In a room packed with residents and local experts, the Rochester Water Commission on September 10 hosted a “dry run” of the report presentation on Snipatuit Brook that is scheduled for an October 14 public hearing.
It’s an important report because the brook flows to Snipatuit Pond, which connects to both Great Quittacas Pond (which supplies water to New Bedford) and the Mattapoisett River Valley watershed, a significant aquifer providing drinking water to the towns of Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester. That brook is now flowing north, away from where it is needed for the MRV’s critical water needs, study research concludes, and Rochester officials want to find a solution.
With the assistance of a slide show presentation with maps and study graphics, Matthew Dunn, representing the consultant that compiled the study, started with the explanation that the brook inlet runs south to north and discharges through the North Avenue culvert. Testing was done both in the winter and in July. The goal of the study, Dunn said, was to understand the flow conditions. The key takeaway is that the water flows in a northern direction in some sections of the brook, he said. The water remains level between the brook and the pond until that northern direction starts. Dunn said the project’s ultimate goal is to contain as much of that water within the Mattapoisett River as possible.
The study has concluded with five possible alternative solutions, Dunn said. The first of these is to repair or modify the bog dike flume structure at Snipatuit Pond Dam as a way to contain that water. He said this alternative would be low cost and quite effective and limit the flow by 6%.
Brad Chase of Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife, attending over Zoom, added that simply altering the boards at the Snipatuit flume dike seasonally would be a good solution. “I don’t think you need an extensive review of this,” he said. “You just need the property owners and the Conservation Commission involved.”
Chair Fred Underhill and members questioned how the City of New Bedford and its Water Department would react over essentially seeing less water from Snipatuit. “My concern is the legal hiccup when their water goes away,” Underhill said. “Rochester has no rights to its own water. Rochester is at a disadvantage. There are two water-rights attorneys in the area, and they have conflicts because of their affiliations with Assawompset Pond Complex people.”
On the other hand, New Bedford may not even notice the water loss, Conservation Commission Chair Chris Gerrior countered.
“They’re going to scream and yell,” Underhill said.
“Shut the flow down, and maybe they’ll have to talk to us,” board member David Hughes suggested.
The commission ended discussion by agreeing to accept the study report as submitted, subject to the board’s review and revisions up until October 14.
The Rochester Water Commission did not set up its next meeting before adjourning. The public hearing on the Snipatuit Pond report will be held on October 14, starting at 6:00 pm at the Council on Aging Senior Center, 67 Dexter Lane.
Rochester Water Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco