Conservation Commission
Meeting
September 4, 2008
No Quorum
Peg Arguimbau, Chairman, and Elizabeth McGrath were present.
7:45 p.m., Paul Lauenstein met with the Commission to discuss the following:
· How to protect coldwater fisheries in Beaver Brook
· What the Commission should be doing to mitigate well pumping impacts
Paul Lauenstein appeared before the Commission and explained that a stream flow monitoring program was established in June 2007 to evaluate the impact from municipal wells. The following is a list of the monitoring program locations:
· Wolomolopoag Street ditch - To monitor how much water is discharging from the brook at Cedar Swamp. Paul explained that is just one little piece of a big puzzle.
· Beaver Brook - Two monitoring systems have been placed upstream and one downstream from Well #4 to monitor the impact to Beaver Brook from the municipal well, which is pumping one million GPD. The results indicate that there is significantly less water flowing downstream from Well #4, as opposed to upstream, when the water volume is low.
· Billings Brook - Three monitoring systems have been placed downstream from the proposed lifestyle mall on Old Post Road. Stream flow gauges have been installed in the following locations:
· At the outflow of Gavins Pond, downstream form Well #7
· Billings Brook by the Bridge on Gavins Pond Road, near the Soccer
Field Parking Lot
· Billings Brook behind Shaw’s Plaza
Paul mentioned that more information is available on the Town’s website, www.rifls.org.
Paul was excited to announce that brook trout has been found in Beaver Brook. He presented the Commission with photos of brook trout that were caught in the Brook. He said that the smaller fish indicates that a reproducing population of brook trout exists in Beaver Brook.
Peg inquired how Paul obtained the information about the presence of trout in Beaver Brook.
Paul replied that he heard rumors of trout existing in the brook.
Paul had requested an inspection from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife to classify the stream as a coldwater fishery. He was present during the inspection and said that approximately forty-trout were found in the cooler water upstream of Beaver Brook. Their length and species were recorded. Paul anticipates that Beaver Brook would be classified as a cold-water fishery by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife as a result of their inspection.
Paul expressed to the Commission that he is interested in the protection of coldwater streams from potential new developments in Sharon. He presented to the Commission, a list of suggestions for the protection of coldwater streams, prepared by Russ Cohen, Rivers Advocate, Mass. Dept .of Fish and Game. The first suggestion on the list is as follows:
· Find out where the wild trout/coldwater streams are within your community.
(Paul explained to the Commission that he is investigating other streams in Town for the presence of brook trout. He has heard rumors of the presence of trout in another stream in Town.)
Page 2 SCC 9/4/08 No Quorum Meeting
Paul also mentioned to the Commission that DEP might be issuing a new type of permit to regulate how much water the Town would be allowed to discharge from the ground.
Paul said that last year, Billings Brook dried up downstream due to Well #7. He showed the Commission photos of Billings Brook during a one month sequence from 8/7/07 – 9/5/07. Eventually, Billings Brook dried up downstream by November 5th. A photo of Billings Brook, upstream of Gavin’s Pond, showed the water flowing nicely. Paul said that water is only flowing into Gavin’s Pond. Well # 5 and #7 are drying up Billings Brook by drawing water from the ground. The outflow from Gavin’s Pond completely dried up for approximately one week. He said that spawning suckers are being blocked by the dam at Beaver Brook. As an example of fragmentation of habitat, Paul showed the Commission a photo of a sucker trying to ascend the culvert under Massapoag Avenue to spawn this spring. He said that if
the two pipes were lowered or if one big pipe was installed at the bottom and positioned flush with the water, the fish would not have a problem ascending the culvert. He said that the same principle applies for brook trout. A fish ladder might be a possible solution for fish to be able to reach their spawning areas.
Paul anticipates that within two-three years, there might be a new development in Town with water consumption of approximately 200,000 GPD. He said that a lot of that water would have a disproportionate impact on the actual amount. Paul feels that the potential
Brickstone Development will account for 100,000 GPD coming out from Beaver Brook and discharge into Easton or Stoughton. He said that water will leach away from the aquifer from which it originated.
Peg expressed her appreciation to Paul for his presentation.
The information he presented to the Commission will be recorded into the office files.
9:00 p.m. The meeting ended.
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