Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis
C - Water Resources
East Bridgewater is located in the Taunton River Watershed and drainage patterns
are typical of southeastern Massachusetts. The terrain is predominately gently rolling
plains which causes streams to have meandering courses with broad flood plains. There
are eight named streams which flow though the town, six of which have their headwaters
outside of town. The location of the town's water resources can be found on the attached
map.
Stoney Brook
Stoney Brook does not appear on the Geodetic Survey Maps. It has a charm of its
own. The brook originates at a cold water spring near Washington Street and is home to
the eastern brook trout. Its short existence ends as it flows into the Satucket River.
Black Brook
Black Brook is a small tributary of the Satucket River, originating in the northeast
section of town near Northville. It flows south to the Satucket River.
Poor Meadow Brook
Poor Meadow Brook has its headwater in Holbrook and Weymouth and it flows
southwesterly to the Satucket River just north of its beginning at Robins Pond. The
portion of Poor Meadow Brook in East Bridgewater has seen only a little development
over the years. The river is an area deemed to have importance to the East Bridgewater
Conservation Commission for conservation purposes.
Beaver Brook
Beaver Brook originates in Holbrook and flows south through Abington and
Brockton. In its past the brook has supplied water for Captain's Pond and Jones Pond. At
present the brook has been only lightly developed. Beaver Brook joins Salisbury Plain
River north of Pleasant Street. The watershed, for the most part, is lightly developed
except for a few portion in Brockton.
Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis
C - Water Resources (continued)
Meadow Brook
Meadow Brook has a fairly long length with its headwater in Abington, flowing
south through Whitman to join the Salisbury Plain River just west of Spring Street, to
form the Matfield River. In East Bridgewater Meadow Brook flows through Forge
Pond. A substantial portion of the watershed in East Bridgewater has been developed
for residential housing along Union Street. This has created a silting problem in Forge
Pond.
Satucket River
The Satucket River originates from Robin's Pond and flows west to the Matfield
River just east of Elmwood Village. This watershed has been receiving intense
developmental pressure. Therefore, it has been receiving scrutiny from the East
Bridgewater Conservation Commission. The unusual characteristic of the Satucket River
is that during high flow and heavy storms the upper section of the river is so flat, that it
actually flows backwards during storm runoff.
Salisbury Plain River
The Salisbury Plain River begins in Brockton and travels southeasterly through
West Bridgewater into East Bridgewater. The headwater region is densely urbanized and
in the not too distant past was a major pollution problem. Presently there have been a
vast improvements. The portion of the river that flows through East Bridgewater has a
lightly populated watershed but development is beginning in this area.
Matfield River
The Matfield River is the focus point for the East Bridgewater Watershed. It
flows southeastward through Elmwood to Bridgewater and eventually joins the Town
River in Bridgewater to become the Taunton River. The Matfield River is relatively
undeveloped past Elmwood and is a very pleasurable canoe trip through Bridgewater,
Middleborough, Raynham and Taunton to the Taunton River.
Generally the rivers and streams are in good condition with the exception of the
Matfield and the Salisbury Plain Rivers. Since the last Open Space Plan the Brockton
Sewerage Treatment Plant has improved and the offensive odor and water pollution in the
Matfield River and Salisbury Plain River is slowly being solved.
Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis
C - Water Resources (continued)
The protection of flood storage capacity in the flood hazard areas is important to
prevent flooding down stream. Development adjacent to these areas that do not control
the rates of storm water runoff will incrementally increase the flooding along the river or
stream.
Aquifer recharge areas are those areas which directly re-supply the ground water
that contributes to the Town’s Water supply. East Bridgewater’s four wells are located in
the southeastern section of the town. Wells #1, #2, and #4 are along the Poor Meadow
Brook just west of the Halifax town line. The newest well, #3, is on the Satucket River
immediately west of Washington Street. The wells area generally protected by Town
owned land ranging from 13 acres for well #4, 18 acres for Wells #2 and #3 and 34 acres
at well #1. In addition, an extensive Water Protection District encompasses all of the
wells and the nearby well recharge area. The zoning regulations for this district prohibits
many uses hazardous to the water supply and mandates an average lot size for residential
lots to be 45,000 square feet.
Even with these safeguards, development in these areas adds nitrates to the water
supply from lawns and septic systems.