i i i DIAGNOSTIC / FEASIBILITY STUDY i FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF i RICHMOND POND i RICHMOND / PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS i i i i i i i i i i BAYSTATE ENVIRONMENTAL i CONSULTANTS i NC i I I I I I DIAGNOSTIC/FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF I RICHMOND POND, I RICHMOND/PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS PREPARED FOR I THE TOWN OF RICHMOND AND THE CITY OF PITTSFIELD I AND THE I MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF WATER POLLUTION CONTROL I UNDER MGL CHAP. 628 I MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN LAKES PROGRAM I BY BAYSTATE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS, INC. I 296 NORTH MAIN STREET I EAST LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS I I APRIL 1990 I I I I TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 I Data Collection Methods 2 Diagnostic Assessment 7 Lake Description 7 I Watershed Description 7 Watershed Geology and Soils 7 Historical Lake and Land Use 18 Flow and Water Chemistry 19 I Bacteria 31 Storm Water Assessment 32 Auxiliiary Surface Water Assessment 32 I Groundwater Investigations 32 Sediment Analysis 43 Phytoplankton . • -50 I Macrophytes 50 Zooplankton 59 Macroinvertebrates 59 Fish 59 I Pond user and Residential Practices Survey 59 Comparison with Other Studies 66 Hydrologic Budget 66 I Nutrient Budgets 71 Diagnostic Summary 74 Evaluation of Management Options 77 Management Objectives 77 I Available Techniques 77 Evaluation of Viable Alternatives : 82 Recommended Management Approach 89 I Impact of Recommended Management Actions 89 Monitoring Program 90 Funding Alternatives 90 I Environmental Evaluation ' 91 Necessary Permits 91 Public Participation 91 Relation to Existing Plans and Projects 91 I Feasibility Summary 92 I References 93 I I I I I I Appendices 97 A: Field and Laboratory Methodology 97 I B: Relevant Information from MDWPC 1976 109 • C: Relevant Information from BCRPC 117 D: Relevant Information from BEL 1980 127 • Relevant Information from MDFW 1981 185 Relevant Information from SCS 1983 189 | Calculations • 201 _ H: Environmental Notification Form 211 — Meeting Summaries and Comments from Interested Parties 223 • i i i i i i i I TABLES I Page 1. Sampling Stations and Analysis Parameters . 3 2. Characteristics of Richmond Pond and its Watershed 9 I 3. Sub-Drainage Basins 14 4. Land Use 14 5". Soil Types 17 I 6. Flow Values 20 7. Ammonia Nitrogen 21 8. Nitrate Nitrogen 21 9. Kjeldahl Nitrogen 21 I 10. Orthophosphorus 22 11. Total Phosphorus 22 12. Total Nitrogen:Total Phosphorus Ratios 22 I 13. Temperature 23 14. Dissolved Oxygen 23 15. PH ' •-' 23 I 16. Percent Oxygen Saturation 26 17. Total Alkalinity 27 18. Total Suspended Solids 27 19. Chloride 27 I 20. Conductivity 28 21. Turbidity 28 22. Secchi Transparency 28 I 23. Chlorophyll 28 24. Fecal Coliform 29 25. Fecal Streptococci 29 26. Quality Control Program Samples 30 I 27. Characteristics of Storm Water Drainage Systems 34 28. Storm Data: July 14, 1987 35 29. Storm Data: February 2, 1988 36 I 30. Storm Data: March 24, 1988 36 31. Water Chemistry of Tributaries: September 17, 1987 38 32. Water Chemistry of Tributaries: February 2, 1988 38 33. Seepage Data: June 1987 40 I 34. Seepage Data: September 1987 . 42 35. Soft Sediment Volume 48 36. Chemical Characteristics of Richmond Pond Sediments 49 I 37. Phytoplankton Analyses 52 37. Phytoplankton Analyses 53 37. Phytoplankton Analyses 54 I 40. Key for Macrophyte Taxa 57 41. Zooplankton Analyses 60 42. Benthic Invertebrates ' "61 43. Fish Survey Results - 62 I 44. Questionnaire for Watershed Residents 63 45. Questionnaire Survey Results 65 46. Hydrologic Budget 70 I 47. Equations and Variables for Deriving Phosphorus Load Estimates 72 I 48. Phosphorus Load Based on Models . 73 I I I 49. Phosphorus and Nitrogen Budgets 75 50. -Lake Restoration and Management Options . 78 • 51. Options for Control of Rooted Aquatic Vegetation 81 | 52. Richmond Pond Drawdown Evaluation 84 FIGURES i Page I 1. Sampling Station Locations 4 2. Toptography of the Richmond Pond Watershed 8 • 3. Bathymetric Map 10 | 4. Hypsographic Curve 11 5. Drainage Pattern in the Richmond Pond Watershed 12 _ 6. Sub-Drainage Basins of the Richmond Pond Watershed 13 I 6. Land Use in the Richmond Pond Watershed 15 ™ 8. Soils of the Richmond Pond Watershed 16 9. Dissolved Oxygen - Temperature Curves 24 • 10. Dissolved Oxygen - Temperature Curves 25 | 11. Storm Water Drainage Systems of the Richmond Shores Area 33 12. Auxilliary Surface Water Sampling Stations 37 m 13. Location of Seepage Meters: June 1987 39 I 14. Location of Seepage Meters: September 1987 41 15. Ground Water Sampling Locations 44 16. Locations of Sampled Wells 45 I 17. Soft Sediment Depth 46 • 18. Underlayment Composition of Richmond Pond 47 19. Phytoplankton Density 51 • 20. Density of Bottom Coverage by Aquatic Macrophytes 55 | 21. Distribution of Aquatic Macrophyte Taxa 56 22. Typical Vegetative Transect 58 _ 23. Water and Nutrient Budget Schematics 67 • 24. Temporal Distribution of Precipitation 68 • 25. Distribution of Rainfall Among Storms 69 26. Application of Benthic Barrier 85 i i i i i i i i I INTRODUCTION I The establishment of the Massachusetts Clean Lakes Program under Chapter 628 of the Acts of 1981 enabled many municipalities and lake associations to acquire funding for study and restoration of I their lakes. As environmentally aware and concerned communities, the Town of Richmond and City of Pittsfield applied for a grant 'for a Phase I diagnostic/feasibility study of Richmond Pond, a I valuable water resource on the border between these two municipalities. After being awarded the grant, the City contracted Baystate Environmental Consultants, Inc. to conduct I the study. Concern over the present and future status of Richmond Pond prompted the request for a study. The water quality impacts of I man7 s activities in the Richmond Pond watershed were largely unquantified. Mitigation of any current negative influences on the pond and prevention of future degradation of this water I resource were desired. I I I I I I I I I I I I I DATA COLLECTION METHODS The extensive previous studies of Richmond Pond were reviewed, I and historic conditions were discussed with municipal officials and other parties involved with the pond. Maps and reports • prepared by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Soil I Conservation Services (SCS) were used to initially assess watershed characteristics. Of particular use were USGS Quadrangle Sheets from the 7.5 minute series, an independently I produced topographic map (Gregory 1967), the USGS-Massachusetts • Department of Public Works Bedrock Geologic Map {Zen, 1983), the Berkshire County soil survey report in preparation by SCS, and • aerial infrared photographs obtained from the National ' | Cartographic Information Center (1985). Areal measurements were made with a Planix Electronic Planimeter. I Determinations made from maps were verified-by field inspection — by- staff engineers, biologists, and a geo-hydrologist. • Historical lake and land use were investigated through • conversations with watershed residents, newspaper and technical I articles, previous reports and maps, state agency correspondence, and field inspection. " • A bathymetric map was generated from measurements made with an electronic fathometer attached to a boat making cross-lake transects. Soft sediment depth was assessed by driving a probe I to first refusal; these measurements were performed by SCUBA • divers in conjunction with the macrophyte survey. A comprehensive monitoring and investigative research program was | implemented to assess the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of Richmond Pond. Sampling stations were « selected from topographic maps and field inspection. These • stations are described in Table 1 and shown in Figure 1. The in- ™ lake stations were sampled with a Scott bottle at the surface and bottom, and at mid-depth when stratification occurred. Samples - • were collected eight times during a one-year period, as dictated • by the contract. Fifteen parameters were routinely assessed at regular sampling I locations (non-storm stations) (Table 1). Temperature and dissolved oxygen levels were measured with a YS1 model 57 meter, with vertical profiles obtained at the in-lake stations (0.5 m • intervals) . The pH was measured with an Orion model SA 250 pH • meter. Conductivity was assessed with a YSI model 33 S-C-T meter. Turbidity was measured with a Hach model 1860 • turbidimeter. A two-liter water sample was taken at each | "sampling location and transported to Berkshire Enviro-Labs in Lee, MA for analysis of suspended solids, total alkalinity, . chlorides, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium • nitrogen, total phosphorus, and orthophosphorus by accepted i™ i i 1 TABLE 1 SAMPLING STATIONS AND ANALYSIS PARAMETERS FOR THE 1 RICHMOND POND DIAGNOSTIC/FEASIBILITY STUDY RICHMOND/PITTSFIELD 1 Station No. Location RP-1 Mt. Lebanon Brook at Inlet to R.P. •1 RP-2 Unnamed southern tributary at inlet to R.P. RP-3 Unnamed eastern tributary at inlet to R.P. RP-3a Unnamed southeastern tributary at inlet to R.P. RP-4s In-lake station, deep hole, surface (0-3 ft) RP-4m In-lake station, deep hole, middle (15-20 ft) RP-4b In-lake station, deep hole, bottom (45-50 ft) RP-5 Outlet from Richmond Pond at Lakeside Camp RP-6 Drainage channel west of south inlet (Drainage area F) RP-7 Drainage channel entering south inlet (Drainage area G) RP-8 Drainage pipe east of south inlet (Drainage area H) RP-9 Drainage pipe just east of RP-8 (Drainage area I) RP-10 Drainage channel at edge of Camp Russell (Drainage area J) RP-11 Drainage channel in central part of Camp Russell (Drainage area K) RP-1 2 Drainage