As you travel Route 44 from Storrs/Mansfield to Eastford you cross over three major rivers that flow through our area: the Fenton, Mount Hope and Natchaug Rivers. These scenic rivers are fed by many smaller streams and brooks, some so small you could literally jump over them. Ultimately their waters all converge behind the Mansfield Hollow Dam and flow to the Willimantic Reservoir, an important drinking water source for 22,000 people living in Willimantic and parts of Windham and Mansfield.
The rainwater and snow melt that feed these three rivers drain mainly from land in the towns of Ashford, Chaplin, Eastford, Mansfield, Union, Willington, Windham and Woodstock. This 164 square mile drainage area is designated as the “Natchaug Watershed” and has the honor of being the largest drinking water supply watershed in Connecticut. It is recognized as an overall healthy watershed due to the high amount of forest cover (about 75%), minimal development impacts and a good amount of state, town, land trust and privately owned permanently protected land.
The quality of the water present in any watershed can be affected by substances that are picked up and carried along by rain and snow melt as they move across land surfaces. Leaves, soil, fertilizer, pesticides, oil, grease, pet and livestock waste, road salt and other contaminants can be deposited into streams, rivers, and lakes, especially if no natural filtration takes place before precipitation enters them. Paved roads, parking lots, sidewalks, driveways, roofs and other impervious surfaces do not allow precipitation to infiltrate into the soil, so surface contaminants can be swept along into storm drains and flow into nearby waterways. During heavy rainstorms, large amounts of water flow swiftly over these impervious surfaces into watercourses contributing to flooding, bank erosion, sedimentation and water temperature rises that can affect humans as well as aquatic species like native brook trout which require clean, cold water for survival. High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from excess fertilizers, animal waste and poorly functioning septic systems can enter water bodies and contribute to algae blooms.
By conserving and stewarding over 5,500 acres of woodlands, meadows and wetlands across the region, Joshua’s Trust is a valuable partner in helping to protect water quality in multiple watersheds, including the Natchaug. Unlike developed parcels which often contain large amounts of impervious surfaces, undeveloped land and vegetated cover protect watersheds by acting as natural sponges and filters, reducing storm water runoff and minimizing pollutants. Intact forests and wetlands absorb and store rainfall, reducing the risk of flooding and slowly releasing ground water to recharge streams, rivers, and residential wells, keeping them flowing during dry seasons. Deep root systems of trees and other plants stabilize soil, reducing erosion that can cause sedimentation in rivers and destroy aquatic habitats. The Trust’s natural landscapes perform all of these important ecosystem services that help keep our waterways clean and healthy.
