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Page 1: NASHAWANNUCK POND WATERSHED …NASHAWANNUCK POND WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECT ... Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection ... recreational and aesthetic value to the
Page 2: NASHAWANNUCK POND WATERSHED …NASHAWANNUCK POND WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECT ... Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection ... recreational and aesthetic value to the

NASHAWANNUCK POND WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECT

Project No. 1998-05/319

Prepared byPioneer Valley Planning Commission with the

Nashawannuck Pond Restoration Project Advisory Committee

Prepared for:

Massachusetts Department of Environmental ProtectionBureau of Resource Protection

And

U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyRegion I

Massachusetts Office of Environmental AffairsRobert Durand, Secretary

Department of Environmental ProtectionLauren A. Liss, Commissioner

Bureau of Resource ProtectionGlenn Haas, Acting Administrator

Division of Municipal ServicesSteven McCurdy, Acting Director

Division of Watershed ManagementDavid Terry, Acting Director

This project has been financed with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to theMassachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (the Department) under a s. 319 Competitive Grant.

The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of EPA or of the Department, nor does the mention of tradenames or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

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Table Of Contents

Section One: Introduction ........................................................................................................ 11.1 Project Description ....................................................................................................... 11.2 Project Work Program .................................................................................................... 31.3 Project Finances ............................................................................................................ 41.4 The Planning Process ..................................................................................................... 4

Section Two: Pollution Issues Facing Nashawannuck Pond...................................................... 52.1 Nutrients ........................................................................................................................ 52.2 Herbicides, Pesticides .................................................................................................. 62.3 Stormwater Runoff ........................................................................................................ 6

Section Three: Selected BMPs .................................................................................................. 73.1 Minimize Fertilizer Use .................................................................................................. 73.2 Reduce the Use of Pesticides, Herbicides and Insecticides ........................................ 73.3 Maintain Slope Stability ................................................................................................ 73.4 Minimize Impermeable Surfaces .................................................................................. 73.5 Use Low Maintenance Landscaping Techniques .......................................................... 73.6 Control Stormwater Runoff On-Site .............................................................................. 7

Section Four: Demonstration Sites/Community Education ....................................................... 94.1 Information/Outreach Sessions ..................................................................................... 94.2 Demonstration Sites .................................................................................................... 104.3 Watershed Management Brochure .............................................................................. 12

Section Five: Bank Stabilization .............................................................................................. 135.1 Area 1 .......................................................................................................................... 135.2 Area 2 .......................................................................................................................... 145.3 Area 3 .......................................................................................................................... 145.4 Area 4 .......................................................................................................................... 145.5 Quality Assurance Project Plan ................................................................................... 14

Section Six: Project Results ..................................................................................................... 156.1 Project Summary ......................................................................................................... 156.2 Project Evaluation ........................................................................................................ 156.3 Lessons Learned .......................................................................................................... 16

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AppendicesAppendix A: Advisory Committee Meeting Agendas and MinutesAppendix B: Notice of Intent and Order of Conditions DEP File No. 151-181Appendix C: Construction Conformance letter and Nashawannuck Pond Bank Restoration

Project construction plans, set of 9 sheets, prepared byBaystate Environmental Consultants, Inc. (not to scale)

Appendix D: QAPP Field Forms and Before and After Photographs of the Stabilization SitesAppendix E: Workshop Agenda and Organization ActionsAppendix F: Nashawannuck Pond Watershed Project Educational Demonstration Sites, set

of 22 sheets, prepared by Conway School of Landscape Design (not to scale)Appendix G: Quality Assurance Project Plan SummaryAppendix H: What You Can Do to Help Nashawannuck Pond brochureAppendix I: Williston Northampton School Demonstration Site

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1.1 Project DescriptionIntroductionNashawannuck Pond is located in the central area of the Cityof Easthampton. The Pond was created in 1846 by theimpoundment of three tributaries: Broad Brook, White Brookand Wilton Brook. These surface tributaries, along withstormwater, precipitation and groundwater, contributewater to the Pond. A dam located at the northern end ofthe Pond serves to impound the Pond, while the water levelis controlled by an adjustable bascule gate at the dam.Water flows over the gate and into a concrete sluicewaywhich runs under Route 141 (Cottage Street). After passingunder and through a brick factory complex, the water flowsinto Lower Mill Pond. The water flow continues to theManhan River and eventually into the Connecticut River, viathe Oxbow.

The Pond was originally created to provide power to thecity’s manufacturing businesses. The Pond has sincebecome a prominent fixture, used for fishing, boating, and,in the past, for swimming. Today, the Pond providesrecreational and aesthetic value to the community and alsoacts as an amenity for the neighboring business district.

Over the past several decades, the Pond has been signifi-cantly reduced in size from sediment loading. This increasein silt and sediment has caused eutrophication and densemacrophytic growth. This has greatly reduced the quality ofrecreation and fishing on the pond. Heavy phosphorusloading resulting from constant sedimentation in the Pond isaccelerating the weed growth. The phosphorus loads alsotravel to the downstream waters of the Lower Mill Pond,Manhan River, Oxbow and Connecticut River.

In 1988, Baystate Environmental Consultants, Inc. prepared aDiagnostic/Feasibility Study (1988 D/F Study) for themanagement of the Pond. This study recommended eightsteps to improve the water quality of the Pond. Theserecommendations are:

1. Conduct a drawdown of the pond;2. Conduct a bottom water release to remove anoxic

water and promote mixing and oxygenation;3. Instigate a vigorous nonpoint source reduction program

in the watershed to reduce nutrient loading;4. Install low stone gabion weirs in the upper arms of the

pond to provide for both wetland protection duringdrawdown and mitigation of watershed erosion;

5. Dredge bottom deposits from the center of the pond;6. Reduce the influence of stormwater flows from

storm drain systems near the pond;

7. Promote the concepts of sound “urban housekeeping”in the vicinity of the Pond by providing fundsfor an educational program; and

8. Stabilize and rebuild four badly eroded ‘points’ on theshoreline of the Pond and provide improved structuresto control access by pedestrians and fishermen.

Easthampton residents have contributed time and moneythrough the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee forthe development of numerous projects recommended inthe 1988 D/F Study. Projects that have been undertakeninclude conducting a drawdown and bottom waterrelease; and installing a gabion weir in White Brook and asedimentation basin in Broad Brook.

The subject project of this report focuses on recommenda-tions #7 and #8 from the 1988 D/F study. The City ofEasthampton is also embarking on a project partially fundedthrough the §319 program to install Vortechs catch basinsand deep sump catch basins within the Pond’s watershed,addressing recommendation #6.

The one remaining recommendation from the 1988 D/FStudy to be addressed consists of dredging the Pond. TheCity is seeking funding from the Executive Office of Environ-mental Affairs and the Army Corps of Engineers to performa feasibility study for dredging activities.

The Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee has workeddiligently to fund and complete the various Pond improve-ment projects. The Committee has conducted outreachthrough the newspapers, the Fall Festival, the annual fishingderby and various fundraising events. Public outreach wasalso a significant part of this project with the developmentof a brochure aimed at residents within the watershed anddistribution at the 1999 and 2000 Fall Festivals of thebrochure and other information related to the Pond andenvironmentally-friendly practices.

SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION

Section �: IntroductionSection �: IntroductionSection �: IntroductionSection �: IntroductionSection �: Introduction

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Project GoalsNashawannuck Pond, which serves as an economic,environmental and recreational focal point, is experiencingeutrophication and dense macrophytic growth as a result ofsediment and nutrient loading. The present state of thePond has limited its recreational and aesthetic functions.This project builds on the work that has already beenaccomplished and achieves the following goals:

• Educate watershed residents and public officials onwatershed issues and how they can reducenonpoint source pollution.

• Eliminate sources of erosion in the immediate area ofthe pond.

• Gain public and political support for further waterquality improvements.

1.2 Project Work ProgramTask I: Formation of a QAPP for MonitoringPioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), working withthe City of Easthampton and the Department of Environ-mental Protection, prepared a Quality Assurance ProjectPlan (QAPP) for monitoring to assess the success and long-term viability of bank stabilization and Best MangementPractices (BMPs). The QAPP provides for monitoring tooccur both before and after installation of selected BMPs.Monitoring consists of pre- and post-construction photo-graphic and vegetative surveys to document the changes atthe four stabilization sites. The number and species ofvegetation at the sites are documented to determine thesuccess of the bank revegetation.

Monitoring of the sites consists of photographic surveysand completion of vegetation field sheets for all fourerosion areas assessing pre-construction and post-construc-tion conditions. Post-construction monitoring is ongoingthrough three consecutive growing seasons (June 2001, July2001, July 2002, and July 2003).

The photographic surveys of the site will documentchanges. Accuracy is ensured by having the monitors takephotographs of each site from an identified location.Completed field forms and photographic surveys will bespot-checked for accuracy by the Data Manager identifiedin the QAPP. The Data Manager will replicate monitoring(field form completion and photographic surveys) at onesite per monitoring event. A divergence of greater than20% between the Data Manager’s results and the monitoringteam’s results will trigger a meeting between the monitorsand the Data Manager to discuss monitoring results andprotocols. Retraining of monitors will occur as needed toensure accuracy and precision.

Monitors will work in teams of two, documenting condi-tions at each site. Results will be compared on site forprecision. If there is a divergence of greater than 20% in theresults of the two monitors, the Data Manager and themonitors will review the site together and discuss the

results. The Data Manager will also monitor the site and willcompare his monitoring results with the results of themonitoring team.

Task II: Nashawannuck Pond Restoration ProjectAdvisory Committee MeetingsCity officials, concerned citizens and representatives fromthe Department and the Natural Resource ConservationService came together to form the Nashawannuck PondRestoration Project Advisory Committee. PVPC met with thisCommittee seventeen (17) times over the course of theproject. Copies of meeting agendas and minutes areincluded in Appendix A. The Advisory Committee assistedwith the Information/Outreach Sessions and providedguidance over the various aspects of project implementation

Task III: Bank StabilizationPVPC hired Baystate Environmental Consultants, Inc. (BEC) tofinalize the bank stabilization engineering and landscapedrawings from the 1988 D/F Study. BEC updated thedrawings to incorporate the use of plant materials to controlerosion and sedimentation. BEC and the City prepared aNotice of Intent, which was submitted to the EasthamptonConservation Commission. Subsequently, an Order ofConditions, DEP File No. 151-181 (See Appendix B) wasissued for the proposed work. The Order of Conditions wasthe only permit required for this work.

BEC developed bid documents and a contractor was hiredto perform the work. Construction commenced in the fall of2000 and was completed in spring of 2001. Design plansand before and after photographs of the stabilization sitesare included as Appendices C and D.

Task IV: Watershed Nonpoint Source EducationInformation/Outreach Sessions

PVPC, the City of Easthampton and the Nashawannuck PondRestoration Project Advisory Committee sponsored twoinformation/outreach sessions as part of this project. The firstinformation/outreach session was a booth in the City’s annualFall Festival in 1999. The booth, which was staffed by PVPCand members of the Nashawannuck Pond Restoration ProjectAdvisory Committee for the full two days of the Fall Festival,followed the theme of “Nashawannuck Pond: What’s GoingOn?” Pre-construction photographs of the stabilization areaswere displayed at the booth and various educationalbrochures, including the brochure developed through thisproject, were distributed to those interested.

The second information/outreach session was a workshop atthe City Hall on March 2, 2001 aimed at various city officials,boards and organizations who affect the Pond. The work-shop was developed to update the attendees on the workthat has been performed at the Pond, the outstanding issues,work that another community has performed to addresswater quality issues and to identify what steps the attendeescan take to improve the water quality at the Pond. Attend-ees discussed their current practices and steps that they can

� Section �: IntroductionSection �: IntroductionSection �: IntroductionSection �: IntroductionSection �: Introduction

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take in the future. The workshop agenda and actionsdeveloped are included as Appendix E. See Section 4.1for additional information on the outreach performed aspart of this project.

Demonstration SitesPVPC and the Advisory Committee identified three siteswithin the Nashawannuck Pond watershed to be used asdemonstration sites. PVPC hired The Conway School ofLandscape Design to prepare drawings of three demonstra-tion sites depicting recommended Best ManagementPractices. The demonstration sites included:

• An undeveloped lot in a new subdivision locatedwithin the watershed.

• An existing single-family residential property withmaintained lawn up to the banks of a tributary tothe Pond.

• The Town Beach, which is a publicly accessibleresource that has unvegetated, eroding slopes locatedat the edge of the Pond.

The demonstration sites were chosen for their locationwithin the watershed and their possible contributions tosedimentation and nutrient loading of Nashawannuck Pond.Details regarding the demonstration sites and the recom-mended Best Management Practices are described inSection 4.2 of this document. Copies of the plans devel-oped by The Conway School of Landscape Design areincluded as Appendix F. The BMPs could not be imple-mented at the three demonstration sites. A fourth site waschosen for the incorporation of demonstration BMPs.Williston Northampton School incorporated the use ofnative wetland plantings as a buffer and filter instead of theextension of fertilized grassed areas along the edge of theirnewly constructed athletic fields. Additional informationon the implementation of this BMP is included inSection 4.2.

BrochurePVPC developed an information brochure entitled “WhatYou Can Do to Help Nashawannuck Pond.” The brochuredescribes the Pond, threats to the Pond, best managementpractices and highlights the demonstration sites. Fivehundred copies of the brochure were printed. Approxi-mately 75 brochures were distributed at the 1999 and 2000Fall Festivals and will continue to be distributed to thecommunity residents at future public events.

1.3 Project FinancesA total of $116,500 was committed to this project fromvarious sources. This project was financed in part withfederal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency tothe Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protectionunder a §319 competitive grant. The §319 funds accountedfor $45,000. The City of Easthampton provided a localmatch of $40,000. An additional $7,500 was obtained fromthe Natural Resources Conservation Service through the

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. The Florence SavingsBank made a generous donation of $24,000 towardsconstruction activities at the restabilization sites.

A breakdown of the major costs associated with thisproject follows.Permitting, engineering & construction oversight $27,154.00Construction activities $67,359.39Demonstration Sites Design $ 2,529.00Brochure printing costs $ 905.40

1.4 The Planning ProcessPublic InvolvementAn advisory committee, comprised of municipal officials,concerned citizens, and representatives from the Depart-ment of Environmental Protection and the Executive Officeof Environmental Affairs, guided the planning for thisproject. The advisory committee met seventeen (17) timesover the course of this project. The members spentconsiderable time and effort assisting in collecting informa-tion, developing the brochure, staffing the booth at the FallFestival, reviewing best management practices and demon-stration projects, and reviewing the design plans for thebank stabilization construction aspect.

The Nashawannuck Pond Restoration Project AdvisoryCommittee consisted of:

Michael Tautznik, MayorStuart Beckley, City PlannerPatty Gambarini, concerned citizenGary Golas, Conservation Commission and NashawannuckPond Steering CommitteeGail LaBarge, Planning BoardSusan Mantler, Nashawannuck Pond Steering CommitteePaul Nowak, Nashawannuck Pond Steering CommitteeJohn O’Leary, Executive Office of Environmental AffairsJane Peirce, Department of Environmental ProtectionJoseph Sananiello, Planning BoardChester Seklecki, Planning BoardJohn Watling, Pascommuck Conservation Trust andNashawannuck Pond Steering Committee

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The primary threat to Nashawannuck Pond is nonpointsource pollution, such as excess fertilizers and sediments,flowing from the surrounding watershed. The City ofEasthampton and organizations such as the NashawannuckPond Steering Committee and the Nashawannuck PondRestoration Project Advisory Committee have been workingtogether to restore the health and recreational potential ofthe Pond.

According to the “Diagnostic/Feasibility Study for theManagement of Nashawannuck Pond” prepared by BaystateEnvironmental Consultants, Inc. in 1988, phosphorus levelsat the Pond were 692 kg/yr and nitrogen levels were 17,347kg/yr. These nutrients enter the Pond via its three tributaries,Broad Brook, White Brook and Wilton Brook, storm runoff,benthic remineralization, aquatic wildlife, atmosphericdeposition and groundwater. Once in the Pond, thenutrients stimulate the growth of aquatic vegetation.

The immediate area surrounding the Pond, consists of thecemetery, Route 141 (Cottage Street), several businessesand several residences. Residential and transportation usesconstitute a significant portion of Nashawannuck Pond’swatershed. Agricultural uses and recreational uses can alsobe found in the watershed. These uses contribute tononpoint source pollution, which is the result of rainfall orsnowmelt moving over and through the ground picking uppollutants within the storm water’s path. These pollutantsare eventually deposited into wetlands, streams, under-ground sources of water, and the Pond.

Practices associated with the maintenance of the watersheduses effect the Pond in various ways. For instance, many ofthe residences have lush lawns that extend to the banks ofthe Pond and its tributaries. Fertilizers and pesticides usedon the lawns runoff into the Pond and its tributaries after arainstorm. The lawns also transport storm water morequickly than denser vegetation, which traps storm water,allowing it to percolate into the ground. The area roadwaysystem is also a source of nonpoint pollution into the Pondand its watershed. Nonpoint pollutants within the Pond’swatershed include:

• excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides fromresidential areas;

• oil, grease, toxic chemicals, and heavy metalsdeposited by automobiles on roadways, parking lots,and driveways;

• sediment from improperly managed construction sites,crop and forested lands, and eroding stream banks;

• salt and sand from roads and parking lots;• bacteria from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic

systems.

S ECTION TWO: POLLUTION ISSUES FACING NASHAWANNUCK POND

Nonpoint pollution issues that were addressed through this§319 project are described below.

2.1 NutrientsNutrients are essential for the growth of organisms such asplants. However, applying more nutrients, or fertilizers suchas phosphorous and nitrogen, than the plants can absorbresults in the excess being carried away by rain, orstormwater, and eventually being deposited in the Pond.Too many plants or “weeds” in the Pond negatively affectthe Pond and the species that inhabit the Pond in severalways, such as:

• the weeds spread aggressively, forming densevegetated areas that impede the usual uses of thewaterbody, such as boating and fishing. The weedsconsume significant levels of dissolved oxygen in thewater, which means there is less oxygen available forthe other species in the Pond, like fish. Fish that areadapted to the eutrophic conditions are pan and roughfish, which are less desirable species for fishing.

• when the plants annually die off, the decomposition ofthe vegetation reduces oxygen levels even more, andstimulates anaerobic activity in the Pond, which resultsin algae growth.

The typical weeds that are growing in Nashawannuck Pondare American waterweed (Elodea canadensis) and coontail(Ceratophyllum demersum).

Amercian water weed(Elodea canadensis)

Coontail(Ceratophyllum demersum)

� Section �: Pollution Issues Facing the Nashawannuck PondSection �: Pollution Issues Facing the Nashawannuck PondSection �: Pollution Issues Facing the Nashawannuck PondSection �: Pollution Issues Facing the Nashawannuck PondSection �: Pollution Issues Facing the Nashawannuck Pond

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2.2 Herbicides, PesticidesHerbicides and pesticides, like nutrients, can enter thePond through runoff from lawns, recreational fields andagricultural uses within the watershed. As the herbicidesand pesticides flow over-land and eventually reach thePond, they may destroy beneficial plants and insects. Theresult is decreased species diversity, and an imbalance inthe species composition within the Pond and the surround-ing watershed. Although there have been no hard tests toconfirm the absence or presence of herbicide or pesticideresiduals in the Pond, it is important for property ownerswithin the watershed to understand the possible repercus-sions of chemical use.

2.3 Stormwater RunoffAs rain falls on the earth, some of it is absorbed by plantsor permeates into the soil. Rain that is not absorbed once itreaches the earth is called stormwater runoff. As thestormwater flows across the land surface, it carries with itsoil and pollutants such as fertilizers, herbicides, otherchemicals such as oil and gasoline, and animal waste.

Over the course of the past decades, the watershed ofNashawannuck Pond has become increasingly developed.This development has resulted in a decrease in vegetationand an increase in impervious surfaces (driveways androads), thereby decreasing the amount of rainwater that caninfiltrate. In addition to the quantity of water that is flowingoverland, the speed or velocity of the water also increasesover impervious surfaces and maintained lawns. Erosionincreases with an increase in the flow and velocity of stormwater.

Sediment, or soil particles that are carried by stormwaterrunoff and deposited in water bodies, may be a result oferosion or road sanding. Sediment may carry additionalpollutants, like fertilizers and other chemical compounds,to the water resource. Nashawannuck Pond receives atremendous amount of sediment from the surroundingwatershed, including runoff carrying road sand from arearoadways and erosion from certain areas of the Pond’sbanks, including the four stabilization sites addressedthrough this grant. Natural erosion is also occurring alongthe banks of the Pond and within the channels of thetributaries to the Pond. It should be noted that sedimenta-tion of the Pond over the past few decades correlates to anincrease in development within the watershed.

Pre-existing bank conditions at stabalization Area 2.

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Through this project, various Best Management Practices(BMPs) were identified as being applicable to both existingand proposed residential uses within the watershed.Sedimentation and erosion from sources immediatelyadjacent to the Pond and within the Pond’s watershed areof major concern. As documented in the 1988 D/F Study,nutrients and sediments are entering the Pond from landuses within the watershed.

The following BMPs were determined to be appropriate forimplementation by the property owners within the Pond’swatershed. These BMPs were incorporated into the designof the demonstration sites and the educational brochure.

3.1 Minimize Fertilizer Use• Fertilizers contain nitrates and phosphates, which

stimulate the growth of aquatic vegetation, and alsocause algae blooms that can lead to fish kills. Ifpossible, watershed residents should avoid fertilizingtheir lawns.

• Mulching or other organic gardening methods can beused to achieve the desired fertilization results; iffertilizer is required, watershed residents shouldchoose one that contains no phosphorus.

• Fertilizer application should be avoided during thesummer and fall. Turf grass demand for nutrients is lowat this time and unused fertilizer is more likely to endup in the Pond.

• Over application of fertilizers should also be avoided.Watershed residents should have their soil tested todetermine what additional nutrients are needed.

3.2 Reduce the Use of Pesticides, Herbicides and Insecticides• Many household products made to exterminate pests

are also toxic to humans, pets, wildlife, fish, smallaquatic organisms and plants.

• Natural pest control methods should be used whenever possible. If pesticides and herbicides arerequired, watershed residents should read the labelscarefully to determine the correct application amounts.Lawn chemicals should not be applied right beforeit rains.

3.3 Maintain Slope Stability• Watershed residents can stabilize slopes with deep-

rooted vegetation to increase stormwater infiltrationand decrease erosion.

• Steep slopes can also be decreased with retainingwalls and terraces.

• Streambanks can be stabilized by planting deep-rooted shrubs along the banks.

3.4 Minimize Impermeable Surfaces• Permeable pavement like gravel, instead of cement or

asphalt, will allow for increased infiltration ofstormwater.

• Watershed residents can limit areas requiring impervi-ous surfaces like driveways, patios and parking lots.

• Areas of grass lawn, which can form a mat of densevegetation that prevents infiltration and encouragesstormwater runoff, should be minimized.

3.5 Use Low Maintenance Landscaping Techniques• Native vegetation requires less chemical additives,

such as fertilizers and pesticides, to encourage growthand requires less watering.

• Watershed residents can establish the smallest lawnthat satisfies their recreational needs.

• Native sedges, wildflower meadows and gardens canbe used as alternatives to lawn.

3.6 Control Stormwater Runoff On-Site• Runoff from a property can be directed into a rain/

wetland garden or vegetated swale to slow the flow ofwater and increase infiltration.

• Planting trees and other deep-rooted vegetation, likedogwoods, will increase absorption of stormwater.

• Maintaining or restoring vegetated riparian buffers alongstreams will decrease stormwater runoff velocities andallow for natural pollutant attenuation through thevegetation.

• All soil surfaces should be vegetated or mulched toencourage infiltration and reduce erosion.

Streambank with deep rooted plants

S ECTION THREE: SELECTED BMPS

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• Roof-runoff can be directed into a barrel for later use inwatering lawns and gardens.

• Downspouts from roof gutters should be aimed awayfrom foundations and paved surfaces.

• For roofs without gutters, residents can plant grass,spread mulch, or use gravel under the drip line toprevent soil erosion and increase the ground’s capacityto absorb water.

Downspot into dry well

Vegetated Stone Wall constructed at Area 2.

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One of the main goals of the project was to inform thecommunity on efforts that have been and are being taken toimprove the water quality of Nashawannuck Pond. This wasaccomplished through two information/outreach sessions,the creation and distribution of an informative brochure, thedevelopment of case studies for three sites within thewatershed, and the use of BMPs at a fourth demonstrationsite.

4.1 Information/Outreach SessionsPVPC and the City of Easthampton sponsored two informa-tion/outreach sessions as part of this project. The firstinformation/outreach session was a booth in the City’sannual Fall Festival in 1999. The booth, which was staffedwith PVPC and the Nashawannuck Pond Restoration ProjectAdvisory Committee for the full two days of the Fall Festival,followed the theme of “Nashawannuck Pond: What’s GoingOn?” The purpose of the booth was to inform residentsabout this project and other past and present efforts that arefocused on making the Pond a healthy ecosystem andproviding for public access/recreational opportunities, aswell as what residents can do to help restore the Pond.

Materials presented at the booth included the following:• Nashawannuck Pond Brochure;• Photos of the Pond and the four erosion areas that were

slated for stabilization;• Fact sheets and brochures regarding nonpoint source

pollution, aquatic vegetation and phosphorous, etc.;• The preliminary design plans from BEC developed

through this grant;• The BMPs and design plans of the three watershed

demonstration sites prepared by The Conway School ofLandscape Design; and

• Examples of common household sources of nonpointsource pollution including paint thinner, motor oil,fertilizers, herbicides/pesticides, etc.

Twenty-one residents signed up for additional informationat the booth. The information package consisted of thefollowing information:• “Don’t Trash Grass” composting brochure, Department

of Environmental Protection;• “Home Composting, A guide for composting yard and

food waste,” Department of Environmental Protection;• “Home Composting Bin Design Sheets,” Department of

Environmental Protection;• “Getting the Phosphates Out: Restrictions on the

phosphorus content of household cleaning products inMassachusetts,” Department of EnvironmentalProtection;

S ECTION FOUR: DEMONSTRATION SITES/COMMUNITY EDUCATION

• “Gardening for Wildlife,” National Wildlife Federation;• Reduce Yard Size brochure, National Wildlife

Federation;• Underground Storage Tank multi-page fact sheet,

Department of Environmental Protection;• Fact sheet on Safer Alternatives for Toxic Products;• Fact sheets on Motor Oil & Oil Filters, Paints & Stains,

and Pesticides; and• “Plant List for Streambank and Riparian Corridor

Restoration in the Nashawannuck Pond Watershed.”

Similar information was available from the NashawannuckPond Steering Committee at a booth at the 2000 FallFestival. The booths seemed to attract a moderate amountof interest from attendees. Approximately 75 “What YouCan Do to Help Nashawannuck Pond” brochures weredistributed during the two Fall Festivals.

The second information/outreach session was a workshopheld on March 2, 2001 at the City Hall aimed at various cityofficials, boards and organizations that affect the Pond.Attendees included the Mayor, the City Planner and the CityEngineer. The following organizations were also repre-sented: the Conservation Commission, the NashawannuckPond Steering Committee, Williston-Northampton School,the Brookside Cemetery Committee, the Department ofPublic Works, the School Department, Parks and RecreationDepartment, and the Planning Board.

The workshop served to update the attendees on the workthat has been performed at the Pond, identify outstandingissues, and present another community’s experience inaddressing water quality issues as well as to identify futuresteps to improve the water quality at the Pond. An actionplan was created identifying various tasks and responsibili-ties developed by the attendees. Paul Nowak, chair of theNashawannuck Pond Steering Committee, presented anupdate of the work that has been ongoing at the Pond,including the construction of a weir at White Brook, sedi-mentation basin at Broad Brook and the four stabilizationsites being addressed through this grant. Peter Coffin fromthe UMass extension discussed various best managementpractices to address nonpoint pollution.

Georganne Hoyman presented work that the SpringfieldDepartment of Public Works undertook at recreationwaterbodies, Lake Lorraine and Fivemile Pond. Springfield’seffort was made possible through a cooperative effortincluding the Department of Public Works, ConservationCommission and Parks and Recreation, Department ofEnvironmental Protection and PVPC. Springfield’s project

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included the installation of infiltration basins near the end ofseven stormwater outfalls; the repair of eroding landadjacent to Lake Lorraine; and public outreach througheducational fact sheets and public information presenta-tions. The Lake Lorraine and Fivemile Pond Project demon-strated alternative solutions to address nonpoint sourcepollution and to promote community awareness.

The attendees then discussed work that they were doing orwould like to do to improve conditions at the Pond.Actions ranged from revising subdivision regulations(Planning Board and Department), to better coordinationwith the Conservation Commission (Williston NorthamptonSchool), to focusing on education (Nashawannuck PondSteering Committee). An action plan was developed and isincluded as Appendix E.

4.2 Demonstration SitesThe City of Easthampton, the Advisory Committee andPioneer Valley Planning Commission identified three sites aseducational demonstration areas. Conway School ofLandscape Design (CSLD) prepared case studies for eachsite utilizing good watershed management practices. Thethree sites are described below. Plans and figures pre-pared for the demonstration sites are included asAppendix F.

Site 1: Lot 12, Pheasant Run EstatesPheasant Run Estates is a residential subdivision locatedadjacent to White Brook and within the watershed of thePond. This subdivision comprises approximately 40 acresof land and the creation of 33 one-acre residential lots.Typical features of development lots within this subdivisionand other subdivisions within the watershed contribute tononpoint source pollution, and include the clearing ofvegetation, direction of drainage off-site, and the presenceand maintenance of extensive lawn area. These standardsubdivision features made this site attractive as a demon-stration area to show alternatives to the typical new lot

Williston NorthamptonAthletic Fields

construction. The lot used for the demonstration projectwas not adjacent to any waterbodies or waterways.CSLD provided several recommendations for a moreenvironmentally friendly development. This educationaldemonstration site featured several differences from a“typical” residential subdivision. The proposed BestManagement Practices for this site include:

• Preservation of existing vegetation on-site;• Planting of deep-rooted native trees and shrubs on

steep slopes;• Minimization of overall site disturbance to preserve

existing drainage patterns as much as possible;• Minimization of impermeable surfaces by creating the

smallest driveway area possible;• Reduction of lawn area to reflect true recreational use;• Use of flagstones underlain by a permeable bed of

sand and gravel for terraces and patios;• Creation of a rooftop runoff collection system to supply

water for the lawn and garden; and• Incorporation of a detention basin or grassed swale to

filter runoff from the driveway.

Site 2: Broad Brook PropertySite 2 represents a single-family residential property with astream crossing through it. This property is located up-stream of Nashawannuck Pond, straddling Broad Brook, atributary to the Pond. The property owner maintains agrassed lawn area extending down to the bank of BroadBrook on both sides. Broad Brook is approximately eight(8) feet wide in this area. Several trees are located in theriparian area; however, there is no understory or leaf litter.

Site 1 Demonstration Rendering Plan

Typical Subdivision Lot Layout

2

3

1

Westham

pton

Holyoke

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The area under the trees is mowed lawn area. While thebank is stable in its current condition, it is vulnerable toerosion and destabilization in severe storm events.

CSLD provided several recommendations for a moreenvironmentally friendly development. This educationaldemonstration site featured several improvements tominimize nonpoint source pollution from runoff from thelawn. The proposed Best Management Practices for this siteinclude:

• Planting steep slopes with deep-rooted plants;• Stabilization of stream banks with vegetation along the

banks of the stream;• Reduction of lawn area to reflect true recreational use;• Placement of lawn area on the most level area to

maximize the lawn’s ability to hold and infiltratestormwater thereby minimizing stormwater flow rates;

• Plant lawns with native sedges and other vegetationthat do not require fertilization, watering or mowing.

Site 2 Demonstration Plan

Site 3: Town BeachThe Town Beach was chosen as a demonstration sitebecause of its visible nature and the current degradedcondition. A steep, unvegetated embankment extendsfrom Water Lane down to the Pond. This site has been usedas a roadway snow storage area and a dumping ground forneighborhood yard wastes. According to Mayor Tautznik,Easthampton Department of Public Works no longer usesthe Town Beach area for snow storage and instead removesthe snow from the area. The asphalt driveway at the top ofthe slope combined with the unvegetated steep slopedown to the Pond results in increased erosion and sedi-mentation because there is no vegetation to slow the runoffdown and promote infiltration.

CSLD provided several recommendations for a moreenvironmentally friendly development. This educational

demonstration site featured several improvements tominimize erosion and the resulting nonpoint sourcepollution from the site. The proposed Best ManagementPractices for this site include:

• Create a formal boat launch ramp;• Provide parking just off Water Lane;• Planting the southeastern slopes with woody

vegetation;• Discontinue all dumping practices including snow

storage and residential yard wastes;• Vegetate all soil surfaces with native species;• Manage invasive exotic species;• Create a vegetated swale or depression to slow down

runoff and allow sediments to settle before reachingthe Pond; and

• Stabilize the slopes with vegetation and terracing toreduce the risk of severe erosion.

Site 3 Demonstration Plan

It was not feasible to implement the best managementpractices at the three demonstration sites. The Pheasant Runlot was subject to the developer’s and new home owner’srequirements; the owner of the residence on Broad Brookallowed his property to be used for design purposes butchose not to implement the identified BMPs; and the TownBeach may be used as a staging area for a future dredgingproject. BMPs at the Town Beach may be incorporated afterthe dredging project is completed. Therefore, a fourth site,athletic fields at the Williston Northampton School, waschosen as the implementation site. The BMP implementedwas the use of native wetland plantings as a buffer and filterinstead of the extension of grassed and fertilized areas. Theplantings consisted of eight silky dogwoods and eight red-osier dogwoods in a 1000+square foot area. The dog-woods were planted alongside a retention basin at theedge of newly constructed athletic fields owned by theWilliston Northampton School. The plantings decrease thearea of fertilized lawn within the watershed and provide forthe natural uptake of nutrients in stormwater runoff from theathletic field.

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4.3 Watershed Management BrochureIn September 1999, PVPC with the Nashawannuck PondRestoration Project Advisory Committee published awatershed management brochure entitled “What You CanDo to Help Nashawannuck Pond.” This brochure includesbackground information on the Pond, a map depicting thelocation of the Pond’s watershed, a list of threats to thePond, and best management practices that can be used bycitizens to improve the water quality within the Pond’swatershed. The brochure also included descriptions anddrawings of the demonstration sites.

The brochure is in the form of a fold-up two-sided poster.This brochure was distributed to the community citizens atthe project’s booth at the 1999 and 2000 Fall Festival and tocommunity officials at the March workshop. The content ofthe brochure targeted the average watershed citizen. Thebrochure aimed to educate citizens on what they can do onan individual basis in their own homes and yards to contrib-ute to water quality improvements of the Pond.

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Site 1 Demonstration Rendering

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One water quality improvement recommendation identi-fied in the 1988 D/F Study was the stabilization andreconstruction of four badly eroded “points” on theshoreline of the Pond including the installation of improvedstructures to control access by pedestrians and fishermen.Preliminary designs for the stabilization sites were preparedas part of the 1988 D/F Study. PVPC hired Baystate Environ-mental Consultants, Inc. (BEC) to revise the designs for thefour sites to incorporate the use of plant materials to controlerosion and sedimentation, to assist in the permitting of theproject and to provide construction documents andconstruction assistance.

The design plans incorporated redirection of runoff,installation of timber slope checks, stone walls and veg-etated stone walls, placement of boulders at vehicularaccess points, placement of topsoil and shredded bark,seeding and planting.

A Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) was developed todocument the success of the bank stabilization. Documen-tation required under the QAPP include photographs andvegetated surveys of the stabilization sites. Photographicsurveys were taken of each of the sites before and afterconstruction to create visual documentation of the successof the project. Volunteer monitors filled out vegetativesurvey forms to track the before and after conditions ateach site. Volunteer monitoring will continue for three yearsafter the construction is completed to track the progressand effectiveness of the plantings.

The construction was funded from a variety of sourcesincluding this §319 grant, a cash match from city funds, agrant from Natural Resource and Conservation ServiceWetlands Habitat Incentive Program, and a generouscontribution from the Florence Savings Bank. Descriptionsof the work performed at each site are provided below.

BEC and the City of Easthampton prepared and submitted aNotice of Intent for the proposed work to the EasthamptonConservation Commission. The Commission reviewed theproject and issued an Order of Conditions DEP File No.151-181 on September 27, 1999. The Order of Conditionsapproved work within the 100-foot buffer zone to resourceareas and the following resource areas: Bordering LandSubject to Flooding, Land Under Water and Bank. Theproject was exempt from the requirements of the DEPStormwater Management Policy. Conditions includedgeneral conditions related to Wetlands Protection Act and

S ECTION FIVE: BANK STABILIZATION

Easthampton Conservation Commission requirements,grading/erosion control requirements and debris/wasterequirements. The Order of Conditions was the only permitrequired and obtained for the stabilization work.

BEC prepared a bid package with plans and specificationsfor the proposed work. Reduced versions of the plans areincluded as Appendix C. Construction documents wereissued by bidding April 19, 2000. A pre-bid meeting andsite visit was held on May 3, 2000. The bidding closed withthe official bid opening on May 24, 2000. Three contractorsplaced bids on the project. BEC reviewed the bids andidentified the apparent and real low bidders, both beingNorthern Construction. The apparent low bid is the lowestbid read at the time the bids are opened, while the real lowbidder is the bidder with the lowest bid after bids arescrutinized for content and consistency with the bidpackage.

Based on the bid review by BEC, Easthampton selectedNorthern Construction as the contractor for the project.Work was authorized in the fall of 2000. The fall/winter wasdetermined to be the best time of year to perform thestabilization activities to minimize impact on the summerrecreation season and on the existing vegetation. Plantingand seeding were performed in the spring of 2001. Beforeand after pictures of the four stabilization areas are includedas Appendix D.

5.1 Area 1Area 1 is located on the western side of the Pond, and islocated immediately adjacent to the Brookside Cemetery.Stormwater runoff from the cemetery access road directssediment to this site. Area 1 has also suffered erosion fromthe pedestrian traffic. Exposed roots of trees line theembankment. This area lacked a shrub layer andgroundcover, to hold soils and discourage pedestrians fromtrodding on sensitive areas.

The stabilization of Area 1 involved impact to approximately232 linear feet (lf) of bank. This work included the place-ment of 40± lf of vegetated stone walls, 10± lf ofunvegetated stone walls, 67± lf of spot stabilization withboulders and 83± lf of topsoil and mulch placement. Thevegetated stone walls were planted with red-osier dog-wood, American elderberry, and shining willow. Thesespecies were chosen because they root from live cuttingsand for their significant wildlife habitat values. A catch

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basin with sump and a leaching manhole were installedupstream of the bank at this site.

5.2 Area 2Area 2 is located to the south of Area 1, on the northernside of the confluence of White Brook with NashawannuckPond. Pedestrian and bicycle access to this area is via afootpath extending from the end of the Brookside Cemeteryaccess road. A gate discourages vehicular access to thissite however, vehicles still drive down to the site. Area 2also receives runoff from the cemetery access road. Thesoils covering the root systems of the trees had beeneroded away by pedestrian traffic and the banks wereseverely eroded.

The stabilization of Area 2 involved the installation of alandscape timber stairway with a bark mulch path. Theterraced plantings located on either side of the stairwaywere planted with mountain laurel, hemlock and highbushblueberry. Additionally, 18 lf of unvegetated stone wallsand 35 lf of vegetated stone walls were installed to supportthe bank. Approximately 12 cubic yards of soil wereremoved from the end of the peninsula, restoring the Pondedge adjacent to the new stone walls. An existing footpathto the site was repaired and regraded to direct runoff to anexisting low area. The surface of the path was repaired withwood bark mulch. The City intends to replace the gate withboulders to prevent motor vehicles from accessing this site.

5.3 Area 3Area 3 is located on the southern side of the confluence ofWhite Brook with the Pond. Area 3 is accessed viaNonotuck Park road and a path the leads to the site. Area 3consists of a western stabilization area and an easternstabilization area. The sites suffered from root systemsexposed by erosion, exposed soils, and a lack of shrubvegetation and groundcover. A tree had fallen into thewater because its root system could no longer hang on.

Stabilization activities at Area 3 - East included filling andregrading the path to the site to redirect runoff. Wood barkmulch was used for the surface of the path. Boulders wereplaced at the head of the path to prohibit vehicles fromtraveling on it. Vegetated stone walls (26 lf), unvegetatedstone walls (40 lf) and spot stabilization with boulders (18lf) were installed to stabilize the bank of the Pond. A timberslope check replaced 50 lf of eroded bank. Topsoil andmulch were added to 12 lf of bank. The recently downedtree was removed.

Area 3- West was stabilized with timber slope checks andterraced planting consisting of mountain laurel, hemlock andhighbush blueberry and the construction of a timberstairway. A low berm of topsoil and bark mulch wasinstalled to divert surface runoff to an existing low area.

5.4 Area 4Area 4 is located to the north of the confluence of BroadBrook with the Pond and is accessed via a small footpathextending from the Nonotuck Park road. This site alsosuffered from exposed roots and eroded banks. Of all thesites, Area 4 maintained the most shrub vegetation andground cover.

Four timber slope checks were installed to stabilize theslopes down to the Pond: three at the easternmost locationand one at the western location. A small area at the bottomof the westernmost timber slope check was loamed andseeded with grasses. Topsoil and mulch was placed along50 lf of bank.

5.5 Quality Assurance Project PlanPVPC with the Nashawannuck Pond Restoration ProjectAdvisory Committee, prepared a Quality Assurance ProjectPlan which identified the procedures and responsibleparties for monitoring the results of the bank stabilizationportion of the project.

The success of the bank stabilization project is to bemeasured in the establishment of the plantings. A vegeta-tion survey form entitled Nashawannuck Pond Bank Stabili-zation Monitoring: Vegetation Planting Field Form wasprepared to assist with monitoring the stabilization sites.The form contains a list of the species and number of plantsinstalled during the stabilization work. The monitoridentifies the number of plants present during the site visitand performs a qualitative assessment of the health, sizeand condition of theplants. Photographsof the sites are takenat the time they aremonitored. Aphotographic surveyand vegetative formwere prepared foreach stabilizationsite prior to con-struction andimmediately afterconstruction. (Fieldforms and photo-graphs are includedin Appendix D).Photographicsurveys and fieldforms are scheduledto be prepared onan annual basisduring the growingseason in July 2001,2002, and 2003.

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Nashawannuck Pond Locus Map

PondOutlet

Area 1

Area 2

Area3

WhiteBrook

Area4

Locus PlanNashawannuck Pond

BroadBrook

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6.1 Project SummaryThis project addressed two issues identified within the1988 D/F Study:1) Promoting the concepts of “urban housekeeping” in the

vicinity of the Pond through an educational program;and

2) Stabilize and rebuild four badly eroded “points” in theshoreline of the Pond and provide improved structuresto control access by pedestrians and fishermen.

Promoting the concepts of “urban housekeeping”The project addressed the first D/F issue through thedemonstration projects by identifying sites that incorpo-rated representative watershed-wide issues. The BestManagement Practices identified for each of the threedemonstration sites can be used in many different areasthroughout the Nashawannuck Pond watershed and othersensitive areas. The Best Management Practices wereincorporated into a poster-sized brochure along with someinformative information about the Pond and its watershed.Best Management Practices described in the brochureaddressed landscaping techniques, fertilizer and lawn carechemical usage, and management of stormwater runoff.The brochure was directed at the residents within thewatershed and distributed in a community forum – theannual Fall Festival. The Nashawannuck Pond SteeringCommittee intends to distribute the remaining posters andother information pieces at upcoming events related to thePond, such as fundraisers and the annual fishing derby atthe Pond.

The project also included a workshop component targetingcommunity officials. This workshop was a vehicle fordispensing information on the management and mainte-nance work that has occurred at the Pond, including thebank stabilization component of this project, other optionsfor best management practices, and a case study of Pondwatershed restoration in Springfield. This workshopbrought together many municipal and institutional officialswho manage large properties within the watershed.Attendees discussed their established best managementpractices and future goals.

Stabilize and rebuild four badly eroded “points” inthe shoreline

The second D/F issue was addressed through the designand engineering, permitting, construction and post-construction monitoring of the four stabilization areas.Baystate Environmental Consultants, Inc. were hired tofinalize the design of the stabilization sites, prepare aNotice of Intent filing under the Wetlands Protection Act,

S ECTION SIX: PROJECT RESULTS

prepare construction documents and conduct constructioninspections. The project was permitted in September1999, a contractor hired in the fall of 2000 and workcompleted in May of 2001. The stabilization work includedbioengineering practices, such as vegetated stone walls,timber slope checks interspersed with shrub plantings andmulching, seeding and planting. The construction wascompleted as designed. The stabilization sites have beendesigned to direct pedestrians on less sensitive areas thatare protected from erosion.

6.2 Project EvaluationEducationThe educational aspect of this project has been successful.Educational information directed at the watershed residentshas been organized into an easy to read brochure. The BestManagement Practices described in the brochure arerelatively easy and cost-effective to implement. Communityoutreach at the Fall Festival and at future events is importantto remind residents of their role in the watershed. TheNashawannuck Pond Steering Committee is committed tocontinued community education.

From the community officials’ workshop, a greater under-standing was developed amongst the attendees. One goalof this workshop was to improve interrelationships amongstthe various organizations by bringing individuals from thevarious groups together to discuss common issues andgoals surrounding the Pond. A greater understanding oforganizational roles and common practices was developedat the workshop. Coordination through future projects willtell if the interrelationships did improve.

Demonstration SitesThree sites were studied for the demonstration aspect ofthis project. None of the sites were appropriate forincorporation of the designated best management prac-tices due to ownership issues (with the two residentialsites) and conflict with future proposed work (at the TownBeach site). Therefore, a site had to be chosen outside ofthe original three sites for the incorporation of a demonstra-tion strategy. Williston Northampton School agreed toincorporate native wetland and upland plantings as a bufferand filter instead of the extension of grassed and fertilizedareas at the edge of their athletic fields.

Bank StabilizationThe bank stabilization was completed as designed. Thephysical stabilization elements, such as the stone walls,timber check and rock barriers, are in place and working to

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stabilize the sites. The planting and seeding was finished inMay of 2001. The City will provide bark mulch for thoseareas that were not mulched by the contractor, using mulchto be created from the tree removal at Nonotuck Park. Asthe planting and seeding have recently occurred, it is tooearly to tell how successful the vegetative stabilization willbe. However, some vandalism has occurred at the sites,primarily involving people pulling out branches from thevegetated stone walls. The City plans on installing signsrequesting visitors to the Pond to respect the work that hasbeen done. Volunteers will continue to monitor thestabilization sites and report on the establishment of thevegetation until 2003 as required in the Quality AssuranceProject Plan. The City Engineer will be responsible forinspecting the stabilization sites in the future.

Quality Assurance Project PlanA Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) was developed todocument the success of the bank stabilization. Thisdocumentation includes photographs and vegetationsurveys of the four stabilization sites pre-construction,immediately after construction and for three growingseasons after construction. Photographic surveys and fieldforms have been completed for pre-construction and theimmediate post-construction inspection. The visualdocumentation created by the photographs and the planthealth and quantity tracked on the field forms will be usedto assess the success of the stabilization work associatedwith this project. Volunteer monitors filled out vegetativesurvey forms to track the before and after conditions ateach site. Volunteer monitoring will continue for three yearsafter the construction is completed to track the progressand effectiveness of the plantings. The results of the postconstruction monitoring conducted after the termination ofthis §319 grant (July 2001, July 2002 and July 2003) will becompiled into a report and submitted by the City ofEasthampton to the Department of Environmental Protectionas an addendum to this report.

Vegetation surveys (photographic and field sheets notingthe absence, presence, and survival of the vegetationplanted as part of the bank stabilization work) will demon-strate if revegetation efforts proposed to stabilize the bankand decrease erosion have been successful. Photographsof the sites have been taken prior to construction thatillustrate the lack of vegetation. Volunteers will be able tocompare photographs of the sites before and after con-struction, and will use the photographs in conjunction withthe revegetation design plans and post-constructionvegetation field sheets (which will note the presence orabsence of vegetation and the specific quantities andspecies of vegetation planted at each of the four erosionareas) to determine if revegetation has succeeded.

It is possible that certain individual plants or plant specieswill not thrive under the conditions present at the sites. TheCity and Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee will beable to make determinations about species success orfailure based upon comparisons between the post-

construction documentation (photographic surveys andfield forms) and the revegetation design plans. Every efforthas been made by BEC, the design engineer, to identifyspecies in the design plans that will tolerate the conditionsthat exist at the four erosion areas. Restoration is consid-ered successful if 80% of the plants survive and are in goodcondition, based on visual assessment.

In the event that individual plants do not survive the firstgrowing season, the contractor will be required to replacethose plants. Based on the assessments, the City andNashawannuck Pond Steering Committee can make adetermination on the survival rate of certain species anddetermine if a particular species does not thrive in the bankconditions. The Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committeein conjunction with the City of Easthampton will undertakemaintenance or repair of the stabilization sites.

6.3 Lessons LearnedPublic and Government SupportThe project benefited greatly from the support of the Citygovernment, the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committeeand the Nashawannuck Pond Restoration Project AdvisoryCommittee. The Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committeewas established in 1988 with the charge “to promote theclean-up and preservation of Nashawannuck Pond, and torecommend policies and direction to the Town ofEasthampton concerning these issues.” This committee hadno funding source, therefore it sought funds through variousgrant programs such as the Massachusetts Clean Water Actfunds (to develop a Diagnostic Feasibility Study); FrankStanley Beverage foundation (to construct a gabion weir atWhite Brook); and Department of Environmental Manage-ment Lakes & Ponds Grant (to construct a sedimentationbasin in Broad Brook). In addition to the grant sources usedto pay for the above projects, the City of Easthamptoncontributed money. The Steering Committee also earnedmoney through various fundraisers including bowl-a-thons,Save the Pond dances, sale of T-shirts and sweatshirts withthe Pond’s image and a photograph signing with a TeenageMutant Ninja Turtle.

The tasks noted in this report were funded by a §319Competitive Grant, which is funded through the Environ-mental Protection Agency and administered through theDepartment of Environmental Protection, City ofEasthampton funds, Natural Resources ConservationServices Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program funding, and adonation from the Florence Savings Bank. The City and theSteering Committee have been very successful in leveraginga variety of funding sources to implement projects.

Future projects are already planned for the Pond. The Cityhas received funding through the §319 grant program toinstall Vortech catch basins and deep sump catch basins.In addition to those funds, the City is seeking funding fromthe Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the ArmyCorps of Engineers to perform a feasibility study to dredgethe Pond.

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The City government support and the support of thecommunity, especially through the Steering Committee, hasmade the accomplishments associated with this projectand past and future projects possible. The concernedcitizens of the Steering Committee are a constant presencewithin the community, promoting the importance ofprotecting the Pond.

Demonstration ProjectsUnfortunately, the demonstration projects that weredesigned by Conway School of Landscape and Designwere unable to be implemented. A recommendation forfuture projects is to obtain the property owner’s supportnot only for the design but also for the implementation ofthe demonstration BMPs.

User EducationSome vandalism has been identified at the stabilizationsites after construction was completed. Specifically, onetree was disturbed and many branches within the veg-etated stone walls have been removed. One group thatshould have been targeted for education is the users,primarily fishermen, of the stabilization sites. The City plansto install signs requesting that people respect the stabiliza-tion sites and give the vegetation time to establish.

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Bank Stabalization at the Westerly side of Area 3.

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References

Baystate Environmental Consultants. 1988.A Diagnostic/ Feasibility Study for the Management ofNashawannuck Pond, Easthampton, Massachusetts.

Baystate Environmental Consultants. 1999.Notice of Intent Pursuant to Massachusetts WetlandsProtection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.00) for theNashawannuck Pond Restoration ProjectEasthampton, Massachusetts.

Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and MassachusettsDepartment of Environmental Protection. April 2000.Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for NashawannuckPond Watershed Restoration Project – 98-05/319Easthampton, Massachusetts.

The Conway School of Landscape Design.June 1999. Nashawannuck Pond Watershed RestorationProject Educational Demonstration Sites.

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