LOCATION.--Lat 42° 09'38", long 72°
30'52", Hampden County, Hydrologic Unit 01080204, on left bank 1,000 ft
downstream from West Street Bridge at Indian Orchard, 1.1 mi upstream from
Fuller Brook, and 7.2 mi upstream from mouth.
DRAINAGE AREA.--689 mi2.
PERIOD OF RECORD.--Discharge: August 1928 to current year. Published as
"at Bircham Bend" prior to November 1938.
Water-quality records: Water years 1953, 1957, 1994.
REVISED RECORDS.--WSP 1231: 1934. WDR MA-RI-84-1: Drainage area.
GAGE.--Water-stage recorder. Elevation of gage is 125 ft above sea level,
from topographic map. Prior to Nov. 1, 1938, water-stage recorder at site 1.8
mi downstream at different datum.
REMARKS.--Records good. Diversion since 1941 from 186 mi2 in
Swift River basin and at times since 1931 from 97 mi2 in Ware River
basin for Boston metropolitan district; since 1950, for Chicopee; since 1952,
for South Hadley; at times since 1966 for Worcester; at times since 1955 from
6.5 mi2 in Ware River basin for Fitchburg. Diversion from Ludlow
Reservoir for Springfield and, prior to 1952, for Chicopee. Flow regulated by
powerplants upstream, by Quabbin Reservoir 21 mi upstream on Swift River since
1939, by Barre Falls Reservoir on Ware River since 1958, by Conant Brook
Reservoir since 1966, and by smaller reservoirs. Telephone and satellite
gage-height telemeters at station.
COOPERATION BY.-- Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Water Resources and Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Watershed
Management.