Study Appendices

445 Pages·2001·13.6 MB·English

Appendices
August 1981
81 k t·n Riv r
Watershed
TC423
• N43B621
1981
LIm lin l!J' [ , " ..
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Data E n te, .d )
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE READ INSTRUCTIONS
,. BEFORE COMPLETING FORM
1. REPORT NUMBER 2. GOVT ACCESSION NO. RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NUMBER
<. TITLE (and Subtitle) 5. TYPE OF REPORT 6: PERIOD COVERED
PAWCATUCK RIVER AND NARRAGANSETT BAY DRAINAGE APPENDICES TO MAIN REPORT
BASINS WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCES STUDY
BLACKSTONE RIVER WATERSHED - APPENDICES <. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER
7. AUTHOR(a) 8. CONTRACT OR GRANT NUMBER(a)
U.S. ARMY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
NEW ENGLAND DIVISION
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. PROGRAM ELEMENT, PROJECT, TASK
AREA 6: WORK UNIT NUMBERS
DEPT. OF THE ARMY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
NEW ENGLAND DIVISION - NEDPL-R
424 TRAPET.n ROAD WAJ.THAM MASS on <;4
11. CONTROLLING OFFICE NAME AND ADDRESS 12. REPORT DATE
...
Allr,IIST 1 qRl
NUMBER OF PAGES
",n
1""J4. MONITORING AGENCY NAME 6: ADDRESS(U'dlf/erent from Contt'ollin, Office) 15. SECURITY CLASS. (of thla report)
UNCLASSIFIED
15a. DECLASSI FICATIONi DOWN GRADING
SCHEDULE
.<. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (at thl. Report)
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELF.ASE: DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED
'n
17. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (01 the abstract entered Block 20, If different from Report)
'8. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
Eight Appendices to Main Report
Cover Title reads: Blackstone Watershed
Ri~er
19. KEY WORDS (Continue on reveree elde It neceae.."... and Idontlty by block number)
Flood Control Flood frequency
Flood for ecosting Fleod protection
Rainfall Floods
Runoff,
20., ABST"'AACr ('C'ont:f:aue _ ,.".,.. . .co ,.f ~ cml.ldonllty by block numbOf')
The eight appendices to the main report provides descriptive material
abbut the Blackstone River Basin. Appendices included in this volume are:
problem identificat ion, plan formulation, public views and responses,
design and cost estimates, recreation and natural resources, social and
cultural resources, economics, and hydrologic analysis.
DO FORM 1473 ED.TION OF , NOV 55 IS OBSOl.ETE
\ .JANn
SECURiTY CLASSIFICATION OF TH!S p"GE (1Iflton n.t. Entered)
SECU"ITY CLASSIFICATlO,N OF THIS ~~_GE(Whcm D.t~ Entered)
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE(W1l1m Data Entered)
PAWCATUCK RIVER AND NARRAGANSETT BAY DRAINAGE BASINS
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WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCES STUDY
-- ----
BLACKSTONE RIVER WATERSHED
INDEX OF APPENDICES
NO. TITLE
1 PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
2 PLAN FORMULATION
3 PUBLIC VIEWS AND RESPONSES
4 DESIGN AND COST ESTIMATES
5 RECREATION AND NATURAL RESORUCES
6 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE
7 ECONOMICS
8 HYDROLOGIC ANALYSIS
Department of the Army
New England Division, Corps of Engineers
Waltham, Massachusetts
August 1981
!
APPENDIX 1
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1-1
PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY 1-2
Objectives 1-4
Alternatives 1-5
SCOPE OF THE STUDY 1-6
STUDY PARTICIPANTS AND COORDINATION 1-6
THE REPORT 1-8
PRIOR STUDIES AND REPORTS 1-8
NENYlAC Report 1-8
N.E. Flood Studies Report 1-8
Report of Study - Blackstone River 1-8
Master Manual of Reservoir Regulations 1-9
Flood of March 1968 in Eastern Massachusetts and
Rhode Island 1-9
Flood Plain Information Reports 1-9
Planning Aid Report on Climatology & Hydrology 1-9
Reconnaissance Report of the Providence River Group 1-10
Site Preservation for Water Resources Project 1-10
Flood Insurance Studies 1-10
Southeastern New England (SENE) Report 1-12
Water Resources Development Study 1-12
Environmental Report 1-13
Water Quality Management Plans 1-13
STUDY AREA 1-13
RESOURCES AND ECONOMY OF THE STUDY AREA 1-14
EXISTING CONDITIONS 1-14
Environmental Setting and Natural Resources 1-14
Principal Rivers 1-14
Climate 1-17
Topography 1-19
Geology 1-19
Mineral Resources 1-21
Ground Water 1-22
l-i
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Contd)
ITEM
Water Supply 1-23
Water Quality 1-23
Vegetative Cover 1-26
Fish and Wildlife 1-26
Aesthetic Conditions 1-28
Historic and Archaeological Resources 1-29
HUMAN RESOURCES 1-30
Population 1-30
Major Skills and Occupations 1-31
Income and Education Levels 1-35
Housing 1-35
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMY 1-36
Historical and Cultural Development 1-36
Economic Development 1-38
Land Use Characteristics 1-41
Recreation 1-43
Transportation Facilities 1-44
FLOOD PROBLUI5
1-45
IMPROVEMENTS DESIRED 1-52
Local Support and Desires 1-52
New Threat Added 1-56
WITHOUT CONDITION PROFILE 1-56
The Future Population 1-57
Future Floods 1-58
Future Economy 1-61
Future Development 1-65
Summary of the Socia-Economic Outlook 1-66
l-ii
TABLES
TITLE
1-1 ALTERNATIVE FLOOD REDUCTION MEASURES I-SA
1-2 FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT STATUS 1-11
1-3 MEAN MONTHLY TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION AND SNOWFALL
WORCESTER, MASS. AND PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND 1-18A
1-4 EXISTING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS - BLACKSTONE RIVER
BASIN, RHODE ISLAND 1-23A
1-5 EXISTING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS - BLACKSTONE RIVER
BASIN, MASSACHUSETTS 1-23B
1-6 POPULATION CHANGES, 1960-1975, CITIES AND TOWNS OF
THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY 1-33
1-7 POPULATION DENSITY - STUDY AREA COMMUNITIES 1-34
1-8 PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL EMPLOYED WORKERS
BY OCCUPATION FOR THE IMPACT AREA 1-31A
1-9 INCOME AND EDUCATION LEVELS FOR STUDY AREA
COMMUNITIES 1970 1-35A
1-10 HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS FOR BLACKSTONE VALLEY 1-35B
1-11 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED - 1972, 1973
FOR BLACKSTONE VALLEY 1-35C
1-12 HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS FOR IMPACT AREA COMMUNITIES 1-35D
1-13 POPULATION PROJECTIONS 1990, 2000, 2020 1-60
1-14 SENE FORECASTS OF INDUSTRY SHARE OF REGIONAL 1-63
EXPORT EARNINGS 1959-1990
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FIGURES
TITLE
.. ~ .. '
NO. PAGE
1-1 TRACKS OF SELECTED HURRICANES I-19A
1-2 BLACKSTONE RiVER BASIN - SURFICIAL GEOLOGY MAP 1-21A
1-3 UNITED STATES POPULATION BY AGE 1-59
1-4 TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME 1-64
PLATES
NO. TITLE PAGE
1 PNB BASIN MAP 1-67
I-tv
INTRODUCTION
This Appendix provides descriptive material about the
Blackstone River Basin and will serve as a background for later
presentation of flood management problems.
The Blackstone River Basin constitutes the major portion of
the Providence River watershed, one of the five segments forming
the Pawtucatuck River - Narragansett Bay Drainage Basins (PNB)
Study area which lies within southeastern Massachusetts, most of
Rhode Island, and extreme southeastern Connecticut. The
Blackstone River study area includes all of the Blackstone River
tributaries in the vicinity of Worcester, Massachusetts to the
estuary at Pawtucket, Providence and East Providence, Rhode
Island, but excludes the Ten Hile subbasin at the southeastern
limits of the Blackstone River Basin (see Plate 1-1).
This report is based on information relative to rainfall,
runoff, historical flood heights and other technical data bearing
upon the frequency and size of floods in the study area.
Residents along the river have been interviewed and newspaper
files and historical documents have been searched for information
concerning past floods. From these investigations and from
studies of possible future floods on the Blackstone River, the
local flood situation, both past and future, has developed.
Two phases of the flood situation along the river are covered
in this report. The first presents a record of the largest known
historic floods in the area. The second presents probable flood
levels in the event of a recurrence of the historic floods or an
occurrence of an Intermediate Regional Flood, or a Standard
Project Flood.
Appropriate consideration should be given to the possible
future occurrence of historic floods, the Intermediste Regional
Flood, and the Standard Project Flood when development in the
flood plains of the lower Blackstone River are desired.
Maps, profiles, and cross sections which show the extent of
flooding that has been experienced and that which might occur in
the future in the Blackstone River areas are included in this
report. From the profiles and cross sections, the probable depth
of flooding at any location in the study area may be obtained.
With this information floor levels for buildings may be planned
high enough to avoid flood damage or, at lower elevations, the
chance, and hazards of flooding may be recognized.
1-1