Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Study Study Report and Environmental Assessment November 2011

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1 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Study Study Report and Environmental Assessment November 2011

2 Photo: Wanda Colman Front Cover Photos: Tom Cameron, Wanda Colman, Bill Duncan, Joyce Kennedy Raymes Back Cover Photo: Tom Cameron

3 Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Study Study Report and Environmental Assessment November 2011 Department of the Interior National Park Service Northeast Region 15 State Street Boston, MA Tel: National Park Service Northeast Region 200 Chestnut Street, 3FL Philadelphia, PA Tel: For more information and color version visit or contact: Lower Farmington and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Study Committee C/o FRWA 749 Hopmeadow Street Simsbury, CT The National Park Service is deeply indebted to the Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Study Committee for their long-term service and for guiding this study to completion. Thanks also to the support of many additional volunteers and partners, including citizens, and town, state and federal officials whose support, assistance and commitment made this study possible. Please see the Farmington River and Salmon Brook Management Plan for a more complete listing of the many groups and individuals that contributed to the study. Chuck Barscz, National Wild and Scenic Rivers Program Division Chief, National Park Service Jamie Fosburgh, Northeast Region Rivers Program, New England Team Leader, National Park Service Joyce Kennedy Raymes, Wild and Scenic Study Coordinator Jeff Bolton, FRWA GIS Specialist Linda Goldsmith Design, Harwinton, CT, Graphic Design National Park Service i

4 Photo: Tom Cameron ii Lower Farmington and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Study Report and Environmental Assessment November 2011

5 Contents Summary Principal Findings...V Eligibility...v Classification...v Suitability...v Alternatives Considered...v Lower Farmington and Salmon Brook Management Plan...vi Support for Designation...vi Partnership Wild and Scenic River Designation.vi Chapter 1: Background A. Wild and Scenic Rivers Program B. Lower Farmington and Salmon Brook Study History and Methods... 2 History... 2 Study Committee... 2 Study Approach... 3 Partnership Rivers... 3 Study Goals and Methods... 4 General... 4 Research... 5 Outreach and Education... 6 Management Plan... 7 Chapter 2: Description of the Study Area A. Regional Setting B. Watershed Characteristics... 8 General Description... 8 Ecology and Natural Communities... 8 Land Use and Ownership Patterns... 9 Chapter 3: Eligibility and Classification A. Eligibility and Classification Criteria A.1 Outstandingly Remarkable Values Nationally and Regionally Significant Values Values Significant in Aggregate Defining River-Related Values A.2 Free-Flowing A.3 Classification Criteria B. Eligibility and Preliminary Classification B.1 Free-Flowing Determination General Streamflow Conditions Inventory and Description of Study Area Dams.14 Lower Farmington River Dams and Remnant Dams Upper And Lower Collinsville Dams Winchell-Smith/Gristmill Dam Spoonville Dam Rainbow Dam and Reservoir East Branch Salmon Brook Forman Pond Dam First Pond Dam Conclusions C. Outstandingly Remarkable Values Geology Water Quality Biological Diversity Cultural Landscape Recreation D. Classification E. Conclusions on Eligibility and Classification.29 Chapter 4: Suitability Findings and Management Context A. Principle Factors of Suitability Existing Protections B.1 Regulatory Protections Local State Federal B.2 Open Space and Land Conservation B.3 Other Supporting Programs Watershed Associations Local Land Trusts Non-Regulatory State Programs C. Management Framework Management Plan D. Support for River Protection and National Wild and Scenic Designation E. Evidence of Support Study Committee Local State of Connecticut Non-Governmental F. Effects of Designation General Effects Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Model Specific Effects Collinsville and Rainbow Dam Areas G. Summary of General Findings of Suitability.45 4.H. Segment-By-Segment Suitability Findings I. Summary Chapter 5: Environmental Assessment A. Introduction B. Project Description C. Purpose and Need for Action D. Alternatives Alternative A: No Action Alternative B. Full Designation Alternative C. Partial Designation Variations on Alternatives Features Common to the No Action, Full Designation and Partial Designation Alternatives Alternatives Considered and Rejected Prior to the Wild and Scenic Study National Park Service iii

5.E. Identification of Environmentally Preferable Alternative...53 5.F. Affected Environment...54 5.G. Impact of Alternatives...54 5.H. Impact of Alternatives Table... 55 5.I. Cumulative Impacts.

6 5.E. Identification of Environmentally Preferable Alternative F. Affected Environment G. Impact of Alternatives H. Impact of Alternatives Table I. Cumulative Impacts J. Public Involvement, Consultations and Coordination K. Local Support for Management Plan and Wild and Scenic Designation L. Preparers and Contributors M. List of Recipients FIGURES Figure 1: Wild and Scenic Study Process Flow Chart...3 Figure 2: General Location & Study Towns Map...9 Figure 3: Land Use Percentages within the Corridor...10 Figure 4: Study Corridor Land Cover Values...11 Figure 5: U.S. Census Populations from Figure 6: Dams and Free-flowing Conditions Map...18 Figure 7: Floodplains and Riparian Buffers Map...33 Figure 8: The Great Drain...34 Figure 9: Open Space/Parks/Recreation Properties Map...36 Figure 10: Potential Exclusion Boundaries Upstream of Rainbow Dam...42 Figure 11: Eligibility and Suitability Map...47 Figure 12: Potential Designation Segments: Environmentally Preferred Alternative B...52 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Study Act...74 Appendix 2: State of Connecticut Wild and Scenic Legislation...75 Appendix 3: Record of Endorsements and Support for the Wild and Scenic Designation (State, Towns, Organizations, and Individuals)...76 Appendix 4: The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) Support of the Upper Farmington River Wild and Scenic Boundary Change Appendix 5: Wild and Scenic Study Outreach and Education Examples Newsletter Posters and Postcard Press Releases, Articles, and Other Communications Land Use Leadership Alliance Workshop Participants Meeting and Event Schedule Examples Photo: Tom Cameron iv Lower Farmington and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Study Report and Environmental Assessment October 2011

7 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Lower Farmington/Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Study C/o FRWA 749 Hopmeadow Street Simsbury, CT

What Makes the Farmington River Wild and Scenic? Prepared by the Farmington River Coordinating Committee

What Makes the Farmington River Wild and Scenic? Prepared by the Farmington River Coordinating Committee Certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly