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Ware River Watershed

Address

Oakham Field Office Ware River Watershed, Oakham, MA 01068
Directions

Phone

(508) 882-3636
Get Directions  to Ware River Watershed in Google Maps  

Details

Overview

DCR owns approximately 23,000 acres in the Ware River watershed. Located in Central Massachusetts between the Quabbin Reservoir and the Wachusett Reservoir, the Ware River watershed is the land and water which drain to the MWRA diversion facility on the Ware River in Barre. The water that enters the intake travels to either the Quabbin or Wachusett Reservoir through an underground tunnel, the Quabbin aqueduct. The watershed includes some or all of Barre, Hubbardston, Oakham, Phillipston, Princeton, Rutland, Templeton, and Westminster.

Hours

Dawn to dusk

Parking

N/A

Services

Recreational activities available in the Ware River watershed include:

  • Shoreline Fishing
  • Biking (allowed on designated trails only)
  • Walking Trails
  • Bird Watching
  • Snowshoeing
  • Hunting (Restrictions)
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Snowmobiling (Restrictions)
  • Horseback Riding Trails (Restrictions)

Click here to use the on-line interactive Public Access Map.

DCR permits public access and recreational activities which are compatible with protection of the drinking water supply, and these other objectives:

  • apparent wilderness character stewardship
  • natural resource management
  • historic and prehistoric site preservation
  • long-term ecosystem health improvement/biological diversity.

Restrictions

The primary purpose of DCR watershed lands is drinking water supply. Public access, therefore, is carefully regulated and controlled to protect 2.7 million people’s source of drinking water. State regulations require all entry and exit through gates or other designated areas only. Anything that could pollute the water supply system, such as litter or refuse of any sort, is prohibited. Please observe restrictions on recreational activities. Direct water contact activities, such as swimming and wading, are strictly prohibited by regulation. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (“Drones”)  are not allowed.

Ware River Public Access Management Plan

DCR's Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan describes the management policies that allow people to recreate on Ware River watershed lands while still protecting water quality. The Division of Water Supply Protection completed the Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Plan Update (2023) in September 2023.  2023 Ware River Watershed Public Access Management Summary provides an overview of these polices by activity.

More info

Interactive Map

The Division of Water Supply Protection has developed an interactive map with detailed information about public access roads and trails around the Ware River watershed.  There are two ways to access this map: one is an online program that is accessible from your desktop computer or mobile device’s web browser; the other is through an App you can download directly to your mobile device and use in the field.  The mobile device App is recommended for use in the field.

Click here to directly access the on-line interactive Public Access Map. 

Please see the Instructions for Using DCR Division of Water Supply Protection's Public Access Maps in ArcGIS Field Maps for information about the mobile app.

Policies and Regulations

Watershed Management Information and History

Water Quality and Quantity Information

Other parks within the watershed

Image credits:  DCR DWSP

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