Fluvial Geomorphic and Habitat Assessment of the South River Watershed Project is Underway – July 2011
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) awarded the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) a 604b Water Quality Management Planning Grant to conduct a Fluvial Geomorphic and Habitat Assessment of the South River Watershed.
The Franklin Regional Council of Governments is partnering with the Deerfield River Watershed Association (DRWA) to conduct the habitat assessment of the watershed. The FRCOG has hired a qualified fluvial geomorphology consultant to conduct the geomorphic assessment of the South River, which will provide information on the causes of erosion, channel instability and habitat degradation. Field work has begun this month.
Once these factors are understood, long-term cost-effective solutions can be identified that will minimize the need for further costly repairs and improve aquatic habitat. This project will provide conceptual restoration designs for 4 reaches and a final engineering design for the highest priority restoration site.
FRCOG is also partnering with the Friends of the South River and DRWA to implement a Public Education and Outreach program to inform residents who live in the South River Watershed about the relationship between river channel dynamics, land use activities, and water quality to generate community cooperation and support for future restoration and river bank stabilization projects.
A Project Kick-off Meeting will be scheduled soon so if you’d like to have your name added to the project mailing list or you’d like further information about the project, please contact:
Kimberly Noake MacPhee, P.G.,
FRCOG Land Use and Natural Resources Program Manager
natres@frcog.org
413.774.1194 x103