| Quinapoxet River | |
|---|---|
 View from Princeton Road in Holden | |
 | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Princeton, Massachusetts |
| • coordinates | 42°23′46″N71°52′59″W / 42.396°N 71.883°W /42.396; -71.883 |
| • elevation | 802 ft (244 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Wachusett Reservoir |
• coordinates | 42°23′06″N71°47′49″W / 42.385°N 71.797°W /42.385; -71.797 |
• elevation | 384 ft (117 m) |
| Length | 7.9 mi (12.7 km) |
| Basin size | 57 sq mi (150 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 88 cu ft/s (2.5 m3/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Trout Brook |
TheQuinapoxet River is part of theNashua River watershed in northernMassachusetts in the United States. It is part of theMassachusetts Water Resources Authority water system supplying drinking water to the greaterBoston area.
The river's name derives from theNipmuc language, meaning "at the place of the little long pond" or "the long swamp."[1][2][3]
The uppermost tributaries of the Quinapoxet River rise in the town ofPrinceton, Massachusetts, the watershed generally known as the Upper Worcester Plateau, or theMonadnock Upland. This watershed tops atWachusett Mountain, the highest feature in the area. Water flowing east from this high ground feeds theNashua River watershed, and water flowing west feeds theWare River or theMillers River watersheds, heading to theConnecticut River.
The Quinapoxet Dam inHolden impounds 1,100.0 million US gallons in the Quinapoxet Reservoir, aWorcester drinking water supply. Below the dam, the Quinapoxet River flows 7.9 miles (12.7 km) east to theWachusett Reservoir,[4] joining theStillwater River (to become the south branch of theNashua River) in the Oakdale section ofWest Boylston. The city of Worcester can divert up to 36% of the Quinapoxet River water. The Quinapoxet Dam is an earthen dam with a concrete spillway. The outflow is not adjustable, so the reservoir only supplies excess water to the Quinapoxet River. The MWRA is planning to remove[5] the Quinapoxet Dam.
The Quinapoxet and Stillwater rivers are the two major tributaries to the Wachusett Reservoir, which serves as the primary source of water for 2.5 million consumers in 43 communities of central and eastern Massachusetts. TheU.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with theMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, operates stream-flow monitoring gages near the mouths of both rivers. This and other continuous monitoring serves to maintain the overall quality of water within the reservoir. The water of these tributaries to the Wachusett Reservoir has been of high quality for decades.
About 35% of the Quinapoxet sub-basin is protected open space (Worcester reservoirs' surface water included). The City of Worcester owns the land that immediately surrounds each of its reservoirs and approximately 25% of its entire water supply watershed. It is a highly protected forest with no public access. Furthermore, the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) owns much of the land. The Town of Holden owns over 600 acres (2.4 km2) as the Trout Brook Conservation Area, and theMassachusetts Audubon Society owns several hundred acres in the Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, in addition to other properties within this sub-basin.
The lower Quinapoxet rates on alert for biology, chemistry and hydrology. Chaffins Brook is considered a "moderately septic polluted stream", and its lower reach has noxious aquatic plants in an impoundment.Trout Brook in Holden is considered to be high quality habitat and have limited disturbance. There are a number of medium yield aquifers surrounding Holden center, and to protect this resource the town has passed an aquifer protection bylaw.
