Baseline Watershed Assessment North Branch Park River Watershed Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection July 2010 146 Hartford Road Manchester, Connecticut 06040 In Cooperation With: Farmington River Watershed Association Park River Watershed Revitalization Initiative Project No. 20071468.A10 Table of Contents Baseline Watershed Assessment North Branch Park River Watershed 1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Development of the Baseline Assessment Report ......................................2 1.2 Background .................................................................................................2 1.3 Ongoing Watershed Conservation and Restoration Efforts.......................5 2 Study Area Description................................................................................ 8 2.1 North Branch Park River ............................................................................8 2.2 Watershed ....................................................................................................8 2.3 Subwatersheds........................................................................................... 11 3 Historical and Social Perspective............................................................. 12 3.1 History of the Watershed........................................................................... 12 3.2 Population and Demographics ................................................................. 15 3.3 Historical Resources.................................................................................. 17 3.4 Recreation and Community Resources..................................................... 19 4 Natural Resources ..................................................................................... 20 4.1 Geology and Soils ......................................................................................20 4.2 Topography ............................................................................................... 21 4.3 Hydrology.................................................................................................. 21 4.4 Flood Hazard Areas...................................................................................25 4.5 Climate.......................................................................................................27 4.6 Wetlands ....................................................................................................28 4.6.1 Resource Description.....................................................................................28 4.6.2 Existing Wetlands Information ....................................................................30 4.6.3 Wetlands Field Assessment...........................................................................32 4.6.3.1 Selection of Study Areas .................................................................32 4.6.3.2 Assessment Methods.......................................................................34 4.6.3.3 Assessment Results.........................................................................34 4.7 Fish and Wildlife Resources......................................................................38 4.7.1 Fish....................................................................................................................38 4.7.2 Birds..................................................................................................................39 4.7.3 Amphibians & Reptiles..................................................................................39 4.7.4 Threatened and Endangered Species...........................................................40 5 Watershed Modifications........................................................................... 43 5.1 Dams and Impoundments ........................................................................43 5.2 Park River Conduit System .......................................................................46 5.3 Water Supply..............................................................................................47 5.4 Wastewater.................................................................................................49 5.5 Regulated Sites ..........................................................................................52 F:\P2007\1468\A10\Baseline Watershed Assessment\NBPR Baseline Assessment Report.doc i Table of Contents Baseline Watershed Assessment North Branch Park River Watershed 6 Water Quality.............................................................................................. 55 6.1 Classifications, Standards, and Impairments ...........................................55 6.2 Water Quality Monitoring .........................................................................58 6.2.1 CTDEP Monitoring Program ......................................................................58 6.2.2 Trinity College Monitoring Program...........................................................60 6.3 CTDEP Monitoring Results .....................................................................60 6.3.1 Turbidity...........................................................................................................60 6.3.2 Total Suspended Solids..................................................................................61 6.3.3 Metals................................................................................................................62 6.3.4 Nitrogen...........................................................................................................65 6.3.5 Phosphorus......................................................................................................65 6.3.6 Indicator Bacteria............................................................................................67 6.3.7 Bioassessments................................................................................................68 6.4 Trinity College Monitoring Results ..........................................................68 7 Land Use and Land Cover......................................................................... 69 7.1 Current Conditions....................................................................................69 7.1.1 Land Use ..........................................................................................................69 7.1.2 Zoning..............................................................................................................71 7.1.3 Land Cover......................................................................................................73 7.1.4 Forest Cover....................................................................................................76 7.1.5 Developed Areas.............................................................................................77 7.1.6 Impervious Cover...........................................................................................78 7.1.7 Open Space......................................................................................................82 7.2 Future Conditions .....................................................................................85 7.2.1 Watershed Buildout Analysis ........................................................................85 7.2.1.1 Land Use .......................................................................................85 7.2.1.2 Impervious Cover.............................................................................88 8 Existing Watershed Practices................................................................... 91 8.1 Municipal Phase II Stormwater Program................................................. 91 8.1.1 Hartford ...........................................................................................................91 8.1.2 West Hartford .................................................................................................92 8.1.3 Bloomfield .......................................................................................................93 8.2 Source Controls and Pollution Prevention................................................93 8.2.1 Regulated Commercial and Industrial Facilities.........................................93 8.2.2 Institutions and Golf Courses ......................................................................95 9 Pollutant Loading....................................................................................... 97 9.1 Model Description.....................................................................................97 9.2 Model Inputs .............................................................................................98 9.2.1 Nonpoint Source Runoff ..............................................................................98 F:\P2007\1468\A10\Baseline Watershed Assessment\NBPR Baseline Assessment Report.doc ii Table of Contents Baseline Watershed Assessment North Branch Park River Watershed 9.2.2 Other Pollutant Sources ................................................................................98 9.2.2.1 Combined Sewer Overflows..............................................................98 9.2.2.2 Illicit Discharges .............................................................................99 9.2.2.3 Septic Systems.................................................................................99 9.2.2.4 Managed Turf.................................................................................99