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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
A benthic macroinvertebrate and habitat survey was performed by DWM biologists in the summer of 1996 in one reach of this segment of the Middle Branch Westfield River upstream from Littleville Lake (Station MB01). Habitat quality conditions at this location are described in detail in Appendix C.
Upstream fish passage to this segment of the Middle Branch Westfield River is blocked by the Littleville Lake Dam. In 2002 the ACOE installed three feet of aluminum stoplogs in the overflow channel to create a plunge pool for smolts going over the dam.
Biology
MDFW regularly stocks salmon fry and trout in the Middle Branch Westfield River upstream from Littleville Lake.
In September 2001 MDFW conducted backpack electrofishing along one reach in this segment of the Middle Branch Westfield River (Station 319, Richards 2003). The station was located upstream from the confluence with Tuttle Brook, off East River Road, Middlefield/Worthington. Seven fish species collected, in order of abundance, were blacknosed dace, longnosed dace, slimy sculpin, Atlantic salmon, brook trout, white sucker, and one common shiner. Multiple age classes of Atlantic salmon and brook trout were found. All species collected are fluvial specialists/dependants.
A benthic macroinvertebrate and habitat survey was performed by DWM biologists in the summer of 1996 in one reach of this segment of the Middle Branch Westfield River upstream from Littleville Lake (Station MB01). Results of the RBP II analysis are provided in detail in Appendix C.
The Aquatic Life Use is assessed as support based on the fish community data and best professional judgment. The presence of three intolerant species (Altantic salmon, brook trout and slimy sculpin) is indicative of excellent water and habitat quality.
Fish Consumption
Fish were collected from this segment of the Middle Branch Westfield River by MA DEP and MDFW personnel in October 1990 upstream from Dayville Bridge in Chester (Maietta 1993). Tissue from rainbow trout, eastern brook trout and brown were analyzed for selected metals (including mercury), PCB and pesticides. MA DPH did not issue any fish consumption advisories based on this data.
Because no site-specific fish consumption advisory was issued by MA DPH for this segment of the Westfield River the Fish Consumption Use is not assessed.
Primary Contact and Secondary Contact RECREATION and Aesthetics
DWM collected fecal coliform bacteria samples from six stations along this segment of the Middle Branch Westfield River once in July 1996. Stations MBWF16.4, MBWF14.4, MBWF09.3, MBWF07.5, MBWF05.2, and MBWF04.0 are all described in Appendix G as part of the 1996 Westfield River Watershed monitoring survey (Appendix G, Table G4).
No objectionable conditions were noted by DWM biologists in the reach sampled in this segment of the Middle Branch Westfield River upstream from Littleville Lake in the summer of 1996 (Station MB01).
Too limited recent water quality data are available so the Recreational and Aesthetics uses for this segment of the Middle Branch Westfield River are currently not assessed.
Middle Branch Westfield River (MA32-02) Use Summary Table
Aquatic Life
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Fish Consumption
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Drinking Water
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Primary Contact
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Secondary Contact
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Aesthetics
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SUPPORT
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Not Assessed
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Recommendations mIDDLE BRANCH WESTFIELD RIVER (MA32-02)
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Long-term monitoring of the Atlantic salmon and brook trout populations in the Middle Branch Westfield River would be valuable to investigate possible impact of salmon stocking on the brook trout population.
Glendale Brook (Segment MA32-10)
L
ocation: From headwaters in a wetland in Peru State Forest, Peru, to confluence with Middle Branch Westfield River, Middlefield.
Segment Length: 6.0 miles
Classification: Class A
The drainage area of this segment is approximately 7 square miles. Land-use estimates (top 3, excluding water) for the subwatershed (map inset, gray shaded area):
Forest 88%
Agriculture 6%
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).
Glendale Brook begins in the Peru State Forest in Peru originating in a wetland southeast of Garnet Hill. The stream flows southeasterly over moderately steep terrain until it crosses under Wright Road where it then flows northeasterly through a relatively flat area before flowing over Glendale Falls to its confluence with the Middle Branch of the Westfield River in Middlefield.
Based on the last evaluation of water quality conditions Glendale 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 Glendale Brook be listed in the next revision of the SWQS as a cold water fishery (MDFW 2003).
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