BUILDING BLUE IN FRANKLIN

New! View photos of rain garden construction at Parmenter Elementary School

Background

In 2007, US Environmental Protection Agency and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection published the Lower Charles River Nutrient Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Report which verified what CRWA has long suspected: stormwater runoff is carrying excessive volumes of phosphorus into the Charles River and its tributaries.  Click here to learn more about CRWA's TMDL work in the Upper Charles.

This phosphorus-laden runoff is degrading the river environment, and drastic cuts in phosphorus inputs to the river are necessary to ensure the future health of the Charles.  While some of these cuts can be achieved through further treatment of wastewater, the vast majority of reductions need to be achieved through reducing stormwater runoff (a.k.a. non-point source pollution). Click here to read more about phosphorus in the Charles River. 
  
In 2008, CRWA received funding from the Cox Family Charitable Lead Trust to demonstrate how the Town of Franklin, Massachusetts can achieve the necessary reductions determined in the Lower Charles River Nutrient TMDL.

Goals & Objectives

Yellow area indicates the Spruce Pond Brook subwatershed, CRWA's study area

This project aims to demonstrate how municipalities can meet existing (and emerging) environmental regulatory requirements while also enhancing environmental health and increasing water resource sustainability. CRWA, worked with the Town of Franklin to review and evaluate the use of various stormwater treatment practices, with a focus on low impact development (LID) treatments practices.  CRWA then developed design options which incorporate stormwater treatment practices in a way that also lead to public realm enhancement and improved access to open space.  These design options were evaluated based on their stormwater treatment efficacy, costs, and overall impacts and benefits.  CRWA’s ultimate goal wes to develop a subwatershed plan that will enable the community to meet the requirements of the TMDL at the least cost and with maximum environmental benefit.

Project Tasks & Highlights

In March 2009, CRWA and the Town selected the Spruce Pond Brook subwatershed as the study area to develop a plan to comply with the Charles River Nutrient Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).  Selection of this subwatershed was based on an evaluation of existing environmental conditions, the potential for environmental improvements, and the municipality’s plans and priorities for the area. Click here to download and read our Subwatershed Selection Report.

CRWA undertook an extensive analysis of the existing conditions in the Spruce Pond Brook sub-watershed through conducting site visits, meetings between CRWA and Town officials, research, and GIS analysis. The data was then compiled into a report to help CRWA and the Town gain a thorough understanding of potential non-point source pollution issues and historic hydrology of the study area, aid in identifying priorities for sub-watershed restoration and concept designs, and highlight potential challenges to retrofit design. 

Land use patterns in Franklin, 2005

The subwatershed retrofit design focussed primarily on incorporating LID stormwater management techniques and practices throughout the subwatershed on both public and private properties. CRWA also used a stormwater model to estimate the effects of various designs and their relative costs.  As a first step, CRWA modelled runoff from the subwatershed as it exists today to provide a baseline of estimated pollutant runoff from individual sites, as well as from the entire subwatershed.  CRWA then used the models to assess the potential improvements achieved through our stormwater retrofit designs and measure our progress toward meeting the TMDL requirements. We also performed a cost comparisons of various design alternatives.  Based on this information, as well as community goals and preferences, CRWA developed a specific set of stormwater treatment recommendations for the subwatershed and presented this plan to the appropriate local decision-makers.  Click here to read the final stormwater management plan for Spruce Pond Brook subwatershed.

Education of municipal officials and the public was integral to the project.  CRWA used this project as a way to communicate to the community the importance of achieving the requirements of the Nutrient TMDL, the need to control polluted stormwater runoff, and the benefits of recharging stormwater into the ground to replenish local groundwater supplies. Click here for a copy of CRWA's presentation to the community from May 24, 2010.

Click here to read an article from the Milford Daily News on Franklin's plans to implement the management plan.

For more information

 Please contact Pallavi Mande if you would like more information on this project.

CRWA's mapping capabilities are made possible through the generous support of ESRI, Inc. the makers of ArcMap software. CRWA regularly uses ArcMap for mapping, managing data, and conducting spatial analyses.

ESRI and the ESRI Logo are licensed trademarks of Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.

Updated December 2011