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Assessment Data for the State of New Hampshire Year 2002

National Assessment Database
About this Database

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:  In New Hampshire, all surface waters are listed as impaired for fish/shellfish consumption due to a statewide fish consumption advisory that is in effect because of elevated mercury levels in fish tissue. Excluding the statewide mercury fish/shellfish consumption advisory, the number of impaired waters is significantly less. To see assessment summaries that exclude the statewide mercury fish consumption advisory, see New Hampshire¿s Water Quality Assessment website.

State of New Hampshire websites:

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

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Total Assessed Waters for the State of New Hampshire

 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 9,606.91 187,728.66 21.33 .00 70.33 .00 .00 .00
Estimated Total Water Size in NH 10,881.00 187,728.66 21.33 Unavailable 70.20 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Percent of Waters Assessed 88.29 100.00 100.01 Unavailable 100.18 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Assessed Waters of New Hampshire 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 1,660.18 20,406.45 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BLACK-OTTAUQUECHEE 948.53 12,749.63 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONTOOCOOK 967.59 12,230.34 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER ANDROSCOGGIN 138.13 195.62 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MERRIMACK 319.60 56,915.27 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE CONNECTICUT 606.86 4,430.72 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MILLER 74.93 4,145.12 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NASHUA 101.90 585.78 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PEMIGEWASSET 1,123.60 17,064.01 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PISCATAQUA-SALMON FALLS 934.93 10,537.84 21.33 .00 70.33 .00 .00 .00
SACO 843.99 12,793.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER ANDROSCOGGIN 308.07 10,491.93 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER CONNECTICUT 657.50 8,484.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER CONNECTICUT-MASCOMA 161.23 2,781.39 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WAITS 426.49 10,799.02 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WEST 333.38 3,117.75 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

New Hampshire 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 766.52 .00 1.60 98.40 color.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 1,233.57 66.32 .00 33.68 color.gifcolor.gif
Public Water Supply Public Water Supply 334.89 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 9,606.91 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
The state assessed 9,606.91 miles of rivers and streams, or 88.29% of 10,881.00 total miles.

New Hampshire Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good .00 .00
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 9,606.91 100.00
Total Miles Assessed 9,606.91 100.00

New Hampshire Top Causes of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Miles
Impaired
1 MERCURY 9,606.91
2 PH 613.81
3 ESCHERICHIA COLI 415.41
4 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 176.05
5 OXYGEN, DISSOLVED 109.12
6 NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 34.21
7 DISSOLVED OXYGEN SATURATION 28.06
8 LEAD 26.33
9 IRON 21.53
10 COPPER 18.49

New Hampshire Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Miles Impaired by Source
1 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 9,605.90
2 SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,038.73
3 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 49.50
4 ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS 32.23
5 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 27.32
6 LANDFILLS 27.21
7 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 25.97
8 LIVESTOCK (GRAZING OR FEEDING OPERATIONS) 8.01
9 IMPACTS FROM HYDROSTRUCTURE FLOW REGULATION/MODIFICATION 6.86
10 ACID MINE DRAINAGE 5.25

New Hampshire 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 83,511.96 .00 .01 99.99 color.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 98,783.81 98.95 .00 1.05 color.gifcolor.gif
Public Water Supply Public Water Supply 13,991.23 95.58 .00 4.42 color.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 187,728.66 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
The state assessed 187,728.66 acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, or 100.00% of 187,728.66 total acres.

New Hampshire Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Acres Percent of Assessed
Good .00 .00
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 187,728.66 100.00
Total Acres Assessed 187,728.66 100.00

New Hampshire Top Causes of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Acres
Impaired
1 MERCURY 187,728.66
2 NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 70,466.97
3 PH 14,878.87
4 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 14,719.90
5 COPPER 2,000.00
6 ESCHERICHIA COLI 988.03
7 EXCESS ALGAL GROWTH 618.80
8 DISSOLVED OXYGEN SATURATION 508.00
9 ALUMINUM 485.50
10 DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 384.10

New Hampshire Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Acres Impaired by Source
1 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 187,728.66
2 SOURCE UNKNOWN 86,502.37
3 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - ACIDITY 10,005.69
4 NATURALLY OCCURRING ORGANIC ACIDS 4,171.18
5 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 562.00
6 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 389.50
7 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 386.10
8 TRANSFER OF WATER FROM AN OUTSIDE WATERSHED 245.40
9 ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS 238.50
10 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 59.00

New Hampshire 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 .09 .00 100.00 .00 color.gif
Recreation Recreation 14.71 64.64 .00 35.36 color.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 21.33 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
The state assessed 21.33 square miles of bays and estuaries, or 100.01% of 21.33 total square miles.

New Hampshire Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Square Miles Percent of Assessed
Good .00 .00
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 21.33 100.00
Total Square Miles Assessed 21.33 100.00

New Hampshire Top Causes of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Square Miles
Impaired
1 DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 21.33
2 MERCURY 21.33
3 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 21.33
4 ENTEROCOCCUS 5.20
5 TOTAL FECAL COLIFORM 4.14
6 CHLOROPHYLL-A .47

New Hampshire Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Square Miles Impaired by Source
1 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 21.33
2 SOURCE UNKNOWN 21.33
3 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 3.06
4 WET WEATHER DISCHARGES (POINT SOURCE AND COMBINATION OF STORMWATER, SSO OR CSO) 2.71
5 SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS (COLLECTION SYSTEM FAILURES) 1.10
6 UNPERMITTED DISCHARGE (DOMESTIC WASTES) 1.00
7 ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (NPS) .47
8 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES .47
9 ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS .36

New Hampshire Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Oceans, and Near Coastal

 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
Recreation Recreation 4.55 98.90 .00 1.10 color.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 70.33 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
The state assessed 70.33 square miles of oceans, and near coastal, or 100.18% of 70.20 total square miles.

New Hampshire Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Oceans, and Near Coastal

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Square Miles Percent of Assessed
Good .00 .00
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 70.33 100.00
Total Square Miles Assessed 70.33 100.00

New Hampshire Top Causes of Impairments
for Oceans, and Near Coastal

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Square Miles
Impaired
1 DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 70.33
2 MERCURY 70.33
3 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 70.33
4 TOTAL FECAL COLIFORM .26
5 ENTEROCOCCUS .05

New Hampshire Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Oceans, and Near Coastal

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Square Miles Impaired by Source
1 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 70.33
2 SOURCE UNKNOWN 70.33
3 WATERFOWL .05
4 UNPERMITTED DISCHARGE (DOMESTIC WASTES) .05

New Hampshire

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)
ZINC 14.91 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ARSENIC 5.77 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ALUMINUM 8.59 485.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
EXCESS ALGAL GROWTH .00 618.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TOTAL FECAL COLIFORM .00 .00 4.14 .00 .26 .00 .00 .00
BENTHIC-MACROINVERTEBRATE BIOASSESSMENTS (STREAMS) 8.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DDD .50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LEAD 26.33 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MANGANESE 3.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHROMIUM (TOTAL) .50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 176.05 14,719.90 21.33 .00 70.33 .00 .00 .00
DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 18.19 384.10 21.33 .00 70.33 .00 .00 .00
MERCURY 9,606.91 187,728.66 21.33 .00 70.33 .00 .00 .00
ENTEROCOCCUS .00 .00 5.20 .00 .05 .00 .00 .00
CADMIUM 5.27 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHLOROPHYLL-A .00 53.50 .47 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ESCHERICHIA COLI 415.41 988.03 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER FLOW REGIME ALTERATIONS 6.86 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
IRON 21.53 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 34.21 70,466.97 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PH 613.81 14,878.87 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COPPER 18.49 2,000.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OXYGEN, DISSOLVED 109.12 114.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DISSOLVED OXYGEN SATURATION 28.06 508.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

New Hampshire

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)
NATURALLY OCCURRING ORGANIC ACIDS .00 4,171.18 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS (COLLECTION SYSTEM FAILURES) .00 .00 1.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS .00 19.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WET WEATHER DISCHARGES (POINT SOURCE AND COMBINATION OF STORMWATER, SSO OR CSO) .00 .00 2.71 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 9,605.90 187,728.66 21.33 .00 70.33 .00 .00 .00
ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS 32.23 238.50 .36 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COMMERICAL DISTRICTS (SHOPPING/OFFICE COMPLEXES) .00 17.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
IMPACTS FROM HYDROSTRUCTURE FLOW REGULATION/MODIFICATION 6.86 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (NPS) .30 .00 .47 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 2.57 389.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UNPERMITTED DISCHARGE (DOMESTIC WASTES) .00 .00 1.00 .00 .05 .00 .00 .00
AIRPORTS 1.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LANDFILLS 27.21 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - ACIDITY .00 10,005.69 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 49.50 562.00 3.06 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 25.97 59.00 .47 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POLLUTANTS FROM PUBLIC BATHING AREAS .04 31.53 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LIVESTOCK (GRAZING OR FEEDING OPERATIONS) 8.01 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TRANSFER OF WATER FROM AN OUTSIDE WATERSHED .00 245.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WATERFOWL .30 .00 .00 .00 .05 .00 .00 .00
SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,038.73 86,502.37 21.33 .00 70.33 .00 .00 .00
ACID MINE DRAINAGE 5.25 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 27.32 386.10 .00 .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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