III. REGIONAL SETTING

A. Regional Context

The Ten Mile River Watershed, with a total drainage area of about 50 square miles, is the smallest of the 27 major Massachusetts watersheds. Tucked into the southeast corner of the state, it is flanked by the Blackstone River, Charles River, Taunton River, and Narragansett Bay Watersheds. The watershed drains parts of Attleboro, North Attleborough, Plainville, Seekonk, Wrentham, Foxborough, Rehoboth, Providence RI, and Pawtucket RI.

The Ten Mile River's headwaters begin in Plainville and the river flows slowly south forming many ponds before it reaches its ultimate outlet into the Seekonk and Providence Rivers of Narragansett Bay. The Ten Mile picks up flow from its first major tributary, the Bungay River, in Attleboro. The Bungay, whose headwaters extend into Foxborough, is flanked by some of the state's best southern red maple swamps and it contains reaches considered by locals to be prime for canoeing. In addition, the North Attleborough National Fish Hatchery is located in its upper reaches. The Ten Mile and Bungay Rivers provide modest stocked trout fishing opportunities in the spring. As the Ten Mile River continues south, it flows through numerous ponds (including Falls Pond and Dodgeville Pond). In Seekonk, the Ten Mile is impounded in Rhode Island's Ten Mile River Reservation. There it receives flow from its other major tributary, the Seven Mile River. A large section of the Seven Mile River watershed is designated as an Outstanding Resource Water due to its use as a public surface water supply for the City of Attleboro.

Attleboro and North Attleborough comprise the urban core of the watershed that, at the turn of the century, supported a diversified mix of industries led by jewelry plating and textiles manufacturing. As a result of increasing levels of industrial use and residential development, the Ten Mile River was grossly polluted by the mid 1900's. The Ten Mile is much cleaner today thanks in part to the construction of two wastewater treatment plants. However, the nutrient enrichment and high concentrations of metals in the water column and sediments continue to impact the basin's biological communities and diminish its recreational potential. The Ten Mile River and nearly all its tributaries are designated as Class B waters (fishable, swimmable). Only the Four Mile Brook and the upper reach of the Seven Mile River are designated as Class A "outstanding resource" waters (ORWs). However, the entire Seven Mile River is listed on the state impaired waters list as not meeting surface water quality standards. Also included on the list is the entire length of the Ten Mile River, Speedway Brook, Dodgeville Pond, and four other ponds pending confirmation.

The Mount Hope Bay Shores and Narragansett Bay Watershed is located in southeastern Massachusetts and a portion of eastern Rhode Island (hereinafter referred to as the "Narragansett" Watershed). In Massachusetts, the watershed has an area of 112 square miles in the eight municipalities of Fall River, Swansea, Rehoboth, Seekonk and smaller portions of Westport, Dighton, Somerset and Attleboro. Mount Hope Bay is located at the mouth of the Taunton River. The five (5) smaller rivers that comprise this watershed are the Lees, Cole, Kickamuit, Palmer and Runnins Rivers. All of these waterbodies drain into Narragansett Bay, an estuary of national significance as designated by the EPA. Although the basin includes the urban core of the City of Fall River, the majority of the land areas are small residential communities and strip mall developments interspersed among woodlands, wetlands, and actively farmed agricultural lands.

There are numerous lakes within this watershed, including two that are over 500 acres in size, namely: North Wattuppa Reservoir (1,750 acres) and South Wattuppa Pond in Fall River and Westport (1,660 acres). The former is used as Fall River's principal water supply. Mount Hope Bay and the five major rivers are designated as Class B waters. Only the Lees River and the mouth of the Cole River are designated as Class A, "outstanding resource" waters (ORWs). However, the entire Cole, Runnins, and Palmer Rivers as well as Mount Hope Bay, are listed as state impaired waters for not meeting surface water quality standards. Also included on the list is the Lee River, pending confirmation.

B. Local History…..Regional Roots

Detailed histories of the municipalities within the watersheds of the Ten Mile River and Narragansett Bay are found in local Open Space and Master Plans, as well as numerous local historical publications. In researching the watersheds for regional historical facts, some points of interest not often discussed in local plans provide evidence of deep regional roots.

Many of the municipalities in the Ten Mile River and Narragansett/Mount Hope Bay Watersheds were originally part of the Town of Rehoboth. Rehoboth was established on June 4, 1645. Rehoboth was originally known as "Seacunck," and comprised an area much larger than the current boundaries of the town. Over time, parts of the town split off to become the municipalities of Attleboro, North Attleborough, Rehoboth and Seekonk in Massachusetts, and Cumberland and East Providence in Rhode Island. In fact, when Seekonk incorporated in 1812, Rehoboth lost its town center, along with most of the sites where power could be used for industrial development (particularly in the Attleboros).

While Seekonk, Swansea and Rehoboth retained much of their rural character, even into the twentieth century, North Attleborough, Attleboro and Plainville, along with the Greater Providence and Fall River Areas, harnessed the water power of the rivers to fuel the growth of mills and manufacturing, the jewelry industry.

C. Regional Population Characteristics

Since 1990, the Ten Mile River and Narragansett Bay Watersheds have experienced a slow, fairly consistent rate of population growth (with the exception of Fall River, which has lost population, and Rehoboth, which has grown at two to three times the rate of its neighbors). The table below shows the trend in growth between 1990 and 1998.

Table III-1 - Regional Population Growth, 1990-1998

*Note: The area of the Mount Hope Bay Watershed within Fall River,
around the Watuppa Ponds, has experienced virtually no growth since
1990 due to local water supply protection regulations. Meanwhile, the more
densely developed area around Route 195 has been virtually built-out.

D. Regional Employment Trends

According to the latest statistics available (1996 and 1997) from the Massachusetts Division of Employment and Training (MA DET), the Ten Mile River and Narragansett/Mount Hope Bay Watershed communities have continued a recent trend of slow, steady growth in terms of retail and non-retail employment (with Rehoboth declining slightly in non-retail employment and Swansea declining slightly in retail employment, while Fall River had a surge in non-retail employment in 1997).

Table III-2: Regional Non-Retail Employment

Table III-3: Regional Retail Employment

E. Land Use and Development Patterns

Two major factors in the pattern of development within the Ten Mile River and Narragansett Bay Watersheds are proximity to waterways and proximity to major highways. The historical, pre-zoning development in the Attleboros, Fall River, Plainville and Wrentham areas coincided with the growth of water dependent industry and manufacturing. This type of growth created dense urban centers surrounded by more rural, largely agricultural settlement.

While Swansea and Seekonk experienced some of the same types of pre-zoning growth as their neighbors, transportation infrastructure improvement during the past fifty years has encouraged the commercial development which today characterizes the east-west corridors along Routes 6 and 195. The Attleboros, Plainville and Wrentham have been similarly impacted along Route 495 and Routes 95, 1 and 1A, running north and south. Fall River, which had already developed around Route 6 and its waterfront area, has also grown, to a lesser degree, around the Route 195 corridor and Routes 24, 79 and 138 running north and south.

Rehoboth, with very little commercial development, has been able to maintain its agricultural and scenic landscapes despite being bisected by Route 44.

Table III-4: Land Use Changes, 1971-1997, Urbanized Acres

Table III-5: Land Subdivided, 1990-1999

F. Water Resources, Sewer, Transportation

Sub-Watersheds and Water Resources

1. Rehoboth

Rehoboth lies within portions of five (5) sub-watersheds. The largest of these sub-watershed areas is the Palmer River sub-watershed which occupies approximately 85% (26,010 acres) of the town's 30,460 acres. The Palmer River sub-watershed includes most of the town's significant swamps and wetland areas as well as the three surface water impoundments (Shad Factory Pond, Warren Upper Reservoir and Perryville Pond).

The other sub-watershed areas within Rehoboth include the Coles River (1,750 acres), Taunton River (approximately 150 acres), Wading River (1,200 acres) and the Ten Mile River (1,250 acres).

These latter four sub-watershed areas are located mainly around the fringes of town at the extreme northern or southern boundaries. They are characterized by sparse development and dense forested areas.

The principal aquifer supplying drinking water to the majority of residents in town underlies the Palmer River sub-watershed area. The integrity of the Palmer River corridor itself is amongst the best of any major river in southeastern Massachusetts.

Of the surface water impoundments in town, the Shad Factory Pond and Warren Upper Reservoir have been utilized (under lease from their respective owners) by the Bristol County Water Supply Company, which supplies water to the towns of Warren and Bristol, Rhode Island.

2. Swansea

The largest sub-watershed in Swansea is the Cole River Watershed. This stream has headwaters in Dighton and Rehoboth, and follows a course generally southwestward through central Swansea and into Mount Hope Bay. The Cole River has a total drainage area of approximately 7,600 acres, of which approximately 7,000 lie within Swansea. There are extensive wetlands in the upper reaches of the watershed. Intensive development exists within the watershed south of Route 6.

The Lee River drains an area of approximately 3,700 acres, nearly 3,000 of which lie within Swansea. This stream, known as Lewin Brook throughout much of its length, originates in wet swampy land near Sharps Lot Road and Marvel Street, and flows generally southwestward into Mount Hope Bay.

The third major stream in Swansea is the Kickamuit River, which enters Mount Hope Bay in Rhode Island. This stream drains approximately 2,300 acres in Swansea. The Warren Reservoir is located on this stream.

3. Seekonk

The largest sub-watershed in Seekonk is that of the Runnins River, which occupies approximately 4,775 acres in the western part of the town. There are two existing impounded ponds in the watershed, Burrs Pond and Grist Mill Pond, which are located near the intersection of Fall River Avenue and Arcade Avenue. The Runnins River forms the town and state (with RI) boundary south of County Street and there has been little development along this stretch of the river. Between County Street and Hedge Road, the stream channel passes through several residential areas and one golf course.

Approximately 4,000 acres of the Ten Mile River watershed lies within Seekonk north of the Runnins River. While much of the watershed is rural, the area near the stream channel is intensively developed.

The eastern part of Seekonk lies within the Palmer River sub-watershed. Approximately 3,080 acres of this sub-watershed are within the town boundary. There are two streams named in this sub-watershed, Clear Run Brook and Torrey Creek.

4. Attleboro

The City of Attleboro is divided between five major sub-watersheds, of which the Ten Mile and Seven Mile are the largest, occupying 6,192 and 5,352 acres, respectively. The Bungay River sub-watershed and Chartley Brook sub-watershed occupy 1,366 acres and 4,550 acres, respectively, in the eastern portion of the city. The Blackstone occupies approximately 660 acres on the west side of the city.

While the Ten Mile River area is largely urbanized and densely developed, parts of the upper Seven Mile, the Bungay and Chartley Brook sub-watersheds are sparsely developed.

5. North Attleborough/Wrentham

North Attleborough is divided between four major sub-watersheds: the Bungay River; the Ten Mile River mainstem; the Seven Mile River; and Abbott Run. The Bungay River is also a major tributary of the Ten Mile River mainstem, with its confluence located in the City of Attleboro. The Bungay River in North Attleborough flows through Greenwood Lake, the North Attleborough National Fish Hatchery, and the upper reach of the Bungay Swamp. The Bungay River drainage area covers approximately 2,400 acres and is located in the eastern portion of the town.

The Ten Mile River has its headwaters in the Towns of Wrentham and Plainville. It flows in a southerly direction through a series of impoundments in Plainville before entering North Attleborough along its northern corporate limit. The Ten Mile River in North Attleborough extends from Whiting Pond along parts of Routes 1 (Washington Street) and 1A (East Washington Street), to the Falls Pond and Attleboro Falls areas, and finally into Attleboro. The Ten Mile mainstem sub-watershed drains two major areas - Scotts Brook and the Ten Mile itself - totalling roughly 4,300 acres. Scotts Brook originates in Plainville and flows south through the western part of the town to join the Ten Mile River north of Falls Pond.

The Seven Mile River is located in the western half of North Attleborough and flows in a southerly direction parallel to the Ten Mile River. It is the largest tributary to the Ten Mile River, with its confluence located further downstream in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The Seven Mile River watershed drains approximately 2,900 acres of North Attleborough while supplying water to both the Hoppin Hill and Luther Reservoirs. Its use as a water supply system mandates maintenance of pollution-control programs within the watershed. Under these circumstances, adjacent land use becomes an extremely critical parameter.

Abbott Run originates in Franklin and Wrentham, Massachusetts before flowing through a series of large reservoirs and ponds in Cumberland, Rhode Island. It then flows along the western boundary of North Attleborough in a southerly direction before entering the Blackstone River in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

6. Plainville

Plainville is divided by three major watersheds, the Blackstone, the Ten Mile and the Taunton River. The Ten Mile River Watershed occupies 2,598 acres in the western, central and southeastern portions of town. Much of the western portion is undeveloped or rural.

The Blackstone Watershed occupies some 1,114 acres in the extreme western portion of town. The Taunton River Watershed covers the eastern portion of Plainville and occupies some 3,712 acres, or about 50% of the town.

Table III - 7: Regional Road and Rail Transportation

Highways		Railroads
Facility	Section	Freight Service	Mileage
1-195*	Seekonk-Wareham	Boston- Providence	9
1-295*	Attleboro-N. Attleborough	Attleboro - Taunton	9.4
1-495*	Mansfield- Wareham	Taunton - Myricks
U.S. 1	Attleboro- Plainville	Myricks - Fall River	12
U.S. 6	Seekonk- Wareham	Myricks - New Bedford
U.S. 44	Seekonk- Carver	New Bedford - Fall River	12.1
RTE. 24	Raynham- Fall River	Link to: CSX
RTE. 79	Fall River- Middleborough	Passenger Service
RTE. 1	Attleboro- Plainville	Attleboro line (Providence/Boston)	Stations
RTE. 1A	Attleboro- Plainville		So. Attleboro
RTE. 103	Swansea- Somerset		Attleboro
RTE. 106	Mansfield- Plainville		Mansfield
RTE. 114A	Seekonk	Middelborough/ Lakeville line (Boston)	Stations
RTE. 118	Attleboro- Swansea		Middle/Lakeville
RTE. 123	N. Attleborough- Norton	Fall River/ NewBedford line (Boston) Proposed
RTE. 138	Raynham- Fall River	Links to Amtrak
RTE. 152	Plainville- Seekonk	and MBTA
	Links to: Mass Highway

G. Zoning and Build-Out Potential

For the purposes of this plan, SRPEDD has prepared a composite Zoning Map for the Ten Mile River and Narragansett/Mount Hope Bay Watershed areas.

From the Fall of 1999 to the Spring of 2000, SRPEDD worked with the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the Basin Team Leaders to prepare Build-Out Analyses for twenty municipalities within southeastern Massachusetts. The Ten Mile River and Narragansett/Mount Hope Bay Watershed areas were seen as a priority due to the level of regional activity and study already underway (Planning for Growth, Regional Open Space, Watershed Action Plan, etc.).

The Regional Zoning Map, along with a consideration of environmental factors, municipal growth trends and development constraints, were used to determine what these watershed municipalities could look like at build-out. The following table (III-5) documents the predicted impacts on the watershed municipalities in terms of additional: population, students, households, water use, developable land, solid waste generation and roadway miles.