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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
As part of the MA DEP Biocriteria Development Project a habitat survey was performed by DWM at Station BT08LIT on the Little River off the north side of Route 112 approximately 1900 meters downstream from Ireland Street crossing Huntington in September 1997. At the time of the survey the river was roughly 7 m wide with depths ranging from 0.25 m to 1.0 m. The substrates were comprised primarily of boulder and cobble. The overall habitat score was 152 out of a possible 200 (MA DEP 1997). Habitat quality was limited most by the channel flow status with additional limitations related to velocity/depth combinations, embeddedness and an inadequate riparian zone on the right bank.
Biology
MDFW regularly stocks salmon fry and trout in the Little River.
In August 2001 MDFW conducted electrofishing in the Little River near Goss Hill Road Bridge in Worthington (Station 381, Richards 2003). Seven fish species collected, in order of abundance, were Atlantic salmon (multiple age classes), blacknosed dace, longnosed dace, common shiner, white sucker, and one individual each of creek chubsucker and brook trout.
As part of the MA DEP Biocriteria Development Project MA DEP DWM biologists collected benthic macroinvertebrate samples from Little River off the north side of Route 112 approximately 1900 meters southeast (downstream) from Ireland Street crossing Huntington (Station BT08LIT) in September 1997 (Lotic 1999). Electrofishing was also conducted by DWM at this location on 24 September 1997 (ENSR 1997). Fish collected in order of abundance included: blacknosed dace, longnosed dace, slimy sculpin, white sucker, eastern brook trout, common shiner, Atlantic salmon (multiple age classes), creek chubsucker, and an individual tessellated darter. These species are all fluvial specialists/dependants. In addition the presence of three intolerant species is indicative of excellent water and habitat quality.
Chemistry – water
In-situ measurements (DO, %saturation, pH, temperature, conductivity, and turbidity) of the Little River off the north side of Route 112 approximately 1900 meters southeast (downstream) from Ireland Street crossing Huntington (Station BT08LIT) were made on 24 September 1997 as part of the Biocriteria Development Project (Appendix G, Table G3).
The Aquatic Life Use is assessed as support based on the fish community data and best professional judgment. The presence of Atlantic salmon, reproducing brook trout and slimy sculpin are indicative of high quality cold water.
Primary Contact and Secondary Contact RECREATION and Aesthetics
DWM collected fecal coliform bacteria samples from the Little River just upstream from the flood pool of Knightville Dam in Huntington (Station LRWT00.1) between May and August as part of the 1996 Westfield River Watershed monitoring survey (Appendix G, Table G4).
No aesthetic quality degradation (odors, turbidity, oil, grease) or any other objectionable conditions were noted by DWM biologists during their survey in the Little River in 1997 (MA DEP 1997).
Too limited recent water quality data are available so the Recreational uses for the Little River are currently not assessed. The Primary Contact Recreational Use is identified with an Alert Status, however, because of one fairly high bacteria count. The Aesthetics Use is assessed as support based primarily on field observations by DWM biologists in 1997 and best professional judgment.
Little River (MA32-16) 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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SUPPORT
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* Alert Status issues identified see use assessment summary for additional information.
Recommendations lITTLE RIVER (ma32-16) -
Long-term monitoring of the Atlantic salmon and brook trout populations at this site would be valuable to investigate possible impact of salmon stocking on the brook trout population.
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The Little River should be considered for designation as a Cold Water Fishery in the next revision of the Massachusetts SWQS.
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Conduct bacteria monitoring to assess the Primary and Secondary Contact Recreational uses.
Middle Branch Westfield River (Segment MA32-02)
L
ocation: Source in Peru State Wildlife Management Area, Peru, to inlet of Littleville Lake just upstream from boat ramp (south of Kinne Brook Road), Chester.
Segment Length: 14.7 miles
Classification: Class A
The drainage area of this segment is approximately 49 square miles. Land-use estimates (top 3, excluding water) for the subwatershed (map inset, gray shaded area):
Forest 91%
Agriculture 4%
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).
The headwaters of the Middle Branch Westfield River form in the Peru Wildlife Management Area in Peru. The river passes from Worthington to become the town boundary between Middlefield and Worthington and winds its way in a more easterly direction as it passes into Chester. The gradient decreases here and the river meanders its way to the southeast down to the village of North Chester. From North Chester the river runs in a fairly straight reach by Bemis Hill and then begins a reach of small meanders as it continues to flow southeast. The river then enters Littleville Lake, a reservoir formed by the Army Corps of Engineers Littleville Dam, at the Huntington/Chester town line.
Based on the last evaluation of water quality conditions the Middle Branch Westfield River is listed in Category 2 of the 2002 Integrated List of Waters (MA DEP 2003a). This segment supported some designated uses (Aquatic Life, Primary Contact Recreation, Secondary Contact Recreation, Aesthetics) and was not assessed for others (Fish Consumption).
MDFW has proposed that this segment of the Middle Branch Westfield River and the following tributaries- Day Brook, Tuttle Brook, Fuller Brook, Trout Brook- be listed in the next revision of the SWQS as cold water fisheries (MDFW 2003).
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