2001 water quality assessment report

Wma water withdrawal and npdes wastewater discharge Summary

Based on the available information there are no WMA regulated water withdrawals or NPDES regulated surface wastewater discharges in this subwatershed.

Use Assessment

Primary Contact and Secondary Contact RECREATION

DWM collected one fecal coliform bacteria sample from the Trustees of the Reservation access to Glendale Falls (Station GDBR00.4) in July 1996 as part of the 1996 Westfield River Watershed monitoring survey (Appendix G, Table G4).
No recent water quality data are available so all uses for Glendale Brook are currently not assessed.

Glendale Brook (MA32-10) Use Summary Table

Aquatic Life	Fish Consumption	Drinking Water	Primary Contact	Secondary Contact	Aesthetics
Not Assessed

Recommendations GLENDALE BROOK (ma32-10)

• 
  Conduct bacteria monitoring to assess the Primary and Secondary Contact Recreational uses. Conduct additional sampling to pinpoint sources if deemed necessary.
  

• 
  Monitor the fish population and/or DO and temperature in Glendale Brook to evaluate MDFW’s proposal to list this segment as a cold water fishery in the next revision of the surface water quality standards.
  

Kinne Brook (Segment MA32-32)

L

ocation: Source, west of West Street, Worthington, to confluence with Middle Branch Westfield River, Chester.

Segment Length: 5.6 miles

Classification: Class A
The drainage area of this segment is approximately 6 square miles. Land-use estimates (top 3, excluding water) for the subwatershed (map inset, gray shaded area):

Forest 87%

Agriculture 7%

Residential 3%

The impervious cover area for the individual sub-basins located in this segment is 1.3 %, thereby classifying this subwatershed as a low threat to water quality from impervious surface water runoff (CWP 1998).
Kinne Brook originates near Parker Four Corners in Worthington on the slopes of a moderately steep hill. The brook flows south to southeast through mostly forested terrain soon entering Chester, where it has its confluence with the Middle Branch Westfield River in the village of Dayville.
Based on the last evaluation of water quality conditions Kinne Brook is listed in Category 3 of the 2002 Integrated List of Waters (MA DEP 2003a). This segment was not assessed for any uses.
MDFW has proposed that Kinne Brook be listed in the next revision of the SWQS as a cold water fishery (MDFW 2003).

Wma water withdrawal and npdes wastewater discharge Summary

Based on the available information there are no WMA regulated water withdrawals or NPDES regulated surface wastewater discharges in this subwatershed.

Use Assessment

Aquatic Life

Habitat and Flow

As part of the MA DEP Biocriteria Development Project a habitat survey was performed by DWM on Kinne Brook at Station BT05KIN, approximately 250 meters downstream from the confluence of Skunk Brook in Chester, in September 1997. At the time of the survey the river was roughly 2 m wide with a depth of approximately 0.25 m. The substrates were comprised primarily of boulder, cobble, and gravel. The overall habitat score was 154 out of a possible 200 (MA DEP 1997). Habitat quality was limited by the channel flow status with additional limitations related to velocity/depth combinations, embeddedness, and the inadequate riparian zone on the left bank.

Biology

MDFW regularly stocks salmon fry in Kinne Brook.
In August 2001 MDFW conducted backpack electrofishing in Kinne Brook downstream from the confluence with Skunk Brook in Chester (Station 395, Richards 2003). Only blacknosed dace was collected.

As part of the MA DEP Biocriteria Development Project MA DEP DWM biologists collected benthic macroinvertebrate samples from Kinne Brook approximately 250 meters downstream from the confluence of Skunk Brook in Chester (Station BT05KIN) in September 1997 (Lotic 1999). Electrofishing was also conducted at this location on 24 September 1997 (ENSR 1997). Fish collected in order of abundance included: blacknose dace, Atlantic salmon, creek chubsucker, eastern brook trout, and an individual each of pumpkinseed, golden shiner, and slimy sculpin. Multiple age classes of Atlantic salmon and eastern brook trout were found. With the exception of the pumpkinseed and golden shiner all fish species collected were fluvial specialists/dependants. While blacknose dace dominated both MDFW and DWM samples, which were taken in close proximity to one another, the absence of other species in the more recent MDFW sample is of concern.

Chemistry – water

In-situ measurements (DO, % saturation, pH, temperature, conductivity, and turbidity) of Kinne Brook were made approximately 250 meters downstream from the confluence of Skunk Brook in Chester (Station BT05KIN) on 24 September 1997 as part of the Biocriteria Development Project (Appendix G, Table G3).
Although the fish assemblage documented by DWM in 1997 appears to be indicative of excellent water quality, the Aquatic Life Use is not assessed because of inconsistencies when compared with the more recent MDFW fish population data. However, the Aquatic Life Use is identified with an Alert Status because only one species was collected during the most recent sampling event.

Aesthetics

No aesthetic quality degradation (odors, turbidity, oil, grease) or any other objectionable conditions were noted by DWM biologists during their survey in Kinne Brook in 1997 (MA DEP 1997).

The Aesthetics Use is assessed as support based primarily on field observations by DWM biologists in 1997 and best professional judgment.
Kinne Brook (MA32-32) Use Summary Table

Aquatic Life*	Fish Consumption	Drinking Water	Primary Contact	Secondary Contact	Aesthetics
NOT ASSESSED					SUPPORT

* Alert Status issues identified see details in use assessment