2001 water quality assessment report

Recommendations WEST falls BRANCH (MA32-13)

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

• 
  Conduct bacteria monitoring to assess the Primary and Secondary Contact Recreational uses.
  

Watts Stream (Segment MA32-14)

Location: Source near West Hill, Worthington to confluence with Wards Stream at Ringville, Worthington.

S

egment Length: 5.2 miles

Classification: Class B

The drainage area of this segment is approximately 4 square miles. Land-use estimates (top 3, excluding water) for the subwatershed (map inset, gray shaded area):

Forest 81%

Agriculture 9%

Residential 5%

The impervious cover area for the individual sub-basins located in this segment is 1.7%, thereby classifying this subwatershed as a low threat to water quality from impervious surface water runoff (CWP 1998).
Watts Stream begins on the slopes of West Hill in Worthington State Forest and flows southerly over moderately steep terrain through the center of Worthington to its confluence with Wards Stream in the village of Ringville in Worthington. This confluence marks the beginning of the Little River.
Based on the last evaluation of water quality conditions Watts Stream is listed in Category 2 of the 2002 Integrated List of Waters (MA DEP 2003a). This segment supported some designated uses (Primary Contact Recreation, Secondary Contact Recreation, Aesthetics) and was not assessed for others (Aquatic Life, Fish Consumption).

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

Biology

In August 2001, MDFW surveyed the fish population in Watts Stream near the Guard Road Bridge in Worthington (Station 572, Richards 2003). Four fish species collected, in order of abundance, were brook trout (multiple age classes), blacknosed dace, slimy sculpin and one creek chubsucker. These species are all fluvial specialists/dependants. In addition, the presence of two intolerant species is indicative of excellent water and habitat quality.
The Aquatic Life Use is assessed as support based on the fish community data and best professional judgment. The presence of multiple year age classes of reproducing brook trout is indicative of high quality cold water.

Primary Contact and Secondary Contact RECREATION

DWM collected fecal coliform bacteria samples from Watts Stream at Prentice Road Bridge in Ringville (Worthington) at Station WATS00.1 in May and August 1996 as part of the 1996 Westfield River Watershed monitoring survey (Appendix G, Table G4).
Too limited recent water quality data are available so the Recreational uses for Watts Stream are currently not assessed.

Watts Stream (MA32-14) Use Summary Table

Aquatic Life	Fish Consumption	Primary Contact	Secondary Contact	Aesthetics
SUPPORT	Not Assessed	Not Assessed	Not Assessed	Not Assessed

Recommendations wATTS sTREAM (ma-32-14)

• 
  Although not proposed as a cold water fisheries resource by MDFW, Watts Stream should be considered for listing as a Cold Water Fishery in the next revision of the Massachusetts SWQS.
  

• 
  Conduct bacteria monitoring to assess the Primary and Secondary Contact Recreational uses.
  

Wards Stream (Segment MA32-15)

L

ocation: Source southeast of Knowles Hill, Worthington, to confluence with Watts Stream at Ringville, Worthington.

Segment Length: 5.2 miles

Classification: Class B
The drainage area of this segment is approximately 4 square miles. Land-use estimates (top 3, excluding water) for the subwatershed (map inset, gray shaded area):

Forest 62%

Agriculture 19%

Residential 8%

The impervious cover area for the individual sub-basins located in this segment is 2.5%, thereby classifying this subwatershed as a low threat to water quality from impervious surface water runoff (CWP 1998).
Wards Stream originates southeast of Knowles Hill in Worthington and flows south to southeast over moderately sloping terrain through the village of Worthington Corners in Worthington to its confluence with Watts Stream in the village of Ringville in Worthington. The confluence of these two streams marks the beginning of the Little River.
Based on the last evaluation of water quality conditions Wards Stream is listed in Category 2 of the 2002 Integrated List of Waters (MA DEP 2003a). This segment supported one designated use (Aquatic Life), and was not assessed for others (Primary Contact Recreation, Secondary Contact Recreation, Aesthetics, Fish Consumption).