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39-802: Water flows from the Quabbin Reservoir to the Wachusett Reservoir using natural siphon action, through a tunnel called the Quabbin Aqueduct . This aqueduct is one of the longest in the world. The high point for the tunnel route is at the Ware River in South Barre, Massachusetts , near State Route 122 and Coldbrook Road. At this point, a facility called the Ware River Diversion exists to control

78-460: A ceremony that drew 100,000 people. By 1951, four major aqueducts were delivering water to Boston. The Cochituate system was unnecessary with its water declining in quality and requiring treatment. It was thus abandoned, and portions were purchased in 1952 by the City of Newton for sewer lines. It is now part of a trail system, with granite bridges and gatehouses still intact along its route. In 2010,

117-588: 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. Cochituate Aqueduct The Cochituate Aqueduct was an aqueduct in Massachusetts that brought water to Boston from 1848 to 1951. The aqueduct formed

156-556: A key link in Boston's first major water supply system. Its genesis dates to 1845, when a Sudbury River tributary was impounded to form Lake Cochituate in Natick . The artificial lake, with 17 square miles (44 square kilometres) of watershed, 2 billion US gallons (7,600,000 m ) of storage, and yield of 10 million US gallons (38,000 m ) of water per day, became the cornerstone of Boston's public water system. The aqueduct

195-452: 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,

234-525: 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

273-566: The Charles River into Newton on a stone bridge. There is a commemorative plaque in a small open park facing Cedar Street. The aqueduct crossing of the river is via an iron siphon tube, whose original control houses on both sides have been demolished. In Newton, the aqueduct is located in the median dividing the lanes of Waban Avenue, and passes near the Waban MBTA station , before snaking through residential parts of Waban to skirt

312-600: 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

351-1000: 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

390-673: 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

429-744: The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority issued a Use Permit to the Natick Conservation Commission for 16 acres (65,000 m ) of the Natick section for future conservation and recreation purposes. Portions of the aqueduct route have been overbuilt by roads and other construction, but it is in many areas still discernible. The Cochituate Aqueduct begins at a gatehouse on the east side of Lake Cochituate, north of Massachusetts Route 30 . It passes roughly eastward, eventually running along

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468-475: The Quabbin Aqueduct . This facility, consisting of a dam and hydraulic control systems, diverts the water from the Ware River into the aqueduct to either start a natural siphon or to store excess Ware River water in the Quabbin Reservoir . The Ware River Diversion is part of the Chicopee River Watershed . On June 15, 1987, the Ware River Intake, which is where the water goes into the diversion,

507-727: 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

546-500: 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

585-680: 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

624-824: 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

663-498: 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

702-750: The aqueduct route from the Ware River Diversion to the Wachusett Reservoir is open, diversion of water from the Ware River water into both the Wachusett and the Quabbin Reservoir routes will start the siphon . Once the siphon starts, water from the Ware River Diversion stops and the water flows from the Quabbin to the Wachusett Reservoirs continue naturally. 42°23′25″N 72°03′37″W  /  42.3904°N 72.0602°W  / 42.3904; -72.0602 Quabbin Reservoir The Quabbin Reservoir

741-747: 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

780-901: 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

819-456: 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

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858-418: 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

897-628: 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

936-516: 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

975-595: 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,

1014-718: 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

1053-427: 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

1092-652: 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

1131-731: The southern edge of Cold Spring Park. It proceeds northeasterly to skirt the northern edge of the Newton Centre Playground, where the Sudbury Aqueduct runs along the playground's south side. It then loops northward around Prospect Hill before turning southeast, passing through the Boston College campus, where its route has been obliterated by St. Thomas More Road. It skirts the west side of Chestnut Hill Reservoir (whose construction it predates), before heading mainly southeast, paralleling Reservoir Road, to

1170-613: 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

1209-596: The town line between Wayland and Natick . It eventually turns southeasterly, skirting around the east side of Morses Pond in Wellesley shortly after passing under Massachusetts Route 9 . It again turns east, passing north of Wellesley Town Hall before turning northeasterly through the Hunnewell Field athletic complex and toward Indian Spring Park, where it again turns east. It passes under Walnut and Cedar Streets in eastern Wellesley before descending to cross

Ware River Diversion - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-467: 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

1287-591: 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

1326-413: 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

1365-753: 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

1404-656: 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

1443-495: Was built in 1846 to 1848 to convey water from Lake Cochituate to the Brookline Reservoir . Its route was 14 miles (23 km) long and passed through Natick , Wayland, Wellesley , Newton , and Brookline . From there, pipelines ran to small distribution reservoirs throughout Boston, including Beacon Hill Reservoir atop Beacon Hill . In 1848 Lake Cochituate's water first flowed into Frog Pond on Boston Common in

1482-603: Was re-dedicated and named the Roger H. Lonergan Intake. If the aqueduct route from the Ware River Diversion to the Wachusett Reservoir is closed (the Wachusett-Coldbrook branch) and water diversion occurs, water flows from the Ware River, back down grade to the Quabbin Reservoir for storage. This is typically done when the Wachusett Reservoir water level is increasing due to run-off from its own watershed. If

1521-420: 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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