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Assessment Data for the State of Massachusetts Year 2002

National Assessment Database
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Assessing Water Quality (Questions and Answers)

National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress, 2002 Reporting Cycle

The 2002 National Assessment
Database (Fact Sheet)

Previous National Water Quality Reports

EnviroMapper for Water

Impaired Water Information
2002 303(d) List Report

Other Water Assessment Information
The most current report available for this state is 2006.
Data are also available for these years: 2004

NOTE:  Massachusetts included the Quabbin Reservoir in the below assessed information for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs. This body of water (25,000 acres) accounts for a large percentage of the total amount assessed.

State of Massachusetts websites:

State 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report(s)
  State Water Quality Program

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Total Assessed Waters for the State of Massachusetts

 Description of this table

Size Of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles)
Total Assessed Waters 1,881.63 113,219.50 227.82 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
Estimated Total Water Size in MA 8,229.00 151,173.00 227.82 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Percent of Waters Assessed 22.87 74.89 100.00 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Assessed Waters of Massachusetts by Watershed

 Description of this table
Watershed Size of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles)
01070006 99.50 3,335.40 7.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BLACKSTONE 87.60 5,718.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CAPE COD 21.60 14,059.30 98.49 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHARLES 415.78 8,792.20 103.88 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHICOPEE 138.60 30,959.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONCORD 94.60 6,675.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DEERFIELD 137.75 788.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FARMINGTON 59.00 2,405.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HOUSATONIC 145.30 4,254.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HUDSON-HOOSIC 52.60 524.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER CONNECTICUT 15.90 534.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE CONNECTICUT 92.10 2,266.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE HUDSON 4.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MILLER 87.30 3,577.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NARRAGANSETT 120.60 11,966.60 22.72 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NASHUA 106.70 9,979.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
QUINEBAUG 65.30 3,672.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WESTFIELD 152.60 3,876.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

Massachusetts Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 1,640.23 47.20 .00 52.80 color.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 1,065.33 49.98 .00 50.02 color.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 547.80 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
Aesthetic Value Aesthetic Value 1,423.53 68.94 .00 31.06 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 1,881.63 miles of rivers and streams, or 22.87% of 8,229.00 total miles.

Massachusetts Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 584.15 31.04
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 1,297.48 68.96
Total Miles Assessed 1,881.63 100.00

Massachusetts Top Causes of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Miles
Impaired
1 TOTAL TOXICS 668.98
2 PATHOGENS 502.15
3 CAUSE UNKNOWN 392.00
4 METALS 364.68
5 PRIORITY ORGANICS 348.13
6 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 324.95
7 OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 226.93
8 TURBIDITY 218.60
9 NUTRIENTS 197.45
10 FLOW ALTERATION 144.80

Massachusetts Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Miles Impaired by Source
1 SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,047.13
2 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 393.65
3 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 256.00
4 HYDROMODIFICATION 197.20
5 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 178.13
6 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 144.90
7 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 84.15
8 HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMOD) 78.30
9 OTHER (SPECIFY IN COMMENTS) 54.40
10 LAND DISPOSAL 52.10

Massachusetts Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Acres Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 40,353.10 3.82 .00 96.18 color.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 100,502.00 73.16 .00 26.84 color.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 50,895.20 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
Aesthetic Value Aesthetic Value 99,571.00 73.34 .00 26.66 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 113,219.50 acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, or 74.89% of 151,173.00 total acres.

Massachusetts Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Acres Percent of Assessed
Good 26,451.00 23.36
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 86,768.50 76.64
Total Acres Assessed 113,219.50 100.00

Massachusetts Top Causes of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Acres
Impaired
1 TOTAL TOXICS 50,347.50
2 METALS 48,491.80
3 NON-NATIVE FISH/SHELLFISH/ZOOPLANKTON SPECIES 35,528.40
4 NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 23,124.00
5 TURBIDITY 7,486.60
6 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 3,731.60
7 PRIORITY ORGANICS 1,350.00
8 FLOW ALTERATION 747.40
9 PESTICIDES 667.70
10 NUTRIENTS 604.00

Massachusetts Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Acres Impaired by Source
1 SOURCE UNKNOWN 84,390.50
2 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 2,522.00
3 LAND DISPOSAL 249.00
4 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 248.60
5 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 195.00
6 OTHER (SPECIFY IN COMMENTS) 168.00
7 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 152.00
8 HYDROMODIFICATION 98.00
9 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 90.00
10 AGRICULTURE 43.00

Massachusetts Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Square Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 101.64 65.83 .00 34.17 color.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 174.07 82.07 .00 17.93 color.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 225.15 9.32 .00 90.68 color.gifcolor.gif
Aesthetic Value Aesthetic Value 87.96 89.75 .00 10.25 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 227.82 square miles of bays and estuaries, or 100.00% of 227.82 total square miles.

Massachusetts Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Square Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 19.15 8.41
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 208.67 91.59
Total Square Miles Assessed 227.82 100.00

Massachusetts Top Causes of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Square Miles
Impaired
1 PATHOGENS 203.66
2 TOTAL TOXICS 58.08
3 PRIORITY ORGANICS 54.08
4 NUTRIENTS 21.72
5 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 5.21
6 TEMPERATURE, WATER 4.80
7 TURBIDITY 4.70
8 TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS) 4.60
9 UNKNOWN TOXICITY 4.00
10 OBJECTIONABLE DEPOSITS 2.00

Massachusetts Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Square Miles Impaired by Source
1 SOURCE UNKNOWN 196.38
2 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 33.23
3 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 31.23
4 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 16.73
5 LAND DISPOSAL 6.64
6 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 6.47
7 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 4.47
8 HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMOD) 2.68
9 MARINAS 1.73
10 HYDROMODIFICATION .85

Massachusetts

Causes of Impairment

Description of this table
State Cause Name Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Squar Miles)
CAUSE UNKNOWN 392.00 110.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PRIORITY ORGANICS 348.13 1,350.00 54.08 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS) 20.60 .00 4.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
METALS 364.68 48,491.80 1.87 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PATHOGENS 502.15 93.00 203.66 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER INORGANICS 2.70 .00 .70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UNKNOWN TOXICITY 138.30 .00 4.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AMMONIA (UNIONIZED) - TOXIN .50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TEMPERATURE, WATER 24.60 .00 4.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ODOR THRESHOLD NUMBER 140.28 33.00 1.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 324.95 3,731.60 5.21 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TOTAL TOXICS 668.98 50,347.50 58.08 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OBJECTIONABLE DEPOSITS 86.25 154.00 2.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-NATIVE FISH/SHELLFISH/ZOOPLANKTON SPECIES 23.70 35,528.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHLORINE 11.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OIL AND GREASE 25.78 .00 2.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FLOW ALTERATION 144.80 747.40 .85 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NUTRIENTS 197.45 604.00 21.72 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 48.60 178.00 .10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 112.60 23,124.00 .10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PH 14.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SALINITY .00 93.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TURBIDITY 218.60 7,486.60 4.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PESTICIDES 19.60 667.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 226.93 .00 .13 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

Massachusetts

Probable Sources Contributing to Impairment

Description of this table
State Source Name Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Square Miles)
LAND DISPOSAL 52.10 249.00 6.64 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RESOURCE EXTRACTION 3.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 178.13 195.00 4.47 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TOTAL RETENTION DOMESTIC SEWAGE LAGOONS 7.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONSTRUCTION 8.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS .00 2,522.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER (SPECIFY IN COMMENTS) 54.40 168.00 .18 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 393.65 248.60 33.23 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AGRICULTURE 44.60 43.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 84.15 .00 31.23 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 256.00 90.00 16.73 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MARINAS .00 .00 1.73 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SPILLS FROM TRUCKS OR TRAINS 4.20 .00 .50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMOD) 78.30 .00 2.68 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,047.13 84,390.50 196.38 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HYDROMODIFICATION 197.20 98.00 .85 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 144.90 152.00 6.47 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
Clicking anywhere on this state map will take you to the Enviromapper for Water website, where you can view and map various types of environmental information for the state. This information includes Superfund sites, water discharge permits, toxic releases, and more.

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