The goal of the Clean Water Act (cwa) is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters
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T Figure 7. Location of the South Shore Coastal Watersheds. he South Shore Coastal Watersheds have a drainage area of approximately 240 square miles. The area is one of the eleven coastal drainage areas in eastern Massachusetts discharging directly to the ocean. There are 16 communities located entirely or partly within the South Shore Coastal Watersheds area: Bourne, Cohasset, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Scituate and Weymouth. Located along the coast of Massachusetts Bay south of Boston, the South Shore Coastal Watersheds contains several independent coastal river subbasins as well as significant groundwater aquifer resources. Descriptions of these communities can be found in the Regional Open Space Plan (GeoSyntec 2003). The three largest subwatersheds in the South Shore Coastal Subwatersheds area are the Cohasset Harbor system, the North and South rivers systems and the Plymouth Bay system including the Jones and Eel rivers. Stream flows are, on average, highest in March and lowest in September. The larger coastal embayments include Little Harbor and The Gulf in Cohasset, Green Harbor in Marshfield, Scituate Harbor in Scituate, Plymouth Harbor in Plymouth, and Plymouth Bay (including Duxbury/Kingston Bay) in Duxbury/Kingston/Plymouth. There are 167 lakes and ponds, 14 of which are designated as Class A Public Water Supplies and Outstanding Resource Waters. Only one lake is larger than 500 acres; Silver Lake in Kingston/Pembroke is 617 acres. Several kettle ponds and streams pocket the coastal outwash plain. They are fed by groundwater discharge and are not being significantly influenced by runoff. As a result the flows in these streams do not fluctuate greatly over the year. In 1978 MA DCR (formerly MA DEM) designated the North River a state scenic river by to be managed under a protective order administered by the North River Commission (MA DEM 1979). The freshwater portions of the upper North River include the Indian Head River, Drinkwater Rivers, and French Stream. The Scenic and Recreational River Protective Order for the North River established a commission made up of representatives from each of the six affected communities to review applications for any activities within the North River, associated wetlands and lands generally within 300 feet of the natural bank. The aim of the Order is to protect public and private property, wildlife, fresh and saltwater fisheries, and irreplaceable wild, scenic and recreational river resources. The Order identifies specific site design standards such as maintaining a minimum 100-foot buffer strip from the natural bank of the North River and a 40-foot buffer strip from any tributary thereto, whether natural or man-made. The most significant groundwater resource is the Plymouth/Carver sole-source aquifer, encompassing the southern portion of the South Shore Coastal Watersheds area. This aquifer, the second largest in Massachusetts, underlies 140 mi2 in eight towns in Southeastern Massachusetts. EPA designated it as a sole-source aquifer pursuant to Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act since it provides much of the drinking water for the region and, if groundwater contamination were to occur, it would pose a significant public health hazard and a serious financial burden to the area residents (EPA 1990). The rough bounds of the aquifer are the Jones River on the north, Cape Cod Bay on the east, Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay on the south and the groundwater divide of the Sippican, Taunton and Jones River watersheds on the west. Containing more than 500 billion gallons of freshwater (on average), 168 million gallons flow through the aquifer each day (Hansen and Lapham 1992 and EPA 1990). The competing demands on this resource will be studied by USGS (Appendix F, Project 2005-01/SRF). CLASSIFICATION The Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) designate the most sensitive uses for which the surface waters of the Commonwealth shall be enhanced, maintained and protected; prescribe minimum water quality criteria required to sustain the designated uses; and include provisions for the prohibition of discharges (MassDEP 1996). These regulations should undergo public review every three years. The surface waters are segmented and each segment is assigned to one of the six classes described below. Each class is identified by the most sensitive and therefore, governing, water uses to be achieved and protected. Surface waters may be suitable for other beneficial uses, but shall be regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection to protect and enhance the designated uses. Of the five classes of water quality (A, SA, B, SB, and C), Classes A and SA have the highest water quality standards to protect the highest uses of human consumption and excellent habitat quality. The overlay designation of Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) is applied to those waters with exceptional socio-economic, recreational, ecological and/or aesthetic values (MassDEP 1996 and Rojko et al. 1995). ORWs have more stringent requirements than other waters because the existing use is so exceptional or the perceived risk of harm is such that no lowering of water quality is permissible. ORWs include certified vernal pools and all designated Class A Public Water Supplies and may include surface waters found in National Parks, State Forests and Parks, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and those protected by special legislation, such as the North River Protective Order (MA DEM 1979). Wetlands that border ORWs are designated as ORWs to the boundary of the defined area. Two Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) have been designated in the southern section of the South Shore Coastal Drainage Area - Ellisville Harbor and the Herring River Watershed (MA DCR 2003a). Ellisville Harbor is an embayment of Cape Cod Bay located in the town of Plymouth that was designated an ACEC in January 1980. The Herring River Watershed was designated an ACEC in November 1991 and is located on the boundary with Buzzards Bay Watershed in the towns of Plymouth and Bourne. Ellisville Harbor ACEC (MA DCR 2003b) “The Ellisville Harbor ACEC comprises approximately 600 acres of widely diverse habitats and vegetation including a sheltered harbor, sandy beaches, salt marsh, steep bluffs, kettle holes [Center Hill and Black Ponds], a small sphagnum bog, and scenic, rural upland sites with woodland and meadow. Its ponds and marshes are feeding and breeding grounds for many aquatic birds, and the salt marsh supports shellfish and finfish. The barrier beach system, dunes, and salt marshes provide storm protection for the low-lying inland areas. The open areas are a vestige of the extensive farmlands that once characterized the Massachusetts coast. The maintenance of high water quality, vulnerable because of the high water table, is important to the public health for water supply, and for shellfishing, fishing, and recreation. Situated along the western shore of Cape Cod Bay, just five miles north of the Cape Cod Canal, the ACEC borders the Cape Cod Bay Ocean Sanctuary. In 1991, DCR acquired nearly 100 acres at the heart of the ACEC, as the Ellisville Harbor State Park. A Master Plan was developed for the state park in 1993. Protection of resources is the first priority for management and only low-impact passive recreation is encouraged. The park offers outstanding scenic qualities through forested uplands, salt marsh, and beach access.” Herring River (MA DCR 2003c) “The 4450-acre Herring River Watershed ACEC contains eleven lakes and ponds (the largest [Great Herring Pond] is 376 acres), numerous freshwater wetlands, productive cranberry bogs, and over 250 acres of protected open space. The area contains one of the most important anadromous fish runs along the coast [The Herring River] and Great Herring Pond supports a regionally important freshwater recreational fishery. Other recreational activities revolve around boating and three major summer camps for children. The area lies within the Plymouth Carver Sole Source Aquifer, and thus is critical to public water supply. At least three known state-listed rare and endangered species, including the box turtle and spotted turtle, are present.” Directory: eea -> docs -> dep -> water -> resources -> 71wqar09 dep -> Charles D. Baker Governor dep -> Charles D. Baker Governor dep -> Charles D. Baker Governor dep -> Index of Photographs dep -> Department of environmental protection one winter street, boston, ma 02108 617-292-5500 water -> Water Resource Management Planning 71wqar09 -> 2004 water quality assessment report Download 3.32 Mb. Share with your friends:
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