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At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1996

Geohydrology of stratified drift and streamflow in the Deerfield River basin, northwestern Massachusetts

This report presents the results of a study of the geohydrology of stratified drift and streamflow in the Deerfield River Basin, northwestern Massachusetts. Detailed hydrologic information is needed to plan for the optimal use of ground-water and surface-water resources and for development of new drinking-water supplies in the basin. Sources and percentage of water available for recharge on an annual basis from October 1993 to September 1994, to the fine-grained stratified-drift in a narrow valley bordered by upland till and bedrock were: (1) direct infiltration of precipitation on the valley (30 percent); (2) tributary loss from an upland brook as it crosses the valley (7 percent); and (3) ground- and surface-water runoff from the uplands (63 percent). Seventy percent of recharge was available from upland sources. Seasonal variation in recharge caused changes in ground-water levels and flow directions. In early spring, the direction of flow is toward the valley axis, but in late summer, the direction of flow is nearly parallel to the valley axis. Field observations and results of a ground-water flow simulation indicated that water available for recharge was greater than actual recharge during the spring snowmelt and during intense precipitation events. In 1994, estimates of water available for recharge were greater than actual recharge by 10 percent in March and by 60 percent in April; actual recharge to the valley on an annual basis from October 1993 to September 1994 was 20 percent less than original estimates. A map showing thickness of stratified drift in the Connecticut Valley Lowlands indicates a deep north-south trending buried valley. Maximum thickness of the stratified drift is 385 feet. Interpretation of a seismic-reflection survey indicates fine-grained stratified drift may be underlain by coarse-grained deposits ranging in thickness from 0 to 150 feet. Hydraulic properties of the stratified drift were calculated from ground-water-level fluctuations induced by river stage changes using a ground-water-flow model for a site adjacent to the Deerfield River. A comparison of measured and simulated heads resulted in a vertical riverbed hydraulic conductivity of 3 feet per day, anisotropic ratio of horizontal to vertical hydraulic conductivity of 40:1, and storage of 0.040 and 0.0002 for the unconfined and confined layers of the stratified drift. Hydraulic diffusivity (transmissivity divided by the unconfined storage) at the site is about 168,000 feet squared per day. Streamflows at times of low flow were determined for 27 sites that drain areas ranging from 0.57 to 15.8 percent stratified drift. Streamflows exceeded between 80 and 99 percent of the time were determined for sites on the unregulated tributaries to the Deerfield River. Streamflows per square mile of drainage area were greatest from sites at the downstream ends of the North River-Colrain and the Deerfield River-Charlemont stratified-drift valleys. Flow-duration curves for three continuous streamflow-gaging stations on the regulated Deerfield River were compared to flow-duration curves for three continuous streamflow-gaging stations on unregulated tributaries to show the effects of dam regulation on streamflow. Flow- duration curves constructed using instantaneous discharges for the three regulated gaging stations have flat sections that correspond to the predominant streamflows when water is being released from storage from the dams.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1995

Sources of geologic and hydrologic information pertinent to ground-water resources in Rhode Island

This report summarizes sources of geologic and hydrologic information useful to water managers and others involved in the investigation, appraisal, development, and protection of ground-water resources in Rhode Island. The geographic scope of the report includes Rhode Island and small adjoining areas of Massachusetts and Connecticut, where drainage basins are shared with these States. The information summarized is found in maps and reports prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey and published by either the U.S. Geological Survey or by the State of Rhode Island. Information sources are presented in maps and tables. Reference maps show drainage divides, town lines, and the 7.5-minute grid of latitude and longitude for the State. Maps show availability of surficial geologic maps, bedrock geologic maps, and ground-water studies by 7.5-minute quadrangle, and show availability of ground-water studies by drainage basin, subbasin, and special study area. Sources of geologic and hydrologic information for the thirty-seven 7.5-minute quadrangles covering Rhode Island have been compiled based on the following information categories: surficial geology, bedrock geology, subsurface materials, altitude of bedrock surface, water-table altitudes, water-table contours, saturated thickness, hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity, drainage divides, recharge areas, ground-water reservoirs, induced infiltration, and ground-water quality. A table for each of the 37 quadrangles lists the major categories of information available for that quadrangle, provides references to the publications in which the information can be found, and indicates the format, scale, and other pertinent attributes of the information. A table organized by report series gives full citations for publications prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey pertaining to the geology and hydrology of Rhode Island. To facilitate location of information for particular municipalities, a table lists cities and towns in the State and the quadrangles that cover each municipality.

Rhode Island↗
USGS2014

Science for the stewardship of the groundwater resources of Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Groundwater is the sole source of drinking water and a major source of freshwater for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Groundwater discharged from aquifers also supports freshwater pond and stream ecosystems and coastal wetlands. Six hydraulically distinct groundwater-flow systems (lenses) have been delineated on Cape Cod. Of the approximately 450 million gallons per day of water that enters these lenses as recharge from precipitation, about 69 percent discharges directly to the coast, about 24 percent discharges to streams, and almost 7 percent is withdrawn by public-supply wells. In most areas, groundwater in the sand and gravel aquifers is shallow and susceptible to contamination from anthropogenic sources and saltwater intrusion. Continued land development and population growth on Cape Cod have created concerns that potable water will become less available and that the quantity and quality of water flowing to natural discharge areas such as ponds, streams, and coastal waters will continue to decline. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been investigating groundwater and surface-water resources on Cape Cod for more than 50 years. Recent studies highlighted in this fact sheet have focused on the sources of water to public-supply wells, ponds, streams, and coastal areas; the transport and discharge of nitrogen derived from domestic and municipal disposal of wastewater; and the effects of climate change on groundwater and surface-water resources. Other USGS activities include long-term monitoring of groundwater and pond levels and field research on groundwater contamination at the USGS Cape Cod Toxic Substances Hydrology Research Site ( http://ma.water.usgs.gov/MMRCape/ ) near the Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC), formerly the Massachusetts Military Reservation.

Massachusetts↗
USGS2023

2022 drought in New England

Introduction During April through September 2022, much of New England experienced a short but extreme hydrologic drought that was similar to the drought of 2020. By August 2022, Providence, Rhode Island, was declared a Federal disaster area, and New London and Windham counties in Connecticut were declared natural disaster areas. Mandatory water use restrictions were put in place in communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island (Mecray and Borisoff, 2022). Precipitation in many areas of New England fell below normal levels in November 2021 and continued to decline until September 2022, contributing to low streamflows and groundwater levels in the region. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow and groundwater conditions from April to September 2022 were used to characterize the hydrologic component of this short-duration drought. Several record low streamflows and groundwater levels were observed across New England, even falling below 2020 levels in parts of southern New England. The severity of this drought varied across New England, and regional and statewide perspectives are presented in this report. Highlights May through August in 2022 ranked as the driest for those 4 months in 138 years of record at Boston, Massachusetts, with only 5.74 inches of rain (average of 13.26 inches). Water levels at 95 USGS groundwater monitoring wells across New England were below normal in August; 16 of these wells recorded their lowest August water level in 25 years. Flows at 54 USGS streamgages across New England were below normal in August, and 10 of those streamgages recorded their lowest August flows in 30 years. Two USGS streamgages in Massachusetts (stations 01105600 and 01171500 with 56 and 83 years of record, respectively) had record 7-day average low flows on August 21, 2022, and August 22, 2022, respectively.

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, ↗
USGS2021

Hydrology of annual winter water level drawdown regimes in recreational lakes of Massachusetts, United States

Annual winter water level drawdown (WD) is a common lake management strategy to maintain recreational value by controlling nuisance macrophytes and preventing ice damage to shoreline infrastructure in lakes of the northeastern United States. The state of Massachusetts provides general guidelines for lake managers to implement and practice WDs. However, WD management reporting is not required and as such empirical water level records are scarce, making it difficult to assess guideline adherence and link these management actions to littoral habitat conditions. We monitored water levels bihourly in 18 lakes with ongoing WD regimes and 3 non-drawdown lakes over 3–4 yr. Our results show an interlake drawdown magnitude gradient of 0.07–2.66 m with intralake consistency across years. Corresponding WD magnitudes generated exposure of 1.3–37.6% for entire lakebeds and 9.2–71.1% for littoral zones. WD durations averaged 171 d and ranged widely from 5 to 246 d. Longer recession and refill phase durations and faster recession rates were moderately to strongly correlated with drawdown magnitudes. WDs were predominantly initiated prior to the state of Massachusetts 1 November starting guideline (83.1%) and refilled to summer reference levels after the recommended date of 1 April (70.6%). To minimize ecological impacts while still meeting recreational goals, WD performance guidelines may require a more fine-scale approach that integrates local hydrogeomorphic features and the presence of WD-sensitive littoral biotic assemblages. However, climate change model projections of warmer and wetter winters in the Northeast indicate increasing uncertainty for WD as an effective and worthwhile macrophyte control tool.

Massachusetts↗
USGS1990

Water resources of the Westfield and Farmington River basins, Massachusetts

A hydrologic study of the Westfield and Farmington River basins in Massachusetts was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, Division of Water Resources, from 1984 to 1986. The study was the final part of a statewide basin-by-basin investigations program designed to provide baseline information on the State's water resources. The objectives of this report are to: (1) delineate the stratified-drift aquifers of the Westfield and Farmington River basins and present descriptions of their water-yielding characteristics; (2) describe low-flow characteristics, regulation, and diversion of streamflow in the basins; and (3) characterize the quality of ground water and surface water in the basins. The report shows the transmissivity of unconsolidated materials, the availability of ground water, and the surficial geology of the area on a 1:48,000-scale map. High- and low-flow analysis, regional flood-flow equations, diversions, water quality, and water use are also described.

Hydrologic Atlas↗
USGS2017

Selected water-resources activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in New England in 2017

The New England Water Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is headquartered in Pembroke, New Hampshire, with offices in East Hartford, Connecticut; Augusta, Maine; Northborough, Massachusetts; and Montpelier, Vermont. The areas of expertise covered by the water science center’s staff of 130 include aquatic biology, chemistry, geographic information systems, geology, hydrologic sciences and engineering, and water use.

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, ↗
USGS1975

Hydrology and water resources of the Charles River basin, Massachusetts

The Charles River basin encompasses about 300 square miles of gently rolling to hilly terrain, with altitudes ranging from 586 feet in Hopkinton to below 10 feet in Boston, Mass. The area is essentially urban, although the towns in the upper basin still retain some rural character. The population of the middle and upper parts increased 80 percent between 1950 and 1970, while the population in the lower part declined 4 percent. This atlas summarizes the water resources and associated water problems of the area. The investigation upon which the atlas is based was made from 1968 to 1971 and is part of a series covering the major river basins in Massachusetts. The study area includes 251 sq mi of drainage area above the gaging station at Waltham. (Woodard-USGS)

Hydrologic Atlas↗