Natural Resources Planning
Deerfield River Watershed Nonpoint Pollution Assessment
A typical section of the Deerfield River Watershed. Note erosiion of river bank and the proximity of the road to the river.
Project Overview
From its headwaters in the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Deerfield River flows approximately 70 miles and drops roughly 2000 feet in elevation before it joins the Connecticut River in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The Deerfield River Watershed encompasses approximately 665 square miles and includes 20 municipalities and more than 149 streams and 21 lakes and ponds. Most of the land area within the watershed is forested and includes large tracts of BioCore Core Habitat and Supporting Natural Landscape. Aquifers, which supply drinking water to private and public water supply wells, are located along the river valley corridors. Estimated habitat for rare and endangered species has also been identified in these valley corridors. The Deerfield and its tributaries provide habitat for native and stocked trout and several state listed fish of Special Concern, including the bridle shiner, eastern silvery minnow, and long nose sucker. Shortnose sturgeon, which is listed by both the state and federal governments as an Endangered Species, is found in the Deerfield. Atlantic salmon are also stocked in the Deerfield as part of the Atlantic Salmon Restoration program.
The Deerfield River is widely regarded as one of the coldest and cleanest rivers in Massachusetts and attracts many sport-fisherman and whitewater enthusiasts. However, nonpoint source pollution has degraded segments of the mainstem and its major tributaries, and poses a threat to other tributaries in the watershed. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) has identified several potential sources of nonpoint pollution in the Deerfield Watershed, including: failing septic systems, stormwater runoff, road runoff from paved and unpaved roads (many major roadways in the watershed run alongside rivers and streams), and agricultural activities in close proximity to rivers and streams.
The Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) was awarded an $87,700 grant from the 604b Water Quality Management Planning Grant Program administered by the MA DEP to inventory and assess the potential sources of nonpoint pollution in the Deerfield River watershed. The FRCOG partnered with three organizations to implement this project: the Deerfield River Watershed Association (DRWA), the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC), and the MA Department of Fish and Game’s Riverways/Adopt-A-Stream Program.
Current Activities
The Final Report for the water quality monitoring program for e.coli bacteria, which was implemented by the DRWA and its trained volunteers, is now being reviewed by FRCOG staff. Stream Team inventories of riparian conditions and potential sources of nonpoint pollution along the South, North and Chickley Rivers were facilitated by volunteers and staff from the Riverways Program. This valuable information, along with the GIS mapping produced by FRCOG and the windshield surveys conducted by FRCOG staff, is currently being evaluated.
Future Plans
FRCOG staff will be presenting the information to watershed stakeholders to solicit feedback and then a Final Report will be prepared, which will include an inventory of the potential sources of nonpoint pollution and recommendations for preventing or reducing the environmental impacts from this type of pollution.
Page Last Updated: March 28, 2008