2001 water quality assessment report

Biology

MDFW regularly stocks salmon fry and trout in the Swift River.
MDFW conducted fish population sampling in the Swift River near Spruce Corner Road in Goshen using a backpack shocking unit in September 2001 (Station 487, Richards 2003). A total of six fish species collected, in order of abundance, were blacknosed dace, Atlantic salmon (multiple age classes), longnosed dace, brook trout (multiple age classes), common shiner and white sucker. These species are all fluvial specialists/dependants. In addition, the presence of two intolerant species is indicative of excellent water and habitat quality.
The Aquatic Life Use is assessed as support based on the fish community data and best professional judgment. The presence of multiple year age classes of reproducing brook trout is indicative of high quality cold water.

Primary Contact and Secondary Contact RECREATION

DWM collected fecal coliform bacteria samples from the Swift River from the Route 9/112 bridge, Cummington (Station SWFT00.2) in May and August as part of the 1996 Westfield River Watershed monitoring survey (Appendix G, Table G4).
Too limited and no recent water quality data are available so the Recreational uses for Swift River are currently not assessed.
Swift River (MA32-12) Use Summary Table

Aquatic Life	Fish Consumption	Primary Contact	Secondary Contact	Aesthetics
SUPPORT	Not Assessed	Not Assessed	Not Assessed	Not Assessed

Recommendations sWIFT RIVER (ma32-12)

• 
  Long-term monitoring of fish populations in the Swift River would be valuable to investigate possible impact of salmon stocking on reproducing wild trout populations.
  

• 
  The Swift River should be considered for designation as a Cold Water Fishery in the next revision of the Massachusetts SWQS.
  

• 
  Conduct bacteria monitoring to assess the Primary and Secondary Contact Recreational uses.
  

West Falls Branch (Segment MA32-13)

(Formerly identified by the Massachusetts Stream Classification Program as West Branch)

L

ocation: Headwaters at confluence of Bronson Brook and an unnamed tributary near intersection of Dingle Road and Route 143, Worthington to confluence with Westfield River near the village of West Chesterfield, Chesterfield.

Segment Length: 2.8 miles

Classification: Class B
The drainage area of this segment is approximately 12 square miles. Land-use estimates (top 3, excluding water) for the subwatershed (map inset, gray shaded area):

Forest 83%

Agriculture 11%

Residential 3%

The impervious cover area for the individual sub-basins located in this segment is 1.4%, thereby classifying this subwatershed as a low threat to water quality from impervious surface water runoff (CWP 1998).
The West Falls Branch is formed by the confluence of Bronson Brook and an unnamed tributary north of the village of Worthington Corners in Worthington. The West Falls Branch flows southeast through a narrow steep valley with little development before joining the Westfield River in the Village of West Chesterfield in the town of Chesterfield.
Based on the last evaluation of water quality conditions the West Falls Branch (identified as West Branch) is listed in Category 3 of the 2002 Integrated List of Waters (MA DEP 2003a). This segment was not assessed for any uses.
MDFW has proposed that West Falls Branch and the following tributaries: Bronson Brook, Steven Brook, Childs Brook, Kearney Brook, be listed in the next revision of the SWQS as cold water fisheries (MDFW 2003). MDFW regularly stocks trout in West Falls Branch.

Wma water withdrawal and npdes wastewater discharge Summary

Based on the available information there are no WMA regulated water withdrawals or NPDES regulated surface wastewater discharges in this subwatershed.

Use Assessment

Primary Contact and Secondary Contact RECREATION

DWM collected a fecal coliform bacteria sample from the West Falls Branch near Ireland Street, south of West Chesterfield on the way to Chesterfield Gorge (Station WBWC00.1) in August as part of the 1996 Westfield River Watershed monitoring survey (Appendix G, Table G4).
No recent water quality data are available so all uses for West Falls Branch are currently not assessed.
West Falls Branch (MA32-13) Use Summary Table

Aquatic Life	Fish Consumption	Primary Contact	Secondary Contact	Aesthetics
Not Assessed