DEERFIELD RIVER WATERSHED Assessment Report 2004-2008 Downstream of Fife Brook Dam The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs 251 Causeway Street, Suite 900 Boston, MA 02114-2119 Mitt Romney GOVERNOR Kerry Healey LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Tel: (617) 626-1000 Fax: (617) 626-1181 Ellen Roy Herzfelder or (617) 626-1180 SECRETARY http://www.state.ma.us/envir November 19, 2004 Dear Friends of the Deerfield River Watershed: It is with great pleasure that I present you with the Assessment Report for the Deerfield River Watershed. The report helped formulate the 5-year watershed action plan that will guide local and state environmental efforts within the Deerfield River Watershed over the next five years. The report expresses some of the overall goals of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, such as improving water quality, restoring natural flows to rivers, protecting and restoring biodiversity and habitats, improving public access and balanced resource use, improving local capacity, and promoting a shared responsibility for watershed protection and management. The Deerfield River Watershed Assessment Report was developed with input from the Deerfield River Watershed Team and multiple stakeholders including watershed groups, state and federal agencies, Regional Planning Agencies and, of course, the general public from across the Watershed. We appreciate the opportunity to engage such a wide group of expertise and experience as it allows the state to focus on the issues and challenges that might otherwise not be easily characterized. From your input we have identified the following priority issues: • Water Quantity • Water Quality • Fish Communities • Wildlife and Terrestrial Habitat • Open Space • Recreation I commend everyone involved in this endeavor. Thank you for your dedication and expertise. If you are not currently a participant, I strongly encourage you to become active in the Deerfield River Watershed restoration and protection efforts. Regards, Ellen Roy Herzfelder Table of Contents Table of Contents...........................................................................................................................................i List of Figures...............................................................................................................................................ii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ii List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................iv 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................1 2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WATERSHED........................................................................1 2.1 Subwatersheds .............................................................................................................................1 2.2 Population by Community...........................................................................................................3 2.3 Surficial Geology.........................................................................................................................4 2.4 Topography..................................................................................................................................4 2.5 Precipitation.................................................................................................................................5 2.6 Roads ...........................................................................................................................................6 3 ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ...............................................................11 3.1 Water Quantity ..........................................................................................................................11 3.1.1 Streamflow Magnitude and Patterns .....................................................................................11 3.1.2 Groundwater Flow and Aquifers...........................................................................................13 3.1.3 Water Withdrawals................................................................................................................14 3.1.4 Stressed Basins......................................................................................................................16 3.1.5 Hydroelectric Generation Facilities and Dams .....................................................................16 3.2 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................25 3.2.1 State Water Quality Classifications.......................................................................................25 3.2.2 Designated Uses for Massachusetts Waters ..........................................................................26 3.2.3 303d Impaired Waters ...........................................................................................................28 3.2.4 Water Quality Conditions by Subwatershed .........................................................................28 3.2.5 Landfills ................................................................................................................................36 3.2.6 Stormwater Management ......................................................................................................37 3.3 Fish Communities......................................................................................................................43 3.3.1 Migratory Species .................................................................................................................43 3.3.2 Fishery Conditions and Occurrence by Subwatershed..........................................................45 3.3.3 Rare Species and Critical Habitats........................................................................................50 3.3.4 Non-native Fish Species........................................................................................................52 3.4 Wildlife and Terrestrial Habitat.................................................................................................54 3.4.1 Wildlife Species Occurrence.................................................................................................54 3.4.2 Rare Species and Critical Habitats........................................................................................59 3.4.3 Vernal Pools and Wetlands ...................................................................................................61 3.4.4 Forests ...................................................................................................................................62 3.4.5 Exotic/Invasive Plant Species ...............................................................................................63 3.5 Open Space................................................................................................................................67 3.5.1 Land Use Patterns and Changes............................................................................................67 3.5.2 Population Growth and Projections.......................................................................................68 3.5.3 Protected Lands.....................................................................................................................70 3.5.4 Zoning ...................................................................................................................................71 3.6 Recreation..................................................................................................................................75 3.6.1 Whitewater Boating ..............................................................................................................75 3.6.2 Angling..................................................................................................................................76 3.6.3 Hiking....................................................................................................................................76 3.6.4 Downhill and Cross Country Skiing .....................................................................................77 3.6.5 State Forests and Parks..........................................................................................................77 i 3.6.6 Snowmobiling .......................................................................................................................78 3.6.7 Hunting..................................................................................................................................78 3.6.8 Swimming .............................................................................................................................78 3.6.9 Passive Recreation ................................................................................................................79 3.6.10 Instream Recreation Safety...............................................................................................79 4 Key Areas of Concern and Assessment Needs ..................................................................................81 4.1 Water