REPORT TO TOWN OF WALTHAM ON DIAGNOSTIC/FEASIBILITY STUDY OF HARDYSPOND WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS January, 1986 - Metcalf&Eddyh^lc Engineers & Planners 10 Harvard Mill Square Wakefield. Massachusetts Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4043 Woburn, MA 01888-4043 January 10, 1986 J-9822 Mr. Robert Mailloux Waltham Board of Health 119 School Street Waltham, Massachusetts 02154 Dear Mr. Mailloux: We are pleased to submit this final report on the Diagnostic/ Feasibility Study of HardysPond, Waltham, Massachusetts. The report presents analyses of the data collected and development of the recommendations for restoration of the pond. The staff of Metcalf & Eddy very much enjoyed working with you on this project, and we hope to continue our association with the City of Waltham. If we can be of any further assistance at this time, please do not hesitate to contact us. Very truly yours, Richard L. Ball, Jr. Vice President Telephone (617) 246-5200 - Telex 681 7067 (METED UW) - Cable METEDD-Boslon - TWX 710 321 6365 New Yo'k i Palo Alto / San Bernardino / Irvine. CA / Arlington Heights, IL / Chicago / Houston ' Atlanta / Somerville, NJ / Silver Spring. MD / Honolulu TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter of Transmittal TABLE OF CONTENTS . i LIST OF TABLES iii LIST OF FIGURES V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v i i i CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION 1-1 Chapter 628 Lakes Program 1-1 HardysPond Description and Problems 1-1 Eutrophication 1-4 Report Organization 1-5 CHAPTER 2 - ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION 2-1 Morphometric Description 2-1 Watershed Description 2-5 ( Recreational Uses 2-9 Historical Chemical Data 2-10 References 2-14 CHAPTER 3 - DIAGNOSTIC SURVEY 3-1 Description of Field Measurement Program 3-1 Pond Hydrology 3-10 Pond Water Quality 3-16 Pond Biology 3-39 Water Quality of Incoming Sources 3-53 References 3-64 CHAPTER 4 - ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING CONDITIONS 4-1 Assessment of Trophic State 4-1 Massachusetts Lake Classification 4-5 Hydrologic Model 4-7 Nutrient Model 4-10 References 4-18 CHAPTER 5 - ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVES 5-1 Hardy Pond Problems and Objectives 5-1 Alternatives Development 5-6 METCALF a EDDY TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Pa^e CHAPTER 6 - RECOMMENDED PLAN 6-1 Dredging . 6-1 Outlet Modifications 6-16 Shoreline Improvements 6-19 Swimming Area 6-20 Post-Implementation Monitoring Program 6*21 Public Education Program 6-23 Historical Commision Concerns 6-24 Restoration Plan Schedule 6-25 Cost Estimates and Funding Sources 6-25 APPENDIX - DIAGNOSTIC SURVEY DATA A-l - In-Situ Profile Data A-2 - In-Pond and Tributary Sampling Data A-3 - Stormwater Data r C 11 METCALF ft EDDY. LIST OF TABLES Table 2-1 Summary of Previous Water Quality Measurements in HardysPond 2-11 2-2 Summary of Previous Pond Improvement Activities 2-13 3-1 Schedule of Surveys Conducted at HardysPond 3-3 3-2 Parameters Measured During Water Quality Surveys 3-5 3-3 Parameters Measured During Stormwater Runoff Surveys 3-9 3-4 Sediment Analysis 3-10 3-5 Summary of Hardy Pond Inflow, Outflow and Lake Elevation Measurements 3-13 3-6 Summary of Runoff Measurements Obtained During Rainfall Events 3-15 ( 3-7 Phytoplankton Taxa of Hardy Pond From June 1984 to June 1985 3-43 3-8 Pollution-Tolerant Genera of Algae 3-49 3-9 Summary of Flow Weighted Average Concentrations Measured During Stormwater Monitoring 3-61 3-10 Hardy Pond Sediment Sampling Results 3-63 4-1 Estimate of External Phosphorus Loading to Hardy Pond 4-4 4-2 State Classification System Applied to Hardy Pond 4-6 4-3 Input Parameters for Hydrologic Model 4-11 4-4 Input Parameters for Phosphorus Model 4-16 5-1 Hardy Pond Problems and Objectives 5-2 5-2 Summary of Storm Drainage for Hardy Pond 5-13 5-3 Hardy Pond Recommended Plan . 5-16 ( 6-1 Classification of Dredge or Fill Material 6-4 iii METCALF « EDDY LIST OF TABLES (Continued) 6-2 Classification of Sludge for Land Application 6-4 6-3 _ .Great Lakes Sediment Rating. Criteria -_„ 6-_5 6-4 Classification of Dredge or Fill Material By Physical Characteristics 6-6 6-5 Potential Sediment Disposal Areas 6-12 6-6 Schedule of Activities for the Hardy Pond Restoration Program 6-26 6-7 Summary of Cost Estimates for Recommended Alternatives 6-28 6-8 Summary of Cost Estimates Projected Over the Project Period 6-28 XV METCALF A EDDY, , LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1-1 Hardy Pond Location 1-3 2-1 Bathymetric Map of Hardy Pond 2-3 2-2 Hardy Pond Depth - Volume Relationship 2-4 2-3. Hardy Pond Drainage Area 2-6 2-4 Hardy Pond Storm Drainage Outlets 2-7 3-1 Hardy Pond Monitoring Stations 3-2 3-2 Hardy Pond Stormwater Runoff Basins 3-7 3-3 Hardy Pond Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Profiles, June 8, 1984 3-19 3-4 Hardy Pond Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Profiles, June 21, 1984 3-21 3-5 Suspended Solids Measurements, Near Water ( Surface - Station 2 3-22 3-6 Suspended Solids Measurements, Surface and Bottom - Station 2 3-23 3-7 Turbidity Measurementsr Surface and Bottom - Station 2 3-24 3-8 Total Phosphorus Measurements, Surface and Bottom - Station 2 3-27 3-9 Ammonia Nitrogen Measurements, Surface and Bottom - Station 2 3-30 3-10 TKN Measurements, Surface and Bottom - Station 2 3-31 3-11 Nitrate Nitrogen Measurements, Surface and Bottom - Station 2 3-32 3-12 Alkalinity Measurements, Surface and Bottom - Station 2 3-33 3-13 pH Measurements Near Water Surface - Station 2 3-35 METCALF ft EDDY f LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) Figure Page 3-14 Fecal Coliform Measurements, Water Surface - Station 2 3-36 3-15 Iron Measurements, Surface and Bottom - Station 2 3-37 3-16 Chlorophyll-a Measurements, Water Surface - Station 2 3-42 3-17 Phytoplankton Density Near Water Surface - Station 2 3-46 3-18 Seasonal Variation of Phytoplankton Taxonomic Composition in Hardy Pond - Station 2 3-47 3-19 Hardy Pond Macrophyte Survey 3-51 3-20 Total Phosphorus Measurements at Inlet - Station 3 3-55 3-21 Ammonia Nitrogen Measurements at Inlet - Station 3 3-56 3-22 Nitrate Nitrogen Measurements at Inlet - Station 3 3-57. 3-23 Suspended Solids Measurements at Inlet - Station 3 3-58 3-24 Fecal Coliform Measurements at Inlet - Station 3 3-60 4-1 Trophic State of Hardy Pond 4-3 4-2 Phosphorus Model Simulation Without Sediment Load 4-15 4-3 Phosphorus Model Simulation Including Sediment Load 4-17 5-1 Comparison of Various Phosphorus Load Reductions 5-8 5-2 Hardy Pond Stormwater Runoff Basins 5-12 c 6-1 Hardy Pond Sediment Depth 6-3 VI METCALF ft EDDV LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) Figure Page 6-2 Conceptual Layout - Hardy Pond Dredge Material Containment Area 6-9 6-3 Location of Potential Sediment Disposal Sites 6-13 6-4 Recommended Outlet Structure Modifications 6-18 6-5 Hardy Pond Restoration Program Schedule 6-27 c VII METCALF A EDDY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We sincerely achnowlege the assistance and cooperation of the City of Waltham , especially Mr. Robert Mailloux. We also appreciate the assistance and review provided by the Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution Control, including Mr, Michael Ackerman, Mr. Alex Duran, and Mr. Gary Bogue. We finally acknowledge the comments and assistance given by residents of Hardy Pond and the City of Waltham who attended the public meetings. This study was conducted by Mr. David Bingham, Mr. John Cardoni, and Peter Boucher, under the direction of Mr. Richard Ball. c Vlll METCALF A EDDY f CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION In accordance with the State of Massachusetts Clean Lakes Program, this report contains the findings of a Phase I Diagnostic/Feasibility study for the restoration of Hardy Pond in Waltham, Massachusetts. Chapter 628 Lakes Program The Chapter 628 Massachusetts Clean Lakes and Great Ponds Program provides funds for the restoration, preservation and maintenance of the publicly owned lakes and ponds of the Commonwealth for public recreation and enjoyment. A Chapter 628 restoration program is carried out in two phases. Phase I includes a diagnostic survey to gather information and data to identify existing or potential sources of pollution and to determine the limnological, morphological, and other pertinent characteristics of the pond and its watershed. Diagnostic survey data is then analyzed to define methods for controlling causes of eutrophication in a Phase I feasibility study. The most cost- effective procedure to improve or preserve the quality of the pond is determined and a technical plan for implementing the restoration is developed. Phase II is the actual implementation of the recommended restoration plan. The Hardy Pond study is a Phase I Diagnostic/Feasibility study. Hardy Pond Description and Problems Hardy Pond is a Great Pond with a surface area of if approximately 42 acres, a mean depth of about 2 feet and a 1-1 METCALF ft EDDY / maximum depth of about 4 feet. The location of the pond is shown in Figure 1-1. The pond is located in the northern section of the City of Waltham, with more than half of its watershed in the Town of Lexington. The principal inlet is an unnamed tributary entering the pond via a concrete box culvet at the northern end of the pond. The pond outlet is also at the northern end of the pond, with flows over an outlet structure into Chester Brook. Historically, Hardy Pond has been used for a variety of recreational activities. There are several public accesses to the pond, including a large recreational area abutting the south shore of the pond and an area available for public boat launching.