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Taunton River WatershedOakland Mill Ponds (or Brickyard Ponds)Stream Length (mi) Stream Order0.3Obstruction # 1RiverMile0.3FirstpH7.8Anadromous Species PresentRiver herring, white perch, gizzard shadOakland Mill Ponds TauntonSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt2.02.016.9-Owner-GPS41º 53’ 20.012” N71º 04’ 50.273” WOakland Mill Ponds culvertFishwayNoneRemarks:This 17 acre impoundment in the City of Taunton drains directly into the Taunton River through a 2 ft.diameter culvert. In the past, river herring have gained access to the impoundment and a small population hasdeveloped. Removal of river debris, periodic cleaning of the culvert and channel maintenance are required atthis location. The City should petition the Director of DMF for local control and actively manage the run inorder to maximize this resource.42

Taunton River WatershedMill RiverTauntonStream Length (mi) Stream Order4.2Obstruction # 1RiverMile2.4FifthpHAnadromous Species Present6.7River herringTaunton State Hospital DamTypeMaterialDamConcreteTauntonSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt355.55.6-Owner-GPS41º 54’ 54.381” N71º 05’ 49.104” WTaunton State Hospital DamFishwayNoneObstruction # 2RiverMile2.8West Brittania DamTypeMaterialDamConcretewith woodenboardsTauntonSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt293.50.7-Owner-GPS41º 55’ 08.760” N71º 06’ 05.229” WWest Brittania DamFishwayNone43

Taunton River WatershedObstruction #RiverMile3.43Whittenton Street DamTypeMaterialDamWood,concrete, asphaltand stoneTauntonSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H S41º 55’ 27.921” N71º 06’ 22.845” WWhittenton Street DamFishwayNoneObstruction #RiverMile4.24Morey's Bridge DamTypeMaterialDamWoodTauntonSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H S41º 56’ 02.684” N71º 06’ 28.348” WMorey's Bridge DamFishwayNoneRemarks:Mill River flows from its source in Lake Sabbatia through the center of the City of Taunton to theTaunton River. This heavily industrialized river is obstructed by four impassable dams each of which presentsdifficult fishway installation problems. Although Lake Sabbatia’s 266 acres offer considerable potential forriver herring development, the lower impoundments are quite small and the cost of providing fish passage toSabbatia keeps this stream a low priority for future work.44

Taunton River WatershedForge RiverRaynhamStream Length (mi) Stream Order5.5Obstruction # 1RiverMile1.1ThirdpHAnadromous Species Present6.9River herringUnnamed dam at Raynham Departmentof Parks & Recreation OfficeTypeMaterialDamConcretewith woodenboardsSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt24.03.71.0-RaynhamOwner-GPS41º 54’ 54.029” N71º 03’ 42.535” WUnnamed dam at Raynham Department of Parks &Recreation OfficeFishwayNone45

Taunton River WatershedObstruction # 2RiverMile2.1Johnson Pond DamTypeMaterialDamConcretewith woodenboardsRaynhamSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt3.39.013.3-OwnerTown ofRaynhamGPS41º 55’ 27.287” N71º 03’ 10.562” WJohnson Pond DamFishwayNoneObstruction # 3RiverMile3.0Tracy Pond DamTypeMaterialDamConcretewith woodenboardsRaynhamSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt3.35.03.1-Owner-GPS41º 56’ 11.154” N71º 02’ 45.771” WTracy Pond DamFishwayNone46

Taunton River WatershedObstruction # 4RiverMile3.7Hewitt Pond DamTypeMaterialDamConcretewith woodenboardsRaynhamSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt4.05.013.8-OwnerTown ofRaynhamGPS41º 56’ 47.341” N71º 02’ 38.044” WHewitt Pond DamFishwayNoneRemarks:Forge River flows through the center of Raynham to its junction with the Taunton River. The firstobstruction, at river mile 1.1, forms a one acre impoundment. The second dam, at river mile 2.1, impounds the13 acre Johnson Pond and creates a reasonable amount of potential river herring habitat. However, the spillwayconfiguration at the dam is not conducive to fishway installation. With no abundance of spawning areaupstream, the potential for anadromous fish development is poor.47

Taunton River WatershedPine Swamp BrookRaynhamStream Length (mi) Stream Order3.4Obstruction # 1RiverMile1.4FirstpHAnadromous Species Present6.2UnknownKing’s Pond DamTypeMaterialDamConcreteRaynhamSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt12.010.012.71950OwnerTown ofRaynhamGPS41º 55’ 57.727” N71º 03’ 12.043” WKing’s Pond DamFishwayNoneRemarks:This small stream is a tributary to Forge River which it enters below Johnson Pond. It is impoundednear Main Street forming Kings Pond. The dam at Kings Pond is 10 feet high, creating another difficult fishwayconstruction challenge and associated costs which negate the potential that the impoundment’s 13 acres provide.48

Taunton River WatershedDam Lot BrookRaynhamStream Length (mi) Stream Order2.2Obstruction # 1RiverMile0.2FirstpHAnadromous Species Present6.3UnknownSouth Street hamSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearOwnerW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt100.00.0Replaced1999GPS41º 54’ 29.538” N71º 03’ 04.140” WSouth Street CulvertFishwayNone49

Taunton River WatershedObstruction # 2RiverMile1.0Orchard Street DamTypeMaterialDamConcretewith woodenboardsRaynhamSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt5.04.32.8-Owner-GPS41º 54’ 56.174” N71º 02’ 36.573” WOrchard Street DamFishwayNoneRemarks:Dam Lot Brook is another small stream which enters the Taunton River in Raynham. It is obstructedfirst by a concrete culvert at South Street which has a depth of less the 0.2 feet of water due to its flat, widefloor. The second obstruction is a 4 foot dam at Orchard Street which creates an impoundment of less than 3acres. This acreage does not justify the cost of providing fish passage.50

Taunton River WatershedCotley RiverTaunton, BerkleyStream Length (mi) Stream Order6.2FirstObstruction # 1RiverMile0.4pHAnadromous Species Present6.9UnknownBarstows Pond DamTypeMaterialDamWoodTauntonSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt30.05.015.11920OwnerPrivateGPS41º 52’ 56.524” N71º 02’ 55.103” WBarstows Pond DamFishwayNoneRemarks:This small stream flows 5.5 miles from swamplands in South Taunton to enter the Taunton River nearthe village of East Taunton. A 5 foot wooden dam, approximately 0.4 miles from the confluence, forms a 15acre impoundment called Barstows Pond. The privately owned reservoir appears to provide suitable habitat todevelop a river herring population in this tributary. The possibility of fishway construction and stocking of adultalewives should be investigated.51

Taunton River WatershedRichmond PondTaunton (East Taunton)Stream Length (mi) Stream Order0.3FirstObstruction # 1RiverMile0.3pHAnadromous Species Present6.7UnknownRichmond Pond DamTypeMaterialDamConcretewith woodenboardsRaynhamSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt7.05.05.9-Owner-GPS41º 52’ 57.694” N71º 01’ 27.605” WRichmond Pond DamFishwayNoneRemarks:Richmond Pond drains into the Taunton River by way of a small unnamed intermittent stream. Thedifficulty of providing fish passage caused by the spillway/culvert configuration and the small impoundmentsize give this site a low priority for development.52

Taunton River WatershedFurnace BrookRaynham, TauntonStream Length (mi) Stream Order1.1SecondObstruction # 1RiverMile1.1pHAnadromous Species Present7.4River herringLake Rico DamTypeMaterialDamConcreteTauntonSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearOwnerW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt5714215.21969 Comm.ofMA - DCRGPS41º 52’ 46.944” N71º 00’ 03.382” WLake Rico DamFishwayPresentDesignMaterialLength(ft)InsideW (ft)OutsideW (ft)# ofBafflesWeir-poolConcrete170.02.04.020Lake Rico FishwayBaffle NotchH (ft) W (ft)PoolL (ft)Condition/FunctionVariedVaried(6 – 8)GoodPassable-Exit of Lake Rico FishwayRemarks:This stream flows for approximately one mile from Lake Rico to the Taunton River. The dam thatcreates Lake Rico was constructed by the Commonwealth’s Department of Environmental Management in 1969.A fishway was installed at the time of construction but the inability to fill the impoundment to its designelevation caused the ladder to be nonfunctional. In 2000, DMF developed a design to retrofit the fishway with anew exit at the existing lake elevation. DEM funded the modifications and the fishway now passes river herringsuccessfully. With proper maintenance and flow regulation, Lake Rico’s 215 acres should support a sizeablepopulation. Due to the low stream gradient, channel maintenance below the ladder and to the brook mouth isalso an important priority.53

Taunton River WatershedPoquoy BrookRaynham, Middleborough, LakevilleStream Length (mi) Stream Order2.2Obstruction # 1RiverMile1.7SecondpHAnadromous Species Present7.1River herringFirst Bog Sluice at Ocean SprayHeadquartersTypeMaterialBog sluiceConcretewith woodenboardsMiddleborough, LakevilleSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt8.47.00.0-OwnerGPSOcean41º 54’ 04.737” NSpray70º 58’ 06.296” WCranberries, Inc.First Bog Sluice at Ocean Spray HeadquartersFishwayNoneObstruction # 2RiverMile1.8Second Bog Sluice at Ocean SprayHeadquartersTypeMaterialBog sluiceConcretewith woodenboardsMiddleborough, LakevilleSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt8.45.90.0-OwnerGPSOcean41º 54’ 01.158” NSpray70º 57’ 57.929” WCranberries, Inc.Second Bog Sluice at Ocean Spray HeadquartersFishwayNone54

Taunton River WatershedObstruction # 3RiverMile2.0Third Bog Sluice at Ocean SprayHeadquartersTypeMaterialBog sluiceConcretewith woodenboardsMiddleborough, LakevilleSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt8.08.10.0-OwnerGPSOcean41º 53’ 52.268” NSpray70º 57’ 49.968” WCranberries, Inc.Third Bog Sluice at Ocean Spray HeadquartersFishwayNoneObstruction # 4RiverMile2.2TypeBog Reservoir at Ocean SprayHeadquartersMaterialBog sluiceMiddleborough, LakevilleSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt8.49.034.1-Concretewith metal slotsand wooden boardsOwnerGPSOcean41º 53’ 45.855” NSpray70º 57’ 50.217” WCranberries, Inc.Bog Reservoir at Ocean Spray HeadquartersFishwayNoneRemarks:The only potential river herring spawning area on this stream is a 34 acre cranberry bog reservoir at theOcean Spray headquarters in Lakeville. In order for fish to access this habitat fishways would have to beconstructed at four obstructions which range in elevation from 6 to 9 feet.55

Taunton River WatershedNemasket RiverMiddleborough, LakevilleStream Length (mi) Stream Order11.2ThirdObstruction # 1RiverMile5.3pHAnadromous Species Present6.0Alewife, blueback, American shad, gizzard shad, lampreyOliver Mills DamTypeMaterialDamStone andconcretewith woodenboardsMiddleboroughSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuiltVariedVaried18.6 1800(3.9-55) (1.9-4.8)Owner-GPS41º 54’ 24.864” N70º 54’ 49.490” WTwo of the 7 spillways at Oliver Mills DamFishwayPresentDesignMaterialLength(ft)InsideW (ft)OutsideW (ft)# ofBafflesNotchedweir-poolStone andconcrete202.030-5030-507Baffle NotchH (ft) W (ft)2.69PoolL ver Mills Fishway56

Taunton River WatershedObstruction # 2RiverMile7.5TypeDam,basculeWareham Street DamMiddleboroughMaterialSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuiltConcrete27Variable4.5with metal gate(highest 9)OwnerTown ofMiddleboroughGPS41º 53’ 25.762” N70º 54’ 15.897” WWareham Street gth(ft)Concrete189.0with woodenboardsInsideW (ft)OutsideW (ft)# ofBaffles6.07.518Baffle NotchH (ft) W (ft)4.13.0PoolL (ft)Condition/Function11.0ExcellentPassableWareham Street Fishway57

Taunton River WatershedObstruction # 3RiverMile11.5Assawompset Pond DamTypeMaterialDamGranite withwooden boardsSpillway SpillwayW (ft)H nerGPSNew41º 51’ 07.832” NBedford70º 55’ 07.615” Wand TauntonAssawompset Pond Dam (with Fishway along left edge of the dam)FishwayPresentDesignMaterialLength(ft)InsideW (ft)OutsideW (ft)# ofBafflesDenilConcretewith woodenbaffles29.52.04.09Obstruction # 4RiverMile11.2Great Quittacas Pond DamTypeMaterialDamGraniteBaffle NotchH (ft) W (ft)4.5-PoolL (ft)Condition/Function-GoodInefficient passageMiddleboroughSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearOwnerGPSW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt406.51185.- City of New 41º 48’ 52.635” NBedford70º 53’ 54.259” WGreat Quittacas Pond DamFishwayNone58

Taunton River WatershedObstruction # 5aRiverMile11.2Route 18 culvert llway SpillwayW (ft)H ed Mass1993 HighwayGPS41º 50’ 00.018” N70º 56’ 28.780” WLarger culvert under Route 18FishwayNoneObstruction # 5bRiverMile11.2Second Route 18 culvert way SpillwayW (ft)H erMassHighwayGPS41º 50’ 00.358” N70º 56’ 29.044” WSmaller culvert under Route 18FishwayNone59

Taunton River WatershedRemarks:The Nemasket River supports what is probably the largest coastal river herring population inMassachusetts. Estimates based on visual counts by volunteers have consistently exceeded one million fish peryear. The primary reason for this run’s large size is the total lacustrine and impoundment spawning and nurseryhabitat, which exceeds 5000 acres. Three dams form obstructions to passage on the river, each of which isequipped with a fishway. The first, at Oliver Mills, was incorporated into an historic site restoration project andis essentially a highly efficient set of stream baffles. The second, at Wareham Street is a large weir-pool ladderthat was designed and constructed by DMF in 1996. The last fishway is at the outlet of Lake Assawompset andis a relatively small Denil type fishway.The dam at Assawompsett is, in fact, passable for most of the early spring flows since the tailwater poollevel rises sufficiently to allow herring to swim over it. When the pool level drops, the migrating herring areable to utilize the fishway. This is an important point since the dam is in poor condition and may be replaced.A dam design that would not allow fish to ascend it could have a dramatic impact on the population because thesmall Denil ladder is incapable of passing such a large number of fish efficiently. Emergent aquatic vegetationin the impoundment above Wareham Street and other slow moving sections of the river has caused problems formigrating fish in the past and a channel should be maintained through this growth.A granite structure at the culvert connecting Pocksha and Great Quittacas Ponds has often blockedjuvenile out migration during low water periods in late summer and fall. The City of New Bedford, which usesthese ponds for a water supply, has altered the structure to allow passage under some lower water levels. TheCity, with the assistance of EOEA’s Taunton River Basin Team has designed a system to reduce sediment buildup at this location. The effectiveness of these measures should be monitored.Two other potential obstructions to passage may be encountered once fish have entered the lake system.A culvert at Route 18 which accommodates the connector stream between Assawompsett and Long Pond wasreplaced in 1993. The invert elevation of the culvert was too high for downstream migration of juvenile herringand as a result a second smaller culvert was added at a lower elevation. The effectiveness of both these culvertsin passing fish has never been assessed. Since Long Pond represents a substantial portion of the total spawninghabitat, such an assessment should be conducted.Lastly, it should be mentioned that the Nemasket River fishery is the only one in the Commonwealththat is under local control other than that granted by Section 94 of Chapter 130. The Towns of Lakeville andMiddleborough, through an amendment to an old Special Act of Legislature, have been granted the authority toregulate that fishery. The towns, through their herring committee, have taken on that responsibility withenthusiasm in recent years and they are encouraged to continue to seek professional fisheries managementassistance from DMF and or other appropriate state agencies in maintaining and managing the resource.60

Taunton River WatershedFall BrookMiddleboroughStream Length (mi) Stream Order3.8SecondObstruction # 1RiverMile2.3pHAnadromous Species Present6.2River herringFall Brook Route 28 DamTypeMaterialDamConcretewith woodenboardsMiddleboroughSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt6.08.35.2-Owner-GPS41º 52’ 10.289” N70º 52’ 50.325” WFall Brook Dam (at Route 28)FishwayNone61

Taunton River WatershedObstruction # 2RiverMile2.6Happy Hollow Farm DamTypeMaterialDamStone andgraniteMiddleboroughSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt8.08.60.9-Owner-GPS41º 52’ 16.358” N70º 52’ 31.454” WHappy Hollow Farm DamFishwayNoneRemarks:Fall Brook is a tributary to the Nemasket River with its source in 175 acre Tispaquin Pond. Althoughthe potential habitat available in the headwater pond is considerable, two dams present difficult fishwayinstallation problems. The first at Route 28 is associated with a culvert which would limit the efficiency of aladder and the second, at a small private impoundment, is structurally not conducive to fishway construction. Inaddition, the amount of spawning/nursery area that this pond would add to the system is small when comparedto that currently available in the Nemasket’s headwaters.62

Taunton River WatershedWinnetuxet RiverHalifax, Plympton, CarverStream Length (mi) Stream Order11.6Obstruction # 1RiverMile9.2FourthpHAnadromous Species Present6.7UnknownWinnetuxet Road DamTypeMaterialDamConcretePlymptonSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt27.09.51.1-Owner-GPS41º 56’ 47.182” N70º 49’ 33.339” WWinnetuxet Road DamFishwayNone63

Taunton River WatershedObstruction # 2RiverMile9.5Dam at 60 Winnetuxet Rd.TypeMaterialDamConcretePlymptonSpillway Spillway Impoundment YearW (ft)H (ft)AcreageBuilt22.09.02.01913OwnerPrivateGPS41º 56’ 41.596” N70º 49’ 19.378” WDam at pond below Parsonage RoadFishwayNoneRemarks:The Winnetuxet River meanders through swamp and marshland for 9 miles from the first obstruction toits confluence with the Taunton River. This 9.5 ft dam forms a small impoundment which is inaccessible toanadromous fish. A

Taunton River Watershed 36 Remarks: Muddy Cove Brook is a small tributary to the main stem Taunton River in Dighton. Several obstructions exist, two of which are passable at some tidal stages. The first, a tide gate at the stream mouth has deteriorated and allows fish to get by at higher tidal stages. The second is a concrete dam which has had its