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WATER QUALITY ISSUES AND EXPECTATIONS REGARDING RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HIX BRIDGE, WESTPORT, MA
Citation:
Perez, K T. WATER QUALITY ISSUES AND EXPECTATIONS REGARDING RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HIX BRIDGE, WESTPORT, MA. Presented at Fact Finding Meeting of the Hix Bridge, Westport, MA, Reconstruction Project, Westport, MA Town Hall Annex, June 30, 2000.
Description:
At present there is a large deposit of rocks beneath and near the Hix Bridge located on the East Branch of the Westport River system. Following the 1938 hurricane, remnants of a 19th century bridge were apparently deposited into this constriction. The existing bridge, built in 1939, is scheduled for replacement. Questions have been raised regarding the impact of the submerged debris on tidal flushing. The scheduled construction of the new bridge presents a window of opportunity for the removal of this debris, an action which might increasing tidal flushing thereby improving the well-documented poor water quality that exists north of the bridge.
Tidal and salinity measurements were made in the East Branch of the Westport adjacent to the bridge during different tidal cycles in the month of June, 2000 to evaluate hydrological conditions and to help predict whether, and to what extent, the removal of the deposited material would change the existing conditions. Additionally, measurements were made in the adjacent Slocums River Estuary, to evaluate and compare a similar system with naturally occurring tidal restrictions.
Analysis of results revealed that, while tidal flushing would not be significantly changed during average tidal cycles, significant increases in salinity are predicted to occur if the debris material is removed. This action could result in concomitant ecological changes to the area including the increase or reintroduction of commercial shellfish (e.g., Mercenaria mercenaria) and the retreat and replacement of the wetland plant, Phragmites australis, by other salt marsh species.