Current Status and Issues in the Willimantic River Watershed

Background

During the last century, much has been learned about how to protect water quality. At a result, the river and its tributaries have returned to a healthier state. Dyes from textile mills no longer turn the river's water different colors, and wastewater treatment has been upgraded to modern standards in municipal plants at Stafford and Coventry, and also at the University of Connecticut's Storrs campus. Critical water issues remain, including protection of water quality and adequate stream flow in tributary streams and the river.

Water Quality

Possible threats to water quality include treated wastewater effluent from industries and sewage treatment plants. Less obvious threats include erosion from farmland and construction sites, stormwater runoff from an increasing number of streets, buildings and parking lots in the watershed, and the removal of streamside wetlands and vegetation that absorb sediments, fertilizers and other pollutants before they reach the water.

Current Status

The Ct. Department of Energy & Environmental Protection issues an Integrated Water Quality Report to Congress every two years. The 2010 report (released in May, 2011) has a new classification for the Willimantic River and its tributaries. Water quality definitions and categories are explained in Ct. DEEP's Summary of the Water Quality Standards and Classifications.

Projects

Projects to improve water quality are listed in a DEEP report. UConn's Center for Land Use Research (CLEAR) offers a look at Low Impact Design (LID) projects that improve stormwater management in Connecticut.

Streamflow

Adequate water depth and flow rate are important for survival of life in the river. The amount of streamflow can be impacted by withdrawals of water from the river or from sand and gravel aquifers underlying the river corridor. Currently, UConn's Storrs campus and the Town of Tolland have wells in aquifers next to the river. After droughts in the 2005-2010 period, streamflow standards were determined for the UConn wells, and conservation measures are required if the flow falls below an adequate level for a specified period of time. The Ct. Department of Energy & Environmental Protection is developing statewide streamflow standards in new regulations. DEEP issues updates about streamflow regulations.

Aquifer Protection

Currently, under the CT DEEP's Aquifer Protection Program, the state has designated a number of Level A and Level B Aquifer Protection Areas within the Willimantic River watershed. These areas contain high yielding public water supply wells in stratified drift areas, such as the University of Connecticut wells in Mansfield. DEEP also offers information about the status of this program.

Willimantic River Streamwalk

The Willimantic River Streamwalk project is a first step to identify strategies to conserve and protect water quality and quantity in the Willimantic River Watershed. The first Streamwalk along the Willimantic River and many of its tributaries was in the summer of 2000. Volunteers were trained to gather information by walking along the bank, in the stream/river, or by canoe and visually observing specific features. The data collected included average width of riparian vegetation, type of streambank vegetation, type of substrate material, average water depth, and average stream width. Volunteers also noted sites with problems, such as erosion or algae.

ECCD Streamwalk Project

The Eastern Connecticut Conservation District (ECCD) compiled an initial report in 2002 from the Streamwalk data. As a follow up, in the fall of 2005, ECCD staff began assessing this data and designing action plans to address water quality problems. They toured the upper watershed including Furnace Brook and Middle Brook. In late May and early June of 2006, they surveyed the river?s main stem looking for locations of concern noted during the 2000 Streamwalk and evaluated the original Streamwalk data. They then met with town representatives to discuss potential ways to address problem areas and to offer assistance with finding solutions.

Streamwalk Results

Overall, the river and most of its tributaries were found to be in good health. Specific areas of potential concern included flood debris along the upper river from the October, 2005 flood event, erosion and stormwater impacts at several sites, and the need for protective buffers of vegetation. The Streamwalk data is a set of snapshots taken during 2000 and 2005-6 of specific parts of the river and its tributaries. It is not a comprehensive list of locations of concern in the watershed. Some areas still need to be visited for an initial assessment. Known areas of concern will continue to need monitoring. The ECCD report Action Plans for the Willimantic River Basin, provides more information about the Streamwalk project and its recommendations.