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Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Watershed Management Division Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Watershed Management Division BASIN 14 TACTICAL BASIN PLAN- 2015 including the Stevens River, Wells River, Waits River, Ompompanoosuc River, and Mid- Connecticut River Direct Tributaries Watersheds Peacham Bog, Wells River Watershed Groton (photo credit DEC-Wetlands staff) The Basin 14 - Water Quality Management Plan was prepared in accordance with 10 VSA § 1253(d), the Vermont Water Quality Standards1, the Federal Clean Water Act and 40 CFR 130.6, and the Vermont Surface Water Management Strategy. Approved: ----------------------------------------- ------------------------- Alyssa Schuren, Commissioner Date Department of Environmental Conservation -------------------------------------- ------------------------- Deb Markowitz, Secretary Date Agency of Natural Resources Pursuant to Section 1-02 D (5) of the VWQS, Basin Plans shall propose the appropriate Water Management Type of Types for Class B waters based on the exiting water quality and reasonably attainable and desired water quality management goals. ANR has not included proposed Water Management Types in this Basin Plan. ANR is in the process of developing an anti-degradation rule in accordance with 10 VSA 1251a (c) and is re-evaluating whether Water Management Typing is the most effective and efficient method of ensuring that quality of Vermont's waters are maintained and enhanced as required by the VWQS, including the anti-degradation policy. Accordingly, this Basin Plan is being issued by ANR with the acknowledgement that it does not meet the requirements of Section 1-02 D (5) of the VWQS. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity agency and offers all persons the benefits of participating in each of its programs and competing in all areas of employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual preference, or other non-merit factors. This document is available upon request in large print, braille or audiocassette. VT Relay Service for the Hearing Impaired 1-800-253-0191 TDD>Voice - 1-800-253-0195 Voice>TDD Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 - Introduction ............................................................................................................. 7 A. Basin Description ............................................................................................................... 7 B. Purpose of the Tactical Plan .............................................................................................. 7 C. Watershed Partners ............................................................................................................ 7 D. Implementation Process .................................................................................................... 8 About Flood Resiliency ....................................................................................................... 8 Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) ..................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2- Water Quality in the Basin .................................................................................... 11 A. Summary of Surface Water Assessments ...................................................................... 11 Stressors, and Causes and Sources of Impairment ....................................................... 16 B. Surface Waters Exhibiting Very High Quality ............................................................. 18 Very High Quality Waters that support biological integrity ....................................... 18 Very High Quality Lakes and Ponds- Best Lakes ......................................................... 18 Very High Quality Waters that support recreational fishing ...................................... 18 C. Sub-basin Descriptions .................................................................................................... 20 Stevens River Watershed .................................................................................................. 20 Wells River Watershed ...................................................................................................... 24 Waits River Watershed ...................................................................................................... 27 Ompompanoosuc River Watershed ................................................................................ 33 Direct Tributaries to the Connecticut River included within Basin 14 ...................... 37 D. Direct discharges to surface waters in the Basin 14 .................................................... 45 Overview ............................................................................................................................. 45 Facility –specific information ........................................................................................... 45 Chapter 3- Management Goals for Surface Waters in Basin 14........................................... 47 A. Class A(1), A(2) and B Waters ......................................................................................... 48 B. Existing Uses ...................................................................................................................... 49 C. Outstanding Resource Waters ......................................................................................... 50 D. Other High Quality Waters ............................................................................................. 51 E. Class 1 Wetland Designations ......................................................................................... 51 Tactical Basin Plan for the Wells, Waits, Ompompanoosuc and Stevens Rivers. 2 F. Fish Habitat Designations ................................................................................................ 52 Warm Water Fish Habitat ................................................................................................. 52 Cold Water Fish Habitat ................................................................................................... 53 G. Irrigation and Animal Watering ..................................................................................... 53 Chapter 4- Watershed Improvement Projects and the Implementation Tables ............... 54 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 54 Basin-wide Implementation ................................................................................................. 55 Stevens River Watershed ...................................................................................................... 56 Wells River Watershed .......................................................................................................... 59 Waits River Watershed .......................................................................................................... 65 Ompompanoosuc River Watershed .................................................................................... 69 Mid-Connecticut River Watershed ...................................................................................... 74 Some Highlighted Basin 14 Watershed Restoration Projects .............................................. 80 Basin 14 Tactical Plan Appendices Appendix A- Existing Use Tables for Basin 14 A.1 Existing Use for Contact Recreation A.2 Existing Use for Boating A.3 Existing Use for Fishing A.4 Existing Use for Public Surface Water Supplies A.5 Existing Use of Ecologically Significant Habitat Appendix B.- Basin 14 Watershed Partners Appendix C.- Basin 14 Drinking Water Supplies Appendix D.- Basin 14 Fish Habitat and Fisheries Appendix E.- The Vermont Lake Wise Program Appendix F.- Invasive Species Stressor Appendix G.- The AEM Program for Basin 14 G.1 AEM Implementation in Basin 14 Tactical Basin Plan for the Wells, Waits, Ompompanoosuc and Stevens Rivers. 3 Appendix H.- Stormwater Master Plan Suggested Templates for Basin 14 Towns Appendix I.- Regulatory and Non-regulatory Programs Applicable to Protecting and Restoring Waters in Basin 14 Appendix J.- Basin 14 High Priority River Corridor Actions J.1 Basin 14 Completed and on-going geomorphic assessments J.2 Basin 14 Culvert Assessment Results J.3 Basin 14 High Priority River Corridor Projects J.4 Stevens River Watershed High Priority Stream Crossing Projects J.5 Wells River Watershed High Priority Stream Crossing Projects J.6 Waits River Watershed High Priority Stream Crossing Projects J.7 Ompompanoosuc Watershed High Priority Stream Crossing Projects J.8 Middle Connecticut River Direct Tributaries High Priority Stream Crossing Projects Appendix K.- Basin 14 Agricultural and Road Erosion Risk Maps Appendix L.- Basin 14 Tactical Plan Public Comments and Responsiveness Summary List of Figures Figure 1. Basin 14 Map Figure 2. Jewitt Brook Wetland Complex Figure 3. Stevens River Watershed Features Figure 4. Wells River Watershed Features Figure 5. Degrees of Known Biodiversity in the Wells River Watershed Figure 6. Waits River Watershed Features Figure 7. Degrees of Known Biodiversity in the Waits River Watershed Figure 8. Ompompanoosuc River Watershed Features Figure 9a. Middle Connecticut River Watershed Map (Upper) Figure 9b. Middle Connecticut River Watershed Map (Lower) Figure 10. Symes Pond Ecosystem Figure 11. Groton Franconia Dam, before removal Figure 12. Groton Franconia
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