French River Connection
Water Quality Monitoring
Our 2011 Water Quality Monitoring Campaign consisted of 15 sites which were monitored monthly from April until November, using the TROLL 9500 water quality monitoring device provided by The Last Green Valley. Data we collect includes dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, turbidity, and conductivity. Lamotte SMART 2 colorimeters were used to measure Nitrate and Phosphate.  In 2011, we conducted our program in accordance with a Quality Assurance Program Plan developed by the Last Green Valley for all the users of their equipment.  Results for the year will be published by The Last Green Valley in a watershed report in the coming months, but we have available a summary report of TROLL data:

2011 TROLL Water Quality Monitoring Report

Links to other reports can be found in the Archives

In general, flows were higher this year; Tropical Storm  Irene raised the river to near flood stage. The result of this was that while we usually get two, and sometimes three, measures taken at summertime low water levels, this year we got only one. We were eager to see if low dissolved oxygen levels observed at Dudley Road, Harwood Street, and Lowe's Brook  in 2010 were repeated, and they were, but only on one date. We believe that the atypical high water may have mitigated what might be a trend, and we need to keep watching these sites.

Late in 2010, considerable oil and high conductivity was observed at Mill Brook Webster Nursery. This was not seen to any extent in 2011.

In 2010, atypically low dissolved oxygen was observed at the Lowe's Brook site, and this continued in 2011. Lowe's Pond was drawn down in 2010 for dam repair, and this may be the result.  This bears scrutiny in the future.

Otherwise, results at our monitoring sites are familiar from earlier years, confirming the strength of what is now a seven-year baseline at some locations.

Thanks to The Last Green Valley for the use of their equipment and calibration materials, without which we could not afford this program.  And thanks especially to our volunteers, who now number more than 60 over the years, for their dedication and their willingness to brave the elements and the insects to achieve such high quality results.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

The French River suffered from more than a century of degradation from industrial activity along its banks, and its waters are listed as impaired by the Department of Environmental Protection, but life has returned to much of the river, with fish populations and an abundance of wildlife in the river corridor. The objectives of our monitoring program are:

To demonstrate to the public that the river is worthy of protection and enjoyment.

Locate pollution sources and report our findings to local and state officials for appropriate action.

Gather data to use when commenting to local officials on decisions before them affecting the river.

By maintaining a monitoring program over many years, document trends in the health of the river.

Engage community members in the monitoring program to interest them in the river as a community resource


The In-Situ TROLL 9500 and associated Rugged Reader
Lamotte SMART 2
Colorimeter
Above, a three-person team including two Shepherd Hill students collects data near Clara Barton Road. In addition to the chemical data, volunteers note ambient and recent weather conditions, water appearance and odor, plant and animal life, and water level or flow.
In November 2009, MASS DEP published a French and Quinebaug River Watersheds 2004-2008Water Quality Assessment Report.

This report refers often to our findings reported in previous years, and lists recommendations based on them. This is a tribute to the dedication of the more than 30 volunteers who spent a Saturday morning on the river during the first four years of our program.
This graph shows dissolved oxygen levels throughout the season at five river monitoring sites. We have a similar graph for each parameter for the last five years, building up a picture of river chemistry over a long period.