What
is the Housatonic watershed?
A watershed is often defined as “the
catchment area of a river system”; in other words, it is a place where water
collects. It is an area of land that
catches precipitation and drains into a marsh, stream, lake, river, ocean or
groundwater. A watershed refers to the
entire area that drains to a particular river or creek and each watershed is
unique. We all live in a watershed, each
with its own special characteristics resulting from the combination of soil,
water, air, plants and animals. When we
study watersheds, we look at specific features such as size, geographic
boundaries, topography, soil type, and plant and animal life.
The Housatonic
River starts in 3 places surrounding Pittsfield. The East Branch begins at Muddy Pond in Washington, the West Branch begins from Pontoosuc Lake
in Lanesboro, and the Southwest Branch originates from
Richmond Pond in Richmond. The river then flows 150 miles though western
Massachusetts and Connecticut, before finally emptying into the Long Island Sound. The Housatonic River Watershed has a drainage
area of approximately 1,950 square miles, one third of which is in Massachusetts.
The Housatonic
has many features, including both swift
and meandering river segments,
streams, wetlands, lakes, ponds, and aquifers.
It is a valuable resource and the Housatonic
watershed is habitat to many diverse plant and animal species. The changes in topography and soils that
occur provide multiple types of habitats, some of which support rare and
endangered species of plants and animals.
This river, from its beginnings in Berkshire County through the 150 miles to the Long
Island Sound flows through a variety of conditions. The river travels through agricultural,
residential and industrial areas. These
conditions result in stresses on the water quality and the life in the
river. The consequent hazards faced by
the river include agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment problems and
industrial pollution.
One of the major pollution issues faced by
the Housatonic is high levels of PCBs. PCBs are polychlorinated biphenyls; man-made
chemicals that are non-flammable and chemically stable. PCBs have a high boiling point and electrical
insulating properties, which is why they were used for many industrial
applications. PCB use was banned in 1977
when it became evident that they build up environmentally and when they became
linked to a wide range of health problems.
Research has connected PCBs to neurotoxic conditions, including
developmental disorders, learning disabilities, immunological and
endocrinological problems and many kinds of cancers. PCBs attach to river sediment and soils and
consequently collect in the fatty tissues of fish and ducks and other animals,
making some areas of the river hazardous for human use.
Residential areas can cause problems from
storm water runoff and sewage overflow, among other things. Storm water runoff carries salts, debris,
oil, and chemicals into the river. Agricultural
areas can cause a different runoff into the watershed from excessive
pesticides, fertilizers and manure.
Despite all the challenges faced by the Housatonic as well as countless other rivers across the
country, it is in the process of being restored. While there are problem areas along the
river, it is considered by many to be a natural treasure. The Housatonic River
has problem areas, but it is generally characterized by high water quality, and
is a valuable habitat for many plants and animals.