2001 water quality assessment report

Biology

MDFW regularly stocks trout in this segment of the Westfield River.

Chemistry – water

The USGS, as part of their National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) Connecticut, Housatonic, and Thames River Basins Study Unit, conducted sampling on 27 June 1994 at a site on the Westfield River approximately 0.7 miles downstream from the confluence with Great Brook, on the north side of the river just off Route 20 (Zimmerman 1999). Most pesticide compounds (2,4-D Alachlor, Atrazine, Carbaryl, Chorpyrifos, Cyanazine, Dichlorprop, Ethyl- Abazine, S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC), Malathion, Metrribuzin, Prometon, and Propargile) tested below minimum detection limits. Other pesticides were detected (Atrazine 0.017 ug/l, Dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) 0.002 ug/l, Diazinon 0.006 ug/l, Metolachlor 0.007 ug/l, and Simazine 0.010 mg/l). USGS indicates that three of these are herbicides (Atrazine, Metolachlor, Simazine) are most frequently detected downstream from agricultural activities. None of the pesticides detected at the Westfield River sampling station were in concentrations that exceeded the USEPA’s maximum contaminant level or health advisory limit for the particular compound. No other NAWQA program activities, including sediment or fish tissue sampling, occurred in the Westfield River Watershed during the 1990’s to the present time.
Too limited data are available for this segment of the Westfield River, so the Aquatic Life Use is not assessed. This use is identified with an Alert Status, however, because of the evidence of alterations in normal streamflow conditions.

Westfield River (MA32-06) Use Summary Table

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

*Alert Status issues identified, see details in use assessment section

Recommendations WESTFIELD RIVER (MA32-06)

• 
  There are currently no known CSO discharges to this segment of the Westfield River. Therefore, during the next revision of the Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards the CSO designation should be removed.
  

• 
  Conduct bacteria monitoring to assess the Primary and Secondary Contact Recreational uses and the effectiveness of the City of Westfield’s Phase II stormwater management permit and program. It should also be noted that a high bacteria count was documented on the small tributary to this segment of the Westfield River near the USGS gaging station.
  

• 
  Biological monitoring is recommended to assess the status of the Aquatic Life Use.
  

• 
  Further investigate source(s) of aberrant streamflow fluctuations observed using on-line real-time data for the USGS gage 01183500. Ideally, a natural flow regime should be restored in the Westfield River.
  

• 
  To ensure run-of-river operations all dam operators should install, calibrate and maintain a continuous streamflow monitoring gage, or determine some other method to ensure compliance with run-of-river operations.
  

• 
  Renaissance Manor NPDES permit should be issued with appropriate limits and monitoring requirements.
  

• 
  Review City of Westfield (MAR041236) Phase II Stormwater SWPPP, extent of compliance, and the effectiveness in minimizing impacts of stormwater runoff from their facilities into the Westfield River and subwatershed tributaries.
  

Powdermill Brook (Segment MA32-09)

Location: Source, east of Pitcher Road, Montgomery, to confluence with the Westfield River, Westfield.

S

egment Length: 9.5 miles

Classification: Class B

The drainage area of this segment is approximately 19 square miles. Land-use estimates (top 3, excluding water) for the subwatershed (map inset, gray shaded area):

Forest 81%

Residential 7%

Agriculture 6%

The impervious cover area for the individual sub-basins located in this segment is 2.7%, thereby classifying this subwatershed as a low threat to water quality from impervious surface water runoff (CWP 1998).
Powdermill Brook begins north of Ball Mountain in Montgomery. It flows in a general southeast direction towards the city of Westfield, paralleling Montgomery Road through the villages of West Farms and Wyben. The brook turns more easterly and flows under the Massachusetts Turnpike near the Westfield Interchange into an unnamed pond from which it exits meandering to the southeast crossing under Routes 202 and 10. Powdermill Brook then travels through a fairly straight reach along the edge of the Westfield River floodplain, passes a sand and gravel pit, and then parallels railroad tracks. The brook crosses under Route 20 and flows by Frog Hole before its confluence with the Westfield River in Westfield.
Based on the last evaluation of water quality conditions Powdermill Brook is listed in Category 5 of the 2002 Integrated List of Waters (MA DEP 2003a). This segment is impaired by several pollutants (siltation, pathogens, suspended solids, turbidity) and will require TMDLs for these pollutants.
MDFW has proposed that Powdermill Brook be listed in the SWQS as a cold water fishery (MDFW 2003).

Wma water withdrawal

Based on the available information there are no WMA regulated water withdrawals in this subwatershed.

NPDES wastewater discharge summary (Appendix H, tables H2 and H3)

Micro Abrasives Inc. was permitted (MA0002224) to discharge into Arm Brook, a tributary to Powdermill Brook. The facility connected to the wastewater treatment plant and the permit was terminated in March 1999.
Westfield is a Phase II Stormwater community. The City was issued a stormwater general permit from EPA and MA DEP in 2003 and is authorized to discharge stormwater from the municipal drainage system (MAR041236). Over the five-year permit term the City will develop, implement and enforce a stormwater management program to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the storm sewer system to protect water quality (Domizio 2004).

Use Assessment

Aquatic Life