Low Flow Inventory

Taunton River Basin

Observations

The Nemasket River headwaters in Middleborough dried in 1997, presumably as a result of water management activities within the subwatershed (3).

Suspected Causes

Several streams in the Taunton River watershed were identified in the USGS Water Resources Investigations Report #99-4006 as sites where “…streamflow statistics could not be estimated... because flow regulations, water withdrawals, or diversions caused poor correlation between the measured flow for the LFPR [low flow partial record] station and daily mean flows for nearby gaging stations” (Ries, 1999; p. 9):

• Trout Brook at Brockton,
• Poor Meadow Brook at South Hanson,
• Robbins Pond Outlet near East Bridgewater,
• Queset Brook at North Easton,
• and Rumford River at East Foxboro.

Although the reasons for the lack of correlation with nearby streams were not explored further, these sites deserve further investigation for streamflow and low flow issues. While many of the nearby streams also have water withdrawals and/or dams on them, they still have a more natural stream flow regime (4).

Water Withdrawals The Segreganset River near Dighton and the Wading River at Mansfield are in DEM’s “high stress” category based on their low discharge per square mile of watershed (cfsm) compared to other rivers in the state (1).

Several observers have noted that the Canoe River below the Newlands Street bridge in Norton has severe low flow problems near the Town of Norton’s Well #3 (see Consequences: Aquatic Flora and Fauna, below) (2).

Stump Brook in Halifax also has recurring low flow problems due to the diversion of water from Monponsett Pond, Stump Brook's source, to Silver Lake in Kingston, which supplies the City of Brockton with drinking water. No flow was visible in Stump Brook during a field visit on February 26, 2002 when water was being diverted from Monponsett Pond to Silver Lake (7).

Consequences

Aquatic Flora and Fauna Severely reduced stream flow on the Canoe River in Norton resulted in extremely warm water and freshwater mussel kills near the Norton Town Well downstream of the Newlands Street bridge. Observers noted dead mussels and many mussel tracks indicating that the mussels were stressed by the low flow and high temperature conditions, although the streambed substrate appeared to be good habitat for mussels if streamflow were adequate (2). This site has in the past harbored several listed freshwater mussel species including the Triangle Floater (Alasmidonta undulata), Eastern Pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta), and Dwarf Wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) (3). About 100 yards downstream from this site, the stream flow increased again and the water temperature cooled, indicating that baseflow or groundwater recharge of the stream was occurring (2).

While surveying for anadromous fishes in the Taunton River watershed, staff from the Division of Marine Fisheries observed a surprising number of tributaries dry for unknown reasons during the summer of 2002 (8):

• Muddy Cove Brook at Hart St. in Dighton
• Fall Brook at Glebe St. in Taunton
• Sally Richmond Brook at Main St. in Dighton; and
• an unnamed tributary of the Taunton River at Hill St. in Raynham

Obviously, none of these streams was providing habitat for its native, resident or anadromous fish population.

References & Resources

1. Stressed Basins in Massachusetts. Final draft, OWR version 3. 12/01.
2. Pat Huckery. MA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Personal communication, March 2002.
3. Brian Reid. Personal communication, February 2002.
4. Ries, Kernell G. 1999. Streamflow Measurements, Basin Characteristics, and Streamflow Statistics for Low-Flow Partial-Record Stations Operated in Massachusetts from 1989 Through 1996. Water Resources Investigation Report 99-4006.
5. USGS real-time stream gage data for the Taunton River near Bridgewater.
6. USGS real-time stream gage data for the Wading River near Norton.
7. Kearns, Margaret. MA Riverways Programs. Site visit with the Jones River Watershed Association, February 26, 2002.
8. fish sampling data received from Steve Hurley, MA Division of Marine Fisheries, June 3, 2004.