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The Blackstone

The Blackstone. Water Quality for River Users Donna Williams. Water Quality Issues of Interest to River Users Aquatic Life/Fish and Wildlife Habitat Primary and Secondary Contact Recreation Fish Consumption Uses as defined by Mass DEP and RIDEM.

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The Blackstone

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  1. The Blackstone Water Quality for River Users Donna Williams

  2. Water Quality Issues of Interest to River Users Aquatic Life/Fish and Wildlife Habitat Primary and Secondary Contact Recreation Fish Consumption Uses as defined by Mass DEP and RIDEM

  3. Aquatic Life/Fish and Wildlife Habitat The Aquatic Life Useis supported when suitable habitat (including water quality) is available for sustaining a native, naturally diverse, community of aquatic flora and fauna.

  4. e s : U r b a n r u n o f f , h y d r o m o d i f i c a t i o n ( u p s t r e a m i m p o u n d m e n t ) , h a b i t a t m o d i f i c a t i o n L E G E N D S u p p o r t N I m p a i r e d ( p a r t i a l s u p p o r t a n d n o n - s u p p o r t ) N o t A s s e s s e d U n a s s e s s e d w a t e r s 4 0 4 S e g m e n t B r e a k BLACKSTONE RIVER BASIN AQUATIC LIFE USE/FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT ASSESSMENT SUMMARY B e a v e r B r o o k M A 5 1 - 0 7 N n - S u p p o r t . 0 m i l e C a u s e s : H a b i t a t a l r a t i o n , u n k n o w n Main Stem in Massachusetts and Rhode Island: Non-Support S o u r c e s : C h a n n e l i z a t i o n , h a b i t a t m o d i f i c a t i o n , a n d u n k n o w n 8 M i l e s

  5. Aquatic Life/Fish and Wildlife Habitat Impairments: MA RI Habitat alteration Copper Organic enrichment Dissolved Oxygen Nutrients Total Phosphorus Toxicity Benthic Macroinver- Flow alterations tebrate bioassessment Metals

  6. Primary and Secondary Contact Recreation • PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION - suitable for any recreation or other water use in which there is prolonged and intimate contact with the water with a significant risk of ingestion of water. • These include, but are not limited to, wading, swimming, diving, surfing and water skiing. • SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION - suitable for any recreation or other water use in which contact with the water is either incidental or accidental. • These include, but are not limited to, fishing, boating and limited contact incident to shoreline activities.

  7. U n n a m e d T r i b u t a r y - " M i l l B r o o k " M A 5 1 - 0 8 N o n - S u p p o r t 3 . 0 m i l e s C a u s e s : O i l a n d g r e a s e , o d o r S o u r c e s : U r b a n r u n o f f , i l l i c i t s e w e r c o n n e c t i o n s B e a v e r B r o o k M A 5 1 - 0 7 N o n - S u p p o r t 3 . 0 m i l e s C a u s e s : P a t h o g e s S o u r c e s : U r b a n r u n o f f , i l l i c i t s e w e r c o n n e c t i o n B l a c k s t o n e R i v e r M A 5 1 - 0 3 N o n - S u p p o r t 9 . 0 m i l e s C a u s e s : P a t h o g e n s S o u r c e s : U r b a n r u n o f f , i l l i c i t s e w e r c o n n e c t i o n s , t r a s h / d e b r i s , t u r b i d i t y i d d l e R i v e r M A 5 1 - 0 2 N o n - S u p p o r t 2 . 5 m i l e s C a u s e s : P a t h o g e n s S o u r c e s : U r b a n r u n o f f , i l l i c i t s e w e r c o n n e c t i o n s B l a c k s t o n e R i v e r M A 5 1 - 0 4 N o n - S u p p o r t 8 . 7 m i l e s C a u s e s : P a t h o g e n s , t u r b i d i t y S o u r c e s : M u n i c i p a l p o i n t s o u r c e s , C S O , u r b a n r u n o f f L E G E N D S u p p o r t l a c k s t o n e R i v e r M A 5 1 - 0 5 P a r t i a l S u p p o r t 7 . 4 m i l e s I m p a i r e d ( p a r t i a l s u p p o r t a n d n o n - s u p p o r t ) C a u s e s : P a t h o g e n s S o u r c e s : M u n i c i p a l p o i n t s o u r c e s , u r b a n r u n o f f N o t A s s e s s e d U n a s s e s s e d w a t e r s S e g m e n t B r e a k N B l a c k s t o n e i v e r M A 5 1 - 0 6 4 0 4 8 M i l e s P a r t i a l S u p p o r t 3 . 7 m i l e s C a u s e s : P a t h o g e n s , o d o r , t u r b i d i t y S o u r c e s : M u n i c i p a l p o i n t s o u r c e , u r b a n r u n o f f BLACKSTONE RIVER BASIN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATIONAL USE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY - RIVERS Main Stem: Non-Support Partial Support Non-Support

  8. Primary and Secondary Contact Recreation Impairments: MA RI Non-support Fecal coliform Wet weather – not supporting Turbidity Dry weather – Oil, grease, odors - supporting enterococci criteria - not supporting fecal coliform Partial Support: criteria Fecal coliform Odors Turbidity

  9. Fish Consumption FISH CONSUMPTION – Pollutants shall not result in unacceptable concentrations in edible portions of marketable fish or shellfish or for the recreational use of fish, shellfish, other aquatic life or wildlife for human consumption

  10. Fish Consumption Main Stem: resident fish MA Assessed segments: Non-Support PCB, blanket impairment for Mercury RI Not Supporting PCB, Mercury in fish tissue Does not apply to non-resident or anadromous fish.

  11. Fish Consumption Massachusetts Fish Consumption Advisory for assessed segments - for resident fish: “Children under 12, pregnant women and nursing mothers should not consume fish from Riverdale Pond/Rice City Pond/impoundment above Blackstone Gorge in order to prevent exposure of developing fetuses and young children to PCBs.” “The general public should limit consumption of all fish species from Riverdale Pond/Rice City Pond/impoundment above Blackstone Gorge to two meals per month.”

  12. Major Causes of Impairments Bacteria: Wet Weather: Stormwater Combined Sewer Overflows Dry Weather: Illicit sewer connections Nutrients: Stormwater Wastewater treatment plants Combined Sewer Overflow

  13. Blackstone River Coalition BHC BRWA BRWC/FOB

  14. Blackstone River CoalitionWatershed-wide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring ProgramReport Card for 2008 Monitoring Season Aesthetics Temp DO % Sat Nutrients

  15. Advice to River Users: - Practice catch-and-release when fishing. - Exercise common sense in exposure to river. Following contact with river water, people should wash thoroughly, clean boots and shoes. ENJOY!!!

  16. Campaign for a Fishable/Swimmable Blackstone River by 2015 We Can Do It – You Can Help! The Blackstone River Coalition

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