DCR Watershed Plans

View the plans used to protect the drinking water supply for 3.1 million people in the greater Boston area.

DCR is continuously planning to maintain the superior water quality in the Quabbin Reservoir, Ware River, and Wachusett Reservoir watersheds.  DCR is also responsible for the emergency water supply from the Sudbury and Foss Reservoirs.

There are three critical components to the planning process for each watershed in the DCR/MWRA Water Supply System:

1. Public Access Plan -  describes the management policies that allow people to recreate on DWSP lands while still protecting water quality.
2. Land Management Plan - a thorough description of the watershed’s physical features, the natural resources on DWSP property, and the variety of techniques used by the agency to enhance water quality, including land protection and forest and wildlife management.
3. Watershed Protection Plan - takes information from the Public Access Plan and Land Management Plan and integrates water monitoring findings and other studies to create an action plan that is the basis for an annual Work Plan and budget.

There are also other plans and reports that aid in developing each of these plans.

DCR Watershed Management Planning Fact Sheet

Annual Work Plan

Current Work Plan

FY2024 DCR Watershed Management Work Plan

Past Work Plans

• FY2023 DCR Watershed Management Work Plan
• FY2022 DCR Watershed Management Work Plan
• FY2021 DCR Watershed Management Work Plan
• FY2020 DCR Watershed Management Work Plan
• FY2019 DCR Watershed Management Work Plan

Final Reports

• FY2023 Watershed Management Annual Work Plan Final Report
• FY2022 Watershed Management Annual Work Plan Final Report
• FY2021 Watershed Management Annual Work Plan Final Report
• FY2020 Watershed Management Annual Work Plan Final Report
• FY2019 Watershed Management Annual Work Plan Final Report

Watershed Protection Plan

DCR Watershed Protection Plan FY24-FY28

Past plans:

• DCR Watershed Protection Plan FY19-FY23 
• DWSP Watershed Protection Plan Achievements from 2014 to 2018 - an ArcGIS Story Map

Public Access Management Plans

Quabbin Reservoir Watershed System Public Access Management Plan Update (2018)

Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan Update (2023)
September 2023: Update to Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan is complete.

Wachusett Reservoir Watershed Public Access Plan Update (2023) 
 

Sudbury and Foss Reservoirs Public Access Plan 2022 Update

Land Management Plans

2017 Land Management Plan
A comprehensive plan that covers the Quabbin Reservoir, Ware River, Wachusett Reservoir, and Sudbury Reservoir watersheds.

Previous Land Management Plans
The 2017 Land Management Plan references previous editions of each respective watershed's Land Management Plans:

• Quabbin Reservoir Land Management Plan (2007)
• Ware River Land Management Plan (2003)
• Wachusett Reservoir Land Management Plan (2001)
• Sudbury Reservoir Watershed Land Management Plan (2005)

Invasive Species

Aquatic Invasive Species Assessment and Management Plan (2010)

Wachusett Aquatic Invasive Species Update (2016)

Terrestrial Invasive Plants: Problem Statement and Management Strategy (2011)

Other Plans

Quabbin Park Cemetery Management Plan

Plan Update Completed - Ware River Access Plan

September 2023: Update to Ware River Watershed Management Access Plan completed.

• 9/13/23 Ware River Watershed Advisory Committee Meeting
• Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan WRWAC Meeting Presentation 9/13/2023
• Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan Summary of Public Comments and Agency Response
• Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan Update (2023)

Fall 2022: Covid-19 and other issues have created a delay.  Steps now in process to complete update.

• Revised Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan Frequently Asked Questions

• 2022 Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan November 2022 Draft

• Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan Meeting Notice 2022-11-29

• 11/29/2022 Public Meeting at Quabbin Regional High School
• Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan Meeting Presentation 11/29/2022

• The deadline for public comment has been extended from December 18, 2022 to February 28, 2023 and can be provided in writing at https://www.mass.gov/forms/dcr-public-comments. 

Fall 2018: Update to Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan is now in process.

• Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan Frequently Asked Questions

• Ware River Watershed System (map)

• Draft Watershed Management Principles for Public Access in the Ware River Watershed
   
• Public Engagement Plan for Update of the Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan
   
• Summary of Key Points and Next Steps for the Ware River Watershed Public Acces Management Plan Update from 9/13/18 WRWAC Meeting

Information also available on Ware River Watershed Advisory Committee page.