| OCR Text |
Show Industrial pollution and public water supply.- Domestic water supplies do not depend on the main stem of the river. A principal source is a large number of natural and artificial ponds and lakes on the tributaries. Accordingly, there is compara- tively little conflict between industry and public supplies where surface sources are concerned. Forty communities in the basin obtain their domestic supplies entirely from ground water wells. According to the Public Health Service, about 52,000 people are thus served. In addition, the development of these wells for supplementary use, both domestic and industrial, has been increasing in recent years as a result of the effects of drought on surface supplies. Ground water is used to sup- plement surface water during low flow periods. Yet reliable data of basin-wide extent are lacking to determine the capacity of these supplies. Fur- thermore, few data are available on the relation of rate of ground water drain to surface waters and pollution abatement. Reservation of watersheds exclusively for public supply.-The policy of setting aside a substantial portion of the watershed exclusively for public water supply is presenting a problem of conflict with recreational use that may grow as population increases. While a few water supply sources are open to lixnited recreational use, and some former sources are now devoted entirely to recreation, past unfortunate experiences with joint use of water supply facilities have encouraged continued reserva- tion of a number of small watersheds from recrea- tional use. Facilities for forms of recreation related to water therefore may be locally inadequate. State authorities are reported by the Public Health Service to "be well aware of the problem, and where possible they are attempting to withdraw from water supjply use those bodies of water which have greater economic value for recreation. Conclusions (1) The adequacy of ground water supplies in the basin r*.as a bearing on problems of future com- munity and industrial growth in parts of the basin, and on a piroper river development program. In- formation at the present time, however, is not available to assess fully the capacity of these sup- plies. Adequate data for such an analysis should therefore l>e collected. (2) Study directed toward further adjustment between exclusive use of watersheds for public water 498 supplies and water needs for recreation in the same areas should be part of a comprehensive program for the basin. (3) Multiple-purpose reservoirs will provide op- portunities for resolving conflicts associated with public and industrial water supply in some districts, like those concerning pollution, and therefore are to be encouraged. 4. Weight To Be Given Fishery Production When in Conflict With Other Purposes The Problem Can fisheries in the basin be made compatible with further water developments, and what policies should prevail in deciding upon future projects? The Situation Commercial fisheries in the past have represented an important resource within the basin, and are still important on the lower river. During the early period of settlement the basin was noted for migra- tory fishes, especially Atlantic salmon, shad, ale- wives, sturgeon, and lamprey eels. A dam con- structed at Turners Falls, Mass., in 1798 caused the disappearance of salmon and shad in the New Hampshire and Vermont portion of the basin. The Holyoke Dam was built in 1849. In spite of arti- ficial propagation and attempts to make this dam passable, shad and salmon eventually disappeared above Holyoke. Salmon now have been completely eliminated from the river, but shad fisheries below Holyoke recently have recovered from a gradual decline, and now represent a value in excess of $200,- 000 annually. The construction of a proposed dam at Enfield, Conn., unless fishways are provided, would virtually eliminate the present shad fisheries. Warm water game species inhabit the lakes, ponds, and other main stem waters of the basin. The tributaries are important trout streams, those in the southern half of the basin being heavily stocked with legal-sized, artificially propagated trout and other species. Pollution in the past probably has adversely af- fected the fisheries resources as much as have the dams which eliminated free passage. Both domes- tic sewage and industrial wastes in the middle and lower parts of the valley have contributed to de- terioration of the fish habitat. |
