Contract #12-05e 2016 Ekonk Brook Watershed-Based Plan Photo by ECCD www.ConserveCT.org/eastern This project is funded in part by CT DEEP through a US Prepared by the Eastern EPA Nonpoint Source grant under §319 of the Clean Connecticut Conservation Water Act. District, Inc. 1 Cover Photo: Ekonk Brook upstream of the State Route 14 crossing (photo by ECCD 2013). _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Ekonk Brook Watershed-Based Plan August 2016 ii Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... xi 2. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 2.1. Document Overview ............................................................................................................ 2 2.1.1. Watershed Management Plan Purpose and Process Used .............................................. 2 2.1.2. Issues Facing the Watershed ............................................................................................ 4 2.1.3. Watershed Management Team ....................................................................................... 5 2.1.4. Public Participation .......................................................................................................... 5 3. Watershed Description ................................................................................................... 7 3.1. Physical and Natural Features ............................................................................................. 7 3.1.1. Watershed Boundaries ..................................................................................................... 7 3.1.2. Topography/Elevation ...................................................................................................... 7 3.1.3. Climate/Precipitation ....................................................................................................... 7 3.1.4. Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................. 8 3.1.5. Vegetation ...................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.6. Exotic/Invasive Species .................................................................................................. 10 3.2. Water Resources ................................................................................................................ 18 3.2.1. Hydrology ....................................................................................................................... 18 3.2.2. Surface and Groundwater Resources ............................................................................ 18 3.2.3. Wetlands and Floodplains .............................................................................................. 19 3.2.4. Dams ............................................................................................................................... 20 3.3. Wildlife and Fisheries Resources ....................................................................................... 24 3.3.1. Wildlife/Waterfowl ........................................................................................................ 24 3.3.2. Fisheries .......................................................................................................................... 24 3.3.3. Protected Species ........................................................................................................... 25 3.4. Sensitive Areas ................................................................................................................... 27 3.5. Land Use and Land Cover ................................................................................................... 27 3.5.1. Open Space ..................................................................................................................... 31 3.5.2. Wetlands ........................................................................................................................ 31 3.5.3. Forests ............................................................................................................................ 31 3.5.4. Agriculture ...................................................................................................................... 34 3.5.5. Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 34 3.5.6. Developed Areas ............................................................................................................ 34 3.5.7. Transportation ................................................................................................................ 35 3.6. Cultural and Demographic Characteristics ........................................................................ 35 3.6.1. Cultural Resources.......................................................................................................... 35 3.6.2. Population/Economics ................................................................................................... 35 3.7. Land Management Policies ................................................................................................ 38 _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Ekonk Brook Watershed-Based Plan August 2016 iii 3.7.1. State-Level Land Planning Policies ................................................................................. 38 3.7.2. Municipal Land Use Policies ........................................................................................... 41 3.7.3. Future Land Use Considerations .................................................................................... 47 4. Watershed Conditions .................................................................................................. 48 4.1. Water Quality Standards .................................................................................................... 48 4.1.1. Anti-degradation Policies ............................................................................................... 49 4.2. Available Monitoring/Resource Data ................................................................................ 49 4.2.1. Water Quality Data......................................................................................................... 49 4.2.2. Review of Data by Others ............................................................................................... 50 5. Pollutant Source Assessment ........................................................................................ 56 5.1. Nonpoint Sources ............................................................................................................... 57 5.1.1. Stormwater Runoff/Outfalls .......................................................................................... 57 5.1.2. Sanitary Sewers/Septic Systems .................................................................................... 59 5.1.3. Agriculture/Cropland ..................................................................................................... 62 5.1.4. Livestock/Poultry ............................................................................................................ 62 5.1.5. Pets ................................................................................................................................. 63 5.1.6. Wildlife/Waterfowl ........................................................................................................ 63 5.2. Point Sources ..................................................................................................................... 64 5.2.1. NPDES Permits ................................................................................................................ 64 5.2.1.1. Phase 1 and 2 Stormwater Permits ............................................................................ 64 5.2.1.2. CAFO Permits .............................................................................................................. 66 5.3. Hazardous Waste ............................................................................................................... 66 5.3.1. CERCLA Sites ................................................................................................................... 67 5.3.2. RCRA Sites ...................................................................................................................... 67 5.3.3. Brownfields .................................................................................................................... 67 5.3.4. Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) ............................................................................... 67 5.4. Other Potential Pollutant Sources ..................................................................................... 67 5.4.1. Winter Road De-icing ..................................................................................................... 67 5.4.2. Land Clearing/Development .......................................................................................... 68 6. Pollutant Load Assessment ........................................................................................... 70 6.1. Estimation of Pollutant Loads ...........................................................................................