the blackstone

The Blackstone

Water Quality for River Users

Donna Williams

Water Quality Issues of Interest to River Users

Aquatic Life/Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Primary and

Secondary Contact Recreation

Fish Consumption

Uses as defined by Mass DEP and RIDEM

The Aquatic Life Use is supported when suitable habitat (including water quality) is available for sustaining a native, naturally diverse, community of aquatic flora and fauna.


es: Urban runoff, hydromodification (upstream impoundment), habitat modification

Support

Impaired (partial support and non-support)

Not Assessed

Unassessed waters

Segment Break

LEGEND

N

4 0 4

8 Miles

Beaver Brook MA51-07N n-Support .0 mileCauses: Habitat al ration, unknownSources: Channelization, habitat modification, and unknown

BLACKSTONE RIVER BASIN

AQUATIC LIFE USE/FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

Main Stem in Massachusetts and Rhode Island:

Non-Support


Impairments:

MA RI

Habitat alteration CopperOrganic enrichment Dissolved OxygenNutrients Total PhosphorusToxicity Benthic Macroinver-Flow alterations tebrate bioassessmentMetals

Primary and Secondary Contact Recreation

• PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION - suitable for any recreation or other water use in which there is prolonged and intimate contact with the water with a significant risk of ingestion of water.

• These include, but are not limited to, wading, swimming, diving, surfing and water skiing.

• SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION - suitable for any recreation or other water use in which contact with the water is either incidental or accidental.

• These include, but are not limited to, fishing, boating and limited contact incident to shoreline activities.

BLACKSTONE RIVER BASINPRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATIONAL USE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY - RIVERS

iddle River MA51- 02 Non-Support 2.5 milesCauses: PathogensSources: Urban runoff, illicit sewer connections

4 0 4 8 Miles

N

Support

Impaired (partial support and non-support)

Not Assessed

Unassessed waters

Segment Break

LEGEND

Beaver Brook MA51-07 Non-Support 3.0 milesCauses: Pathoge sSources: Urban runoff, illicit sewer connection

Blackstone River MA51-04 Non-Support 8.7 milesCauses: Pathogens, turbidity Sources: Municipal point sources, CSO, urban runoff

lackstone River MA51-05 Partial Support 7.4 milesCauses: PathogensSources: Municipal point sources, urban runoff

Unnamed Tributary - "Mill Brook" MA51-08 Non-Support 3.0 milesCauses: Oil and grease, odorSources: Urban runoff, illicit sewer connections

Blackstone River MA51-03 Non-Support 9.0 milesCauses: PathogensSources: Urban runoff, illicit sewer connections, trash/debris, turbidity

Blackstone iver MA51-06 Partial Support 3.7 milesCauses: Pathogens, odor, turbiditySources: Municipal point source, urban

Main Stem:

Non-Support

Non-Support

Partial Support

Primary and Secondary Contact Recreation

Impairments:

MA RINon-supportFecal coliform Wet weather – not supporting Turbidity Dry weather – Oil, grease, odors - supporting enterococci criteria

- not supporting fecal coliform Partial Support: criteriaFecal coliformOdorsTurbidity

Fish Consumption

FISH CONSUMPTION –

Pollutants shall not result in unacceptable concentrations in edible portions of marketable fish or shellfish or for the recreational use of fish, shellfish, other aquatic life or wildlife for human consumption

Fish Consumption

Main Stem: resident fish

MAAssessed segments: Non-Support PCB, blanket impairment

for MercuryRI Not Supporting PCB, Mercury in fish tissue

Does not apply to non-resident or anadromous fish.

Fish Consumption

Massachusetts Fish Consumption Advisory for assessed segments - for resident fish:

“Children under 12, pregnant women and nursing mothers should not consume fish from Riverdale Pond/Rice City Pond/impoundment above Blackstone Gorge in order to prevent exposure of developing fetuses and young children to PCBs.”

“The general public should limit consumption of all fish species from Riverdale Pond/Rice City Pond/impoundment above Blackstone Gorge to two meals per month.”

Major Causes of Impairments

Bacteria:

Wet Weather: Stormwater Combined Sewer OverflowsDry Weather: Illicit sewer connections

Nutrients:

Stormwater Wastewater treatment plants Combined Sewer Overflow

Blackstone River Coalition BHC BRWA BRWC/FOB

Blackstone River CoalitionWatershed-wide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program

Report Card for 2008 Monitoring Season

BLACKSTONE RIVER KEY TO COLOR CODES31 Blackstone River outlet of Fisherville Pond @ Rt. 122A Grafton

32 Blackstone River Sutton St. USGS flow station Northbridge Excellent33 Blackstone River Plummer's Landing Northbridge Good34 Blackstone River Tow path north of Stanley Woolen Uxbridge Fair35 Blackstone River Upstream at Gorge off Staples Lane Blackstone Poor36 Blackstone River Main St. Blackstone/TKO Blackstone Not Enough Data

37 Blackstone River River Island Park Woonsocket 38 Blackstone River Albion Dam Lincoln 39 Blackstone River Slater Mill Pawtucket TRIBUTARIES Categories

(Each category is derived from the combination of the following factors)

40 Mumford River inlet of L. Manchaug Sutton 41 Mumford River outlet of L. Manchaug near Parker Rd Sutton 42 Mumford River Gilboa Street/above WWTP Douglas 43 Mumford River Rt. 122, N. Uxbridge Uxbridge 44 Mumford River downstream @ Depot Street Uxbridge Aesthetics -

turbidity, water appearance, water odor & visual assesments

45 Dark Brook Putnam Hill Road** Sutton 46 unnamed tributary outlet of Whitin Reservoir Douglas 47 Centerville Brook*cwf West Street Douglas 48 Cook Allen Brook*cwf upstr of bridge on Johnson Road Sutton 49 West River*cwf Glen Ave. Wells** Upton Temp. - temperature50 West River*cwf Hartford Avenue Upton DO - dissolved

oxygen51 West River*cwf Pleasant and Glen Upton 52 West River*cwf Mendon Road Northbridge % Sat. - dissolved

oxygen % saturation53 West River*cwf upstream @ Harrington pool Northbridge 54 West River*cwf under Rte. 16 bridge Uxbridge Nutrients - nitrate &

orthophospate55 Miscoe Brook*cwf Merriam Road Grafton 56 Warren Brook*cwf Fowler Road Bridge Upton 57 Center Brook*cwf Station Street Upton 58 Center Brook*cwf at Mendon Road Upton 59 Meadow Brook upstream at Blackstone St. bridge** Uxbridge 60 Emerson Brook*cwf Above Quaker Highway Uxbridge 61 Bacon Brook*cwf Balm of Life Springs Road** Uxbridge

Aesthetics Temp DO % Sat Nutrients

Advice to River Users:

- Practice catch-and-release when fishing.

- Exercise common sense in exposure to river. Following contact with river water, people should wash thoroughly, clean boots and shoes.

ENJOY!!!

Campaign for a Fishable/Swimmable Blackstone River by

2015

We Can Do It – You Can Help!

The Blackstone River Coalition