Smaller boats and trailers C = Cartop Access: Small boats, canoes, kayaks D = River Access: Canoes and kayaks Other Massachusetts Outdoor Information Outdoor Massachusetts Other E = Sportfishing Pier: Barrier free fishing area F = Shorefishing Area: Onshore fishing access mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/fba/ Western Massachusetts boundaries and access points. mass.gov/dfw/pond-maps points. access and boundaries BOAT ACCESS SITE TOWN SITE ACCESS then head outdoors with your friends and family! and friends your with outdoors head then publicly accessible ponds providing approximate depths, depths, approximate providing ponds accessible publicly ID# TYPE Conservation & Recreation websites. Make a plan and and plan a Make websites. Recreation & Conservation Ashmere Lake Hinsdale 202 B Pond Maps – Suitable for printing, this is a list of maps to to maps of list a is this printing, for Suitable – Maps Pond Benedict Pond Monterey 15 B Department of Fish & Game and the Department of of Department the and Game & Fish of Department Big Pond Otis 125 B properties and recreational activities, visit the the visit activities, recreational and properties customize and print maps. mass.gov/dfw/wildlife-lands maps. print and customize Center Pond Becket 147 C For interactive maps and information on other other on information and maps interactive For Cheshire Lake Cheshire 210 B displays all MassWildlife properties and allows you to to you allows and properties MassWildlife all displays Cheshire Lake-Farnams Causeway Cheshire 273 F Wildlife Lands Maps – The MassWildlife Lands Viewer Viewer Lands MassWildlife The – Maps Lands Wildlife Cranberry Pond West Stockbridge 233 C Commonwealth’s properties and recreation activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Wachusett Reservoir Kiosk Poster
    Wachusett Reservoir Watershed DEPARTMENT OF CONSER VATION AND RECREATION DIVISION OF WATER SUPPLY PROTECTION Rivers The confluence of the Stillwater River and Quinapoxet River joining the South branch of the Nashua River attracted industry to what became known as the Oakdale area. The abundance of available water power resulted in flourishing industrial growth. Railroads Oakdale grew to be a major junction for two rail lines and a depot station to move manufactured goods. (Above) Nov 10, 1896. West Boylston (Above) March 12, 1902. Removing Oakdale Mill The Worcester, Nashua & Portland Manufacturing Company from the Central Pond dam. Considerable work was done tearing Division of the Boston & Maine Massachusetts Railroad tracks near bridge, down and cleaning up around the mills. Railroad line provided a direct Oakdale. The black stripe on the left telegraph north/south connection. pole indicates the future high water mark of The Central Massachusetts Railroad Wachusett Reservoir. Everything below was provided an east/west connection. removed or relocated. Reservoir (Right) May 8, 1902. During this era of industry and Soil-stripping railway under progress, the glacial Nashua River Boston & Maine Railroad tracks, Valley became the optimal location Oakdale. to provide clean drinking water for the growing Boston population. The acts of 1896 were the first time the state would flood an inhabited Sept. 29, 1905. Oakdale Quinapoxet River Channel. The river channels were widened and area to create a drinking water excavated. The hard soil and large boulders that were removed were used as embankments, berms supply. Sections of Boylston, West along the Central Massachusetts Railroad above Oakdale, and for surfacing new roads.
    [Show full text]