Why No Dogs on Water Supply Protection Lands?
One gram of dog waste has about 23 million fecal bacteria. Harmful bacteria can cause disease and contaminate the drinking water supply.
While the open space surrounding Quabbin, Wachusett, and Sudbury Reservoirs may seem like a good place to walk a dog, it is not allowed by DCR's Watershed Protection Regulations. The land surrounding the reservoirs protects the drinking water supply for over 3 million people. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites found in dog waste can survive for a long time when left on the ground- even after it's picked up. During the next rainfall, this waste can get washed into the water supply!
What About Wildlife?
Dogs eat processed food and their waste includes material that is not natural for the environment. Wildlife eat what is already found in nature and return it to the ecosystem through their waste.
Service and medical support animals, when acting within their service capacity, are welcome on DCR Water Supply Protection land.
Thank you for being a good steward and taking your pet to properties that allow dogs.
Additional Resources
Around the Wachusett Reservoir Watershed
Berlin
Boylston
Bolton
- Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area
388 Still River Road, Bolton, MA 01740 - Bowers Springs
44 Flanagan Road, Bolton, MA 01740
Clinton
Holden
- Trout Brook Recreation Area
Manning Street, Holden, MA 01522 - Holden Town Forest
Harris Street, Holden, MA 01520
Note: From Bullard Street, drive north on Harris Street until you see a parking area.
Leominster
- Leominster State Forest
- Rocky Pond Trailhead, Rocky Pond Road, Princeton, MA 01541
- Crow Hill Trailhead, 1 Fitchburg Road, Westminster, MA 01473
- Elm Trailhead, 1022-992 Elm Street, Leominster, MA 01453
Paxton
- Moore State Park
1 Sawmill Road, Paxton, MA 01612 - The Cascades Boynton Park
50 Boynton Parkway, Paxton, MA 01612
Princeton
West Boylston
- Mass Central Rail Trail
155-199 Thomas St, West Boylston, MA 01583
Note: Dogs are allowed only in the parking lot, path to MCRT, and on the MCRT up to the I-190 overpass. The paved MCRT in this area is owned by the Town of West Boylston and allows dogs; the surrounding land is owned by DCR-DWSP and does not allow dogs.
Worcester
Additional Resources
Around the Quabbin Reservoir Watershed
Belchertown
- Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area
341 East Street, Belchertown, MA 01007 - Mass Central Rail Trail, Norwottuk Branch
Warren Wright Road, Belchertown, MA 01007 - Scarborough Brook Conservation Area
470 Gulf Road, Belchertown, MA, 01007
Petersham
- Harvard Forest – Fisher Museum (parking for trail access)
324 North Main Street, Petersham, MA 01366 - Swift River Reservation
Ware
West Brookfield
Additional Resources
Around the Ware River Watershed
DCR-DWSP allows dogs on most of its property in the Ware River Watershed. Please see some suggestions below for locations with parking and easy access.
Barre
- Barre Falls Dam (US Army Corps of Engineers)
Coldbrook Road, Barre, MA 01005 - Ware River Rail Trail – Route 62 and Granger Road Parking
964 Hubbardston Road, Barre, MA 01005
Rutland
- Rutland State Park
49 Whitehall Road, Rutland, MA 01543 - Mass Central Rail Trail
- Mass Central Rail Trail Parking, Option 1
Whitehall Road, Rutland, MA 01543 - Mass Central Rail Trail Parking, Option 2
Route 122, Rutland, MA 01543
- Mass Central Rail Trail Parking, Option 1
Additional Resources
Around the Sudbury Reservoir Watershed
Ashland
Framingham
Hopkinton
- Hopkinton State Park
164 Cedar Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748 - Whitehall State Park
300 Wood Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748
Marlborough
Northborough
- Mt. Pisgah Conservation Area
23 Smith Road, Northborough, MA 01532 - Edmund Hill Woods
Rice Ave, Northborough, MA 01532