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36-737: The Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts , United States, and was built between 1930 and 1939. Along with the Wachusett Reservoir , it is the primary water supply for Boston , 65 miles (105 km) to the east, and 40 other cities and towns in Greater Boston . The Quabbin also supplies water to three towns west of the reservoir and acts as backup supply for three others. By 1989, it supplied water for 2.5 million people, about 40% of

72-976: A colony of endangered timber rattlesnakes to Mount Zion Island on the Quabbin was suspended indefinitely in 2017 after public opposition. DWSP's Watershed Forestry page provides general information regarding the application of forest management at Quabbin and other drinking water supply watersheds. Body of water Most are naturally occurring geographical features , but some are artificial. There are types that can be either. For example, most reservoirs are created by engineering dams , but some natural lakes are used as reservoirs . Similarly, most harbors are naturally occurring bays , but some harbors have been created through construction. Bodies of water that are navigable are known as waterways . Some bodies of water collect and move water, such as rivers and streams, and others primarily hold water, such as lakes and oceans. Bodies of water are affected by gravity, which

108-452: A major swimming and boating resource but is no longer part of the potable water supply. Metropolitan Boston's demands for fresh water began to outstrip its local supplies in the early part of the nineteenth century. Many possible sources of water were explored, including groundwater and rivers, but none were considered adequate in quantity and cleanliness to meet the needs of the rapidly growing city. In 1848, after several years of controversy,

144-403: A son. Their oldest child, Lucy, (April 16, 1897 – October 9, 1989), was a professor of economics at Wellesley College . She was married to Hugh B. Killough, (December 30, 1892 – December 13, 1976) who was a professor of economics at Brown. Together they wrote many books on business, economics and industry. His early work was on water and sewer projects for Boston. He was one of the engineers on

180-419: Is what creates the tidal effects. Moreso, the impact of climate change on water is likely to intensify as observed through the rising sea levels , water acidification and flooding . This means that climate change has pressure on water bodies. Climate change significantly affects bodies of water through rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and sea-level rise. Warmer temperatures lead to

216-607: The American Society of Civil Engineers . From 1915-1926, Frank E. Winsor was chief engineer for the new water supply project for Providence, which involved the design and construction of the Scituate Reservoir and the earthen dam necessary to create it and the building of a water treatment plant. Like Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts, Scituate Reservoir is the largest body of water in its state. At

252-598: The Connecticut River , and subsequently through their state, were being illegally diverted. The lawsuit was unsuccessful, but Massachusetts was still bound by discharge minimums set under the regulatory authority of the Secretary of War over navigable waters. Specifically, the Swift River needed to maintain a 20 million gallon per day flow downriver from the dam. Before the reservoir's construction, there

288-943: The Goodnough Dike form the reservoir from impoundments of the three branches of the Swift River . The Quabbin Reservoir is part of the Chicopee River Watershed , which in turn feeds the Connecticut River . The Quabbin Spillway, which follows part of Quabbin Hill Road in Belchertown, allows water to bypass the Winsor Dam and join the Swift River when the reservoir is full. In 1947, the Massachusetts Legislature authorized

324-672: The Massachusetts General Court (the official name of the state legislature) authorized the construction of the Cochituate Aqueduct to bring water to Boston from Lake Cochituate in Wayland and Natick . This established three important policies, which remain in force today: By 1875, with demand again on the verge of exceeding supply, the Boston Water Board was established to take over

360-727: The Swift River Valley as the next extension of the water system and created the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), now the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority ( MWRA ), to oversee the construction and maintain the system after its completion. In 1926, the Ware River Act was passed, starting construction on the first stage of the project, a 12-mile long tunnel connecting Wachusett Reservoir with

396-676: The Ware River . This is called the Ware River Diversion . During the 1930s, this tunnel was extended to the Swift River . The complete tunnel is now known as the Quabbin Aqueduct . Although the project was enthusiastically supported by lawmakers in the Boston area, it was opposed by residents of the affected towns. The state of Connecticut sued Massachusetts , claiming waters that were rightfully meant to flow into

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432-611: The 1930s. Frank E. Winsor was chief engineer for the Metropolitan Water District from 1926 until his death in 1939. He was closely involved in the design and construction of Winsor Dam , Goodnough Dike and the Quabbin Reservoir. Winsor Dam is named for him. He had previously been chief engineer for the building of the Scituate Reservoir in Rhode Island . A 1922 study officially endorsed

468-821: The Quabbin's lands. Many other public buildings were moved intact to other locations. For example, the Prescott First Congregational Church was moved to South Hadley. The North Prescott Methodist Episcopal Church was moved to Orange in 1949, and then to New Salem in 1985 where it forms part of the building complex of the Swift River Valley Historical Society. The former Town Hall of Prescott now sits off of Route 32 in Petersham. Three student housing facilities at Hampshire College in Amherst are named after

504-434: The Quabbin. More complete information regarding access rules and maps of Quabbin can be found on DCR's official public access website. This large block of forested land supports a great diversity of wildlife, and has been the focus for the re-establishment of several species in Massachusetts. Bald eagles, loons, moose, deer, coyotes, black bears, foxes, and bobcats share the habitat, among others. A proposed plan to establish

540-731: The completion ceremonies for the project on September 30, 1926, Providence Mayor Joseph H. Gainer called Winsor "[T]he man to whom most of the credit for this undertaking belongs." The dam is known today as the Gainer Memorial Dam in honor of the mayor. Frank E. Winsor left his successful work on the Scituate Reservoir for Providence to go on to greater work as chief engineer for the Metropolitan District Water Supply Commission in Massachusetts. His greatest accomplishment

576-747: The construction of the Chicopee Valley Aqueduct to deliver Quabbin water to three communities in Western Massachusetts: Chicopee , South Hadley , and Wilbraham . In 1951, with the Quabbin-Wachusett system sufficient to meet foreseeable needs, the Cochituate Aqueduct was abandoned, and the Framingham Reservoir system was placed on emergency stand-by. The present Lake Cochituate is the so-called Framingham Reservoir and now serves as

612-900: The construction of two new reservoirs: one on the Nashua River northeast of Worcester , and one in the Swift River Valley . The General Court acted to establish the Metropolitan Water District, including 26 communities within ten miles (16 km) of the Massachusetts State House , later in 1895. The Wachusett Reservoir was completed in 1908. The Board of Health study had anticipated that Swift River water would be required by 1915, but this prediction had proven overly pessimistic. The introduction of mandatory water metering in Water District communities, and other efforts to reduce waste and inefficient uses, made it possible to delay construction of new water sources until

648-455: The dam began in the mid-1930s, the Swift River was redirected from its riverbed through a diversion tunnel. On August 14, 1939, that tunnel was sealed with rock. Over the next seven years, the waters of the Quabbin Reservoir slowly rose behind the newly completed Winsor Dam , an earth-filled structure 2,640 feet (800 m) long, rising 170 feet (52 m) above the riverbed, and the slightly smaller Goodnough Dike . The water gradually submerged

684-669: The design and building of the Wachusett Dam . He also did work for the Charles River Basin Commission. From 1903-1915 he worked on projects for New York City including being in charge of the construction of the Kensico and Hillview reservoirs and 32 miles of Catskill Aqueduct . Frank E. Winsor was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a director and vice president of

720-418: The discontinued towns of Greenwich, Prescott, and Enfield. In addition, Hampshire College named another facility on its campus Dana House, after the other discontinued town of Dana. Four residence halls at the nearby Eagle Hill School are also named for the four towns: Greenwich, Prescott, Dana, and Enfield. To protect the water supply from the threats from unrestricted motorized vehicle use, most areas around

756-628: The disincorporated towns was added to surrounding municipalities, including Belchertown , Pelham , New Salem , Petersham , Hardwick and Ware . One additional town on the reservoir is Shutesbury , in Franklin County. Because of New Salem's annexation of the Prescott Peninsula, a large wedge of land shifted from Hampshire County to Franklin County . Today, the majority of the reservoir lies in either New Salem or Petersham. Of

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792-516: The former Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory , once operated by the University of Massachusetts Amherst . There is a visitor center south of the reservoir, as well as an observation tower, and Enfield Lookout. This area—called Quabbin Park—is accessible by car from the south using State Route 9 . The Park is a popular spot for hiking and other outdoor activities. This area was formerly part of

828-593: The land used to make the dam, about 60,000 acres were purchased and the rest was seized by eminent domain in 1938. The town of Dana voted to voluntarily give up their land to the project. Around 2,500 residents lost their homes as part of the flooding. In addition, thirty-six miles of the Boston and Albany Railroad 's Athol Branch, the so-called "Rabbit Line", were abandoned (originally the Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Railroad). Route 21 , formerly reaching Athol,

864-738: The melting of glaciers and polar ice, contributing to rising sea levels and affecting coastal ecosystems. Freshwater bodies, such as rivers and lakes, are experiencing more frequent droughts, affecting water availability for communities and biodiversity. Moreover, ocean acidification , caused by increased carbon dioxide absorption, threatens marine ecosystems like coral reefs. Collaborative global efforts are needed to mitigate these impacts through sustainable water management practices. Bodies of water can be categorized into: There are some geographical features involving water that are not bodies of water, for example, waterfalls , geysers and rapids . Frank E. Winsor Frank E. Winsor (1870-1939)

900-717: The operations of the Cochituate Water Board, construct five new reservoirs on the Sudbury River in Framingham, Massachusetts , and a new Sudbury Aqueduct to deliver that water to the city, which was completed in 1878. In 1893, the Massachusetts Board of Health issued a report analyzing population and water-use trends, and recommended the creation of a Metropolitan Water District, serving several suburban communities in addition to Boston, and

936-427: The reservoir are publicly accessible only by foot, with limited parking available at some of the surrounding gates. Large portions of Dana are on higher ground, and its remains, predominantly cellar holes, as well as the former town center (where a historic stone marker was placed) can be visited. Much of Prescott is above water on what is now known as the Prescott Peninsula. However, Prescott cannot be visited most of

972-650: The roads that had linked the towns. It swallowed all but the peaks of about 60 hills and mountains, transforming Prescott Ridge into Prescott Peninsula. The Quabbin Reservoir was full, for the first time, in June 1946. In 1941, the land that would become the Prescott Peninsula became the Quabbin Reservoir Precision Bombing and Gunnery Range . The range was used by Army Air Forces and later US Air Force planes from both Hanscom Army Air Field and Westover Army Air Field from 1941 through 1951. It

1008-707: The state's population at the time. It has an aggregate capacity of 412 billion US gallons (1,560 GL) and an area of 38.6 square miles (99.9 km). Quabbin Reservoir water flows to the Wachusett Reservoir through the Quabbin Aqueduct . The Quabbin watershed is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation , while the water supply system is operated by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority . The Winsor Dam and

1044-467: The town of Enfield , which was annexed by Belchertown Fishing is allowed in designated areas in the northern portions of the reservoir. Three boat launch areas are available, and to prevent spread of aquatic invasive species private boats must be cleaned before being permitted on the Reservoir. DCR provides a number of rental boats as well. Current Massachusetts state record lake trout (25 lb 7 oz) and walleye (11 lb 0 oz) were caught in

1080-591: The towns flooded by the reservoir were removed. Some cellar holes were left intact while others, chiefly in Prescott and below the flow line, were filled in. Old roads that once led to the flooded towns can be followed to the water's edge. Not all elements of the towns were destroyed, however. Town memorials and cemeteries in the four towns were moved to Quabbin Park Cemetery, located on Route 9 in Ware, just off

1116-413: The year due to state restrictions, although there is an annual tour of the town conducted by the Swift River Valley Historical Society. A few houses and roads exist which were once part of North Prescott (now New Salem ), and there is a town line marker just north of the gates, indicating the former town line for Prescott. Cellar holes have been filled near the center of what was once Prescott to accommodate

Quabbin Reservoir - Misplaced Pages Continue

1152-752: Was a hill in Enfield called Quabbin Hill and a lake in Greenwich called Quabbin Lake. These were from the Nipmuc word meaning "place of many waters" or "meeting of many waters", and became the basis for naming the new reservoir. The Quabbin was formed by inundating the Swift River Valley , a drainage basin lying entirely within the state, by damming the river and a col , through which Beaver Brook would have otherwise provided another outlet for its water. When construction on

1188-655: Was also used for practice landings. In the late 2000s the site was surveyed by state authorities and the federal Formerly Used Defense Sites program for potential unexploded ordnance or other contamination in the area. The Quabbin's creation required the flooding, and thus the disincorporation, of four towns in April 1938: Dana (located in Worcester County ), Enfield , Greenwich , and Prescott (all located in Hampshire County ). The land remaining from

1224-556: Was born November 16, 1870, in Providence, Rhode Island and died on January 30, 1939, a resident of West Newton, Massachusetts , where he had lived for many years at 189 Mt. Vernon Street. He received a Ph.B in 1892, an A.M. in 1896 an Sc.D. in 1929, all from Brown University . He later sat on Brown's Board of Trustees. He was licensed as a Civil Engineer in 1892. On October 25, 1893, Frank E. Winsor married Catherine Holbrook Burton, who later taught at Brown. They had two daughters and

1260-646: Was the chief engineer for the Boston Metropolitan District Water Supply Commission, now the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority , from 1926 until his death in 1939 and was closely involved in the design and construction of Winsor Dam and Goodnough Dike which were built by the Commission to create the Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts . Winsor Dam was named for him. Frank Edward Winsor

1296-420: Was truncated to the south side of the reservoir, and new roads—now US 202 and Route 32A —were built, respectively, on the western and eastern side of the reservoir. The designation of Route 109 was removed in 1933 from the road once running from Pittsfield to West Brookfield and leading into Enfield Centre from the southeast; and a different road southwest of Boston received that designation. The buildings in

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