[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
Coastal Zone Information Property of CSC Library Center LI R,1~ Report ~-- 1~; of the Southeastern Esntglan d Stdy VIQ~~ ~a Strategy for Balanced Development ~~~~> ~and Protection of Water and Related '~2~~~~~ ~Land Resources in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island 7. BLACKSTONE AND VICINITY PLANNING AREA REPORT < @g~~~~~OSTAL ZONE INFORMATION CENTER N New England River Basins Commission HD A11695 . -DtMNT OF COMMERCE NOA- Al~~~~~~~~~~~~ ' AN49 C<A L ~.R VES CENTER 1975 22' SttU1 $OBSON AVENUE v.7 ChA~L.StON, ~ C 24O5-2413 The Southeastern New England Study Ten PLANNING AREA REPORTS dealing Special Reports (SENE) is a "level B water and related land with the same subjects as the Regional Report, hi addition to inventory reports, over a dozen resources study." It was conducted under the but aimed at the local level. Eastern Mas- special reports were prepared, including: provisions of the federal Water Resources sachusetts and Rhode Island were divided into Socio-Economic and Environmental Base Planning Act of 1965. The resources man- ten "planning areas" based either on tradi- Study, Volumes I and I; Economic analyses of agement program the Study produced was tional sub-state divisions or principal river ba- water supply and demand issues, power plant developed by a team of federal, state, and sins. Reports were prepared for the following siting, coastal resources allocation, and sand regional officials, local citizens, and the scien- areas: and gravel mining; Legal and institutional tific community, under the overall coordination 1. Ipswich-North Shore, analyses of the state wetlands laws, arrange- of the New England River Basins Commission. 2. Boston Metropolitan, ments for water supply service, fiscal policy ItisapartoftheCommission'scomprehensive, 3. South Shore, and land control, access to natural resources coordinated joint plan for the water and related 4. Cape Cod and the Islands, areas, and management structure for water and land resources of New England. 5. Buzzards Bay, land use issues; Urban Waters Special Study; The recommended program for managing 6. Taunton, Summaries of public workshops the resources of Southeastern New England is 7. Blackstone and Vicinity, described, in increasing level of detail, in the 8. Pawtuxet, Copies of reports are available from: following Final Reports: 9. Narragansett Bay and A SUMMARY highlighting the principal Block Island, New England River Basins Commission findings and recommendations of the Study, 10. Pawcatuck 55 Court Street and their implications for the future of the re- Boston, Massachusetts 02108 gion. Other reports prepared during the course of A REGIONAL REPORT and Environmen- the Study include the following: National Technical Information tal Impact Statement describing in detail the Inventory Reports Service natural resources, issues and problems facing For each of the ten planning areas, inventory Springfield, Virginia 22151 the region, the alternative solutions examined reports were prepared covering the following during the Study, the recommendations made, subjects: climate, meteorology, hydrology, and also in each of the 208 libraries and 210 and their implications. It includes policies and geology; land use, patterns, allocations, and town halls throughout the SENE region. programs for dealing with water supply, land management; special environmental factors; use, water quality, outdoor recreation, marine water supply; ground water management; water resources, flood and erosion protection, and quality control; outdoor recreation; fish and key facilities siting, and the changes in state wildlife; navigation; flood plain zoning and and local government required to implement streamflow management; inland wetlands the program. management; coastal resources; irrigation and drainage; sediment and erosion; power; miner- als. I~~~~~ --7 r AL I Nadw I I REPORT OF THE SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND STUDY READER'S GUIDE: HOW TO REVIEW THIS REPORT * In five minutes Read the OVERVIEW which folds out as one large sheet. There is an extra copy:in the pocket in the rear for FOR A "THUMBNAIL SKETCH" those who would like to mount it on the wall. * In a half hour or less Read the SUMMARY.' It is published separately. You can read it in either of two ways: TO LEARN THE MAIN POINTS � SELECTIVELY. Read the Chapters on Goals and Apprqach and Guiding Growth, plus any others that interest you. Chapters are boldly labeled to facilitate selective reading; or � ENTIRELY. Read the full summary for a fuller understanding of the highli glhts of the SENE Study. * In one day or less Read the REGIONAL REPORT. '* SELECTIVELY. It is organized exactly like the TO UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS summary. Wherever your interests lie, you can turn to those sections for additional background, amplifica- tions, analysis of rejected alternatives, and especially for the full text of each recommendation, including who should do what and when. Also, remove the Development Capabilities Maps in the rear pocket and examine the legend to appreciate the type of information the maps portray; or � ENTIRELY. Read the full report for full apprecia- tion of all recommendations, and how they interrelate. * In an additional 10 minutes to Get the PLANNING AREA REPORT for your locale. 2 hours Scan it or read it to see how the broader recommendations presented in the Regional Report may apply to the area FOR APPLICATION TO YOUR AREA where you live or work. TABLE OF CONTENTS 7. Blackstone and Vicinity Planning Area Report OVERVIEW .. . v PLANNING AREA ACTIONS MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii CHAPTER 1 THEMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 CHAPTER 2 THE SETTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 CHAPTER 3 GUIDING GROWTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 The Situation 3-1, Anticipated Growth 3-1, Accommodating Growth 3-3, Critical Enviropmental Areas 3-3, Developable Areas 3-4, The Solutions 3-5, Priorities 3-8, Implications 3-8, CHAPTER 4 WATER SUPPLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Planning Considerations 4-1, UPPER BLACKSTONE RIVER BASIN, MASSACHUSETTS 4-1, Existing Resources 4-1, 1990 Demands and Opportunities 4-1, Recommendations 4-2, LOWER BLACKSTONE RIVER BASIN, RHODE ISLAND 44, Urban Systems: Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland, and Woonsocket 44, Rural Systems: North Smithfield, Burrillville, and Glocester 4-7, TEN MILE RIVER BASIN 4-7, WOONAS- QUATUCKET-MOSHASSUCK RIVER BASIN 4-8, Smithfield 4-8, Providence Water System 4-9, Lincoln System 4-11, CHAPTER 5 WATER QUALITY . . . . . 5-1 THE SITUATION 5-1, Blackstone River Basin 5-1, Ten Mile River Basin 5-2, Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck Basin 5-2, THE SOLUTIONS 5-3, Preservation 5-3, Restoration 5-3, Combined Sewers and Stormwater Runoff 5-3, Industrial Discharges 54, Municipal Discharges 54, Blackstone River Basin 5-4, Ten Mile River Basin 5-6, Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck Basin 5-6, Landfill Leachate 5-7, Septic Systems 5-7, Clean-up Campaigns 5-7, CHAPTER 6 OUTDOOR RECREATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 GENERAL OUTDOOR RECREATION 6-1, The Situation 6-1, The Solutions 6-1, Implications 64, WILDLIFE AND FRESH WATER FISHERIES 64, The Situation 64, The Solutions 64, Implications 6-6, RECREATIONAL BOATING 6-6, CHAPTER 7 MARINE MANAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1 URBAN WATERFRONTS 7-1, The Situation 7-1, The Solutions 7-2, CHAPTER 8 FLOODING AND EROSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1 The Situation 8-1, Inland Flooding 8-1, Blackstone River 8-1, Woonasquatucket- Moshassuck River Basins 8-1, Ten Mile River 8-2, Inland Wetlands 8-2, Inland Erosion 8-2, Tidal Flooding and Coastal Erosion 8-2, Ongoing Programs 8-3, PNB 8-3, PL-566 8-3, RC&D 84, The Solutions 84, Recommendations 84, Implications 8-6, CHAPTER 9 LOCATING KEY FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1 SAND AND GRAVEL EXTRACTION 9-1 iii OVERVIEW Blackstone and Vicinity Planning Area What is the point of the SENE Study program? Balanced use and conservation of the region's water and re- (3) To maintain and improve water quality, construct, lated land resources is the program's objective. The South- ' expand, and upgrade municipal treatment plants eastern New England (SENE) Water and Related Land throughout the planning area. Complete separa- Resources Study was authorized and funded by Congress tion of combined sewers in Worcester, and pro- in response to the increasingly troublesome pressures the vide partial separation in Central Falls, Pawtucket, region's rapid urbanization was exerting on its rich and and Providence. varied natural resources. The SENE Study has two major goals: (4) To expand opportunities for outdoor recreation, expand existing areas and acquire new ones, in- � To recommend actions for all levels of government eluding increased public access to lakes, streams, and private interests to secure for the people of the and ponds. Special emphasis should be given to region the full range of uses and benefits which may increasing recreational opportunities in, or near, be provided by balanced use and conservation of the urban areas. Permit low-intensity outdoor recrea. region's water and related lands. tion on storage reservoir lands. Create a Ten Mile River recreation complex and a Blackstone � To assemble information on the resources at a con- River Park, and consider a trail system from sistent scale and level of detail. Douglas to Providence. What makes this Study different is that it covers a relatively (5) To reduce flood damages, regulate new flood plain large geographic area (4400 square miles), it addresses a full development. Direct flood plain management pro- range of water and related land issues, and it proposes co- grams to non-structural solutions wherever possible, ordinated actions for all levels of government and private recognizing that flooding and erosion are natural interests. processes that cannot be fully controlled. Carry out structural measures only where non-structural means are unavailable or inadequate. What does the SENE Program cover? The most important recommendations for this planning area include the following: ~~~~~include the following: ~What will the program do? (1) To accommodate growth in environmentally and (1) To accommodate growth in envirnmentally and If the recommended actions are carried out, most 1990 economically acceptable ways, municipalities economically acceptable ways, municipalities needs for water, sewers, electric power, and outdoor recrea- should prohibit or restrict development on Criti- tion could be met by making more efficient use of existing cal Environmental Areas such as wetlands, flood cal Environmental Areas such as wetlands, flood facilities, legal authorities, and institutional designs. Protect- plains, and well sites. Growth should be guided to ing Critical Environmental Areas will avoid potential dangers Developable Areas which cover 34 percent of the to life and property from flooding, erosion, and contamina- planning area. Within this category, municipali- tion of water quality; and will provide productive green- ties should manage development on resources belts. As a result, new growth in this planning area in the such as steep slopes, ledge, and soils with septic SENE region can be accommodated without harming the limitations. Development should be encouraged high quality environment which attracted the growth in the where services already exist or are planned. first place first place. (2) To provide a sufficient supply of water, expand (2) To provide a sufficient supply of water, expand You can take the first step in helping to carry out the pro- existing surface and ground water sources, in- exitiae Tank nd wourcResr- gram by reading the recommendations in the SENE Study's cluding acqmiring the Tarkiln and Nipmuc Reset- ~cluding acquiring the and Reser-Regional and Planning Area Reports. Write your state and voit sites by 1990. Consolidate water supply voir sites by 1990. Consolidate water supply Congressional representatives about the Study. Urge your systems in Burrillville and Smithfield, and seek systems in Burrilville and Smithfield, and seek local planning and conservation officials to use the SENE an agreement with the Taunton regional system Study planning process when developing or implementing to meet Attleboro's future needs and the toemeeteAttleboro'sffutureneedsbanuhe master plans, zoning ordinances such as flood plain and emergency needs of North Attleborough. Ap- watershed protection, and other water and land use deci- prove the Big River Reservoirproject, thereby sions. expanding the Providence system which serves a number of planning area municipalities. RECOMMENDATIONS GUIDING GROWTH (Chapter 3) 1. Protect priority Critical Environmental Areas. 17. Maintain secondary treatment plant for Blackstone 2. Restrict development on other Critical Environmental Valley Sewer District. Areas. 18. Provide partial separation of combined sewer overflows 3. Manage growth on Developable Areas. in Central Falls and Pawtucket. 4. Incorporate SENE Study findings into the Rhode Is- 19. Expand and upgrade North Attleborough plant to ad- land land use plan. �vanced by 1977. 5. Use SENE resource development capability analysis to 20. Expand and upgrade Attleboro plant to advanced by guide future growth in Massachusetts. 1979. 6. Accommodate growth where services already exist. 21. Provide secondary treatment to Barrington from East Providence plant. WATER SUPPLY ( Chapter 4) 22. Construct advanced treatment plant in Smithfield. 23. Expand sewer service in Lincoln. I. Survey ground water location, quantity, and availability 24. Continue service from Providence treatment facility in Upper Blackstone basin. to five municipalities. 2. Meter all water use in the Upper Blackstone for plan- 25. Study and define the landfill leachate problem. ning system management. 3. Investigate advantages of closer water system coopera- OUTDOOR RECREATION (Chapter 6) tion in Upper Blackstone. 4. Increase activities in field of water supply, public in- General Outdoor Recreation formation, and education in the Upper Blackstone. 5. Expand Worcester's existing surface water systems. 1. Develop guidelines to plan for low-intensity recreation 6. Establish connections to Worcester system in Auburn, on storage reservoir lands. Millbury, Grafton, Shrewsbury, and Upton. 2. Acquire local access near 4 Rhode Island lakes. 7. Explore and develop ground water sources in the Upper 3. Acquire statewide access along Crystal Pond in Blackstone municipalities. Douglas. 8. Pursue local surface water development only where 4. Acquire inner-city recreation opportunities in at necessary in the Upper Blackstone. least 6 municipalities. 9. Develop interconnection with Uxbridge to serve Mill- 5. Consider a trail system from Douglas to Providence. ville. 6. Enlarge Douglas State Forest, consolidate Upton 10. Investigate development of Hopedale Pond as a water State Forest, and provide support for the towns. supply source. 7. Expand Diamond Hill, Lincoln Woods, and Casimir 11. Acquire Tarkiln and Nipmuc Reservoir sites by 1990. Pulaski State Parks. 12. Plan for protection of reservoirs serving Pawtucket, 8. Create a Ten Mile River recreation complex. Cumberland, and Woonsocket. 9. Create a Blackstone River Park. 13. Construct iron and manganese removal facilities for 10. Use SENE Development Capabilities Maps for open Cumberland's sources. space protection. 14. Make plans to treat and use Harris Pond to augment Woonsocket's existing supplies. Fish and Wildlife 15. Explore and develop additional ground water in North Smithfield. 11. Use the Massachusetts Natural Resources Planning 16. Consolidate the existing water systems serving Burrill- Program to enforce wetlands legislation. ville. 12. Provide technical assistance to Rhode Island muni- 17. Develop additional ground water to serve Chepachet cipalities to enforce wetlands legislation. section of Glocester. 13. Acquire the most significant wildlife habitats. 18. Develop additional ground water in Plainville, Seekonk, 14. Include ponds 10 acres and larger for fishing in and North Attleborough. Massachusetts Great Ponds legislation. 19. Supplement Attleboro supplies through the Taunton 15. Acquire access to ponds with good potential for regional system. fisheries production. 20. Establish an emergency connection between North 16. Acquire access to streams with good potential for Attleborough and Taunton. fisheries production. 21. Consolidate three systems currently serving Smithfield. 22. Petition the General Assembly to approve con- MARINE MANAGEMENT (Chapter 7) struction of the Big River Reservoir. 23. Expand and treat ground water supplies in Lincoln. 1. Coordinate local waterfront planning and develop- ment. 2. Provide guidance and set criteria at the state level for priority waterfront uses. WATER QUALITY (Chapter 5) 3Review and coordinate waterfront use. 4. Provide federal funding support for state and local I. Carry out current state non-degradation policies. waterfront development plans. 2. Emphasize treatment of combined sewer overflows. (See also Narragansett Bay Planning Area Report.) 3. Begin stormwater and wet-weather stream sampling. 4. Continue current industrial permits program. FLOODING AND EROSION (Chapter 8) 5. Construct advanced treatment plant for Upper Black- stone towns. I. Develop comprehensive flood plain management prog- 6. Complete separation of combined sewers in Worces- rams giving priority to non-structural measures. ter by 1980. 2. Apply structural solutions selectively. 7. Upgrade treatment plant to advanced to serve Millbury 3. Adopt local flood plain zoning preventing adverse and Sutton. flood plain development. 8. Construct advanced treatment plant in Grafton. 4. Establish local sediment and erosion control ordi- 9. Maintain advanced treatment plant in Northbridge. nances. 10. Provide advanced treatment in Upton after 1985. 5. Establish forest buffer zones. 11II. Provide advanced treatment in Hopedale by 1978. 6. Establish a forestry program. 12. Construct advanced treatment plant in Uxbridge by 7. Establish local regulations to strengthen flood plain 1978. ~~~~~~~~197 ~~~8. ~management. 13. Construct secondary treatment plant in Douglas. 8. Acquire key food plains and wetlands. 14. Connect Blackstone to Woonsocket's treatment plant 9. Locate in existing safe buildings in the flood plain. by 1976. 15. Provide secondary treatment in Woonsocket and other LOCATING KEY FACILITIES (Chapter 9) towns by mid-1977. 16. Construct secondary treatment plant in Burrillville See Regional Report - Chapter 9 by mid-1977. __ Legend E] WATER SUPPLY WATER QUALITY r.C2VNE /{', RECREATION 5 Suim.si-g Pu.Mi b-ch : .' \ * ........o..i.g & ai- 18/4A Olh- --x-l -wil r MARINE MANAGEMENT - \ l/6f7/5 G FLOODING & EROSION CONTROL ,, ........ KEY. F...ACILITIES =EN. ,sisg A.. Rp.....d..... -...... 14/6ME LE\1/ 6 ;~ '~ ("~ Re~siona Rf~epsno7 1ort9 r ecom men dation nlbe ~, [] ~ ,~l.-ltJRY >. .afi � 1 9 ' "7/73 ' Q ; ' 8 12.4m/ ,' The symbols on this map represent the I' ~ ~"~ '"', ~;/1~ recommended actions that can be shown on ' . ~ , ~.. s ..i' ~ >a town-by-town basis. The symbols are '~'g~~ -! ~ ~ " ~-i j Q~/~~~~, ...placed roughly within each town, and are 7/7* ' � 12/N N.u6 not intended to be more specifically sited |/~ t0$ 0~~~than that. 7Srl NOSA R : 7 7/71/1~~i 7/' O ,2 r9R -eO) -ME i\~//13:/ UXBRIDGE LACKSi N N ENLN RIVER BA N PLAI VILLE$ SOUTL EAT ERN Ans :x, 7/'6� 7/11 [] 101 ,. -"3 / WATER 2DU viikiiNHvp A, 2 7/1 2 1 WATER AND /L/ /RCES/ S TU. BOSTON, MAS SEASTT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS _____ Hlackstone and Vicinity Planning Area SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND Recommended Actions WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCES STUDY vii CHAPTER 1 THEMES This report on the Blackstone and Vicinity planning area is on programs which have already weathered most of one component of a comprehensive program for managing the realities of the political process. In choosing water and related land resources in the Southeastern New this strategy, the Study traded off novelty to increase England (SENE) region. The Study's Regional Report has achievability. presented recommended policies and actions from a region- wide or statewide perspective. This Planning Area Report Each major chapter in this report contains actions to solve includes applications of those broad-basel recommendations water and related land problems which we face now, or can to the cities and towns in the Blackstone River area and expect to face in the next 15 years, and in some cases into vicinity. the next century. Table 1.1 sets out the intensity of these problems within each planning area, between them, and for One reason for preparing the planning area reports is to problems within each planning area, between them, and for connect the actions at the local level with the policy frame- the region as a whole. work and considerations for state and federal levels. This direction was chosen as a response to the region's long his- Four of the resource subjects were judged "severe" prob- tory of local autonomy and to the Study's emphasis on plac- lems: ing decision making at the lowest level commensurate with the anticipated scope of the decision. The planning area * Guiding Growth. Extensive areas have urbanized, boundaries follow the town lines most closely approximat- and the planning area has, relative to the region, a ing the hydrologic boundaries of river basins. small share of Critical Environmental Areas. Three common themes link all the reports: * Water Supply. A need for additional water supplies in the area within the next 15 to 25 years will make � Enhancing the environment enhances the economy. development of new ground and surface water Preventing degradation of the area's remaining natural sources necessary. resources can both decrease the cost of development of the taxpayer and protect the amenities which are * Water Quality. Combined sewers and urban storm- the region's competitive economic advantage. water runoff, industrial discharges, and municipal discharges combine to make serious pollution an * Anticipated growth can be accommodated, but it important issue for both Massachusetts and Rhode needs guidance. There is enough land to accept new Island. growth and still protect Critical Environmental Areas. But that growth should be guided to lands which can � Flooding. Extensive flood plain development, par- support development, and within those lands, to ticularly in the lower portions of the planning area, areas already served by essential water, sewer, and plus hilly topography in the upper reaches of the transportation services. Blackstone basin, contribute to the most serious flood damages in the SENE region. * Existing knowledge, programs, and institutions pro- vide the most realistic tools for achieving results, but Recreation was judged a major problem because of short- some changes are needed. Full use of ongoing pro- ages of swimming, boating, and camping and picnicking grams, with some changes in how they relate to opportunities, and particularly of hunting and fishing each other, was viewed as a way of "piggy-backing" access. 1-1 TABLE 1.1 GENERAL INThNSITY OF SENE WATER -RELATED PROBLEMS BY PLANNING AREA Land Use Discharge, ~~a)~ I W4 o - . 'Severae problem - -.- ) Blank Minor or no Q "'s 0 problem >1 Ja aS V,. f ag >,~<2~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ji4 -~ ~ ~~~~~~~ 0 PLANNING AREAS Ipswich -North Shore, 0 00 * 0 * 0 0 * - *o - 00 * 00 0 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 a Boston Metropolitan *0 0 00*0000 * 0 0 00 00 000 00 0 00 * o * 0 0 * South Shore , 0 - 0 * 0 0 * 0 0 * *0 a 0 000 Cape Cod and thelIslands a. 0 0 - 0 0 . 0* * 0* Buzzards Bay * 0 0 00 0* 0 . 0 0 0 Taunton 0 0 0 Oo ee o * 0 0 Blackstone and Vicinity 0 a 00 000 . * 0 0 000 0 00 - 0 0 000 Pawtuxet 0 * 0 00 . 0 0 0 0 0 Narragansett Bay 00 00000 * 00 0*- 0 00 0 0 000 * 0 0 *0 0 0 Pawcatuck . 0 0 0 0 0 REGION AS AWHOLE 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 * * 0o 0 00 00 o* 0 * 0 * 00000 CHAPTER 2 THE SETTING The Blackstone and Vicinity planning area consists of the Ground water is an important source of water for the Black- land that drains into the Blackstone, Ten Mile, Woonasqua- stone and Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck portions of the tucket, and Moshassuck Rivers. The area covers about 640 planning area, with aquifers distributed throughout the square miles (410,000 acres) and 30 cities and towns in area. In the Ten Mile basin, nearly all water used for public south-central Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island. and industrial supplies in 1970 was ground water. The coastal shoreline of Providence Harbor is divided into two portions at the junction of the Providence and Seekonk Massachusetts: Rivers. The westerly and easterly portions of the shoreline Attleboro Mendon Seekonk are each approximately 10 miles long, for a total of 20 Auburn Millbury Shrewsbury miles. In general, the westerly shoreline includes sand and Blackstone Millville Sutton gravel, extensive concrete walls, rock revetments, private Douglas North Attleborough Upton DouGatonlas North Attleborouge Uptonre docks, and a large number of commercial wharves, piers, Hopedale NPainville Worcester docks, and bulkheads. The easterly shoreline is primarily composed of gravelly materials, rock outcrops and sand and Rhode Island: gravel bluffs, and includes several large oil terminals. Burrillville Glocester Pawtucket CentBurrilli Falle Glocesteroln ProvidenPawtucket The area is a humid region with an average annual precipi- Central Falls Lincoln Providence Cumberland North Providence Smithfield tation of about 43 inches, rather evenly distributed through- East Providence North Smithfield Woonsocket out the year. About half of this rain evaporates or trans- pires to the atmosphere through vegetation. The remaining Four major rivers - the Blaickstone, Ten Mile, Woonasqua- half flows through the area's rivers and streams directly or tucket, and Moshassuck - drain the area. The Blackstone as ground water seepage. River originates in the southern part of Worcester, Massa- chusetts, and flows in a general southeasterly direction for Nearly 20 percent of the people in the SENE region live in 44 miles to its mouth in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From this planning area which includes the major cities of Wor- this point, it becomes a tidal estuary and is known as the cester and Providence. Its population has risen only slightly Seekonk River. from 810,000 in 1960 to 824,000 in 1970, making the area the slowest growing in the region. According to Study pro- The topography of the 131ackstone portion of the basin is jections, it will climb slowly to 886,000 by 1990 and 920,000 generally hilly with higher elevations lying in the western in 2020. This anticipated growth is much lower than the portion. Because of short, steep tributaries in the upper average in SENE and for the United States as a whole. Within reaches of the watershed and relatively longer ones in the the planning area, however, the population is not so stable. lower reaches, there is a tendency for the tributary flows Between 1960 and 1970, growth was rapid around the urban to synchronize with the crest on the main river, resulting fringe, declining slightly in the central cities of Worcester, in high floodflows. Glacial erosion and deposition left a Woonsocket, Pawtucket, and Providence - thus reflecting number of sand and gravel deposits throughout the plan- nationwide urban trends. ning area. Per capita income in 1969 averaged about $3400 (1967 dol- The 22-mile Ten Mile River originates in Massachusetts lars). While below the average for the SENE region, it is near the Wrentham-Plainville town line and flows in a close to the national average. With a work force of over southerly direction through North Attleborough, Attle- 370,000, the area employs just under 20 percent of the boro, and Seekonk, to East Providence. The Woonasqua- workers in SENE. Despite loss of over 12,000 manufactur- tucket River is slow and sluggish over its 19-mile length ing jobs between 1960 and 1970, over one-third of the work- between North Smithfield and Providence. The Moshas- ers in the planning area are employed in the manufacturing suck River meanders in a southerly direction from sector. The manufacturing sector is still the major employer Lincoln through Pawtucket to Providence where it joins in the area, having the same relative share as in 1960, and ac- the Woonasquatucket to form the Providence River. With counts for over 25 percent of all manufacturing jobs in the the exception of some parts of the upper Ten Mile water- region. Otherjobs were distributed principally among the shed, wetlands are not extensive and flood plain encroach- retail trade, other services, and government sectors. In ment has been widespread. 1970, the nearly 100 workers in the mining sector repre- sented one-fifth of the region's mining employment. 2-1 During the 1960's, a net total of nearly 1 1,500 new jobs were cipalities which have state recreational facilities with some added, one of the smallest increases of all the planning areas. compensation (Douglas municipal officials); extension of The greater number of new jobs - nearly 2 1,000 - were in the Ten Mile River Recreation complex to Massachusetts the "other services" sector (primarily health, business, educa- portion of the river basin (Office of the Mayor of Attleboro); tion, and the professional services), thus offsetting to an im- additional details about the Blackstone River People's portant degree the loss of manufacturing jobs. Public Park. Early in the Study, participants in a public workshop voiced a preference for correcting the problems of combined sewers, Several implications are suggested by the previous profile: investigating methods for reducing water consumption, en- suring more effective wetlands protection, and expanding (1) Slow growth offers the opportunity to concentrate recreational opportunities closer to home. near existing heavily urbanized centers, thereby eliminating the threat of destroying critical re- Later, during the 90-day review period, over 275 state, sources. regional, and municipal officials, federal agencies, and con- cerned citizens submitted comments on the Study's draft (2) New development could be directed away from reports. The major comments are summarized in a Re- flood plain and wetlands areas, thereby reducing gional Report chapter, "Review of the Report." future areas subject to serious flood damages. There were several changes in the Blackstone Planning Area (3) Slow growth means the opportunity for many Report. Language was added to Chapter 4 which reflects muiiaiistDotnet eyo rtce the City of Worcester's preference for development of ground m runicipatrsplitest contiuet rely down prthecneed water within municipalities prior to joining the City's water fordelopind watre supplensv surfacee dwnatherne system. As a result of the concerns of local residents,fodelpigmrexnsvsuacwtr Chapter.S suggests the review and updating of regulations reservoirs by 1990. regarding the siting of septic tanks. A recommendation for ()Wt n-it ftergo' ouain h acquiring statewide access to Wallum Lake in Rhode Island planning are-fifhaof the needgioepn's poublaicn thec was dropped from Chapter 6 because of the potential con- r e annional facilities tohetlre levels tof dexpandpbicrc flicts with use of the lake for a hospital's water supply. rainlfclte ome ag eeso ead Additions to Chapter 6 are: a very cautious consent to the (5) Heavy dependence on manufacturing plus large recreational use of storage water supply lands for limited urban centers along the major rivers have resulted recreation; mention of the need for state repair of mill in serious pollution that is difficult and costly to dams, when the public interest is concerned (Massachusetts reduce. Water Resources Commission); the need to support muni- 2-2 eAXTON f( S SiREWS7UFt WORCESTER LEI STER - . . --l . * r . i . W MILL8URY ;> L < T 4 - -- X SUPTON K) SUTTON t 23 NORTHBRIE \ NO/ TI -V -o ? t | MENDON 8 > DOUiGiLAS UXBRIDGE jLACKS | - ) N ELAND ON CKET, FI WA. AN RELTHvED AND CUMBERELAND T - j -- i -$- --T. fMIHEL I SctXt~t& Wo sarvlqt , y vP. . E ' ( GLOCESTER- ;I < - 9a;:1~ ~ --%NORTH PROVIENCE JOHNSTN. T P VOE i MILES , T ,i . . M 4 SEEKONKj KILOMETERS o I 4 A , ,>+ Q NEW ENGLAND RIVER BASINS COMMISSION FIG. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS NO. SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND IN THE PLANNING AREA WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCES STUDY CHAPTER 3 GUIDING GROWTH The Blackstone, Ten Mile, and Woonasquatucket-Moshas- The Situation suck river basins together contain the second largest popu- lation of the ten planning areas. The area ranks high in Anticipated Growth average density, containing both Worcester and Providence. But it also includes the largest acreage of unurbanized As we have seen in Chapter 2, the Blackstone, Ten Mile, lands, particularly forests and agricultural lands. and Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck river basins embrace the second largest of the planning area's populations, and Heavy population losses occurred in the major manufactur- moved from second to just barely third in population ing cities in this planning area in the last decade, closely density between 1960 and 1970. However, large amounts tied to the loss of jobs during that time. The suburban of unurbanized land lie between the urban centers (it is areas, however, grew relatively rapidly, urbanizing land at the second largest planning area), accounting for the fact about the regional average rate. There is growing concern that the percentage of urbanized area (22 percent) is only among the residents of the basins about where the devel- just above the average for the SENE region. Of the 92,000 opment resulting from population and economic growth acres of urbanized land, 12,000 acres were in medium- will occur, and how it will affect land and water resources. intensity residential use of 3 to I acre, and another 4,000 These resources form a part of the high environmental acres were in low-intensity use of over I acre per unit. This quality which has been shown to be vital to the region's means that 16,000 acres are in high-intensity urban uses economic health (see Chapter 2 of the Regional Report). such as commercial, residential with multi-and single-family A conclusion of the SENE Study is that the growth antici- units on less than 1� acre lots, public institutions, industrial, pated for this planning area can be accommodated without and transportation. harming the existing environmental quality, and in a man- ner that most efficiently utilizes public infrastructure in- The population growth rate between 1960 and 1970 (two vestment, as long as certain steps are taken to guide the lo- percent) was the lowest of all the areas, and the 31 percent cation of development. This chapter describes the antici- increase in urbanized area was the next to lowest in the pated growth and the capacities of the resources to ac- SENE region. But these figures mask the true picture. The commodate it. The last section includes strategies to guide four largest cities, major manufacturing centers, lost heavily growth in an economically and environmentally acceptable in population during the decade, in an amount (43,000 per- manner. sons) closely related to the loss of manufacturing jobs men- tioned earlier. Some of the suburban areas actually grew relatively rapidly, with a total increase of 56,000 persons. TABLE 3.1 MUNICIPALITY BY DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE: BLACKSTONE AND VICINITY PLANNING AREA High Medium-High Medium-Low Low Attleboro C4ocester, RI. Auburn Central Falls, R.I. Cumberland, R.I. East Providence, RI. Blackstone Douglas North Smithfield, R.I. North Attleborough Burrillville, R.I. Grafton Smithfield, R.I. Plainvilie Mendon Hopedale Seekonk Millbury Millville Lincoln, R.I. Shrewsbury Northbridge North Providence, R.I. Sutton Pawtucket, R.I. Upton Uxbridge Woonsocket, R.I. Worcester Providence, R.I. Note: Communities are grouped into levels of development pressure relative to other communities in the Study region and do not necessarily reflect local building activity. 3-1 The resulting land consumption rate in the suburban portions The rates at which parts of the planning area will be urban- of this planning area (calculated by omitting the population ized will vary to some extent with the relative development and area of the four major cities) is .46 acres per person, al- pressures. These pressures were estimated for SENE com- most exactly the SENE regional average rate of .50 acres per munities on the basis of a formula using factors such as the person. Between 1960 and 1970 agricultural land in the basin rate of growth of residential, commercial, and other uses, declined by 25 percent, from 68,000 to 51,000 acres (now the relative accessability of an area to employment and comprising 13 percent of the area). The remaining undevel- population in other parts of the region, and the availability oped land in the planning area, including forests and wetlands, of easily developable land. The process for grouping towns has been reduced by 6 percent (now 62 percent of the area). by development pressure is defined in the Regional Report. Water bodies make up some 3 percent of the planning area. While use of other factors, such as recent building permits or land consumption rates, may produce different results, Between 1970 and 1990, population growth is expected to combining the factors used gives a useful indication of de- increase over the 1960 to 1970 level (see Chapter 2) before velopment pressure in the communities in the planning slowing down to a fairly stable population by 2020, assuming area, relative to all SENE communities. Table 3.1 shows the present birth rate continues. If the projected 2020 popu- the development pressure for the planning area cities and lation of 920,000 causes development of land at the average towns. SENE land consumption rate of .5 acres per capita, only 48,000 of the planning area's undeveloped 240,000 acres will be urbanized. TABLE 3.2 THE SENE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITY SYSTEM CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS REQUIRING PROTECTION Water Bodies (Category A), blue. [Includes estuaries, shellfish flats, and fish spawning areas.I Priority Protection Areas (Category A), dark green: wetlands, well sites, beaches, and critical coastal erosion areas. Other Protection Areas (Category B), light green: flood plains, class I and II agricultural soils, unique natural and cultural sites, [proposed reservoir sites and related watersheds, and upland erosion areas] excluding all "A" areas. DEVELOPABLE AREAS REQUIRING MANAGEMENT, Excluding All A & B Areas WATER RESOURCE LIMITATIONS � Aquifers and/or Recharge Areas (Category C1) black dots: highest yield aquifers in each basin. WILDLIFE AND SCENIC RESOURCE LIMI1TATIONS Wildlife Habitat (Category C3), black diagonal lines: best upland wildlife habitat other than publicly owned land and [commercial fishing grounds]. Landscape Quality Areas (Category C2), black vertical lines: land characterized by high landscape quality other than categories C1 and C3. SOILS RESOURCE LIMITATIONS Ledge and/or Steep Slope (Category C5), brown: land with slope greater than 15 percent and/or with rock near the surface. Severe Septic System Limitations (Category C4), orange: land with severe septic system limitations other than Category C5. Moderate to No Septic System Limitations (Categories F and G), yellow: land with moderate or no septic system limitations. PREEMPTED USE AREAS Urban Areas (Category E), gray: residentialSinstitutional, commercial and industrial development. Publicly Owned Lands (Category D), beige: major public parks, forests, watersheds, and military lands. Notes: _/All categories above, except those within brackets, are depicted on the development capabilities maps (plates 1, 2, 3). 2/Categories in brackets are included to show where they would fit in the overall classification hierarchy, were they 3/included on the plates in the pocket. _ All categories above, including those within brackets, are depicted on large-scale, unpublished maps available for 4/inspection as part of the SENE Files. I/Categories C1, C2 and C3 overlap with categories C4, C5, F, or G. Thus, Category C3-C4 is a wildlife habitat located on ledge or steep slopes. V-/Mapped urban areas (Category E) include all-residential development, although the legend on Plates 1, 2, and 3 reads "residential areas on less than one acre lots." 3-2 Accommodating Growth and fish spawning areas. (Only the first three are found in this planning area in significant amounts.) Water bodies It is expected that almost all of the expected growth in the in the planning area need protection, by land use measures, next 20 to 50 years will tend to occur on land not yet de- from non-point source pollution. Polluted urban runoff is veloped. Yet if the 240,000 unurbanized acres were to be a major problem, particularly in the Providence and Worces- urbanized indiscriminately, serious problems could result ter areas. Relatively few wetlands remain in the planning in the planning area. In order to assess the implications of area in proportion to the total area. These are small and growth, the resources were first identified and quantified. isolated pieces, distributed fairly evenly throughout the Classified according to development capability, these re- basins. Development threatens the existence of these wet- sources are grouped into three major categories as shown lands, particularly in high and medium-high development in Table 3.2, and mapped on Plate 3. The percent of the pressure areas, and the cumulative effect of their loss would land and water resource categories in each planning area is heighten flood damages. Chapters 6 and 8 of this and the shown on Table 3.3. Regional Report discuss the value of wetlands for flood storage, water supply, plant and wildlife habitat, water About 90,000 of the 240,000 unurbanized acres have been quality, and other purposes. identified as being significant for protection of water and related land resources and sensitive to destruction by urban Other Protection Areas (Category B), which can retain development. These are areas which the Study has classified their usefulness only under certain limited kinds of develop- as Critical Environmental Areas and mapped on the Develop- ment, are: flood plains, prime agricultural lands, unique ment Capabilities Map, Plate 3. natural and cultural sites, proposed reservoir sites, and up- land erosion areas. This planning area contains almost The most fragile and valuable of these are Priority Protection 40,000 acres of inland flood plains (see Chapter 8 of the Areas (Category A) in which any development threatens pub- Regional Report). In some of the urbanized areas, exten- lic health, safety, and welfare: water bodies, wetlands, well sive development in flood plains has aggravated flooding sites, beaches, critical erosion areas, estuaries, shellfish flats, problems. Communities with large flood plain areas TABLE 3.3 PERCENT OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCE CATEGORIES IN EACH PLANNING AREA Total Percent (?;) of Planning Area Critical Environmental Develop- Preempted (in 1000's of Areas able Areas Use Areas Planning Area acres) A B A & B C, F, G D, E Ipswich-North Shore 274 19 13 32 34 34 Boston Metropolitan 421 14 9 23 30 47 South Shore 172 17 13 30 43 27 Cape Cod & Islands 378 10 23 33 32 35 Buzzards Bay 205 17 16 33 47 20 Taunton 351 19 22 41 37 22 Blackstone & Vicinity 410 10 I1 21 38 41 Pawtuxet 180 11 7 18 41 41 Narragansett Bay 212 16 16 32 34 34 Pawcatuck 262 27 12 39 40 21 SENE 2,865 16% 15% 31% 36% 339; Sources: See Methodology in the Regional Report. 3-3 include Attleboro, Pawtucket, Burrillville, Cumberland, the Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck basin, and in large parts of Shrewsbury, Smithfield, North Providence, and Providence. the upper and middle Blackstone basin. Density of develop- Prime agricultural lands are particularly abundant in the ment on these soils must be regulated according to availability central portions of the Blackstone basin, and in North of sewers. About 1,600 acres of ledge (exposed or within Attleborough in the Ten Mile Basin; these communities three feet of the surface) offer little development potential. also have many flood plains. Prime agricultural lands are Development on slopes of over 15 percent (such as those targets for development; the Regional Report, Chapter 3, areas in North Attleborough near Hoppen Hill Reservoir, in discusses the significance of the loss of these areas. The Smithfield, and small areas elsewhere in the planning area) highest concentration of historic sites in Rhode Island causes risk of erosion and septic system seepage to areas is in this planning area, in Providence. Several cultural below. sites in Worcester are listed on the National Register. Unique natural sites are relatively scarce; a few are scat- Areas with moderate or no septic system limitations are suit- tered in the East Providence area and in Burrillville and able for any kind of development, subject only to restric- Glocester. The valued character of these sites would be tions according to availability of sewers where there is some damaged by incompatible development. Proposed reser- degree of limitation in soil suitability. voir sites are in Holden (Holden Reservoir) and Burrill- ville (Tarkiln and Nipmuc), as discussed in Chapter 4. Large areas of land (19 percent of the planning area) are Development of areas to become reservoirs, or their im- unavailable for development because they are in public mediate watershed area, not only municipalities the cost of ownership (Category D). Most of the public lands are in acquisition, but causes potential pollution problems. open space, recreation, or water supply related uses. The remaining unurbanized areas, comprising 154,000 Finally, as mentioned earlier, about 22 percent of the plan- acres (38 percent of the planning area), must be managed ning area has been already urbanized (Category E). Much with varying degrees of regulation to protect certain values. of this area, though served by sufficient infrastructure, re- These have been mapped on Plate 3 as Developable Areas mains vacant, and could be available for additional develop- requiring management (Categories C, F, and G) and ment if problems preventing its development were over- include: ground water recharge areas, best upland wildlife come. But it is worth noting that developed areas can be habitat, high landscape quality areas, ledge and steep used - and further, that use and reuse of such land can slope, severe septic system limitations (Category C), and be highly efficient. The combined amount of land un- moderate to no septic system limitations (Categories F available for future development due to public ownership and G). or existing development (41 percent) is a high proprotion of the planning area compared to the average for the SENE A large proportion of the planning area is underlaid by region (33 percent); only the Boston Metropolitan planning moderate yield aquifer and, in the Ten Mile River basin, area has a higher proportion. around the Bungay and Seven Mile rivers, by high yield aquifers. A number of communities are dependent upon If development accommodating the population projected these resources for local water supply, but urban runoff for this area were to be restricted entirely to the Develop- and highway salt have polluted areas in the Ten Mile and able Areas requiring management, and land was consumed the Upper Blackstone basin. Recharge areas providing at the average rate for the SENE region, there would be no local water supply should be protected from both pollu- shortage of land. The proportion of the planning area in tion and depletion caused by non-permeable coverage or Category A and B lands is relatively low (21 percent); only installation of sewers. one planning area has a lower percentage. As a result, al- though a very high proportion is already'pre-empted by de- Best upland wildlife habitat occurs in areas in the northern velopment and public use, the proportion of developable half of the Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck basin, along the lands is about average for the region. If one estimates the Bungay River and the northwestern parts of the Ten Mile capacity of these lands to absorb the projected population basin, and in areas scattered throughout the Blackstone by assuming continuation of the 1960-1970 land consump- basin. High landscape quality, defined by diversity and tion rate for SENE of 0.5 acres per person, the population relief, is plentiful in the planning area. Large areas in a that could be accommodated is 308,000, far higher than band along the Blackstone River, and the area around the the projected population increase of 97,000. Thus, it ap- headwaters of the Woonasquatucket (Smithfield) are ex- pears that development could be restricted from Critical amples. Environmental Areas with little or no impact on develop- ment patterns in Developable Areas. The largest acreage in SENE of soils with severe septic system limitations (34,000 acres) are in this planning area. In addition to the land use problems facing the planning Large areas are in each community in the Ten Mile basin, area due to resource capabilities of certain areas, there are prob- in Lincoln, North Providence, and North Smithfield in lems in the siting of certain kinds of facilities and develop- 3-4 ments. A number of uses are vital for the economic growth A number of methods are available to carry out this pro- of the region or the planning area, or to service the needs of gram: existing state legislation, zoning, subdivision regula- the population, but they have significant impacts on water tions, building codes, acquisition of fee simple, easements, supply or quality. These facilities should not be located in or development rights. Within the context of existing Critical Environmental Areas, and their particular location methods, the actions below are recommended for munici- within Developable Areas should be ascertained in accordance palaties, with the assistance of the R.I. Departments of with carefully considered criteria. All three major basins in Community Affairs and Natural Resources, and in Mass- the planning area are major suppliers of construction aggre- achusetts, the Departments of Community Affairs and gate for the SENE region. But frequently the best sand and Environmental Management with regional planning agencies. gravel sites are aquifer recharge areas and care must be exer- Technical and financial assistance should be provided to cised to prevent pollution or depletion of the ground water. review and adjust plans, ordinances, and by-laws, ensuring These are discussed further in Chapter 9. Similar considera- their compatibility with the following recommendations: tions apply to solid waste disposal and large scale develop- ment. Transportation systems are among the facilities with 1. Protect priority Critical Environmental large scale impact, both in their use of resources and in Areas. Municipalities should prohibit develop- their influence on development patterns. Proposed trans- ment of Category A Critical Environmental portation systems should be planned to avoid A and B Areas. (Priority Protection Areas). The appro- areas wherever possible. priate uses of these resources include: water supply, fisheries production, limited recrea- A large proportion of the population (74 percent) of the tion, or scenic and open space lands. planning area is served by sewers, and proposals for addi- tional sewer facilities would serve about 127,000 more Planning and zoning boards should protect water bodies people. This is more than the entire additional population from pollution by restricting adjacent development and by projected for the area by 2020 (97,000). The loss of popu- enacting subdivision regulations requiring stormwater run- lation and jobs in the major cities indicates the existence of off detention ponds. The recommendations in Chapter 5 large areas which have available infrastructure which is not of this report will also help to achieve the state's water being used. Encouraging development in areas where infra- quality standards. Wetlands should be protected through structure - not only sewers, but also water and transporta- more rigorous enforcement of existing legislation at a local tion - either already exists or is planned would increase its and state level (Chapter 8 of the Regional Report details efficient use and decrease the necessity of additional invest- how the legislation can be improved; Chapter 6 of the Re- ment. Clustering development is in itself more efficient, gionalReport discusses kinds of assistance available to economically and environmentally (see Chapter 3, Regional municipalities. Municipalities, using Massachusetts Self- Report). Greater concentration of development also in- Help Funds, and/or private interests should acquire the creases the feasibility of rail and mass transit systems which most valuable wildlife wetlands and surrounding uplands are more efficient in use of land, energy, and air resources. which are mentioned in Chapter 6 of this report. Reducing the need for highways lessens highway salt pol- lution. Strengthening the relationship between develop- 2. Restrict development on other Critical ment and infrastructure would also enable greater use of Environmental Areas. Municipalities infrastructure investment to support growth policy. Loca- should restrict development on Category B tion, type, intensity, and timing of development can be influ- Critical Environmental Areas (Other Pro- enced by coordinated investment policies at local, substate, tection Areas). Suitable uses to be con- state, and federal levels of government. Following such an sidered for this category should include approach can decrease the cost of development of the tax- agriculture, extensive recreation, forestry, payer, an important consideration for this planning area whose or, in some cases, with proper management, average per capita income is below the regional average. very low density residential use. Measures for protecting flood plains, described in depth The Solutions in Chapter 8 of the Regional Report, include local flood plain zoning prohibiting development, discouraging or To take advantage of the Blackstone-Ten Mile-Woonasqua- prohibiting reconstruction after substantial storm dam- tucket-Moshassuck planning area's potential for accommo- ages, and relocating some public facilities if structural pro- dating growth without significantly changing overall envi- tection is not available or practical. Structural methods ronmental quality, the following program is recommended: required to remedy flooding problems in this planning (a) Protect Category A Critical Environmental Areas; (b) Re- area are described in Chapter 8 of this report. Prime strict development of Category B Critical Environmental agricultural lands should be protected by legislation en- Areas; (c) Manage development of Categories C, F, and G, De- abling tax incentives, agricultural districts, and by acqui- velopable Areas including guiding growth to existing in- sition of development rights for the highest priority lands frastructure. ' (see Regional Report, Chapter 3, for more details). 3-5 Proposed reservoir sites and unique natural and cultural most effective if adopted as a matter of state policy. sites should be protected by acquisition of fee simple, Many resources concerned extend beyond town bound- easements, or development rights. Chapter 4 of this re- aries, and additional funds and information exist at the port describes recommendations for reservoir development state level. in Burrillville. Upland erosion areas should be protected by local sediment and erosion control ordinances (dis- The most expeditious way for the states to implement cussed in Chapter 8 of the Regional Report). these concepts would be for their interagency policy coun- cils to review and adopt as appropriate the policy issues The estimated 154,000 acres of Developable Areas re- suggested herein. quire some management to retain the intrinsic natural functions which these resources perform. The SENE Rhode Island has taken a powerful step in this direction Study recommends: by putting together a comprehensive land use plan. To further strengthen the plan: 3. Manage growth on Developable Areas. Municipalities should manage growth on 4. Incorporate SENE Study findings into Category C resources and encourage growth the Rhode Island land use plan. The on Category F and G resources, especially Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program where infrastructure exists or is planned. and State Planning Council should incorpor- ate the SENE resource classification system It is worth noting that this recommendation deals with into the land use policies and plan. Guide- management of all developable areas, both within existing lines can be developed at the state, regional, developed areas, and in areas yet to be developed. There and local levels of government. Chapter 10 are no developable areas in which management of some of the SENE Regional Report describes kind is not required. several options for developing these guide- lines. On ground water recharge areas, communities should re- strict housing densities so that septic systems will not Massachusetts should continue its progress towards a com- endanger ground water quality. Densities requiring sewers prehensive policy for guiding growth. This decision is should be allowed only after analysis of the economic and most appropriately made by an interdisciplinary organiza- environmental feasibility of recharge maintenance tech- tion, and the SENE Study recommendation reads: niques to prevent depletion of the aquifer. For details about development standards, refer to Table 3.4. Other 5,. Use SENE resource development capa- ordinances and building codes should control coverage by bility analysis to guide future growth impermeable surfaces, and require stormwater detention in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts ponds with recharge from roofs, streets, parking lots, and Cabinet, with the active participation of driveways. Regulations and sound engineering practices regional planning agencies and municipal should be used to minimize the effects of activities haz- governments, should review and use, as a ardous to ground water quality, such as sanitary landfill op- first step, the SENE Study's resource de- eration, highway deicing salt storage, industrial waste dis- velopment capability analysis to develop posal, agricultural runoff, and sand and gravel mining below a policy for guiding growth based on the the level of the water table. On areas with high landscape concept that guiding growth with consid- quality, best upland wildlife habitat, and unsewered soils eration of natural resources capability and with severe septic system limitation, only development of suitability is desirable. Guidelines can be very low density or in clusters should be allowed. Devel- developed at the state, substate, or local opment that would tend to preempt the resource value of levels of government. Chapter 10 of the wildlife habitat and landscape quality should be carefully Regional Report describes several options evaluated to ensure that adverse impacts are fully taken for developing these guidelines. into account. Steep slopes should be protected from erosion by low density use. Development on moderate 6. Accommodate growth where services limitation areas should be regulated to correspond to already exist. The Rhode Island Planning the availability of sewers. Higher densities should be Council and the Massachusetts Cabinet, in encouraged on F and G lands, as many C lands can sup- concert with towns, regional planning port only very low densities. agencies, and state agencies, should estab- lish policies to accommodate further devel- Although local governments have much of the authority opment in already developed areas, and to necessary to implement the concept of guiding growth permit maximum use of existing water, based on resource capability, its implementation will be sewer, and transportation services. Planned 3-6 TABLE 3.4 SUGGESTED* GUIDELINES FOR USE OF DEVELOPABLE AREAS SHOWN ON PLATES 1, 2, and 3 MAPPATTERN NONE (color only) .. 9cd: Other Resource No other Resource High Landscape Quality Upland Wildlife Habitat Aquifer and/or Ground water af Limitations Limitations (Category C2) (Category C3) recharge areas s� Soi is ~ (Category C1) Limitations Moderate to No Limitations - PW'& PS If clustered on no more than If clustered on no more If clustered on no more than 20% for septic system disposal . Any I/C 50% of area - than 30% of area - of area - (Category F & G) .Any Res. - PW & PS -PW & PS - PW & PS - PW only . Any l/C . Any I/C . Any I/C .Med. Intensity I/C . Any Res. .Any Res. .Any Res. , At least 1/2 ac/DU - PW only - PW only - PW only . Med. Intensity I/C . Med. Intensity I/C . Med. Intensity I/C . At least 1/2 ac/DU . At least 1/2 ac/DU . At Least 1/2 ac/DU Unclustered- Unclustered - Unclustered- ~> . Low Intensity I/C . Low Intensity I/C . Med. Intensity I/C .At least 1.0 ac/DU . At least 1.5 ac/DU . At least 1/2 ac/DU Unclustered or no PW & PS - � No I/C � At least 3 ac/DU** Severe septic system - PW & PS If clustered on no more than If clustered on no more If clustered on no more than limitations caused by . Any I/C 50% of area - than 30% of area - 20% of area - conditions other than . Any Res. - PW & PS - PW & PS - PW & PS slope and ledge soils - PW only . Any I/C . Any I/C . Any I/C A t~ (Category C4) . Low Intensity i/C . Any Res. .Any Res. . Any Res. L9 . At least 1.5 ac/DU Unclustered or PW only - Unclustered or PW only - - PS only . Low Intensity I/C . Low Intensity I/C . Med. Intensity I/C . At least 1.5 ac/DU . At least 1.5 ac/DU . At least 1/2 ac/DU - PW only .No I/C . At least 3 ac/DU Ledge and/or steep - PW & PS . No l/C . No I/C . No I/C slope greater than . No I/C . At least 3 ac/DU . At least 3 ac/DU . At least 3 ac/DU 15% . At least 1/2 ac/DU *** O (Category C.) PW only . No I/C .At least 2 ac/DU * These are designed to provide a framework for designing guidelines of increasing specificity by state, regional, and local planners, and consultants more intimately knowledgeable with local circumstances. ** In many cases suggested guidelines for development, particularly for ground water, are estimates of probable safe controls made in the absence of greater knowledge of the effects of development on the pollution of aquifers. *** Erosion control measures should accompany other restrictions on slopes over 15%. Med. & Low Intensity - refers to water use/effluent discharge/building coverage Clustering - refers to percent impermeable land surface area which may adversely effect the resource. PW - Public Water Supply System Res. - Residential PS - Public Sewer System ac - acre I/C - Industry/Commercial DU - Dwelling Unit unit development and the cluster principle Priorities should also be encouraged in these areas to maintain as much as possible Critical En- While the Study encourages all municipalities t6 undertake vironmental Areas, forests, wetlands, and this strategy, the need is especially urgent in those with the best wildlife habitats. proportionately higher amounts of Critical Environmental Areas which will be under high or medium-high develop- The Regional Report also recommends establishment of a ment pressure. Based on the discussion in The Situation system for determining criteria for locations of developments section, these municipalities are: Cumberland, Lincoln, of regional impact. This would be within the framework of North Attleborough, Attleboro, and North Providence the system designed to protect some critical areas and (see Table 3.1). manage others, and would enable consideration of environ- mental and economic ramifications of siting decisions. Power Implications plant siting problems in this planning area would be within the scope of this system. Consistent with siting criteria sug- The impact of these recommendations on development gested for other facilities, highway planners and state offi- patterns in the planning area, considering the large amount of cials should give special consideration to avoiding Critical area in each category and the projected population, would Environmental Areas (Categories A and B) and using Devel- be positive both environmentally and economically. As opable Areas (C, F, and G) consistent with other needs for previously noted, if the SENE land consumption rate con- those same lands. Consistent with siting criteria suggested tinues in this planning area, all of the growth anticipated for other facilities of regional impact, highway planners over the next 50 years could be accommodated on land should give special consideration to avoiding Critical Envi- and water resources capable of supporting that develop- ronmental Areas. Details of this recommendation can be ment with the fewest environmental costs. Excess infra- found in the Locating Key Facilities chapters of this and structure exists, or is proposed, which can serve the entire the Regional Report, and the chapters in the Regional population growth for the next 50 years. Thus, the needs Report on Guiding Growth and Strengthening the Man- of the current and -projected population can be met and agement System for Natural Resources. economic opportunities can be furthered in a way that is fully consistent with resource capabilities and enhances both economic efficiency and environmental quality. 3-8 CHAPTER 4 WATER SUPPLY The Blackstone, Ten Mile, Woonasquatucket, and Moshas- calculated the 1990 water demands for the Upper Black- suck planning area is an interstate group of river basins, stone municipalities (Table 4.1). While only Uxbridge has encompassing cities and towns in both Massachusetts and an existing ground water production capacity adequate for Rhode Island. Each state's water supply outlook and the 1990 needs, all Massachusetts towns in the Blackstone basin interstate water supply issues will be discussed separately in except Worcester, Mendon, and Hopedale have favorable op- the four sections of this chapter. portunities for developing some additional ground water. It has been suggested that Worcester, because of stabilized Planning Considerations employment patterns and low development pressures, may have reached a leveling-off in per capita demand for water. In developing a program for satisfying future water supply Although existing sources are adequate (32.50 mgd from needs in the Blackstone, Ten Mile, Woonasquatucket- wells and reservoirs) to meet conservative 1990 demands Moshassuck planning area, a number of important con- (28 mgd), the City might have to develop additional sources siderations were taken into account. These included: (1) to meet the demands of surrounding and more rapidly de- the feasibility of supplying demands with local sources; veloping municipalities which are likely to look to Worces- (2) the quality of the water to be provided; (3) the oppor- ter to augment their current supplies. These municipalities tunities for regionalization; (4) the monetary costs of the could make connection to the Worcester system to meet supplies; and (5) the desired environmental setting of the their peak demands, if investigation of local ground water area, as expressed by citizens at Basin Advisory Committee sources, recommended by this Study, shows that these meetings and by the staffs of regional planning agencies. sources are inadequate. If the resources are available, ground water is generally the The Central Massachusetts Comprehensive Water Supply most economical source of supply for a municipality to de- Study has identified the major options available to the velop. Large regional water supply systems, such as that of Worcester area, which includes some towns outside of the the Metropolitan District Commission, and smaller regional Blackstone basin as well as all the Massachusetts munici- systems, are generally more costly than ground water, but palities in the basin. This study identified several surface offer economies of scale which cannot be achieved by local reservoirs and diversions designed to increase the capacity supply systems. Local surface water systems are generally of Worcester's existing reservoir system. If implemented, the most expensive sources of supply. Ground and surface the projects could provide from 1.7 to 17.3 mgd to the water supplies are discussed in greater detail in Chapter 4, system. Water Supply, of the Regional Report. If local ground water resources in the other Massachusetts UPP ER B LACKSTONE RIVER municipalities in this basin are not sufficient to meet their future needs, or if ground water development proves to be BASIN, MASSACHUSETTS economically or environmentally unfeasible, new surface sources will have to be developed. Local surface water Existing Resources. Worcester is the largest municipality sources in Auburn, Blackstone, Grafton, Millbury, North- in the Massachusetts portion of the basin and has the largest bridge, Sutton, and Upton will also have to be developed. water supply system, delivering an average of 26 million gal- However, as discussed in Chapter 4 of the Regional Report, ions per day (mgd) in 1970. Furthermore, the Worcester local surface reservoirs are generally the most expensive of system has interconnections with nine other municipalities the water supply alternatives. Therefore, the SENE Study and the Metropolitan District Commission. Ground water favors development of local ground water sources and is the only source of supply for the other municipalities in connection to the Wo-cester system for supplementary the Upper Blackstone. Mendon and Millville rely entirely on supplies for municipalities in the Upper Blackstone basin. private wells; the other towns (Auburn, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Millbury, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Up- ton, and Uxbridge) depend on local utilities. For towns interested in ground water exploration and de- velopment, it should be recognized that little information 1990 Demands and Opportunities. Using OBERS exists on ground water availability in the Upper Blackstonc. "Series E" population projections, the SENE Study has as- Plate 3 shows possible ground water aquifers and recharge sumed an increase in per capita water consumption of one areas. However, the information is based on a U. S. Geologi- percent (1%) per year between 1970 and 1990. On the basis cal Survey (USGS) reconnaissance study of stratified drift of these assumptions, and the use of maximum day demands conducted specifically for the SENE Study. Aquifers for towns relying wholly on ground water, the Study has probably represent not more than 50 percent of the units 4-1 mapped on that plate. The remainder of the mapped best be provided from ground water "aquifers" are probably recharge areas. In any case, addi- sources should undertake continuing tional detailed work will be necessary if a municipality in programs of well exploration, testing, and this basin is to develop additional ground water. site acquisition. The objective would be complete evaluation of the ground water Recommendations. Because geologic conditions are resources of those towns within a five- favorable for ground water development in most of the year period, and acquisition of well sites municipalities in the basin, and because ground water is the at least sufficient for projected 2020 de- most economical alternative for many of the towns, the mands in order to secure future options following general recommendations from the Central Mass- now. Wells requiring some water treat- achusetts Water Supply Study are endorsed: ment should be acquired if they are the best available. This is especially import- 1. Survey ground water location, quantity, ant for Douglas, Blackstone, Northbridge, and availability in Upper Blackstone basin. and Sutton because no connection with a All communities whose future water supply would regional system is anticipated. Moreover, TABLE 4.1 SUMMARY OF 1990 WATER SUPPLIES: UPPER BLACKSTONE RIVER BASIN Existing System (1970) 1990 1990 Proposed Average Design Additional Safe Yielda-/ Demand DemandV- Source of Municipality Source mgd mgd mgd Supply Auburn Wells 2.6 Ground Water & Worcester Worcester Water Dept. 0.1 Water Dept. 2.7 1.61 3.33 Blackstone Wells 0.9 0.63 1.43 Ground Water Douglas Wells 0.5 0.29 0.71 Ground Water Grafton Wells 1.8 1.77 3.63 Ground Water & Worcester Water Dept. Hopedale Wells 0.5 0.49 1.13 Hopedale Pond Mendon Private Supply - 0.18 0.46 Ground Water Millbury Wells 2.0 1.90 3.86 Ground Water & Worcester Water Dept. Millville Private Supply - 0.14 0.36 Ground Water & Uxbridge Water Dept. Northbridge Wells & 3.1 2.28 4.56 Ground Water Reservoirs Shrewsbury Wells 4.2 3.95 7.41 Ground Water & Worcester Water Dept. Sutton Wells 0.4 0.16 0.41 Ground Water Upton Wells 0.4 0.27 0.66 Ground Water & Worcester Water Dept. Uxbridge Wells 2.8 0.63 1.43 None Worcester Wells 5.7 Reservoirs 26.8 32.5 28.46 28:46 Phased surface water development Ground water yield is reported as pumping capacity of system b-/Systems relying primarily on ground water sources must supply maximum day demands. 4-2 Blackstone may presently be developing supply agencies in the basin should in- its last available ground water site. crease their activities in the field of pub- lic information and education to facilitate In addition, a continuing program should public acceptance of actions to preserve be authorized by the General Court to and protect water sources, upgrade sys- produce a survey by the Water Resources tems, and raise the capital necessary to Commission, in cooperation with the U. S. provide for increases in water supply. Geological Survey, of ground water loca- tion, quantity, and availability in the re- More specifically, although Worcester's future water needs gion for the purposes of: seem to be leveling off and the additional 1990 needs of surrounding SENE communities, even without additional * Providing information to assist ground water development, are relatively small (approxi- towns design their exploration mately 8 mgd for Auburn, Grafton, Millbury, Shrewsbury, programs for well sites. and Upton), the SENE Study makes the following recom- mendation: * Providing information to assist regional agencies in evaluating fu- 5. Expand Worcester's existing surface ture needs to supplement ground water systems. Worcester should plan water. to expand its existing surface water sys- tems within the next five to ten years. It * Providing data necessary for the should acquire the land and rights to pre- regulation, protection, and pres- serve its future options now. Phased de- ervation of ground water resour- velopment of several smaller projects with ces. treatment at a central facility will provide flexibility in meeting future water needs This program should employ geological studies, and costs, as well as operational econo- seismic investigations, and test drilling. Fund- mies of regionalized collection and treat- ing should come from the Massachusetts ment: However, a complete economic Water Resources Commission, the USGS, and and environmental assessment of each the municipalities involved. project should immediately precede any additional expansion of the system. A response from the City of Worcester strongly supports such a thorough survey of the Upper Blackstone area's Furthermore, the SENE Study recommends: ground water, using geohydrological or seismic survey methods, and suggests a detailed program of investigation. 6. Establish connections to Worcester sys- tem in Auburn, Millbury, Grafton, 2. Meter all water use in the Upper Black- Shrewsbury, and Upton. If thorough stone for planning system management. surveys of ground water availability show All water works in the basin should adopt a that additional sources will not meet their policy of metering all water use to dis- needs, connections to the Worcester sys- courage waste by users, to allow deter- tem should be established in Auburn, mination of leakage from mains, and to Millbury, Grafton, Shrewsbury, and Upton. provide data for planning system man- These towns should also develop addi- agement. tional ground water in their own systems. 3. Investigate advantages of closer water In the near future, only Millbury and Shrewsbury are ex- system cooperation in Upper Blackstone. pected to require significant amounts of water from Public water works agencies in the planning Worcester. However, the Study recommends hookups area should investigate advantages and for all five municipalities to avoid individual municipal economies which may be possible expenses of developing the capacity to meet their maxi- through closer cooperation, includ- mum day demands. In addition, such connections will ing sharing technical personnel and assure these communities of the future availability of facilities, common purchasing, etc. water at a reasonable cost. Additional ground water de- velopment and withdrawal by communities on the upper 4. Increase activities in the field of water reaches of the Quinsigamond River should be managed supply, public information and edu- to avoid serious depletion of the flows of that river. cation in Upper Blackstone. All water 4-3 Another SENE Study recommendation is: LOWER BLACKSTONE RIVER 7. Explore and develop ground water BASIN, RHODE ISLAND sources in the Upper Blackstone mu- nicipalities. Additional ground water nicipalities Additional round waterThere are seven municipalities in the Rhode Island section exploration and development should oc- of the Blackstone River Basin. The Pawtucket Water Sys- tem, which met a demand of 15.86 mgd from four munici- cur in Blackstone, Douglas, Mendon, Northbridge, and Sutton. Provision should palities in 1970, is the largest supplier. The residentsof ..... be made to preserve resources for use until Glocester, on the other hand, have no public system, and 2020 wherever possible. As prime local re- currently obtain their water from individual private wells. sources become fully developed, it may be The urban municipalities in the Lower Blackstone area - increasingly necessarytom treand futureaese. Woonsocket, Central Falls, and Pawtucket - are experienc- ing low development pressures, and their daily water con- In addition: sumption is leveling off because of employment stabiliza- tion in the industrial sector. Of the remaining towns, Bur- rillville, North Smithfield, and Cumberland have moder- 8 whersue necessary sur wathe development ate and high development pressures and are expected to Blackstone. Local surface water devel- expand their water service areas. Glocester is expected to opment in the above towns should be pur- establish two small service areas. sued only where ground water options do not exist and only after complete eco- Existing water supply systems and projected demands for nomic and environmental impact studies. Lower Blackstone cities and towns are shown on Table 4.2. 9. Develop interconnection with Uxbridge Urban Systems: Pawtucket, Central Falls, to serve Millville. Millville should es- tablish an interconnection with Uxbridge Cumberland, and Woonsocket to supplement its limited local supplies. The city of Pawtucket, with a 1970 water demand of 11.36 Because the existing ground water resources of Hopedale mgd, was almost totally served by the Pawtucket Water (northern Mendon) are used at capacity, and because sur- Supply Board. This system also provided 0.35 mgd to face water treatment is available, the SENE Study recom- North Providence and 1.39 mgd to Cumberland in supple- mendation is that Hopedale: mentary supplies in 1970. However, North Providence is now entirely served by the Providence Water Supply Board. 10. Investigate development of Hopedale The Pawtucket Water Supply Board also provided an Pond as a water supply source. Proposals average of 2.76 mgd to Central Falls, meeting its total for the development of the north end of Hope- demand. dale Pond should be investigated by the muni- cipality for its feasibility as a source of water The Pawtucket system uses a combination of surface and supply. ground water sources. 'he Abbott Run watershed in Cum- berland is impounded at Diamond Hill and Arnold Mills Although this pond is presently used for recreation and has Reservoirs. Recently, the Diamond Hill Reservoir storage a weed control problem, it has been considered to have capacity was increased by 1.169 billion gallons. City offi- potential as a source of water supply if it is expanded by cials estimate that these impoundments have increased the constructing a low dam across a narrow neck of water near dependable yield of the reservoir by 3.5 mgd, for a total of the center of the pond. Hopedale has recently hired a con- 15.7 mgd from surface sources. The yield of Pawtucket's sultant to determine the economic feasibility of this wells is about 5.0 mgd. The system's total safe yield of project.* 20.7 mgd should be sufficient to supply the 1990 demands *Alonzo B. Reed, Inc., Report to the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission and the MDC Relative to the Central Massachusetts Comprehensive Water Supply Study (June 1973), p. 169. 4-4 of Pawtucket and Central Falls, as well as the needs of Cum- notified town officials that no further development will be berland, which are not met through that community's local approved until iron and manganese removal equipment has sources. The total 1990 demand on the system of these been installed to treat present and future supplies. Thus three municipalities is estimated to be 16.6 mgd. Cumberland must choose between treating local ground waters and seeking additional supplies from outside sour- In 1970, Cumberland's water demand was 3.21 mgd, an ces (i.e. Pawtucket). Local autonomy would be assured amount supplied to 92 percent of the total population and economic benefits would result from the installation through three public systems. The Town of Cumberland of iron and manganese removal facilities and the efficient Water Department supplied 1.81 mgd, while the City of use of local ground water resources. Pawtucket Water System and the City of Woonsocket Water Department supplied 1.39 mgd and 0.01 mgd, re- The Woonsocket Water Department served 99 percent of spectively. Three wells, with a combined pumping capacity Woonsocket's population and 35 percent of the popula- of 2.92 mgd, and Sneech Pond, with a yield of 0.60 mgd, tion in North Smithfield in 1970. The remaining demand constitute Cumberland's local sources. in both communities was supplied through individual private wells. The system also provided a small amount of water to As is true of many supplies along the Blackstone River, residents in Cumberland. Cumberland's municipal wells are troubled with increasing levels of iron and manganese. Although substantial ground The i970 demands of 4.81 mgd from Woonsocket and 0.34 water resources remain to be explored and developed with- from North Smithfield were met with the use of surface and in the town, the Rhode Island Department of Health has ground water supplies. Two reservoirs with a safe yield of TABLE 4.2 SUMMARY OF 1990 WATER SUPPLY: LOWER BLACKSTONE RIVER BASIN Existing System (1970) 1990 1990 Proposed Average Design / Additional Safe yielda- Demand Demand-' Source of Municipality Source (mgd) (mgd) (mgd) Supply Burrillville Wells 1.9 Reservoir 0.2 2.'--'1 0.85 1.88 None Central Falls Pawtucket 2.76 2.84 Same Tarkiln Reservoir Cumberland Wells 2.9 Treated Reservoir 0.6 _./ ground 6.91 12.09 water and Tarkiln Reservoir Glocester Private supply 0.54 1.24 Ground water and Providence Water Supply Board No. Smithfield Woonsocket 0.34 0.77 Same Ground water Pawtucket Wells 5.0 Tarkiln Reservoirs 12.2 Reservoir 17.2 12.04 Same Woonsocket Wells 1.9 Treat Harris Reservoirs 8.5d/ Pond; Tarkiln 10.4 5.14 Same Reservoir Ground water yield is reported as pumping capacity of system. b-systems relying primarily on ground water sources must supply maximum day demands. C-Cumberland is also served by the City of Pawtucket Water System (1.39 mgd) and the City of Woonsocket Water Department. d4/This figure includes 5.0 mgd from the Mill River-Harris Pond source. Unless this source is treated it cannot be considered as a dependable source of supply. 4-5 3.5 mgd, the Mill River-Harris Pond source, which has a Narragansett Bay Study the Nipmuc is being considered for safe yield of 5.0 mgd, and two wells with a safe yield of multi-purpose flood control function, in addition to water 1.85 mgd raise the total supply to 10.35 mgd. However, supply. Initial 1990 demands, even if larger than anticipated the Mill River source is presently held in reserve due to in this Study, could be met by the Tarkiln's 5.4 mgd periodic taste and odor problems. Estimated 1990 de- capacity alone. By acquiring the Tarkiln and Nipmuc re- mands on the Woonsocket system total approximately 5.5 sources now, long-range options for the Pawtucket and mgd. No new sources will need to be developed to supply Woonsocket systems would be available at considerable these additional demands, but treatment of the Harris savings. Pond source will be required. Other potential resources in the area include the existing In case the 1990 demands of Pawtucket, Central Falls, Smith-Sayles, Keech, Pascoag, and Slatersville Reservoirs. Cumberland, and Woonsocket should prove greater than The first of these promises sufficient yield, but because all anticipated, and in preparation for meeting long-range of the reservoirs are located in relatively built-up areas, pro- water needs, careful consideration should now be given tection of the quality of the water would seem to be both to developing additional sources of supply for this area. difficult and expensive. For these reasons, these last three sources are not assigned a high priority for development. The most suitable opportunities for development in the northern part of Rhode Island include a combination of Another alternative which is open to the municipalities is different levels of development of the Nipmuc, Tarkiln, to limit increasing water consumption patterns. The exist- Chepachet, and Wilson reservoir sites and certain ground ing supply system is well developed and could allow for water deposits. Although these sources represent a total considerable growth before the towns actually run out of theoretical yield of 35 to 40 mgd, it is unlikely that this water. However, this course of action alone would negate yield could be completely realized - all the reservoirs are the option to purchase resources now that could be used located in the Burrillville area and have interrelated sources for meeting long-range needs. Because these resources of supply, the development of one site would preclude full also have multi-purpose benefits as sources of recreation development of the others. and aesthetic value, their procurement now is recom- mended, in conjunction with efforts to slow the currently Because the Chepachet and Wilson reservoir sites are located increasing rate of water consumption. adjacent to fairly densely built-up areas, they would be diffi- cult to protect without condemning many existing structures The SENE Study therefore makes the following recom- and residences. This would tend to drastically increase devel- mendations: opment costs of these reservoirs. For this reason, the Che- pachet and Wilson sites are assigned a relatively low develop- 11. Acquire Tarkiln and Nipmuc Reservoir ment priority. sites by 1990. The Water Resources Board should petition the Rhode Island General The Tarkiln Brook site has been regarded as a major future Assembly to approve the Tarkiln-Nipmuc development for this part of the planning area. Although projects and allow for the acquisition of the expected safe yield of a reservoir on this site is relatively these resources in the near future. It is small, when used in conjunction with the Nipmuc River, its further recommended that the Nipmuc total yield would be more than enough to justify its develop- diversion project not be constructed un- ment. The location of this particular site is also very much til after 1990, and then only after a re- in its favor. It is further to the east and hence closer to the assessment of the water needs of the major distribution systems than most of the other potential system has been made. sources. Although its present water quality is classified as "B", the site is in a rural area, and the acquisition of sur- 12. Plan for protection of reservoirs serving rounding land to assure its future protection is much less ex- Pawtucket, Cumberland, and Woonsocket. pensive than other alternatives. These facts, combined with the post-1990 needs of Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumber- reservoirs now serving Pawtucket, Cumber- land and Woonsocket, give the acquisition of the Tarkiln land, and Woonso cket, as d evelopment land, and Woonsocket, as development reservoir site a high priority. pressures in these areas are expected to The Nipmuc River, because of its estimated safe yield, and increase. the fact that its proposed classification is of the highest 13. Construct iron and manganese removal quality, must also be considered as having a high priority facilities for Cumberland's sources. for development. The Nipmuc has additional appeal as an Cumberland should take action in the very alternative because it can be developed in a modular fashion near future to construct iron and manganese in conjunction with the Tarkiln Brook Reservoir. It should f t be noted that under the Corps of Engineers Pawcatuck- 4-6 treat existing and potential ground water or developing other sources should be studied. Slow in- sources. A program of ground water explora- creases in demand may not require an additional source of tion and development similar to that recom- supply until the year 1990. The SENE Study recommenda- mended for the Upper Blackstone municipali- tion is to: ties (recommendation 1, above) should also be undertaken. 16. Consolidate the existing water systems serving Burrillville. The existing water systems serv- 14. Make plans to treat and use Harris Pond ing Burrillville should be consolidated to facili- to augment Woonsocket existing supplies. tate orderly growth. Woonsocket should investigate what additions to its present treatment facilities may be nec- Public water supply service is being considered by the essary to use the Harris Pond source. Chepachet area of Glocester. This new system may be best served by ground sources developed around the area. Be- cause of the experience and expertise of the Pascoag Fire Rural Systems: North Smithfield, District in Burrillville, it is suggested that this system develop Burrillville, and Glocester the additional ground water sources required to serve Che- pachet. The Harmony area, located in the southeastern As mentioned above, approximately 35 percent of North corner of Glocester; is expected to be served by the Provi- Smithfield's population was served by the Woonsocket dence Water Supply Board. This seems to be the most vi- Water Department in 1970, using an average of 0.34 mgd. able plan for Glocester, since the two areas are distant from The remainder of the town was served by individual wells. each other, making transmission of water from the Chepachet area a costly option. The following recommendation is made: By the year 1990, it is expected that medium-density residential development will occur around the Slatersville 17. Develop additional ground water to area in North Smithfield. A ground water aquifer in that serve Chepachet section of aocester. area, possibly having a yield of 5.5 mgd, could be developed The Pascoag Fire District in Burrillville to supply the needs of this development. Development of should develop additional ground water wells for this purpose might use less than one-fifth of the total sources required to serve the Chepachet yield of the aquifer. Therefore, it is felt that adverse effects area of qocester. The Harmony section on nearby pond and stream levels will be relatively small. of Glocester should be served by the The Study recommendation is as follows: Providence Water Supply Board. 15. Explore and develop additional ground water in North Smithfield. North Smithfield TEN MILE RIVER BASIN should undertake a program of ground water ex- ploration and development as outlined for Upper In the Ten Mile River Basin, four of the five communities Blackstone municipalities. are located in the State of Massachusetts - Attleboro, North Attleborough, Plainville, and Seekonk - while East Provi- The town of Burrillville currently has about 59 percent of its dence is located in Rhode Island. Attleboro is a high develop- total population served by three of its seven supply systems. ment pressure town while the rest are moderately high; there- Two of them, the Harrisville Fire District and the Pascoag fore considerable growth is expected in this basin. East Provi- Fire District use ground water as sources of supply The Harris- dence has abandoned the Ten Mile River and wells as sources ville system has three wells with a combined safe yield of of supply and now obtains all its water supply (5.5 mgd in 0.87 mgd, while the Pascoag system uses three wells with a 1970) from the Providence Water Supply Board. Therefore, safe yield of 1.06 mgd. In 1970, these systems provided 0.15 East Providence will be discussed in the Woonasquatucket- mgd and 0.20 mgd respectively. The present available yields Moshassuck section of this chapter. from the systems operating in Burrillville seem to be adequate to satisfy the anticipated municipal water demands up to the Attleboro, with an average 1970 demand of 7.56 mgd, uses year 1990. both surface and ground water sources for supply, and its water system is connected with both the North Attleborough In addition to the two systems mentioned previously, the and Seekonk systems. It is estimated that about 60 percent Zambarano Hospital, in the northwestern corner of Burrill- of Attleboro's municipal demand is due to industrial water ville, has a private system for its needs. The system uses requirements, which account for a high level of per capita Wallum Lake as a source of supply (safe yield is 0.20 mgd). consumption. In addition, about 5.0 mgd of industrial water Future needs of the Hospital system cannot be easily de- demand is supplied by the industries themselves. termined, but if rapid expansion is anticipated, the possi- bility of increasing storage facilities of the Wallum Lake North Attleborough's water system relies on ground water 4-7 sources for supply, serving an average of 2.02 mgd in 1970, available safe yield to approximately 6.0 mgd,just short of and is interconnected with Attleboro and Plainville. Plain- its projected 1990 high population maximum day demand ville, with a 1970 average demand of about 0.61 mgd, obtains (6.33 mgd). As a water supply connection currently exists its water supply from local wells within the Taunton River between the Attleboro system and North Attleborough, an basin and is connected with the North Attleborough system. agreement with Taunton to provide peak water demands Seekonk also relies on ground water and in 1970 had a water might be sought. Recommendations which are flexible in demand of 0.99 mgd. The Seekonk system has an inter- meeting long-range needs, and less reliant on the marginal connection with the Attleboro system. ground water reserves of the basin to meet peak demands, include the following: Developed safe yield in the Massachusetts towns of the Ten Mile basin in 1970 was approximately 20 mgd. Average de- 18. Develop additional ground water in mands on water supply resources in the same year were ap- Plainville, Seekonk, and North Attle- proximately 11 mgd, and although there appears to be a borough. Plainville, Seekonk, and North surplus of resources for future growth, the four Massachu- Attleborough should develop additional setts towns will have to meet a projected basin maximum ground water sources to meet 1990 and day demand of 25 mgd by 1990. long-range needs. Although ground water is the most economical source of 19. Supplement Attleboro supplies through supply for a municipality to develop, a substantial portion the Taunton regional system. Attle- of the ground water resources of the Ten Mile Basin have boro should enter into an agreement with already been developed, and much of the remainder is of the city of Taunton within the next five low quality and will require considerable treatment. A gen- years for the purpose of supplementing eral recommendation made for the Blackstone basin, how- its 1990 and long-range water supplies. ever, also applies to the Ten Mile towns: even with treatment, (See Taunton PlanningArea Report for ground water development is cheaper than local surface water description of proposed regional system.) development. 20. Establish an emergency connection Only Plainville and Seekonk are reported to have sufficient between North Attleborough and developable ground water resources within their boundaries Taunton. North Attleborough should es- to meet projected 1990 water demands (using a one percent tablish an emergency connection with the increase in per capita consumption per year). The remaining proposed Taunton system through the communities will have to seek a more expensive out-of-town town of'Attleboro. source or go to surface water supplies. Table 4.3 lists the existing water supply systems and 1990 Attleboro, faced with deteriorating water quality in its sur- demands for municipalities in the Ten Mile River Basin. face sources (Seven Mile River) and some of its ground sources (along the Bungay and Ten Mile Rivers), is unlikely to find additional ground water of sufficient quality and QUA UCKET- quantity within the town to justify municipal development. MOSHASSUCK RIVER BASIN A report recently prepared for the city suggests that an adequate amount of water can be developed from the In the Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck River basin, three of Wading River and local wells to meet Attleboro's water the four communities - Providence, North Providence, and needs up to 1990. However, negotiation of an agreement Smithfield - are supplied primarily by the Providence Water with the City of Taunton to supply future additional Supply Board. The fourth community, Lincoln, has its own demands from its Lakeville Ponds source would assure water system, using wells along the Blackstone River. Attleboro of an adequate amount of water even beyond 1990. A proposal to create a regional water system around the present Taunton supply has been discussed Smithfield in the Taunton PlanningArea Report. Smithfield has its own distribution system, but its entire Having developed ground water resources in the Ten Mile supply is obtained from Providence. Two small areas of and Bungay River basins to their reasonable capacity, Smithfield are served by the East Smithfield Water District North Attleborough has received approval from the Massa- and the Greenville Water District. However, each district chusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engin- obtains its water from the Providence system. As previously eering to develop an additional safe yield of 1.5 mgd mentioned, approximately 10 percent of the North Provi- from ground sources in the Abbott Run watershed. dence population had been served by the Pawtucket Water These new sources will increase the system's total Supply Board in 1970, but now the municipality is wholly 4-8 served by the Providence system, either directly or through Providence used about 31.41 mgd, while Smithfield, through the East Smithfield Water District. For Smithfield, the its various water systems, used 0.92 mgd. North Providence, SENE Study makes the following recommendation: through the Providence and East Smithfield systems, used 2.07 mgd. All water supplied by the Providence Water Sup- 21. Consolidate three systems currently serving ply Board was obtained from the Scituate Reservoir Complex Smithfield. The three systems which cur- (estimated safe yield of 72 mgd), located in the Pawtuxet rently serve Smithfield (Smithfield Fire Dis- planning area. trict, and the Geenville Water District) should join to form one municipality-wide Assuming that the Providence system will continue to service system in order to allow for more purpose- these towns as well as East Providence in the Ten Mile Basin, ful and more efficient expansion of public Cranston and Johnston in the Pawtuxet basin, and Warwick, water service into the developing areas of Barrington, Bristol, and Warren in the Narragansett Bay plan- the town, as suggested by the Rhode Is- ning area, a 1990 water demand of 80 mgd has been esti- land Statewide Public Water Supply Plan. mated using a current trends projection (a one percent an- nual increase in per capita consumption). A breakdown, by town, of maximum anticipated water demands on the Providence system is presented in Table 4.4. Although Providence has not experienced the rapid growth Anumber of alternatives exist for expansion of the Provi- rates seen in other parts of the SENE region, the metropoli- dence system to supply its immediate and long-range needs. tan area in which it is set, including most of the area which Of high priority in the state plan is the development of the the Providence Water Supply Board serves, has grown by Big River for water supply use (from th Report to the 11 percent between 1960 and 1970, and the per capita Water Resources Board on a Development Pan for the water demand has also grown. In 1970, the Providence Water Supply Resources of Rhode Island). Other altea- water system served a total amount of 55.22 rhgd, of which tive plans sugges of the Wood River Re- approximately 34.4 mgd, or 63 percent, went to the source, development of the Big River Reservoir in con- Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck River basins. The City of junction with flood skimming of the Flat and the TABLE 4.3 SUMMARY OF 1990 WATER SUPPLY: TEN MILE RIVER BASIN Existing System (1970) 1990 1990 Proposed Average Design Additional Safe Yielda/ Demand Demand-O/ Sources of Municipality Source (mgd) mgd (mgd) Supply MASSACHUSETTS Attleboro Wells- Taunton Bungay R. 2.00 Regional Wells - System Wading R. 2.75 Wells -. Orr's Pond 5.00 9.75 11.29 Same N. Attleborough Wells - Ground water Plainville 4.50 3.33 6.33 & Taunton Regional System Plainville Wells 3.16 - 1.76 3.61 Ground water Seekonk Wells 4.00 1.88 3.82 Ground waterd-/ RHODE ISLAND E. Providence Providence 5.51 7.75 Same Providence Water Supply Water Supply Board Board a-/Ground water yield is reported as pumping capacity of system. b Systems relying primarily on ground water sources must supply maximum day demands. c Includes a well completed in 1973, with an estimated total safe yield of 1.44 mgd. d-/Treatment for manganese removal may be required for ground water resources developed in the area of Central Pond. 4-9 Moosup Rivers, and development of the Buck's Horn considerations, however, and, fortunately, further action Brook Reservoir. Because contamination problems are on the reservoir will be forthcoming. likely to arise in the rivers that would be skimmed, the proposed development of the Big River Reservoir (26 Rhode Island could allow the Providence Water Supply mgd) was given the highest priority for development by Board to develop and manage the Big River Reservoir. the State. This alternative was strengthened by the fact However, the state would thus be giving up its authority that the necessary land for the project has already been to allocate water supplies to municipal service areas. In acquired. addition, the state would also lose its power to control the watershed lands for multi-purpose uses, to manage It appears that the development of the Wood River surface and ground water in a compatible program, and to Reservoir can be postponed or perhaps even avoided. set water prices for the general good of the public. There- The SENE Study's demand projections indicate that fore, the SENE Study endorses the conclusions of a recent sources of the Providence system need only be expanded consultant's report that "a definitive statement of eco- by 8 mgd by 1990. This means that the Wood River Res- nomic and social objectives for water resource develop- ervoir will not be required for some time after that date. ment in Rhode Island should be established as a policy There are social costs involved in this project because the input to planning at the state level," (Water Supply Wood River has exceptional scenic and recreational value. Management Alternatives to Rhode Island, Final (see Chapter 6 ofPawcatuek Planning Area Report). In Report by TASC, 31 October 1973, p. 2-11). This addition, the reservoir impoundment might partially policy should establish the uses of the Big and Wood negate the use of ground water resources for the Kent Rivers, including their surface water potential, ground County system, as discussed in the Pawcatuck Planning water resources, and recreational opportunities. Area Report, unless precautions were taken. By the time the water from the Wood River Reservoir might be needed, The SENE Study makes the following recommendation: significant advances in technologies such as desalination may provide economically feasible alternatives to the res- 22. Petition the General Assembly to ap- ervoir. prove construction of the Big River Reservoir. The Water Resources Board Options also exist for the administrative structure of future should petition the Rhode Island General development proposals. In Rhode Island, the lead role in Assembly to approve construction of the acquiring water supplies rests with the Water Resources Big River Reservoir project. The adminis- Board. The Board, however, does not have sufficient ca- tration of this supply, either through the pacity to finance the large initial project on the Big River. Providence Water Supply Board or the It is dependent on public referendum and the legislature Water Resources Board, should assure for interim appropriations, and these appropriations have multi-purpose use of the proposed diver- not been acted on favorably in recent years. In fact, voters sion sites on the Wood River and should in a November 1974 referendum defeated a $3 million assure the use of the ground water re- bond issue for design and engineering of the reservoir. The sources of the Wood River Valley in order Governor has made water supply one of his top priority to minimize costs of water supply and to TABLE 4.4 MAXIMUM ANTICIPATED DEMANDS FOR PROVIDENCE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM (in mgd) - - 1990 Basin Municipality Demand Blackstone Glocester 0.25 Ten Mile East Providence 7.75 Woonasquatucket- Moshassuck North Providence 4.32 Providence 33.81 Smithfield 2.10 Pawtuxet Cranston 15.04 Johnston 2.96 Scituate 0.20 Narragansett Bay Warwick 11.72 Barrington 1.24 Bristol-Warren 0.28 Total 79.67 4-10 postpone for as long as possible any sur- ing these needs by further development of ground water, face water impoundments on the Wood although treatment for removal of manganese will be neces- river. sary. Treatment may be costly, but preservation of an exist- ing resource will provide the municipality with a feasibility A third possible form of administration suggested during 90 for making long-term water supply decisions. General recom- day review is a metropolitan water authority composed of mendations for ground water exploration and development, representatives from cites and towns serving Providence. discussed for the Upper Blackstone towns, also apply to Lincoln. These are especially important because there is op- These recommendations are made since competition portunity now to protect an adequate ground water supply from alternative sources such as wastewater recovery for even the long-range needs of the municipality. There- and desalination may be approaching a stage of devel- fore, the Study recommends: opment that might seriously challenge the need for further surface water development after the Big River 23. Expand and treat ground water supplies Reservoir. in Lincoln. Lincoln should expand and treat its ground water supply for the purpose Lincoln System of providing adequate aquifer protection and resource development to meet long-range Lincoln, which has its own ground water supply, used needs. an average of 2.66 mgd in 1970, requiring nearly 50 per- an average of t 2.66 rgd in 1970, r equiring nearly 50 per- Table 4.5 lists the existing yields and projected 1990 demands cent of this figure for industrial use. Estimated 1990 for municipalities in the Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck River for municipalities in the Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck River demands indicate a maximum day use of 6.4 mgd, mak- basin as well as the proposed additional sources of supply for ing Lincoln's present sources inadequate to satisfy future the proposed additional sources of supply for needs. However, the town has a favorable chance of meet- TABLE 4.5 SUMMARY OF 1990 WATER SUPPLY: WOONASQUATUCKET- MOSHASSUCK RIVER BASINS Existing Systems (1970) 1990 1990 Proposed Average Design Additional Safe Yield* Demand Demand** Sources of Municipality Source (mgd) mgd (mgd) Supply Lincoln Wells 5.5 3.39 6.44 Treated ground water North Providence Providence Providence Water Supply Water Supply Board 2.1 4.67 Same Board Providence Scituate 72.0 33.81 Same Big River Reservoir Reservoir Smithfield Providence Providence Water Supply Water Supply Board 0.9 2.10 Same Board * Ground water yield is reported as pumping capacity of system. ** Systems relying primarily on ground water sources must supply maximum day demands. 4-11 CHAPTER 5 WATER QUALITY Because the Blackstone, Ten Mile, Woonasquatucket- quality improvement rests with the Upper Blackstone Water Moshassuck river basin planning area is composed of three Pollution Abatement District. This district will have responsi- major basins in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, their bility for treating the wastewater of Worcester, Auburn, water quality situations will be discussed separately. Table part of Leicester, Paxton, Holden, Rutland, West Boylston, 5.1 illustrates the planning area's sewer systems, the popu- Boylston, and a portion of Shrewsbury. The facility to do lation they serve, their degree of treatment, and the waters this is now under construction at the site of the existing which receive their discharges. Worcester treatment plant with provisions for advanced treatment by 1983. Until this date, the large initial load, THE SITUATION coupled with numerous smaller municipal and industrial discharges from downstream towns, will result in water Blackstone River Basin quality below proposed state classifications. Proposed water quality classifications recognize the in- Today the Blackstone River is grossly polluted, and unfit ability of the relatively small Blackstone River to assimi- for most recreational uses although it has some scenic late wastewaters discharged in Worcester. For about six to stretches. Water quality problems in the basin are the re- nine miles below Worcester, a classification of C-I (unsuit- suit of municipal and industrial wastewater discharges, corn- able for contact recreation but with good aesthetics) has bined sewer overflows, and non-point pollution problems been proposed. Classifications of Class C and SC are pro- such as landfill leachate, septic tank/leaching field effluents, posed for the remainder of the Blackstone River. These and to some extent, urban runoff. segments would then be suitable for boating, secondary water contact, recreation, and indigenous fish habitat. The sheer volume of wastewater discharged through com- A recommendation for realizing the full recreational poten- bined sewers and the overloaded Worcester secondary treat- tial of the River - the Blackstone River People's Public ment plant far outweighs any other waste input along the Park - is fully described in Chapter 6. river, and therefore much of the opportunity for water TABLE 5.1 SEWER SERVICE: BLACKSTONE AND VICINITY PLANNING AREA 1970 Population Degree of Receiving Sewer System Served Treatment Waters Worcester 170,000 Secondarya-/ Blackstone'River Millbury 2,200- / Secondary Blackstone River Upton 300 Secondary West River Northbridge 7,500 Secondary Blackstone River Hopedale 3,200 Secondary / Mill River Douglas 1,240c-/ Secondarya/ Mumford River Burrillville 9,680 None Branch River Woonsocket 44,910 Primary Blackstone River Blackstone Valley Sewer District Cumberland 3,400 Secondary Seekonk River Lincoln 2,990 Secondary Seekonk River Central Falls 18,716 Secondary Seekonk River Pawtucket 76,984 Secondary Seekonk River East Providence 34,000 Secondary Providence River Providence 179,213 Secondary Providence River North Attleborough 11,200 Secondary Ten Mile River Attleboro 30,000 Secondary Ten Mile River jurnder construction design capacity for 1975 S-design capacity for 1976 5-1 Overall, the Quinsigarnond River is meeting its Class B The Seven Mile River also originates in North Attleborough standards (suitable for contact recreation). The Mumford and flows south for seven miles to its confluence with the River, above Douglas, is also meeting Class B standards. Ten Mile at the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border. The Seven Mile has water quality goals of Class A and B. How- Effluents from industrial discharges (Hayward-Schuster and ever, agricultural runoff has precluded use as a water supply Emil Bernat) and untreated Uxbridge sewage significantly without treatment, despite the A classification. degrade water quality below Douglas. The West River, which receives secondary treated effluent (advanced treatment in Besides the two municipalities discharging to the Ten Mile, summer months) from Upton's facility, was at, or only East Providence, Rhode Island has a treatment facility slightly below, Class B standards. All but three miles of the which provides secondary treatment with discharge to the Mill River below the Hopedale treatment plant are meeting Providence River (see Table 5.1). Class B standards. However, residual nutrients from the facility's discharge result in aquatic plant growth in Harris Pond, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Woonasquatucket - Moshassuck River Basin In Rhode Island, the Branch and the Pascoag Rivers have existing segments of Class D quality with proposed C classifications. Other areas are at, or slightly below, B and The Woonasquatucket River begins in North Smithfield, C goals. The problem areas result from private sewer dis- Rhode Island and flows generally southeast through numer- charges and industrial discharges. ous impoundments before joining the Moshassuck in Provi- dence and emptying into the Providence River. The upper Ten Mile River Basin basin is predominantly rural with scattered areas of de- velopment. The lower basin is highly urbanized, contain- The Ten Mile River originates in Plainville, Massachusetts, ing Johnston, North Providence, and Providence. The two and flows in a generally southerly direction to the Seekonk sections are meeting water quality goals of Class B in the River in East Providence, Rhode Island, a river mile distance upper basin and Class C in the lower basin. of approximately 22 miles. The Moshassuck has a similar urbanization pattern, originat- Water quality in this basin is determined by two classes of ing in rural areas of Lincoln and ending at the confluence discharges. Organic dischargers include municipalities and with the Woonasquatucket in Providence. The river is textile and chemical industries. Inorganic dischargers in- currently meeting Class C standards. elude jewelry or metal finishing industries. As a result of these discharges, the greater part of the river is below water The Providence-Seekonk River borders planning area towns quality goals. Above the North Attleborough secondary and is comprised of the most severely polluted waters in wastewater treatment facility, the river receives wastes the planning area. Class SC classifications are proposed; from several industries and malfunctioning septic systems however, water quality is presently SD and below. in Plainville and North Attleborough. These sources of pollution result in water quality of Class C and B, with a Providence currently discharges over 50 mgd into the Provi- Class B goal, suitable for any contact recreation, for the dence River through a secondary treatment facility not op- entire reach. Below the North Attleborough facility, the erating at proper efficiency. North Providence, Providence, river has a proposed classification of C except for the last and Johnston are all served by this facility (see Table 5.1). two miles, which have a Class B goal. Meeting these goals More importantly, Providence is served by an extensive com- is an essential prerequisite for implementing the Ten Mile bined sewer system which, during rainfall or snow melt, tends River Recreation Complex described in Chapter 6. Presently, to overload the treatment plant, thereby further reducing ef- due to the discharge of secondary treated wastewater from ficiency, as well as resulting in 56 direct discharges of com- the municipal facilities serving North Attleborough and bined stormwater and untreated wastewater to the Provi- Attleboro, and industries in Attleboro and Seekonk, the dence, Seekonk, Woonasquatucket, Moshassuck, and West river quality is generally Class U (unacceptable). Rivers. The Rhode Island Department of Health has de- termined that when one-half inch of rain is recorded in The two major tributaries to the Ten Mile River are the Providence in a 24-hour period, the shellfish areas in Upper Bungay and Seven Mile Rivers. The Bungay originates in Narragansett Bay must be closed for seven days. For a re- North Attleborough and flows south for five miles where cording of one inch, the closure is effective for ten days. In it joins the Ten Mile in Attleboro. The entire Bungay the past, the total number of days the shellfish areas have River has a water quality goal of Class B, but at times is been closed in one year has exceeded 200. below that classification. A federal fish hatchery could be a partial cause of the pollution, and steps are being taken Thus, while the principal need in the basin is for combined to correct this problem. sewer abatement, there is also a need for sewer service in 5-2 areas of Smithfield and Lincoln, and for extensive sewer discharges, and municipal discharges. Landfill leachate is system repair in North Providence. also a moderate source of pollution in some parts of the planning area. These problems must be corrected by a pro- THE SOLUTIONS gram of restoration. Regulation and permitting of dis- charges, and construction of treatment facilities can be used to achieve proposed water quality goals. Preservation Combined Sewers and Stormwater Runoff There are high quality waters in the Blackstone, Ten Mile, Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck planning area. The envi- Much of the City of Providence is served by combined storm ronmental and aesthetic qualities of these waters must be and sanitary sewers. During dry weather periods, the waste- protected. In addition, economic benefits will be achieved waters in these sewers are conveyed to the Providence Mu- by precluding the need for some costly facilities-oriented nicipal Wastewater Treatment Plant. However, at times of restoration projects. For these reasons, and others out- heavy rainfall, the combined sewage and stormwater flows lined in Chapters of the RegionalReport, the SENE exceed the capacity of the system and result in overflows Study places high priority on preservation of the planning to the Woonasquatucket, Moshassuck, West, Seekonk, and area's high quality waters. Preliminary steps have been Providence Rivers. instituted by Massachusetts and Rhode Island in their water quality standards through inclusion of anti- Based upon the severity of pollution, expected water uses, degradation policies. The SENE Study endorses these and the population affected, the Rhode Island Division of policies and makes the following recommendation: Water Supply and Pollution Control has determined that Providence's combined sewer problems are the number one 1. Carry out current state non-degradation priority in the state. Water quality restoration will enable policies. In Massachusetts, the Department of more of upper Narragansett Bay to remain open to shell- Environmental Quality Engineering should ensure fishing and will improve overall aesthetics in the Providence that no new discharges will deteriorate the River. Recently, Providence received an Environmental quality of stream water above the most upstream Protection Agency (EPA) planning grant to study the corn- municipal discharges and Class SA and SB waters bined sewer problem. The study alone will take 18 months (shellfish harvest and swimmable-fishable and will cost a total of $668,000, paid by EPA, Rhode Is- salt water), with conditioned exceptions; land, and Providence. Cost estimates for separation range (a) to allow new cooling water discharges from $90 million to $500 million, depending on the degree if standards of the receiving waters are met; of separation provided. Regardless of the degree, the SENE (b) to allow new municipal discharges if Study believes that water quality analyses must be performed part of a comprehensive plan; and (c) to and a sampling program developed by Rhode Island and the require existing discharges to cease and EPA, to ensure that the improvements which are made in either connect to a municipal system or the combined sewer system will result in the opening of provide high degrees of treatment consist- shellfish areas in upper Narragansett Bay. Urban runoff ent with maintaining high quality waters. from the densely populated core may still result in closures. If this is the case, treatment of combined sewer overflows In Rhode Island, the Department of Health rather than separation may be a more cost-effective means should ensure that no new discharges will of restoring the affected areas. Other municipalities in deteriorate the quality of Class A, B the planning area with combined sewers and their related (drinkable, swimmable), SA and SB waters. problems are Worcester, Pawtucket, and Central Falls. Spe- cific recommendations for these municipalities may be These statements recognize that there are certain waters found in the "Municipal Discharges" section of this chapter. which simply should not be subjected to wastewater dis- charges at any time regardless of degree of treatment. In general, the SENE Study recommendation is as follows: The reasons include the size and sensitive nature of the stream, general aesthetic considerations and develop- 2. Emphasize treatment of combined sewer ment pressures, and resultant degradation which may overflows. The U. S. Environmental Pro- accompany a discharge. tection Agency, the Massachusetts Depart- ment of Environmental Quality Engineer- ing and the Rhode Island Department of Restoration Health should emphasize the treatment of combined sewer overflows, especially where Many pollution problems in the Blackstone, Ten Mile, the receiving waters have a high value for Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck planning area include swimming and shellfshing. These agencies combined sewers and urban stormwater runoff, industrial should discourage separation of combined 5-3- sewers unless separation can be demon- to the waters of this basin will be that of an advanced treat- strated to be more cost-effective than other ment facility and two cooling water discharges. methods. It is especially important that the urban stormwater runoff Th SEEtuymkstefolwnrcmedai: problem be corrected in the developed and developing sec- 4. Continue current industrial permits tions of this planning area. Wet-weather sampling, discussed Program. The U. S. Environmental Pro- in Chapter 5 of the Regional Report (Water Quality) can pro- tection Agency, the Massachusetts Depart- vide a rational basis for a badly-needed non-point source ment of Environmental Quality Engineering, abatement program. The SENE Study recommends that and the Rhode Island Department of Health the proper agencies: should continue the current industrial per- ,nits programs, which are part of the Na- 3. Begin storinwater and wet-weather tional Pollutant Discharge Elimination system. stream sampling. In areas of high urban stormwater runoff, the Massachusetts De- Municipal Discharges partment of Environmental Quality Engi- neering and the Rhode Island Department Presently, municipal discharges are another major source of Health should begin a major year-round of pollution in this planning area. The following discus- stormwater and wet-weather stream sampling sion presents a facilities-oriented approach to upgrading program. the quality of the area's waters. Each of the three major Sewer separation may be implemented for some of the muni-baiswlbecndrdsprtly cipalities in this planning area, such as Worcester. Unlike Blackstone River Basin. As part of the continuing plan- treatment techniques, combined sewer separation will not ning process required of each state by the Federal Water improve the quality of urban runoff reaching a water body. Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, the Massachu- Therefore, water quality goals may never be reached in these setts Division of Water Pollution Control has developed areas unless the runoff problem is solved. allowable waste loads and target dates for wastewater dis- chargers in the Blackstone basin. This basin plan gives the Industrial Discharges strategy necessary to achieve the desired water quality stand- Indutria dichares hve een maor surceof olluionards. Based upon the available information, the SENE Study Inusril ishage hveben mjo sure f oluto endorses the proposals presented in that basin plan. When in the Blackstone, Ten Mile, and Woonasquatucket- imlmnei ilreslnegtdretmncplds Moshassuck planning area. However, industrial pollution charges to the waters of the basin (seven requiring advanced is being diminished by the National Pollutant Discharge treatment and one requiring secondary treatment). The Elimination System of industrial permits, administered by actions to be taken by the municipalities in the Massachu- the EPA under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act setts portion of the basin are summarized in the following Amendments of 1972. list. Recommendations 5, 6, 11, and 13 are of high AUl but three industries in the Blackstone basin will connectproiy to eight municipal treatment plants when the plants are 5. Construct advanced treatment plant for completed. Of the three remaining industries, one will pro- Upper Blackstone municipalities. The vide treatment and subsurface disposal, one will provide ad- Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement vanced treatment, and one may do either. District will have an advanced wastewater treat- ment facility in operation by 1983. Secondary Industrial discharges along the Ten Mile River will 'provide treatment works are now under construction. best practicable treatment technology by July 1, 1977, as Member communities are Worcester and Auburn. required under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Other eligible communities are Leicester, Paxton, Amendments of 1972, unless pre-treatment and connection Holden, Rutland, West Boylston, Boylston, and to a municipal system are feasible. Currently there are 31 Shrewsbury. (Portions of Shrewsbury are firms providing treatment equivalent to secondary, eight served by its own plant.) former discharges are connected to the municipal systems, and two former dischargers are recycling wastes. For certain 6. Complete separation of combined sewers other firms, recycling may be desirable and should be en- in Worcester by 1980. In Worcester, com- couraged. Four remaining discharges are to connect. to plete separation of combined sewers, in conjunc- municipal systems. tion with urban renewal projects, will be finished by 1980. Presently, many miles of Worcester's In the Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck basin, all industrial combined sewers have been separated. This is discharges of oxygen-demanding wastewaters will connect one area where separation can be accomplished to expanded treatment facilities. The only other discharges and where treatment techniques alone will not 5-4 yield appreciable water quality benefits. tions minimize the number of discharges by stressing re- gional systems. Currently, land disposal has not been 7. Upgrade treatment plant to advanced found to be feasible in this basin, due to the apparent lack to serve Millbury and Sutton. Mill- ' of suitable sites. However, more detailed engineering in- bury, which has a new secondary'treatment vestigations are required before federal construction grants plant, will provide advanced treatment to are given. These investigations must look into land disposal serve Millbury and portions of Sutton. possibilities. The programs should attain water quality Discharge will be to the Blackstone River. goals explained previously. Estimated costs for planning area cities and towns are listed below: 8. Construct advanced treatment plant in Grafton. Grafton will construct an Worcester $24,000,000 Uxbridge $3,400,000 advanced treatment facility wiii discharge Shrewsbury 2,000,000 Sutton 800,000 to the Blackstone River. Auburn 5,000,000 Douglas 3,600,000 Millbury 500,000 Hopedale 1,500,000 9. Maintain advanced treatment plant in Grafton 6,000,000 Mendon 450,000 Northbridge. Northbridge provides ad- Upton 300,000 Millville 3,000,000 vanced treatment with discharge to the Northbridge 1,500,000 Blackstone 1,400,000 Blackstone River. These costs are only preliminary figures based on estimated 10. Provide advanced treatment in Upton flows, and represent costs of major interceptors and treat- after 1985. Upton, which provides ment facilities. secondary treatment and sand filtra- tion, will be able to rely on its exist- In the Rhode Island section of the Blackstone basin, pre- ing facilities until 1985. At that time liminary proposals have been developed by town consult- it will provide advanced treatment ants and state agencies (Rhode Island Statewide Planning with discharge to the West River. Program and the Department of Health). Based on those preliminary alternatives, the SENE Study recommends the 11. Provide advanced treatment in Hope- following facilities plan for implementation and inclusion dale by 1978. Hopedale will provide in the Rhode Island portion of the basin plan. advanced wastewater treatment. Its ex- isting secondary treatment will be re- 15. Provide secondary treatment in Woon- placed, and discharge will be to the socket and other towns by mid-1977. Mill River by 1978. Woonsocket will provide secondary treatment with discharge to the Blackstone River by the 12. Construct advanced treatment plant end of 1976. The facility will serve Woon- in Uxbridge by 1978. Uxbridge socket, and portions of North. Smithfield (by will construct an advanced treatment mid-1977) and Cumberland, Rhode Island and facility with discharge to the Black- Blackstone (in 1976), Millville, and southern stone River by 1978. Mendon may Bellingham, Massachusetts. eventually connect at some future date. 16. Construct secondary treatment plant in Burrillville by mid-1977. Burrillville will 13. Construct secondary treatment plant construct a secondary treatment facility by in Douglas. Douglas is constructing mid-1977 to serve that town and northern a secondary treatment facility with dis- (locester with discharge to the Branch River. charge to the Mumford River. A portion of Sutton may eventually be served. 17. Maintain secondary treatment plant for Blackstone Valley Sewer District. The 14. Connect Blackstone to Woonsocket's Blackstone Valley Sewer District will main- treatment plant by 1976. Blackstone tain existing secondary treatment facility with will connect to Woonsocket, Rhode Is- discharge to the Seekonk River. The facility land's treatment facility, by a target date will serve Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Lin- of 1976. Millville will also be served by coin, and portions of Cumberland, Smithfield, that facility at some later date. and East Providence. Alternatives which have been considered mainly involved i8. Provide partial separation of com- alternate treatment plant configurations. The recommenda- bined sewer overflows in Central 5-5 Falls and Pawtucket. Central ton from East Providence plant. The Falls and Pawtucket will provide par- East Providence wastewater treatment facility tial separation of combined sewer over- will continue to provide secondary treatment flows to eliminate the largest, most with discharge to the Providence River. Bar- frequent overflows. rington will be served by this facility in two phases by mid-1977. These facilities will maintain water quality at Class C levels, suitable for recreational boating and fishing, and will up- These efforts will result in attainment of the water quality grade the Branch River to Class C levels through the elimina- standards adopted for the waters of the planning area, and tion of industrial and small individual wastewater discharges. will eliminate problems associated with poorly operating It appears that the only potential for land disposal exists septic systems. The regional approach is stressed to elimi- for the Burrillville facility. This must be investigated be- nate discharges and to lower construction costs while achiev- fore a federal construction grant can be given. This plan re- ing efficiently run facilities. Land disposal does not appear suits in fewer discharges than others considered because of to be a viable alternative in this basin because of the lack the regional approaches taken. In addition, it is $2 to $7 of suitable sites as well as the amount of metals which million cheaper than other feasible alternatives. would be in any treated effluent. Anticipated construc- tion costs of major interceptors and facilities for each plan- Provision of advanced treatment capabilities should be ning area community are: Plainville - $1,400,000; North made at the Burrillville facility if it can be shown, through Attleborough - $10,000,000; Attleboro - $15,000,000; water quality monitoring and modelling, that Class B Seekonk - $1,000,000; East Providence - $8,000,000; waters can be attained throughout the Branch River. This Barrington - 514,100,000. would increase construction costs by about $1 million. Preliminary costs of each facility are: Woonsocket - Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck Basin. Engineering $27,500,000; Burrillville - $9,225,000; North Smith- consultants for the municipalities in the Woonasquatucket- field - $6,000,000; Blackstone Valley Sewer District - Moshassuck basin, along with the Rhode Island Statewide no further construction costs needed. Sewer system im- Planning Program and the Department of Health, have de- provements to minimize infiltration into the Pawtucket veloped current proposals for municipal treatment facilities. and Central Falls systems are needed to ensure no fur- The SENE Study endorses these proposals, which have been ther expansion at the District's plant. included in the state basin plan prepared by Rhode Island Statewide Planning in cooperation with the Department of Ten Mile River Basin. The Massachusetts Division of Health. The proposals are: Water Pollution Control has developed a preliminary basin plan for the Massachusetts section of the Ten Mile 22. Construct advanced treatment plant in basin as required by the Federal Water Pollution Control Smithfield. Smithfield will construct an ad- Act Amendments of 1972. The major points of the vanced wastewater treatment facility with dis- Massachusetts portion of the basin plan as endorsed by charge to the Woonasquatucket River. the SENE Study are: 23. Expand sewer service in Lincoln. Lincoln 19. Expand and upgrade North Attleborough will expand sewer service in the town with con- plant to advanced by 1977. The North tinned discharge to the Blackstone Valley Sewer Attleborough facility will be expanded and District. upgraded to advanced treatment by 1977 with discharge to the Ten Mile River. Plain- 24. Continue service from Providence treat- ville will also be served by this facility. ment facility to five municipalities. Pro- vidence secondary wastewater treatment fa- 20. Expand and upgrade Attleboro plant to cility will continue to serve Providence, North advanced by 1979. The Attleboro facility Providence, and Johnston, as well as providing will be expanded and upgraded to advanced service to portions of Cranston and Lincoln. treatment by 1979 with discharge to the Ten Partial separation of combined sewers to elim- Mile River. Portions of Seekonk will also be inate the largest, most frequent overflows in served by this facility. Providence should be deferred until the cur- rent study on combined sewers (see above) is For the Rhode Island section of this basin, the following completed. facility, proposed by the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program and the Department of Health, is under construction: Alternatives which would have resulted in more discharges were not recommended over this regional approach. The 21. Provide secondary treatment to Barring- combination of North Providence sewer system repair and, 5-6 if undertaken, Providence combined sewer separation, could since some aspects of existing regulations may still al- reduce average daily flow to the Providence plant by 40 per- low problems to develop. For example, high percolation cent, thus forestalling expansion at the plant for some time. rates coupled with the minimum allowable depth to Costs of the proposal are: Smithfield - $15,200,000; ground water may result in bacterial contamination, North Providence - $7,500,000; Providence - nitrate build-up, or even phosphate build-up in that $90,000,000 to $500,000,000. ground water. Also, allowing systems to be placed in fill material might invite clogging conditions at the Landfill Leachate fill-old ground interface. If sanitary landfills are not properly sited, leachate percolat- Rhode Island has recently reviewed and updated regulations ing through the landfill to the water table can cause signifi- regarding individual subsurface disposal problems and be- cant ground water pollution. Proper siting of solid waste lieves them to be adequate. Massachusetts has contemplated disposal sites in accordance with sanitary landfill regula- this step. There is strong public support for the Massachu- tions should be sufficient to prevent future degradation of setts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering to water resources. Where existing sites present problems, review and update the existing regulations with particular corrective measures should be taken to prevent further deg- attention to the allowable depth of subsurface systems to radation of water resources. Towns in the planning area ground water and the maximum rate of percolation. The which have problems with surface drainage and leachate, second concern is a function of porosity and slope and is and with the lowest portion of the fill in the water table, important because rapidly flowing, non-purified septic are: Millbury, Sutton, Woonsocket, Burrillville, and North wastewater can contaminate water supply. With prop- Attleborough. Towns exhibiting the first two of the prob- er enforcement, and by restricting the use of such sys- lems are: Northbridge, Seekonk, and Plainville. Cumber- tems to those lands suitable for septic tanks, individual land's landfill has surface drainage problems only. The disposal systems should continue to be useful for an im- SENE Study recommendation is as follows: portant portion of future residential development. Without such precautions, the cumulative failure of individual sys- 25. Study and define the landfill leachate tems will intensify pressure for sewer extensions and new problem. The Massachusetts Department treatment works. The result will be new concentrations of Environmental Quality Engineering and of effluent in high quality streams, loss of in-basin ground the Rhode Island Department of Health water resources, increased municipal service costs, and, in- should make further field investigations evitably, the increased density of development induced by and studies to better define the extent sewer service. and nature of water quality problems associ- ated with existing and abandoned solid waste Clean-up Campaigns disposal sites, with a view to developing ade- quate perspectives and rational controls. A final program is applicable, especially to the urbanized portions of the basins. Riverbank clean-up campaigns, Septic Systems such as "Project ZAP" on the Blackstone and similar ac- tivities on the Ten Mile, encourage public responses to Another threat to water quality is malfunctioning septic pollution control efforts. Worcester has had several ef- systems. These have resulted in the preceding proposals fective annual spring clean-ups on the shores of Lake for sewer service and attendant treatment facilities. Rigid Quinsigamond. The Grafton Conservation Committee has enforcement of existing regulations may preclude many also successfully monitored abuses to water quality. Proj- of the problems of these systems. However, an in-depth ects such as these should be encouraged in order to gain look at the criteria for locating, siting, and designing in- further benefits of water quality control projects. dividual subsurface disposal systems is also necessary 5-7 CHAPTER 6 OUTDOOR RECREATION Next to the Boston Metropolitan planning area, the Black- developments in environmentally sensitive ways, the Study stone-Ten Mile-Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck has the fast- has recommended a state recreational advisory committee est growing recreation demands in SENE. Six percent of composed of representatives from Massachusetts Depart- the extensive forests and fresh water resources sandwiched ment of Commerce and Development, Rhode Island De- between the Providence and Worcester metropolitan areas is partment of Economic Development, and both states' available to satisfy these rapidly growing demands. New natural resource management agencies, in addition to acquisitions, access, and additional facilities have to be municipal and private representatives. developed. There are several large parcels of land and water resources Because there is no coast line in the planning area, swim- in the planning area which could be acquired and developed. ming and boating are two activities which have large de- More noteworthy, however, are numerous opportunities ficiencies. Except for a few fresh water beaches con- for means of satisfying recreational demands which require sidered in the General Recreation section, demands for smaller sums than new acquisition and development. these activities will have to continue to be satisfied in other parts of the SENE region. Therefore the Narra- Another special problem for the Blackstone-Ten Mile- gansett Bay Planning Area Report recommends the con- Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck planning area involves the tinuation of the Rhode Island Department of Natural Re- inadequacy of day parks and playgrounds within Providence, source's program to provide public transportation to beaches Pawtucket, Cranston, and East Providence to meet the de- nearby. mands of these densely populated centers. In Pawtucket and Providence, the city-wide major park systems make up It is possible that a portion of the Seekonk River could 70 percent of the total public recreation and open space supply a major portion of the region's recreational boat- land. In Pawtucket, the city-wide system consists of the ing demands. Recommendation 7 in Chapter 6 of the state's Ten Mile River Reservation and the city's Slater Regional Report suggests that the Corps of Engineers, Memorial Park. The former is not developed for public use together with state and municipal officials and private and the latter contains major portions not developed for interests, investigate this possibility within the context public use. The intermediate cities of Cranston and East of the region's boating needs and conditions along the Providence have a substantially better distribution of total Seekonk River, as measured against alternative locations. recreation acreage. Inspection of resources in these cities showed many local and city-wide recreation areas not yet GENERAL developed, or underdeveloped, or, in some cases, not easily accessible to the major concentration of population. The OUTDOOR RECREATION effectiveness of a seemingly adequate resource base is there- fore somewhat reduced. The Situation The Solutions The Solutions The existing publicly owned recreational facilities will not be able to meet 1990 demands. Of the recreational activi- The RegionalReport describes two options for satisfying ties considered, swimming beaches and campsites will con- camping and picnicking needs, and six options for satisfying tinue to be the two largest deficiencies in the planning area. extensive outdoor recreation needs. The Regional Report The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) estimates that also describes economic, environmental, and social implica- existing publicly accessible fresh water beaches could meet tions of each option. The following recommendations for 14 percent of the 1990 demands, and that existing camping supplying the Blackstone's recreational needs have been facilities could supply a fifth of the 1990 demands. Further- based on an evaluation of those options and their implica- more, existing picnic facilities could meet about a quarter tions. of the 1990 demands. The existing publicly accessible natural areas could meet nearly 42 percent of the 1990 de- Chapter 6 of the Regional Report explains that people in mands for nature study, photography, and other demands most parts of the U. S. drink water from rivers used for for extensive outdoor recreation. navigation or wastewater disposal, or reservoirs used for timber production or recreation. Reservoirs in Rhode Chapter 6 of the Regional Report explains that private Island, however, and, to some extent, Massachusetts, are recreational enterprise is important for developing picnick- used for a single purpose, the production of drinking water. ing and campground facilities. To encourage these private While there are no state statutes prohibiting low-intensity 6-1 outdoor recreation on reservoir lands, there is a law holding for the production of water power by eminent domain. local water authorities legally responsible for drinking water The logic was that the production of power was in the contamination. For their own protection, trespassing on public interest. The public rights to abandoned mill ponds watershed lands is prohibited. However, recent information - whether they are access rights, reversionary rights, first indicates that recreational use of reservoirs and related lands, choice to gain water rights - have not yet been ascertained. particularly storage reservoirs, can have minimal impact on bacteria and virus counts, certainly within the range of best Mill ponds in the SENE region, particularly along the Black- known treatment levels. stone River, provide important and valuable recreational, historical, and aesthetic opportunities. However, the ex- However, as water authorities in the City of Worcester have tent to which they would satisfy future outdoor recreation pointed out, the major limitations are costs resulting from demands is difficult to ascertain because the total acreage, the additional levels of treatment required and from the quality, and legal status have not been inventoried. need for recreational management. Such authorities need additional funds and technical assistance before they can If such an assessment of the abandoned mill ponds, for consider low-intensity activities even on storage reservoirs. example, in the Blackstone area, proved them to be signi- example, in the Blackstone area, proved them to be signi- ficant recreational resources, the public interest could be The recommendation in the Regional Report, therefore, assured through new legislation passed by the General assured through new legislation passed by the General suggests that in Rhode Island the Department of Health, Assembly. To assure the safety and protection of mill Statewide Planning Program, and local water authorities, ponds, the state should also develop a policy and program and in Massachusetts, the Departments of Environmental for restoring and maintaining mill dams. Management and Environmental Quality Engineering, and local water authorities should develop guidelines and regula- The major reason for the gross recreational deficiencies in tions for low-intensity outdoor recreation on storage re- core cities deals with severe financial limitation. Under the servoir lands, only. Specifically, in the Blackstone planning current local tax structure, which relies heavily on real area: 1Deeogudlarea: frlwestate, and considering the existing austerity budget of i. Develop guidelines to plan for low- core cities, it would appear that neither the rate of recrea- intensity recreation on storage reser- tion budget nor the proportion of the city's total budget it voir lands. Local water authorities should comprises will improve significantly. With the urban land use the above mentioned guidelines to deter- pressures, and thus land prices, as they are, this precludes mine the suitability of storage reservoir lands substantial land acquisition programs to meet the city's for low-intensity recreational use. needs. Planning and recreation officials in the towns sur- veyed perceived little ability for the city to significantly In addition, there are several water supply reservoirs and add to the recreation land resources by the conventional other ponds in the planning area which towns - using Land land acquisition program. and Water Conservation Funds and, in Massachusetts, Self. Help funds - could develop for recreational purposes: In light of this situation, it is necessary to look for solu- tions other than simple acquisition of land. The federal 2. Acquire local access near four Rhode Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) suggests that other Island lakes. Lincoln and Smithfield opportunities exist for increasing both the acreage and the should acquire public access to shoreline efficiency of urban recreation lands. It is recommended along Wenscott Reservoir; Smithfield that appropriate officials: should acquire Wolf Hill near Stillwater, Waterman, and Mountaindale Reservoirs. 4. Acquire inner city recreation opportuni- ties in at least six municipalities. Wor- 3. Acquire statewide access along Crystal cester, Providence, East Providence, Pawtucket, Pond in Douglas. Woonsocket, and Cranston should improve inner- city recreation opportunities by the following means: The Rhode Island portion of Wallum Lake also has recrea- tional potential, but the Study did not recommend acquisi- * Increase the availability of community tion of recreational access because currently it is used for school facilities. water supply to Zambarano Hospital and there are possible * Develop multiple use of highway corri- health conflicts (see Chapter 4). dors, public works lands, and parking areas. In Massachusetts, there is the potential to gain abandoned areas. mill dams for public use with minimal financial investment. � Develop improved pedestrian access to The Mill Acts, passed in the latter part of the 19th century, existing urban parks by such means as authorized private mill developers to seize lands important overpasses across transportation corridors. 6-2 * Develop a major program of soliciting land ces should expand Diamond Hill State Park and easement donations. by acquiring about 500 acres around Pine Swamp; expand Lincoln Woods State Park * Develop a formal review system of tax to include the Marsh Hill and area north- title lands by planning and recreation west of Olney Pond, possibly part of the agencies. Moshassuck River, and the east side of Butterfly Pond; and expand the Casimir * Develop adequate recreation and open Pulaski State Park to include Sprague Hill space in urban renewal areas. and Elbow Neck. * Consider the feasibility of re-routing As the level of water quality in the three rivers improves, commuter oriented bus service to they will increasingly become the focus of rehabilitation. better serve recreation areas, especially The SENE Study recommends these two actions: major beaches. 8. Create a Ten Mile River recreation Trails Advisory Committees in both states advise the DNRs complex. Pawtucket and East Providence about the appropriate locations of, and uses for, trails. should create a Ten Mile River recreation com- The BOR has identified a whole network of trails through- plex. The complex would include the Ten Mile out SENE, part of which stretches into the Blackstone River Reservation and an extension, Slater basin: Park, some land south of Slater Park, and East Providence watershed lands. This would 5. Consider a trail system from Douglas to create a continuous park system of some 800 Providence. Trails Advisory Committees acres in an urban area. In addition, as pro- in both states should assess the possibilities posed in the East Providence Recreation Plan, of a trail system along an abandoned right- this could be extended along the Runnin's of-way from Wallum Lake in Douglas to River and into nearly developed Hundred Providence, and recommend appropriate Acre Cove, providing a continuous recreation kinds of uses and development to the R.I. corridor of some ten miles in length, only Department of Natural Resources and minutes from the densely populated cities Mass. Department of Environmental of Pawtucket, Central Falls, East Providence, Management. Another possibility is a 16 and Providence. mile trail along the Blackstone River and Canal, as suggested in the Central Massa- The Mayor's Office in the City of Attleboro has expressed chusetts Regional Planning Commission a concern for continuing this recreation complex into the Report of April, 1972. A connecting Massachusetts portion of the Ten Mile River basin. The Hike-Bike Trail, proposed by the City SENE Study encourages Attleboro, Seekonk, and Plain- of Worcester, should also be considered. ville to plan recreational development along the Ten Mile Both states could expand existing recreation properties in River and join forces with adjacent towns in this effort. the Blackstone basin and develop them for camping and picnicking through these actions: m9. Create a Blackstone River Park. As recom- mended by the Blackstone People's Park 6. Enlarge Douglas State Forest, consoli- Association, Rhode Island Departments date UDton State Forest, and provide of Natural Resources, Massachusetts support for the Towns. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Manage- ment and local communities should Department of Environmental Management ment and l ocal communities should should enlarge the Douglas State Forest acquire lands for a 51-mile Blackstone and consolidate Upton State Forest hold- River Park. ings, which are presently scattered around Upton. The state should consider investi- The wetlands along the Blackstone River in Central Falls- gating means of compensating the addi- Cumberland (see recommendation 12 in the Regional tional strains on municipal services. Report) play an important role in the Blackstone River People's Public Park. This 300 acre area potentially 7. Expand Diamond Hill, Lincoln Woods, could provide fishing, boating, camping, swimming, and Casimir Pulaski State Parks. The and picnicking to the most densely populated cities Rhode Island Department of Natural Resour- of Rhode Island. For the successful completion of 6-3 this portion of the Park, the state would have to re- WILDLIFE AND FRESH WATER pair the Pratt Dam flood gate. The SENE Study encour- ages the municipalities and R.I. DNR to work with the FISHERIES Association to fund the acquisition and development of this important natural, historical and recreational The Situation asset. Compared to other planning areas in Southeastern New Plate 3 shows the location of Critical Environmental Areas, England, the B lack stone, Ten Mile, Woonasquatucket England, the Blackstone, Ten Mile, Woonasquatucket- which, as explained in Chapter 3, have important roles in Moshassuck planning area has few outstanding fish and natural processes such as riverine and coastal flooding and wildlife habitats. Insufficient and/or low quality habitat erosion protection. They can also be used for varying de- cannot support even existing demands. The U. S. Fish grees of recreation. Since protection and development and Wildlife Service estimates that about 40 percent of of such resources is best coordinated at the local level, publicly and privately owned land in the planning area the SENE Study recommends: (166,200 acres of forests and fields) is open to hunting. Of over 26,000 acres of inland marshes and wooded 10. Use SENE Development Capabilities Maps swamps, about 500 acres of inland wetlands are publicly for open space protection. Municipalities owned and accessible for hunting. If these areas remain should plan Critical Environmental Areas open and unchanged, they could support 10 percent of identified on SENE Development Capabilities the 1990 hunting demand. Of the 158 (11,205 acres) Map (Plate 3) for open space protection and fresh-water ponds, 10 acres and larger, within these basins, greenbelt programs. Methods for protecting only 20 (3,265 acres) have guaranteed statewide public such resources without outright acquisition are access. Of the 200 miles of stream, the amount in public described in Chapter 3 of the Regional Report. ownership and open to fishing is negligible. If all of these waters had adequate public access and were under fisheries Implications management, they could support an estimated 520,000 man-days of fishing, approximately 40 percent of the In line with the preferences of Blackstone, Ten Mile, planning area's 1990 demand. Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck workshop participants, most of these recommendations are aimed at increasing The Solutions fresh water oriented recreation opportunities, and in- volve mostly state responsibilities. However, local action Chapter 6 of the Regional Report describes four options in acquiring and managing fresh water recreation resources for satisfying the planning area's future demands for wild- such as mill ponds and Critical Environmental Areas is life, six options for future fishing demands, and the just as important for meeting urban recreational demands. implications of each. The following recommendations Town owned recreation areas would not go very far in are based on an evaluation of those options. meeting the planning area's large recreation demands. Fur- thermore, intertown cooperation in developing recrea- Due to multiple benefits of wetlands for flood reduction tional resources - supported by state funds - maximizes and wildlife production, the Study has recommended pro- efficient use of open spaces. tection of them to the maximum extent; this can be done The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation estimates the total costs without impairment to economic growth (see Chapter 3 of the Regional Report). In Massachusetts, the Wetlands of the actions listed above to range somewhere between $60 of the RegionalReport). In Massachusetts, the Wetlands and $80 miion, while they would supply annual recreation YoProtection Act, and in Rhode Island, the Freshwater, Salt- benefitsestimated at $37 million. They would sup p rovide lyawater, and Intertidal Wetlands Protection Acts, give muni- benougpiiefaiitis estoimeet about $37 milon.Thy woud p de cipalities substantial authority in deciding restrictions on enough picnic facilities to meet about 46 percent of the wetlands use, but often their efforts are frustrated by 1990 picnicking needs; enough campgrounds to meet al- inadequate knowledge or expertise. In Massachusetts, most a fifth of the 1990 camping needs; enough fresh the Soil Conservation Service has developed a program water beach acres to meet over a third of the 1990 needschnical information about for swimming; and enough natural area to meet 61 per- wetlands (and other natural resources) through Conservation cent of the 1990 needs for hiking, nature study, and District Offices. In Rhode Island, the Department of Na- other extensive activities. Unmet needs for these recrea- tural Resources could provide similar information. Because tional activities would have to be supplied from other cumulatively, municipalities can protect significant amounts parts of, or outside of, the SENE region, of wetlands through legislative channels, the Study encour- 64 ages their responsibilities with these recommendations: streambank acquisition, and the Public Access Board is le- gally charged to acquire public access to "great ponds" 11. Use the Massachusetts Natural Resources (those natural ponds 20 acres and larger) for fishing, and Planning Program to enforce wetlands those natural ponds ten acres and larger for other recrea- legislation. Massachusetts municipalities tional purposes. Public water supply reservoirs, previously should use technical information provided by discussed in this chapter, are also productive fishery habi- the Natural Resources Planning Program, ad- tats. To ensure the availability of fresh water fisheries for ministered through Conservation District future generations, the Study recommends: Offices, to enforce the existing wetlands legislation. 14. Include ponds ten acres and larger for fishing in Massachusetts Great Ponds 12. Provide technical assistance to Rhode legislation. The Massachusetts Legislature Island municipalities to enforce wetlands should change the existing Great Ponds Act legislation. The Rhode Island Department of to designate ponds ten acres and larger Natural Resources should provide additional "great ponds" for fishing. technical and legal assistance to local officials to improve enforcement of existing wetlands 15. Acquire access to ponds with good legislation. potential for fisheries production. The states should acquire access to ponds Outright acquisition is the safest assurance that wildlife potentially productive for fishery resour- habitats will be protected. The state's responsibilities ces: should be to purchase those areas of regional significance including wetlands along the Chartley Brook - Hemlock � In Massachusetts, the Department of Swamp in Attleboro, Rehoboth, and Norton, and along Fisheries, Wildlife, and Recreational the lower Blackstone River in Cumberland. (Chapter 6, Vehicles should evaluate 26 ponds SENE Study Regional Report). Hence, the following ten acres or larger of "good or best recommendation: potential" (this lengthy list is identi- fied in SENE Study Single-Purpose 13. Acquire the most significant wildlife Inventories available from NERBC) and habitats. Communities and/or private inter- acquire public access to the most fa- ests in Massachusetts and Rhode Island should vorable. acquire the most significant upland and wetland wildlife habitats which are not protected by � In Rhode Island, the Department of scenic, conservation or agricultural easements. Natural Resources should purchase The list of significant wetlands for the Black- access to ponds with good potential stone and Vicinity planning area is too lengthy for fisheries production. There are for this report, but can be found in SENE 53 most important ponds, and the Study Single-Purpose Inventory information names can be found in SENE Study available at NERBC. To accomplish this, Single-Purpose Inventories. Self-Help funds are available in Massachu- setts; Green Acres funds formerly available The Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife is actively for local conservation-recreation acquisitions acquiring access points to fresh water resources, and de- and development in Rhode Island should be veloping boat ramps and landings whiere appropriate. The revitalized. Study recommends they also consider the following action: Edges between forest, field, and wetland are often the most productive wildlife habitats. Some of the Study's major 16. Acquire access to streams with good policies are the protection of prime agricultural lands, wet- potential for fisheries production. lands, unique natural areas (Category A and B Resources), Agencies responsible for fisheries and wild- and other critical lands. Actions to protect these resour- life in both states should acquire access to ces - described in Chapter 3 of the Regional Report - the potentially most productive fishing have secondary benefits for the wildlife enthusiast or streams in the Blackstone and Vicinity plan- hunter because of.the implications for wildlife produc- ning area. tivity. In Massachusetts SENE Study Single- Productive fresh water fisheries persist in the planning Purpose Inventory has identified three area's ponds, lakes, and streams. The Massachusetts Divi- with high fishery potential: Muddy sion of Fisheries and Wildlife has an active program of 6-5 Brook, Mill River in Mendon; West improve the quality and productivity of these important River, Blackstone River in Uxbridge; wildlife habitats. Under management, these lands could Center Brook, West River in Upton. support approximately 32 percent of the projected 1990 * In Rhode Island, SENE Single-Purpose demands for hunting. An option of acquiring public access odeIslanven S Single-Purmationhsidentii 1to all good wildlife habitat was not recommended: first, because of the expense involved; second, because hunting with high potential: Abbot Run, Cum- is prohibited in several towns; and, third, because public berland; Peters River, Woonsocket; preferences expressed at the Blackstone, Ten Mile, Mill River, Woonsocket; Chepachet Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck public workshop did not River, Burrillville; Pascoag River, Bur- support the idea of public access to privately-owned land rillville; Clear River, Burrillville; Nip- muc River, Burrillville; Ten Mile River, Seekonk; Seven Mile River, Pawtucket; Woonasquatucket River, Providence; RECREATIONAL BOATING and the Moshassuck River. Recreational boating in the tidal portions of the planning Implications area is covered in the Narragansett Bay Planning Area Management of Category A and B lands would greatly Report 6-6 CHAPTER 7 MARINE MANAGEMENT There are few marine related issues in the Blackstone and may be attacked as a blow at shipping. Almost everyone Vicinity planning area. The Port of Providence, technically agrees that the shoreline is too valuable to be allowed to within this planning area, is covered in the Narragansett Bay lie fallow, but agreement on a specific plan may be diffi- Planning Area Report. Additional information from a cult to obtain. This is one of many contradictions en- wider perspective can be found in the SENE Regional Re- shrouding the waterfront." port chapter on Marine Management. That chapter covers, in specific fashion, sections on offshore cisheries, shell- In order to recapture the vitality which lies just beneath the fish and aquaculture, port development, dredged materials surface of decay and neglect, a few institutional and adminis- disposal, offshore sand and gravel, and urban waterfronts. trative changes are needed, backed by public awareness. Sev- eral cities and towns have initiated or carried out sound pro- Additional marine-related topics, such as recreational boat- grams for waterfront development or renewal, although their ing, beach swimming, coastal access, and salt water sport- success has often occurred in spite of, rather than because of, fishing can be found in the recreational section of the Narmra- current institutional and public policy. gansett Bay Report, or Chapter 6 in the Regional Report. Similarly, discussions on power plant siting, including coastal The Blackstone River has been a major source of power to sites, and regional petroleum needs, including coastal implica- the industries located along it. Pawtucket, whose mills were tions for tank farms, are to be found in Chapter 9, Locating powered by water, was the birthplace of the American cot- Key Facilities in the Regional Report. ton industry at the Slater Mill. Manufacturing is still the primary employer, with the textile industry accounting for one-third of the manufacturing jobs. While some industries URBAN WATERFRONTS still operate along the river, many of the industrial firms oc- cupying textile mill buildings no longer have need for their The Situation waterfront location. Redevelopment has created some open spaces and parks along the immediate riverfront, including Urban waterfront issues in major coastal and riverfront the historic preservation of the Slater and Wilkinson Mills. cities in the region have been discussed in a separate special During the last decade, major redevelopment projects have report prepared for the SENE Study - the Urban Waters focused on the amenities and recreation potential of the Special Study. Three Blackstone and Vicinity planning area river, resulting in greater demand for improved water cities are included in the report - Pawtucket, Woonsocket, quality. Additional suggestions for use of these mill and Attleboro. Two other cities, Providence and East Provi- ponds are given in Chapter 6. dence, are discussed in the Narragansett Bay Planning Area The original downtown urban renewal project set the stage Report. for Pawtucket's continuing state and federally assisted urban New England's waterfront cities were largely responsible for renewal program. With a good track record in project imple- the area's rapid economic growth and development in the mentation, the City has been successful in continuing to re- eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. As noted in New ceive federal urban redevelopment assistance. Pawtucket is York's "Waterfront Workshop" conducted by the City's now one of the few cities in its fifth year of Neighborhood Planning Commission in 1974: IDevelopment Program (NDP) assistance. Three of the NDP's include river frontage and will bring about the fur- "Time and technology have left stranded many once- ther redevelopment of the Blackstone and Seekonk river- busy segments of the waterfront. Brickyards, stone- fronts. As a basis for coordinating the NDP planning along yards, lumberyards, and coal terminals have either the riverfront, a report was prepared by that program which gone out of business or moved elsewhere. Container- sets forth the general guidelines for riverfront planning and ization has shifted the volume of shipping business, and design and then evaluates alternative development proposals airlines and cruises have transformed passenger ship piers. leading to specific recommendations for renewal sites. "These changes have opened up the waterfront's poten- The Blackstone River provided the basis for Woonsocket's tial, although in a double-edged fashion: because one growth and development. Originally a number of separate type of development usually precludes all other alterna- mill villages along the River, Woonsocket has now developed tives, proposals may generate counter-proposals. A into a fairly dense city with the areas between the mill vil- housing plan is met with the suggestion that a park would lages filling in with residential and other supporting uses. be preferable, a plan to site industry may arouse environ- Many of the mills, some of historic and architectural signifi- mentalists, a plan to turn over an idle pier for recreation cance, have been torn down and replaced with other uses. 7-1 The Blackstone River no longer serves the strong role it river as an amenity or using the riverfront as a potential did in Woonsocket's past. development site. Yet, water quality and flooding are im- portant issues, and these problems are being addressed by Yet several large mill complexes remain and are in industrial the Ten Mile Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional organiza- use, some being of historic and architectural significance. As tion seeking to improve the quality and usability of the in Pawtucket, textile manufacturing is the largest manufac- river. turing employer, accounting for approximately one-fourth of the manufacturingjobs. The Solutions Severe damages caused by the August 1955 flood, which in- By integrating master planning and development control undated the entire downtown area, led to major flood con- inra ater ar a gve ment cn functions in urban waterfront areas, local governments can trol works built by the Corps of Engineers. The dikes, flood fuc inran we ronrelea verment walls, and channelization have achieved their objective of focus public interest and concern on relevant development issues and establish administrative framework at the local flood protection, but have also made difficult the kinds of level. In light of the previously discussed options, the renewal and recreational development which capitalize on following actions are recommended in order to enhance the views of the river and provide riverfront parks. While such f a aero n in r t nance e reuse of urban waterfronts in a rational and balanced manner. conditions do not exclude the possibility of renewal and recreational development, in some cases, particularly 1. oordinate local waterfront planning and Woonsocket's, they may complicate the costs and design of deve lopment. Municipalities should prepare such redevelopments. This result lends further support too r p a frthlngemusorreuw multi-objective plann for flood-control projects. or plan for the long-term use or reuse of water- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~multi-objective planning front areas. In undertaking such activities, towns The City has embarked upon a plan to build a new down- should give special consideration to factors such town in the Social Flatlands area, to rehabilitate adjacent as the protection of flood prone areas, the preser- sections of downtown, and to eventually tear down the re- vation and enhancement of historic sites and maining portions of the old commercial center and replace buildings, the provision of public access ease- that area with housing or some other use. Such projects ments (both physical and visual) in new develop- will require the major share of the City's limited resources ment, building height, and so forth, consistent for some time. Much of the riverfront is in public owner- with Critical Environmental Areas as specified in ship, and proposals for recreation use have been put forth, Chapter 3, Guiding Growth. including means for designing over and around the dikes. hile primary responsibility for initiating and carrying out However, given the major cost of creating attractive and land use decisions should remain at the local level, the state Howevr, gven he mjor ost o cretingattrctiv andWhile primary responsibility for initiating and carrying out accessible riverfront recreation due to the barriers created should perform the following critical functions: by the massive flood control devices, most of these proj- ects are expected to be postponed until adequate funding 2. Provide guidance and set criteria at the can be made available. The City is redeveloping Social Pond st at e level for pnonty waterfront uses. state level for priority waterfront uses. into an attractively landscaped, waterfront-type, public Massachusetts and Rhode Island, through their open space. Coastal Zone Management Programs or state Attleboro, Massachusetts is located along the narrow Ten land use planning programs, should develop Mile River. Attleboro's growth was once dependent upon urban waterfront planning and management its rivers, with its oldest areas built up along the Ten Mile. guidelines, and criteria for deciding priorities Today jewelry and textile industries still utilize the river for uses to be incorporated into local water- for production processes and waste disposal. In the City front master plans. Priorities should be es- center the river passes through heavily built areas where tablished for water-dependent uses, water re- buildings are immediately adjacent to the river, although lated uses, complementary uses, and low- parking and vacant lots also abut the river. Neither the priority uses. City's topography nor its street circulation system provide much view or access to the river. much view or access to the river. 3. Review and coordinate waterfront use. Massachusetts, through its regional planning New development in Attleboro bears little relation to the agencies, and Rhode sland, through its State- river. Attleboro's industrial base is diversifying Into areas wide Planning Program and Department of such as electronics, and the new industry is no longer being Community Affairs, should exercise their constructed along the river. Other new development pro- powers to review and revise major water- posals, as expressed in the City's Comprehensive Plan, also front development proposals of more than are not related to the river. Due to the highly polluted na- local concern. ture of the river, proposals for recreation, downtown re- newal, or new housing make no reference to utilizing the 7-2 At the federal level: of decisions in waterfront areas while recognizing the ap- propriate roles of the different levels of government. Agree- 4. Provide federal funding support for ment on appropriate guidelines and priorities should help state and local waterfront develop- to reduce conflicts between uses and increase the chances ment plans. The U. S. Congress and the for a variety of uses along urban waterfronts. Office of Management and Budget should approve adequate federal funding for state More sensitive and sensible use of waterfronts will rein- coastal zone planning programs and for force use of existing infrastructure and help to reutilize other planning programs which enhance urban areas which have considerable economic and waterfront redevelopment, aesthetic potential. Implementation of coordinated local and state approaches to waterfront use should help to minimize fragmentation 7-3 CHAPTER 8 FLOODING AND EROSION Inland flooding problems along the Blackstone, Ten Mile, bury; the West Hill flood control reservoir in Uxbridge, Woonasquatucket, and Moshassuck Rivers stem from in- a small local protection project in Blackstone, and the creased urbanization, encroachment of the flood plains, Upper and Lower Woonsocket local protection projects loss of inland wetlands, lack of periodic channel and mill in Woonsocket. These projects would prevent an estima- dam maintenance, and inadequate channel capacity. River- ted $94 million in damages in a recurrence of the August inme flood problems have generally increased in most com- 1955 record flood. munities, and particularly in Cumberlar 1, Rhode Island. In view of these trends, increased emphasis is needed on Along the Blackstone mainstem and on many of the tribu- non-structural measures such as wetlands protection, flood taries, are numerous, independently controlled, privately plain zoning, and expanded flood warning services as tools owned dams. They are relatively old and were developed to help prevent further increases in flood damages. Al- by industry to provide a source of power and process though inland wetland losses during the past 15 years have water for their operations. These dams do not play a been moderate in the Massachusetts section of the planning coordinated role in flood control because they are not area, significant wetland losses have occurred, in the north- operated for flood control. Failure of any one of these small eastern section of Rhode Island, from housing develop- dams could result in minor increases in downstream flood ments and increased urbanization. In addition to develop- heights, and contribute to damage to downstream dams. ment on the flood plains, recent highway construction has However, the ponds created by the dams have recreational increased the potential for flood damage in areas where potential described in Chapter 6. flood problems already existed. Despite measures already taken to provide protection from In general, the Study's recommendations emphasize that damaging floods, additional damages can be expected to both inland and coastal flood prone areas be protected occur as development continues within the basin. A recur- from development by using non-structural solutions where- rence of the August 1955 record flood in the Blackstone ever possible, such as protection of wetlands and enforce- basin would cause damages estimated at more than $30 ment of strict development criteria. Only in areas having million (now under review by the Corps of Engineers). high concentration of development where options for re- These damages would likely center in Northbridge, Uxbridge, location are limited should structural solutions be proposed Millville, and Blackstone, Massachusetts, as well as Cumber- to protect development from flooding. Recognition of land, Lincoln, Central Falls, and Pawtucket, Rhode Island. the multiple values of wetlands - not just as natural flood retention areas, but for wildlife habitat, water supply, rec- Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck River Basins. The reation, and landscape quality as well - further strengthens flood of record on the Woonasquatucket was the storm of the importance of wetlands protection as a means for re- February 1886, with a rate of flow four times higher than ducing flood damages. the March 1968 storm. Throughout much of the upper portion of the watershed are many small mill ponds and dams which do not necessarily provide benefit in terms of ~~~~~~~~~The Situation ~flood reduction. This is because the storage areas are not sufficiently large to provide effective floodwater storage, Inland Flooding and because they are not operated according to a flood con- trol management plan. In fact, the structural instability of Blackstone River. The flood of record in the Blackstone these impoundments poses serious potential flood damage these impoundments poses serious potential flood damage basin was in August 1955, caused by Hurricane Diane. That problems. Commercial centers and transportation cord- storm has been rated as having an estimated frequency of dors in the Woonasquatucket flood plains (Providence and occurrence in excess of once in 150 years. Other major North Providence) are subject to moderate flood damages. storms were in March 1968 (but flood flows were less than A recurrence of the river stages experienced during the half those of the 1955 storm), July 1938, and March 1936. March 1968 flood would result in damages of more than The August 1955 storm caused unprecedented damages, $3 million, occurring primarily in North Providence. with greatest losses in Worchester and Woonsocket, Damages for the Blackstone Basin were estimated at nearly $68 million. The March 1968 storm produced high flood flows in the The March 1968 storm produced high flood flows in the Moshassuck watershed. No record of the 1886 flood is Subsequent to the 1955 flooding, several flood control Moshassuck watershed. No record of the 1886 flood is available for this watershed. Like the Woonasquatucket, projects were constructed: the Worcester Diversion project asu fo is ae eoas uan Moshassuck flood plains are becoming increasingly urban- which diverts flows from Leesville Pond in Auburn, ized, and channel capability reduced by accumulation of near the Worcester line, to the Blackstone River in Mill- ized, and channel capability reduced by accumulation of 8-1 debris, inadequate bridge and culvert openings, and un- lands undergoing urban development. Lands under forest authorized filling along streambanks. Recurrence of the cover, pastures, and developed urban areas have few ero- 1968 flood would cause substantial damage (subject to sion problems and produce almost no sediment in the plan- additional field investigation), primarily in Saylesville ning area. Where erosion damages exist, they can be (town of Lincoln). and have its greatest effect on exist- avoided for the most part through a sound urban- ing industrial and commercial development, environmental forestry program to retain as much of the native vegetation as possible. Ten Mile River. The March 1968 flood is the recent flood of record, with damages centered at industrial areas in Attle- A study of approximately fifteen existing sand and gravel boro and North Attleborough. Based on preliminary re- pits in this planning area indicates that approximately one- gional stream gauge analysis, this storm is rated as a 25- quarter of these operations are creating sediment problems. to 50-year frequency storm; the August 1955 storm was Techniques such as sediment pools, vegetative cover, and second only to the 1968 storm. landclearing during periods of minimum rainfall could eliminate these problems. Preliminary estimates indicate that a recurrence of the March 1968 flood in the Ten Mile River Basin would cause major damages in Attleboro and North Attleborough Tidal Flooding and Coastal Erosion exceeding $1,000,000. Approximately 15 commercial prop- erties, 15 industries, over 100 residences, and at least 20 The Providence coastal area includes portions of four road and bridge locations would suffer damages. Average municipalities - Cranston, Providence, East Providence, annual damages are estimated to be at least $210,000. and Pawtucket - and encompasses the Providence River and its northeastern tidal areas, and the Seekonk River Inland Wetlands (the commonly known name for the tidal portion of the Blackstone River). The shoreline is highly developed and High and medium development pressures in the Providence there are very few critical erosion areas that need protec- and Worcester urban areas, as well as their surrounding sub- tion or preservation. A large number of structures along urban areas can be expected to cause significant increases in the shoreline prevent erosion. Except for two small urban runoff and flood plain development (if not adequately beaches in the southern part of East Providence, the shore- regulated) and result in even greater potential flood damage. line along the Providence and Seekonk Rivers is generally Additional wetlands destruction, especially in the Ten Mile rocky or is protected by bulkheading or rock revetment. and Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck basins, will compound the problem. Wetlands in the planning area total about However, there are some flooding and erosion problems: 26,600 acres, while the flood plain areas (100-year frequency tidal flooding of lands, and destruction of bluffs and storm) total about 39,700 acres. shoreline protective works from hurricane tidal flood waves. Hurricanes are not uncommon to the area, and Although all three river basins have become highly urbanized severe damages were experienced from the hurricanes of in some sections and extensive development has occurred in 1938 and 1954, particularly to the city of Providence. the flood plains, continuing emphasis is needed on preserva- The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier was completed in 1966 tion of the remaining inland wetlands for natural valley stor- at a cost of $15.8 million (including 30 percent local age and other purposes, and on regulation of further develop- participation), and is expected to prevent future tidal flood ment in the flood plains. While non-structural solutions do damages, estimated at $59 million in a recurrence of a tidal not prevent damage to existing flood prone structures, flood flood having a magnitude equal to the August 1954 hurri- plain zoning and preservation of natural valley storage areas cane flood, and $78 million in a recurrence of the record are essential to minimizing future flood losses. tidal flood that accompanied the September 1938 hurricane (1975 estimates). It protects the commercial and industrial Inland Erosion center of the city, extensive transportation facilities, public utilities, business establishments, and many residential In the Massachusetts portion of this planning area, erosion homes. However, in recent years substantial industrial and and sediment problems have been minor. Extensive "sedi- commercial development has occurred in relatively low- ment" deposits in many of the stream-channels, in fact, in- lying areas immediately behind the Providence River water- clude materials which have settled out from sewage discharges front, and at several locations along the Seekonk River. and urban runoff. In the Rhode Island portion of the plan- ning area there are slightly more serious sediment and ero- In addition to the hurricanes, a large number of other sion problems, making the need for municipal sediment and storms occur in the area. These include extratropical erosion control ordinances more pressing in this area. In storms and "northeasters". The planning area is relatively general, erosion problems in this planning area, now through protected from the frequent winter northeasters (because 1990, are expected to center on agricultural cropland and of wind direction), but they can be stalled in the area for 8-2 several days and cause higher tides than normal over a Corps of Engineers for flood control and allied purposes. longer period of time. The purpose of an urban study is to provide federal assist- ance in resolving regional water resource problems, and to th the exception of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, develop alternative plans that may be selected by state and Vfith the exception of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, there are no other federal or state coastal protection proj- local officials as components ofa comprehensive urban area plan. Study elements include urban flood control and ects or beach projects in the planning area. However, a area plan. Study elements include urban flood control and plan that would have provided a reduction in hurricane flood plain management and estuarine flood protection, as plan that would have provided a reduction in hurricane flood levels in the area was published by the Corps of well as municipal and industrial water supply, navigation, flood levels in the area was published by the Corps of in 1966. The report was an interim hurricane water related recreation, and conservation of fish and wild- Engineers in 1966. The report was an interim hurricane i rsuc. Engineers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~life resources. survey of the Narragansett Bay area, including the Mount Hope Bay area, in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It HopeovBa areh c in Rhode Isandgatd M achsetrs The Corps of Engineers is presently studying several struc- provided for the construction of ungated rock barriers acrovo the coneruotions of eac the rs banWers tural flood damage reduction solutions as part of the on- across the lower portions of each of the East and West going PNB flood control study. Improvements under con- Passages to Narragansett Bay, and one across the upper sideration in the Blackstone basin include a multi-purpose end of the Sakonnet River tidal arm, with supplemental reservoir in Burrillville (Nipmuc Reservoir - flood control dikes at low-lying land areas. The plan was designed to and water supply) that would reduce flood damage in reduce the 1938 flood level by 7.7 feet at Providence and Northbridge, Uxbridge, Millville, Blackstone, Cumber- Northbridge, Uxbridge, Millville, Blackstone, Cumber- a proportional amount for hurricane tidal floods of dif- land, Lincoln, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Burrilville, and land, Lincoln, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Burrillville, and ferent magnitudes. The overall project was estimated in North Smithfield. Other improvements under considera- 1966 to cost $90 million. The project was unfavorably tion consist of local protection works in Uxbridge and tion consist of local protection works in Uxbridge and received because of local concern that the barriers would Cumberland and channel modification work, including Cumberland and channel modification work, including be detrimental to navigation and the ecology of the Bay removal or replacement of dams, in Cumberland, Lin- and because of a reluctance on the part of the two states coln, Central Falls, and Pawtucket. to meet the funding share required by the plan. As part of the ongoing PNB study, the Corps of Engineers will In the Woonasquatucket watershed, channel work may be investigate alternative plans of protection at specific dam- required from Olneyville (in Providence) to the confluence age areas. of the Woonasquatucket with the Providence'River, and also in some isolated reaches upstream. In the Moshassuck Only a few tiny pockets of coastal wetlands remain in pro- watershed, a multi-purpose reservoir at Lincoln (flood con- tected coves. There is one wetland of 4.5 acres in Provi-s under consideration and some trol and water supply) is under consideration and some dence and another south of Goose Point on the Seekonk channel work may be required in downstream reaches. River. These wetlands have high value for wildlife and open space; their value as buffers from storm damage has The PNB study will be coordinated with ongoing Public been severely reduced. Emphasis must be placed on pre- Law-566 studies by the U. S. Soil Conservation Service, serving these few remaining coastal wetlands, which have particularly in the Ten Mile and Woonasquatucket- been classified by the Study as "A" resources, having the Moshassuck basins. lowest tolerance for development. PL-566. Two investigations are presently underway in ~~~~~~~Ongoing Programs ~the planning area under authority of PL-566, the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. There are a number of ongoing programs dealing with flood control and flood plain management in the planning area. The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) is studying the possi- Among these are: the National Flood Insurance Program bility of reconstructing a dam on the upper Woonasquatucket of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; River (so that the reservoir could be used for recreational and flood and storm forecasting and warning services of the floodwater storage purposes), and the possibility of construct- National Weather Service;Section 205, of the 1948 Flood ing two tributary floodwater retention structures. In the Control Act as amended, which authorizes the Corps of Moshassuck watershed, SCS is considering construction of Engineers to prepare flood control studies and projects; two small floodwater retention structures in the event that and mapping services of the Corps of Engineers, Soil Con- a multi-purpose reservoir, under consideration at Lincoln by servation Service (in the U. S. Department of Agriculture), the Corps of Engineers for floodwater and water supply stor- and the U. S. Geological Survey. In addition,the following age purposes, is not possible. three major programs, are ongoing in the planning area. Only preliminary planning has been completed on the studies PNB. The Pawcatuck River-Narragansett Bay Drainage concerningthe Blackstone and Woonasquatucket-Moshassuck Basins Q'NB) Urban Study is an expansion of a level C basins; however, more detailed planning has been completed study now in progress by the New England Division of the for the Ten Mile basin. In the Ten Mile River basin, SCS is 8-3 studying the possibility of constructing the Bungay River Flood plains (to the 100-year flood frequency line) have flood control reservoir at an estimated 1974 cost of been classified as "B" resources or management areas which $600,000 and the Manchester Pond diversion at an esti- have very limited tolerance for development, but with mated cost of $1.5 million. The two projects in the Ten proper management are suitable for such compatible activi- Mile basin would control 65 to 85 percent of the contribut- ties as agriculture or recreation. ing drainage area of the Ten Mile River and would reduce damages substantially. In keeping with these resource classifications, it has been recommended that comprehensive flood plain manage- It is estimated that average annual damages to existing de- ment programs be developed which use non-structural velopment of $210,000 would be reduced by at least 80 solutions wherever possible. As discussed in the previous percent. The occurrence of a flood event similar to that section, the ongoing PNB and PL-566 studies together of Mardh 1968 should cause no significant damages in cover this entire planning area, and the Pilgrim Area and Attleboro with the Bungay site structure and the Manches- Rhode Island RC&D projects also add local solutions for ter Pond diversion in operation. flood control, among other priorities. The Bungay project would have a minimum effect on water As discussed more fully in Chapter 8 of the Regional Re- supply because the storage capacity would be low and flood port, an important recent development is Section 73 of flows would be released within 5 to 10 days after a storm. the Water Resources Development Act of 1974, which The proposed Manchester Pond diversion offers possible authorizes federal cost sharing for non-structural mea- water supply augmentation. The existing reservoir capacity sures. Although implementation of Section 73 has presently would be raised, and floodwaters would go through the been deferred by the Office of Management and Budget same treatment as water in the existing reservoir. The Massa- (OMB), application of the cost sharing authority can be chusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering an important factor in making non-structural solutions must approve this project because of the questionable more competitive than they have been. Therefore, these quality of stormwater flows. Because these projects would programs - the PNB, PL-566, and RC&D programs - be part of an overall flood plain management and flood should include careful reconsideration of the extent to protection plan, further study would have to demonstrate which non-structural solutions can be recommended to the appropriateness of the plan before they can be authorized, reduce future flood damages. RC&D. The Soil Conservation Service (in the U. S. De- 1. Develop comprehensive flood plain partment of Agriculture) is conducting two RC&D projects management programs giving priority with a number of state and local sponsoring and cooperating to non-structural measures. In the agencies. The Pilgrim Area Resource Conservation and De- planning area, the Soil Conservation Serv- velopment Program includes the Ten Mile watershed munici- ice, Corps of Engineers, Civil Defense, other palities; the Rhode Island RC&D program covers all Rhode sponsoring and participating agencies, should Island municipalities in the planning area. The plan for the reevaluate the possibility of federal partici- project area is designed to set forth opportunities for eco- pation in implementing a combination of nomic growth resulting from the development, conservation, strong flood plain zoning, wetlands protec- and utilization of the natural resources of the area. Up to tion, floodproofing, relocation, and flood warning 100 percent of technical and construction costs can be made with selected structural measures. available for flood prevention structures and land stabilization. In conjunction with this recommendation, The Solutions ~~~~~~~~The Solutions ~2. Apply structural solutions selectively. The Soil Conservation Service, Corps of A number of options were considered for reducing flooding Engineers, and other spoioring and par- and erosion damages in both inland and tidal portions of the ticipating agencies should consider imple- planning area. These alternative measures are more fully menting a combination of debris removal, discussed in the RegionalReport, Chapter 8. dam removal or coordinated operation, dam removal or coordinated operation, and bridge opening adjustments, together Recommendations with strong non-structural measures as viable alternatives to major structural A major result of the SENE Study has been the classification construction. of the region's resources according to their capability. Critical Environmental Areas include inland and coastal wet- Critical Environmental Areas include inland and coastal wet- Maintenance of existing structures is also part of an overall lands and some have been classifiedc as "A" resources, re- flood plain management program. Growing interest and quiring the greatest degree of protection from development. support of rehabilitating mill dams is being expressed by 8-4 municipal officials and citizen groups (see Chapter 6). Rhode Island (Cumberland, Smithfield, and North Smith- Dam maintenance together with coordinated operation field), should be among the first to implement these two would help to keep the flood retention capacity of mill recommendations. In addition, for forested areas, ponds intact, as well as offer important recreation oppor- tunities. Debris and silt removal on a regular basis will 6. Establish a forestry program. Land- also help to maintain the design effectiveness of existing owners should control forest road erosion structures. by proper road location and stabilization activities such as seeding and ditching. More specifically, and as a condition for future federal financial assistance: In conjunction with these four local actions, 3preventin loadvrs flood plai n zonin 7. Establish local regulations to preventing advere flood p~n de-strengthen flood plain management. velopment. Municipalities should Municipalities should ensure that Al local adopt flood plain zoning to prevent regulations, including building and sani- adverse development in flood prone tary codes, reinforce the intent of the areas (and particularly in the 100-year zoning ordinances recommended above. floodway) as defined under the Na- tional Flood Insurance Program. Together with a zoning program, Communities can strengthen local flood plain regulations S . Acquire key flood plains and wet- by incorporating soils information, inland and coastal wet- lands. Municipalities and state agencies lands, eroding areas, and storms of record on the map upon should investigate continuing possibilities which the zoning is based. All related regulations - building to acquire those wetlands and flood plain codes, subdivision regulations, sanitary codes - should rein- areas most significant for flood damage force this policy of preventing adverse development and re- reduction and protection, and which have development in the I100-year flood plain. The regulations water supply, wildlife and/or recreation should also take advantage of the restrictive provisions of values. state wetlands regulations, scenic rivers programs, and the like. Particular emphasis should be given to protection of Relatd toloca zonng ae tworecomendtion forcon-areas classified as unique natural areas and those located Relaed t locl zningare wo rcomendaionsfor on-in areas subject to high and medium-high development trolling local sedimentation and inland erosion problems. pressure. More specific actions regarding wetlands pro- tection are included in Chapter 8 of the Regional Report. 4. Establish local sediment and erosion Protection of wetlands and flood plains is also expected control ordinances. Municipalities, as- to help existing structural flood protection projects do sisted by the U.S. Department of Agricul- their job by keeping flood flows to within the design ture and the Executive Office of Environ- capacity of the existing dams, channels, etc. mental Affairs in Massachusetts and the Department of Natural Resources in Rhode In built-up and heavily used areas, alternative locations out- Island, should establish local sediment side the flood plain may not be feasible. Therefore: and erosion control ordinances. 9. Locate in existing safe buildings in A model for such ordinances is included in the more detailed the flood plain. Where location outside information prepared for the Study and available at NERBC. the flood plain is not feasible, municipali- ties should encourage private interests to 5. Establish forest buffer zones. Munici- locate in existing safe buildings in the palities should establish appropriate forest flood plain, and regulate new construc- buffer zones within 200 feet of streams tion in the flood plain. and lakes to preserve vegetation and main- tain natural systems through forestry tech- Floodproofing, especially of existing buildings, is particu- niques to help keep non-point source pol- larly appropriate where only moderate flooding is expected, lutants from reaching sensitive water where other types of flood protection are not feasible, or quality areas. where activities on waterfront location need some degree of protection. Improved and expanded storm and flood fore- Towns with existing high and medium-high development casting and warning services, recommended in Chapter 8 pressure (see Chapter 3, Guiding Growth), particularly in of the Regional Report, will also be important in keeping 8-5 down future damage costs. on Guiding Growth, so that protecting A and B Critical Environmental Areas, which include wetlands and flood Implications plains, from inappropriate use need not be incompatible with a growing economy. In fact, a policy of resource This approach is a good deal more restrictive than the protection and non-structural solutions is regarded as a National Flood Insurance Program requires. But it does significant step toward protecting the physical beauty of make full recognition of resource limitations and natural the region's landscape, which is expected to be in the functions of wetlands and flood plain areas. Rhe SENE long-term interest of the SENE region, while at the same Study has found that all new development can be accom- time reducing overall public investment in after-the-fact modated on C, F, and G lands as discussed in the chapter protection measures. 8-6 CHAPTER 9 LOCATING KEY FACILITIES i" One of the most difficult subjects to grapple with at the However, the Study has identified many of this planning local level is the siting and operation of such key facili- area's communities as being under considerable development ties as power plants, sand and gravel pits, petroleum refin- pressure, and this fact, combined with an increasingly restric- ing, distribution and storage sites,, and solid waste disposal. tive attitude toward extraction, could significantly reduce the Bluntly stated, they are unwelcome neighbors. At the number of developable sand and gravel deposits in the mid- same time, however, few people are willing to live with term future. the consequences of not having enough of the vital products or services provided by these operations. The Zoning ordinances and bylaws control "earth removal" to situation is further complicated by increasing competition some extent in all area towns except Worcester, Massachu- from other potential users of the sites which can be con- setts. Mining is permitted by "special exception" in specific sidered for key facilities. sections of Pawtucket, Woonsocket, and North Smithfield, Rhode Island. Otherwise, procedures exist in most towns Neither power nor petroleum facilities appear to be critical specifying operating and post operating requirements. The issues, either now or in the immediate future, in most of most common procedures include permit application and this planning area. However, issues involving the Port of fees, time limits on permits, and almost universally nominal Providence, technically within this planning area, are permit violation fines. The town of Millville, Massachusetts covered in Chapters 7 and 9 of the Narragansett Bay requires a $1,000 performance bond, and Plainville, Massa- PlanningArea Report. Solid waste management and re- chusetts requires annual progress reports with detailed covery programs are underway in both states and should topographic maps from mineral extraction operators. receive widespread community support. However, be- cause the three basins in this planning area are major While operating under these rather variable restrictions is suppliers of construction aggregate to the region, the doubtless quite easy, getting permits, according to opera- regulation of sand and gravel extraction operations is of tors, is another thing altogether. Towns are frankly reluc- special concern. tant to permit mining operation for fairly obvious reasons. Traditionally, sand and gravel pits have been ugly, dirty, SAND AND GRAVEL noisy operations causing significant traffic congestion and hazard, and often decreasing land values in adjacent areas. EXTRACTION At the same time, however, construction aggregate is vital Processing plants in the planning area produced 3.25 mil- to our way of life, and for the foreseeable future, at least, lion tons of sand and gravel in 1970, valued at $4.4 million. alternative sources and technologies appear impractical and Plants were located at Auburn, Grafton, Millbury (2), highly uneconomical. Importation of construction material Sutton (2), Uxbridge, Attleboro, and North Attleborough, from out-of-basin sources is prohibitively expensive and Massachusetts; Cumberland (2), North Smithfield (3), serves only to dump the problem into someone else's lap. Johnston, Smithfield (2), and Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Alternative building materials do not yet exist, and the Most producers obtained material from sites within a few economic feasibility of offshore mining has not yet been miles of the plant, and Blackstone basin operators indicated established. that they have undeveloped reserves of sand and gravel at additional sites. Recognizing that the planning area, already the prime pro- ducer in the region, will likely continue to produce con- In addition, quantities of crushed stone are produced at struction aggregate, the Study urges that the recommenda- Wrentham, Massachusetts and Lincoln, Rhode Island. Shale tions outlined in Chapter 9 of the Regional Report be im- is mined in Plainville, Massachusetts for use in manufacture plemented by both states in this area. Such a program of lightweight aggregate. However, while total reserves of would provide for state-established operating standards sand and gravel for the Rhode Island section of the planning under a local land use approval system, provide a standard area are known (19 million cubic yards or 28.5 million permitting procedure for all extraction activities and guar- short tons), figures do not exist for the Massachusetts por- antee site reclamation, and call for a minerals survey for tion of the planning area. Nevertheless, with proper man- the Massachusetts portion of the area. agement, the planning area should be able to continue to produce at current levels through 1990. 9-1 Representatives of Contributing State And Federal Agencies FEDERAL-STATE RHODE ISLAND Department of Transportation Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program Federal Highway Administration: Stanley R. Daniel W. Varin, Chief**; Patrick V. Fingliss*; Lou Davis**; Charles L. O'Donnell** (to October 1975). New England River Basins Commission David. U.S. Coast Guard: Capt. Bernard Thompson* (to R. Frank Gregg, Chairman**; Robert D. October 1973); Capt. Alvin P. Durgin, Jr.* (October Brown, Staff Director** Southeastern New Coastal Zone Management Program 1973 to August 1974); Cdr. C. R. Lindquist* (to England Study Staff: Robert Kasvinsky, Coastal Resources Management Council: February 1974); Capt. Royal E. Grover, Jr.* Study Manager*; Jane F. Carlson; Cornelia John Lyons, Chairman. February 1974); Capt. Royal E. Grover, Jr.* (as V. H. Ferber; Alan Jacobs; Ernesta Kracke; Coaugustal 1974); Resources Center Stuart . Hale; Mal-P. Stewart** as James Luty; William Mahoney; Priscilla colm Grant. of October 1975). Newbury; William E. Nothdurft; William Water Resources Board: Robert Russ**; Peter Environmental Protection Agency E. Richardson; Philip Tabas. Calese*. Water Quality Branch; Walter Newman, Chief**; Roger Duwart*; Clyde Shufelt*. New England Regional Commission CONNECTICUT Water Supply Branch: Jerome Healey*; Stephen Department of Environmental Protection Lathrop*; Alma Rojas* (to February 1974). Thomas Fitzpatrick**; Tirath Gupta* (consultant); Joseph Gill, Commissioner**; Robert B. Taylor, Di- Department of the Interior Robert Bogen*. rector* of Water Compliance. Roger Sumner Babb** (as of December 1974); Mark MASSACHUSETTS FEDERAL Abelson** (to June 1973); Kenneth Young** (to Executive Office of Environmental Affairs May 1974); William Patterson** (as of September Dr. Evelyn Murphy, Secretary** Department of Agriculture 1974); Robert B. Ryder* (as of May 1975). Soil Conservation Service: Dr. Benjamin Isgur**; Bureau of Mines: Robert D. Thompson*; Joseph Coastal Zone Management Program Philip H. Christensen**; Stephen Claughton*. Krickich* (to March 1974); Peter Morey* (as of Matthew Connolly**; Dan Calano*. Economic Research Service: John Green*. March 1974). Department of Environmental Management Forest Service: Kenneth Johnson**; Sam Becker* Bureau of Outdoor Recreation: James Donoghue* (formerly Department of Natural Resources) (to December 1973); Neil Lamson* (to March 1974); (to March 1973); Eric Finstick* (to September 1974); Arthur W. Brownell, Commissioner** (to February Douglas Monteith* (as of March 1974). Alan Hutchings* (as of September 1974); Earl 1975); Dr. Bette Woody, Commissioner** (as of Department of Commerce Nichols (as of September 1974). June 1975). National Weather Service: Norman L. Canfield** Fish and Wildlife Service: Melvin Evans**; Roy Division of Water Resources: Charles Kennedy**; (to September 1975); Albert Kachic**; Joseph I. Landstrom*; Dewey Castor; Dave Ferguson; Fred Emerson Chandler* (as of June 1974); Clinton Wat- Brumbak. Benson; Tom Oliver. son* (to June 1974). National Marine Fisheries Services: Russell T. National Park Service: David Clark**; David Kim- Water Resources Commission: Robert E. Laut- Norriss**; Christopher Mantzaris*. ball; Richard Giamberdine. zenheiser. Bureau of Economic Analysis: Henry DeGraff; University of Massachusetts (consultants for Department of Community Affairs - Gene Janisch. NPS): Ervin Zube; Julius Gy Fabos; R. Jeffrey Riot- Maritime Administration: William S. Cham- te*. Lewis S. W. Crampton, Commissioner** (to Feb Maritme Administration: William S. Cham- te*. r1DLewis SWCaToCmisnerry * tFb . bers**; Robert L. Safarik. U.S. Geological Survey: Michael Frimptert ruary 1975); David Terry*. Resources Management Policy Council Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Federal Power Commission Vincent Ciampa. Corps of Engineers Martin Inwald*; Jonas Barish*. Planning Division: Joseph Ignazio, Chief** (to June Department of Environmental Quality Engineer- 1974). ing Policy and Long Range Planning Branch: Law- ** Policy level Coordinating Group Division of Environmental Health (formerly De- rence Bergen, Chief"**; (As of June 1974); John * Technical level Study Management Team partment of Public Health): George Coogan. Landall*; Gardner Blodgett*; Paul Pronovost. Division of Water Pollution Control: Tom Mac- Plan Formulation Branch: Steven Onysko Mahon**; Dick Young*; Al Cooperman*. Coastal Development Branch: Harvey Minsky Department of Housing and Urban Development David Prescott** (to September 1974); Sheldon Gil- bert** (as of September 1974); JGA/Wallace, Floyd, Ellenzweig* (consultants). REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND Merrimack Valley Regional Planning Commis- REGIONAL SCIENTIFIC TASK FORCE sion Gordon Abbott, Milton, Ma.; Dr. Daniel Aldrich III, Margaret Concannon; Stephen Aradas North Dartmouth, Ma.; Nancy Anderson, Reading, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (also HUD, Ma.; Arhur Barnes; West Newton, Ma.; Gerald SENE Study Consultants) Beals, Easton, Ma.; Leo Bouchard, Smithfield, R.I.; James Miller; Lawrence Brennan; Bob Joseph (to Prof. Derek Bradford, Providence, R.I.; Jack Con- May 1974). way, Hanover, Ma.; John Davis, Pawcatuck, Conn.; Peter Donovan*, Brighton, Ma.; Charles E. Downe, Old Colony Planning Council West Newton, Ma.; Dr. Madge Ertel, Amherst, Ma.; Daniel Crane; Robert McMahon. Dennis Ducsik, Cambridge, Ma.; Michael Everett*, Cape Cod Planning and Economic Development Providence, R.I.; Dr. John W. Farrington, Woods Commission Hole, Ma.; Barbara Fegan, Chairman, South Robert Robes; Paul Doane. Wellfleet, Ma.; Michael Frucci, Hyannis, Ma.; Dr. Frederick Glantz, Boston, Ma.; William Graves, Dukes County Planning and Economic Develop- Raynham, Ma.; Rolf Hardy, Boston, Ma.; Robert A. ment Commission Harpell, Cumberland, R.I.; Alfred Hawkes, Provi- Robert Komives. dence, R.I.; Paul Hicks, Providence, R.I.; Dorothy Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Hunnewell, Wellesley, Ma.; Nancy Hustvedt, Commission Woburn, Ma.; John Kellam, Providence, R.I.;Walter William R. Klein. Kelly, Waltham, Ma.; Dr. Bostwick Ketchum*, Woods Hole, Ma.; Paul Klotz, Westerly, R.I.; Ken Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Com- Lagerquist, Seekonk, Ma.; Maurice Leduc, Coven- mission try, R.I.; Frank Lee, Boston, Ma.; Elwood Leonard, David H. Kellogg; James Arnold. Ashton, R.I.; Glenn McNary, North Falmouth, Ma.; Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Dr. Sanford Moss, Westport, Ma.; Herbert Nicker- Development District son, Gloucester, Ma.; Ed Plumley, Westboro, Ma.; William Toole; Eric Savolainen; Steven Smith; Spencer Potter, Jamestown, R.I.; Ted Prall, Boston, Alexander Zaleski. Ma.; Martha Reardon, Quincy, Ma.; James Rogers, Southeastern Connecticut Regional Planning Lexington, Ma.; Dr. Neils Rorholm*, Kingston, Agency R.I.; Neil Ross, Kingston, R.I.; John T. Scanlon, East Greenwich, R.I.; Dr. William Seiferl*, Cam- Richard B. Erickson bridge, Ma.; Roland Sherman (to May 1975), Wor- CONSULTANTS (not otherwise shown) cester, Ma.; Barbara Sjoberg, Pawtucket, R.I.; Frederick Smith*, Cambridge, Ma.; Reed Stewart, Urban Waters Special Study Marshfield Hills, Ma.; Merlin Szosz, Foster, R.I.; Dr. Clarence Tarzwell*, Wakefield, R.I.; Marshall Economic Analysis Taylor, West Somerville, Ma.; Jens Thornton, Quin- Nathaniel Clapp, Barry C. Field; John M. Gates; cy, Ma.; Bruce Tripp, Woods Hole, Ma.; Ivan Valie- Thomas Grigalunas; J. G. Sutinen; Gregory A. Vaut. la, Woods Hole, Ma.; Thomas Weaver, Kingston, Legal and Institutional Analysis *RSTF Member Thomas Arnold; Morton Gorden, Development Sci- ences, Inc.; Frances X. Cameron, Interface; Edward R. Kaynor; Edward Selig. Planning Analysis William V. McGuinness, Jr.; Robert Gidez and Paul Merkens, Intasa; Harry Schwartz. Public Participation Survey Research Program; Stephen Logowitz.