SHERMAN, CT
WATER SUPPLY AQUIFERS
1. Minor Aquifers: There are only small aquifers in Sherman. This is not surprising, as the Town is in an upland area, for the most part well away from the major river valleys. These small deposits are identified on the three maps below.

Access the legend for the maps below
Source of Map: Water Resources Inventory of CT, Part 6, Upper Housatonic River Basin, by the
U. S. Geological Survey and the CT Department of Environmental Protection, 1972.

THIS IS AN EARLY (1972) GENERALIZED MAP OF ESTIMATED AQUIFER BOUNDARIES ONLY;
COMPARE IT TO LATER DATE USGS SURFICIAL MATERIALS MAP

The center of the map above identifies a stratified drift aquifer deposit along north flowing Wimisink Brook, to the west of Route 39 and extending north to Route 55. After Winisink Brook turns east (serving there as the Sherman - New Milford Town Line) and near its confluence with the Housatonic River is found the Gaylordsville Aquifer extending into New Milford.

The main feature on the map above is a linear stratified drift deposit running northerly from Sherman Center along Route 39 and ending between Route 39 and Church Road. There are also a few minor deposits in the vicinity of and south of the Sherman Center.

The remaining estimated aquifer deposit in the municipality is found at the north end of Squantz Pond, extending northerly to approximately Leach Hollow Road.

SHERMAN, CT EXISTING AND
POTENTIAL WATER SUPPLY WATERSHEDS
According to the 2001 Sherman Town Plan "Most of the Town's surface area is part of a proposed public water supply watershed for the State of Connecticut and public water supply watershed for the State of New York.

Whenever significant development activities are proposed within the two major watersheds present in the Town of Sherman, the development guidelines of the authorities responsible for those watersheds shall be taken into account."

1. Croton River Watershed: The southwestern corner of Sherman, about 1,590 acres, drains southwesterly via Quaker Brook into New Fairfield, then west into Patterson, N.Y. via Haviland Hollow Brook, and on into the East Branch of the Croton River, all part of the East Branch Croton River Watershed.

The East Branch Reservoir in New York State is
recharged in part by waters from southwestern Sherman, CT

The East Branch Croton River then drains into the East Branch Reservoir in Southeast, NY, and from there to the Croton Reservoir for consumption in New York City and environs. This was one of the first water supply watersheds in the United States, dating from 1842.

CT DEP CLASSIFICATION
OF STREAMS IN SHERMAN
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) has developed water quality standards in conjunction with the principles of the federal Clean Water Act.

As a result each stream or water body in the Region has two classifications, one for existing use, and one for ultimate future use, written in a existing/future format such as "B/A" or "A/AA". The highest standards are reserved of existing and potential water supply areas, which are AA.

The DEP seeks to bring every water body in the State to a minimum classification of "B" or better, which would not be suitable for human consumption without treatment, but could be suitable for recreational use, fish and wildlife habitat, agricultural and industrial supply, and other legitimate uses.

There is a non degradation policy such that stream now AA or A cannot be reduced to B to allow discharges from industries or treatment plants. The classification system and application to Sherman is summarized below:

Class AA: Designated uses are existing or proposed drinking water supply, fish and wildlife habitat, some recreational use, agricultural and industrial supply. Discharges severely restricted.

Class A: Designated uses is potential drinking water supply; fish and wildlife habitat; recreational use; agricultural and industrial supply and other legitimate uses including navigation. Discharges severely restricted. No reclassification of A or AA allowed down to B.

Class B: Designated uses are varied and include discharges from industrial and municipal wastewater treatment facilities providing Best Available Treatment and Best Management Practices are applied. All water bodies must eventually reach the minimum standards of the B classification.

Classes C and D: Indicates unacceptable quality, the goal is Class B or Class A and DEP will issue orders to require improvement.

1. Candlewood Lake due to wastewater pumped up from the Housatonic River: B/B.

2. Housatonic River forming part of Sherman’s boundary with New Milford: C/D. The severe D rating is due to PCB contaminated bottom sediments.

3. Hudson River tributaries reaching into Sherman from New York State: AA/AA.

4. Ten Mile River from the New York State Line east to the Housatonic River: B/B.

5. All Other streams in Sherman such as Morrissey Brook, Sawmill Brook, Wimisink Brook, etc: A/A.

MAIN WATER PAGE BETHEL BRIDGEWATER BROOKFIELD DANBURY
NEW FAIRFIELD NEW MILFORD NEWTOWN REDDING RIDGEFIELD SHERMAN