TIMELINE: - AQUIFER DISRUPTION

Photo C-1 — Aquifer emergence area on Lot 3.
This image shows the area on Lot 3 where groundwater and surface water has historically surfaced and created persistent wet conditions. From approximately 2010 to the present, this naturally occurring aquifer has continued to produce wet conditions in this area.

In early 2010, portions of the groundwater emergence area were filled with rock and clay in an apparent attempt to restrict or control the flow. Carl Hale personally witnessed this work. These measures did not eliminate groundwater emergence during high water table conditions associated with the Westfield Watershed Forest.

Due to additional grading and slope orientation, groundwater and surface water are directed northward during wet periods, with flow directed toward the Lot 2 boundary.

Additional town or registry records may identify drainage-related easements or structures near Pitcher Street in the area of this groundwater source. Because those records have not yet been re-located, this section relies primarily on witness observation, photographs, site conditions, and later wetland behavior.

Exhibit C — Photo C-2: Aquifer-Fed Wetland Area / Localized Flow Path

Purpose

This exhibit documents how naturally occurring groundwater and aquifer-fed flow from adjacent Lot 3 contributed to wetland conditions affecting a limited portion of Lot 2.

Summary

A naturally occurring groundwater system associated with adjacent Lot 3 appears to produce seasonal surface and subsurface flow. During periods of high groundwater, spring runoff, and wet weather, this water appears to enter Lot 2 from the south and then move generally eastward across a limited portion of the property before returning toward Lot 3.

The affected wetland area appears to be oriented primarily east to west and is estimated to be approximately 200 feet long and approximately 50 feet wide. Dense wetland vegetation and brush have developed within this localized area.

After crossing the affected portion of Lot 2, the water appears to reenter Lot 3 and drain downslope. Based on site observations, this flow path does not appear to maintain a clear surface-water connection to Cooley Brook under normal conditions.

Surface water in this area appears to be seasonal. During spring runoff and high groundwater conditions, visible surface flow may be present. During drier summer months, surface flow typically diminishes or ceases, and surrounding areas dry substantially.

Site conditions also show that stone crossings, drainage features, and later piping were installed in nearby areas to cross or manage runoff. These features support the observation that recurring water movement in this area was known and required physical accommodation. Updated 04/28/2026

Photo C-3 — Spring Aerial Image Showing WS1 Wetland Mapping, Aquifer-Fed Flow Path, and Seasonal Thaw Conditions, 2018

This spring aerial image shows the mapped wetland boundary labeled WS1 near Pitcher Street and the driveway area. The darker area visible on Lot 2 appears during spring thaw conditions and may reflect a combination of prolonged snow or ice cover, meltwater, shade, low ground, and temporary seasonal saturation. This type of spring darkening should not, by itself, be treated as proof of permanent wetland soils or continuous wetland hydrology.

The image also appears to show a darker seasonal flow path leaving the aquifer-fed area and moving downslope near the side of the house. Based on site observations, this water movement appears to follow a localized path from the Lot 3 aquifer-fed area, across a limited portion of Lot 2, and then back toward Lot 3 before draining downslope. This observed pattern does not appear to show a clear surface-water connection toward Cooley Brook under normal conditions.

Purpose

This exhibit documents the relationship between the mapped WS1 wetland line, seasonal spring-thaw staining, and the apparent aquifer-fed drainage path. It also helps explain why field observations and seasonal site conditions should be compared with aerial imagery before treating the full frontage of Lot 2 as wetland.

Summary

The aquifer-fed groundwater conditions affecting this area appear to be localized and associated with drainage from adjacent Lot 3 and nearby disturbed areas. The darker seasonal pattern visible in the aerial image appears consistent with water leaving the aquifer-fed area, moving across a limited portion of Lot 2, and draining downslope near the house area rather than extending uniformly across the full frontage.

During spring thaw, darker areas may reflect ice melt, shade, lower ground, and temporary saturation. During drier periods, these areas dry substantially and do not show the same surface-water conditions.

Areas north of the localized wetland band were previously used for septic design and perc testing and were treated as suitable for non-wetland use at that time. Carl Hale is a licensed septic installer and has direct field experience observing drainage, soil saturation, and seasonal water behavior in this area.

Lot 2 does not appear to contain the primary aquifer source or original source of surface-water flow. Based on site observations, the water source appears to be associated with adjacent Lot 3, with seasonal flow entering or affecting Lot 2 only after groundwater and drainage conditions from Lot 3 contribute to the area.