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Based on the available information there are no WMA regulated water withdrawals in this subwatershed.
NPDES wastewater discharge summary (Appendix H, table H1)
The Maples, formerly called the Worthington Senior Housing Inc., is authorized to discharge (NPDES MA0027871) up to 0.0023 MGD of treated sanitary wastewater to Wards Stream (permit issued in September 1999). The wastewater is treated through subsurface sand filters and, on occasion, during high groundwater conditions or excessive precipitation the wastewater reaches a chlorine contact tank after sand filtration and is discharged into Wards Stream. Therefore, the discharge is on an intermittent basis only. The facility has a maximum daily total residual chlorine (TRC) limit of 0.1 mg/L, a monthly average total phosphorus and ammonia-nitrogen limit of 2.0 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively, and a fecal coliform limit of 200 cfu/100 mls. According to the MA DEP Western Regional Office staff the facility has been in compliance with the permit limits (McElroy 2004). The previous permit required the facility to conduct whole effluent toxicity testing of the discharge. A whole effluent toxicity test (100% effluent) was conducted on the discharge in October 1998. Survival of Ceriodaphnia dubia and Pimephales promelas exposed (48-hour) to the effluent sample was excellent (> 100%) in the test. The present permit no longer requires whole effluent toxicity testing.
Use Assessment Aquatic Life Biology
MDFW conducted backpack electrofishing at two locations in Wards Stream in August 2001. The most upstream location was near Buffington Hill Road in Worthington (Station 350, downstream from the Maples discharge) and the downstream location was near Indian Oven Road in Worthington (Station 347, Richards 2003). Four fish species collected at the upstream station, in order of abundance, were creek chubsucker, brook trout (multiple age classes), white sucker, and blacknosed dace. Five species collected at the downstream location, in order of abundance, were blacknosed dace, creek chubsucker, common shiner, white sucker, and one brook trout. These species are all fluvial specialists/dependants. In addition, the presence of one intolerant species is indicative of excellent water and habitat quality.
Toxicity Ambient
Water was collected from Wards Stream for use as dilution water in the Maples facility’s whole effluent toxicity test conducted in October 1998. Water was collected approximately 0.2 miles upstream from where Ward’s Stream crosses Buffington Hill Road. Survival of C. dubia and P. promelas exposed (48-hour) to the river water was good (> 95%) in the test.
Effluent
Water from The Maples treatment plant was collected in October 1998 and tested for whole effluent toxicity. Although the toxicity test was invalid because of a sample holding-time violation it should be noted that survival of C. dubia and P. promelas exposed (48-hour) to the effluent sample was excellent (> 100%) in the test.
Chemistry – water Water from Wards Stream was collected for use as dilution water in The Maples whole effluent toxicity test conducted in October 1998 (approximately 0.2 miles upstream from where Ward’s Stream crosses Buffington Hill Road). Data from this report (maintained in the TOXTD database) are summarized below.
pH
Instream pH was 6.3 mg/L.
Total Residual Chlorine
The TRC measurement was < 0.05 mg/L.
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.
DWM collected fecal coliform bacteria samples from Wards Stream near the Route 112 bridge in Ringville (Station WRDS00.0) in May and August 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 and Aesthetic uses for Wards Stream are currently not assessed.
Wards Stream (MA32-15) Use Summary Table
Aquatic Life
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Fish Consumption
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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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Not Assessed
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Not Assessed
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Not Assessed
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Recommendations WARDS STREAM (MA32-15) -
Although not proposed as a cold water fisheries resource by MDFW, Wards Stream should be considered for listing as a Cold Water Fishery in the next revision of the Massachusetts SWQS.
Little River (Segment MA32-16)
L
ocation: Confluence of Watts and Wards streams at Ringville, Worthington, to confluence with Westfield River, Huntington.
Segment Length: 5.7 miles
Classification: Class B
The drainage area of this segment is approximately 15 square miles. Land-use estimates (top 3, excluding water) for the subwatershed (map inset, gray shaded area):
Forest 78%
Agriculture 10%
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).
The Little River is formed at the confluence of Watts and Wards Streams in the village of Ringville in Worthington paralleling Route 112 its entire length. From Ringville the river flows south to southeast and first enters a relatively flat area with low gradient before entering a narrow steep valley with a high gradient. The river then passes by the village of South Worthington before entering Huntington and its confluence with the Westfield River above the Knightville Dam.
Based on the last evaluation of water quality conditions Little River 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 the Little River be listed in the next revision of the SWQS as a cold water fishery (MDFW 2001).
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