NASHUA 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 MassDEP’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 Needham can apply at their local library for loan of any MA DEP/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 Division of Watershed Management (DWM) in Worcester. DISCLAIMER References to trade names, commercial products, manufacturers, or distributors in this report constituted neither endorsement nor RECOMMENDATIONS: by the Division of Watershed Management for use. Nashua River Watershed 2003 Water Quality Assessment Report 81wqar08.doc DWM CN107.5 ii NASHUA RIVER WATERSHED 2003 WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT REPORT Prepared by: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Division of Watershed Management Report Number: 81-AC-4 DWM Control Number: CN107.5 Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Division of Watershed Management Worcester, Massachusetts August 2008 Nashua River Watershed 2003 Water Quality Assessment Report 81wqar08.doc DWM CN107.5 iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Coordination of local, state and federal agencies and private organizations is fundamental to the success of protecting and restoring water quality in Massachusetts Watersheds. Data and information used in this report was provided in part by the following agencies and organizations: State Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP): Bureau of Resource Protection (BRP) Division of Watershed Management (DWM) Bureau of Strategic Policy and Technology Wall Experiment Station (WES) Department of Conservation and Recreation (MA DCR) Division of Water Supply Protection (DWSP) Office of Watershed Protection (OWM) Department of Fish and Game (MA DFG) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW) Department of Public Health (MA DPH) Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Federal United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) United States Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Division (WRS) Regional Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) It is impossible to thank everyone who contributed to the assessment report process: field, laboratory, data management, writing, editing, and graphics, as well as meetings, phone calls, and e-mails. All of these contributions are very much appreciated. Nashua River Watershed 2003 Water Quality Assessment Report 81wqar08.doc DWM CN107.5 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures............................................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables................................................................................................................................................vii Attached Data CD – Compendium of MassDEP DWM Nashua River Technical Memorandums and Reports........................................................................................................................................................viii List of Acronyms and Abbreviations............................................................................................................. ix Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... x Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 1 Massachusetts Integrated List Of Waters..................................................................................................... 1 Nashua River Watershed Description........................................................................................................... 2 Objectives...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Assessment Report Format .......................................................................................................................... 3 Assessment Methodology............................................................................................................................. 4 Special Notes .............................................................................................................................................. 15 Malden Brook (Segment MA81-27) ............................................................................................................ 16 Unnamed Tributary "Boylston Brook" (Segment MA81-34)........................................................................ 17 Malagasco Brook (Segment MA81-29)....................................................................................................... 18 French Brook (Segment MA81-48) ............................................................................................................. 19 Unnamed Tributary (Segment MA81-50).................................................................................................... 20 Muddy Brook (Segment MA81-28) ............................................................................................................. 21 Unnamed Tributary (Segment MA81-49).................................................................................................... 22 Gates Brook (Segment MA81-24)............................................................................................................... 23 Scarletts Brook (Segment MA81-25) .......................................................................................................... 24 Quinapoxet River (Segment MA81-32)....................................................................................................... 25 Unnamed Tributary (Segment MA81-59).................................................................................................... 26 Trout Brook (Segment MA81-26)................................................................................................................ 27 Unnamed Tributary (Segment MA81-51).................................................................................................... 28 Poor Farm Brook (Segment MA81-52) ....................................................................................................... 29 Chaffins Brook (Segment MA81-33) ........................................................................................................... 30 Unnamed Tributary "Lower Chaffins Brook" (Segment MA81-35).............................................................. 31 Asnebumskit Brook (Segment MA81-56).................................................................................................... 32 Warren Tannery Brook (Segment MA81-53) .............................................................................................. 33 Unnamed Tributary (Segment MA81-58).................................................................................................... 34 Stillwater River (Segment MA81-31)........................................................................................................... 35 Unnamed Tributary (Segment MA81-54).................................................................................................... 36 Washacum Brook (Segment MA81-47) ...................................................................................................... 37 Connelly Brook (Segment MA81-57) .......................................................................................................... 38 Houghton Brook (Segment MA81-55)......................................................................................................... 39 Scanlon Brook (Segment MA81-44) ........................................................................................................... 40 Ball Brook (Segment MA81-45) .................................................................................................................. 41 East Wachusett Brook (Segment MA81-30) ..............................................................................................