Mattabesset River Mattabesset River Watershed Watershed Management PlanManagement Plan

Julie FoleyJulie Foley

Watershed StatisticsWatershed Statistics

45,000-acres45,000-acres 90,000 residents90,000 residents 3 counties and 3 counties and

10 town 10 town municipalitiesmunicipalities

1,630 acres of 1,630 acres of wetlands in the wetlands in the watershedwatershed

Introduction

Land UseLand Use

65% zoned for 65% zoned for residentialresidential

18.3% 18.3% impervious coverimpervious cover

Introduction

CT River Watch CT River Watch ProgramProgram Volunteer-based CRWP founded in Volunteer-based CRWP founded in

19921992 Build awareness of river Build awareness of river

resourcesresources Collect scientifically credible dataCollect scientifically credible data

Introduction

Plan FocusPlan Focus

Ultimate goal to restore the river Ultimate goal to restore the river to a fishable and swimmable to a fishable and swimmable condition.condition.

Nine-goal management planNine-goal management plan– Water resourcesWater resources– Land useLand use– Education and outreachEducation and outreach– Funding and partnership needsFunding and partnership needs

Vision StatementVision Statement

Water Quality Water Quality MonitoringMonitoring Yearly monitoring since 1992Yearly monitoring since 1992 Water chemistry and bacteriaWater chemistry and bacteria Problems with bacteria, Problems with bacteria,

nutrients and metalsnutrients and metals Macroinvertibrates indicate Macroinvertibrates indicate

moderate to severe WQ moderate to severe WQ and habitat degradationsand habitat degradations

State of the Watershed

TMDLTMDL

Sources of indicator bacteria include point and nonpoint sources– Stormwater runoff, animal waste,

natural sources (wildlife), illicit discharges, failed collection systems, and poor septic systems.

Implementation Plan – MS4 Permits Monitoring Plan

State of the Watershed

Dams and Dams and ImpoundmentsImpoundments Multiple drinking water reservoirsMultiple drinking water reservoirs Three industrial impoundments Three industrial impoundments

impede fish migrationimpede fish migration– Two inactive industrial dams Two inactive industrial dams

(cooling and hydroelectric)(cooling and hydroelectric)– One actively utilized as a cooling One actively utilized as a cooling

pondpond

State of the Watershed

Stream Walk Study Stream Walk Study ResultsResults <25’ stream buffers are common<25’ stream buffers are common Most common land use adjacent to Most common land use adjacent to

streams is suburban development streams is suburban development Notable stream bank erosionNotable stream bank erosion Prevalent in stream algal growthPrevalent in stream algal growth Stormwater discharge pipes Stormwater discharge pipes

causing impairmentscausing impairments

State of the Watershed

Plan ImplementationPlan Implementation

District, municipalities, District, municipalities, landowners, businesses, federal landowners, businesses, federal and state environmental agencies, and state environmental agencies, and environmental organizationsand environmental organizations

Three PhasesThree Phases1.1. Outreach and education (< 2 years)Outreach and education (< 2 years)2.2. Implement funded projects (2-5 years)Implement funded projects (2-5 years)3.3. Long term follow-up projects (5-10 Long term follow-up projects (5-10

years)years)The Plan

Plan OrganizationPlan Organization

The Plan

GoalGoal– State goal and problem definitionState goal and problem definition

PhasePhase– I, II and III; each has separate objectiveI, II and III; each has separate objective

Objective Objective – State objectivesState objectives

Supporting tasksSupporting tasks– List tasks required to address goalList tasks required to address goal

Management Plan for the Mattabesset River Watershed, 2000

http://www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal/riverwatch/about.htm

http://dep.state.ct.us/wtr/tmdl/mattbasintmdlfinal.pdf