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Assessment Data for the State of New Hampshire Year 2004

National Assessment Database
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Assessing Water Quality (Questions and Answers)

The 2004 National Assessment
Database
(Fact Sheet)

Previous National Water Quality Reports


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) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
Total Assessed Waters 9,612.45 186,361.57 17.70 .00 70.20 .00 .00 .00 .00
Estimated Total Water Size in NH 9,612.45 186,361.57 17.70 Unavailable 70.20 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Percent of Waters Assessed 100.00 100.00 100.00 Unavailable 100.00 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Assessed Waters of New Hampshire by Watershed (8 Digit USGS Cataloging Unit)

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) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
01070006 1,664.46 20,532.39 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
8-digit HUC Name Not Reported 7.84 56.59 .85 .00 .67 .00 .00 .00 .00
BLACK-OTTAUQUECHEE 948.53 12,753.77 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONTOOCOOK 967.55 12,388.32 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER ANDROSCOGGIN 57.58 3.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MERRIMACK 320.75 56,913.83 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE CONNECTICUT 617.10 4,414.22 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MILLER 75.30 2,232.48 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NASHUA 101.90 587.16 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PEMIGEWASSET 1,122.79 17,086.82 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PISCATAQUA-SALMON FALLS 933.80 10,630.47 16.85 .00 69.54 .00 .00 .00 .00
SACO 844.89 12,842.66 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER ANDROSCOGGIN 397.50 10,692.35 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER CONNECTICUT 657.49 12,516.76 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER CONNECTICUT-MASCOMA 161.09 2,784.15 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WAITS 426.49 10,819.42 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WEST 333.39 3,121.89 .00 .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
AQUATIC LIFE 1,267.34 12.83 1.02 86.15 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
DRINKING WATER AFTER ADEQUATE TREATMENT 330.66 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
FISH CONSUMPTION 9,612.45 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION 1,335.52 66.73 .00 33.27 color.gifcolor.gif
SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION 1,305.04 97.29 .00 2.71 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 9,612.45 miles of rivers and streams, or 100.00% of 9,612.45 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 9,612.45 100.00
Total Miles Assessed 9,612.45 100.00

New Hampshire Top Causes of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Miles
Impaired
1 MERCURY 9,612.45
2 PH 877.38
3 BACTERIA, ESCHERICHIA COLI 422.19
4 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 176.05
5 OXYGEN, DISSOLVED 149.80
6 ALUMINUM 104.48
7 BENTHIC-MACROINVERTEBRATE BIOASSESSMENTS (STREAMS) 100.91
8 DISSOLVED OXYGEN SATURATION 81.88
9 HABITAT ASSESSMENT (STREAMS) 59.02
10 NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 34.92

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 9,612.45
2 SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,311.22
3 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 49.50
4 ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS 29.30
5 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 27.32
6 LANDFILLS 26.53
7 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 18.92
8 STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 15.67
9 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 11.62
10 HIGHWAY/ROAD/BRIDGE RUNOFF (NON-CONSTRUCTION RELATED) 9.55

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
AQUATIC LIFE 87,976.73 8.88 .01 91.12 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
DRINKING WATER AFTER ADEQUATE TREATMENT 13,991.23 93.41 .00 6.59 color.gifcolor.gif
FISH CONSUMPTION 186,361.57 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION 95,309.92 97.41 .00 2.59 color.gifcolor.gif
SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION 94,145.12 99.97 .00 .03 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 186,361.57 acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, or 100.00% of 186,361.57 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 186,361.57 100.00
Total Acres Assessed 186,361.57 100.00

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

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Acres
Impaired
1 MERCURY 186,361.57
2 NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 69,078.47
3 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 14,719.90
4 PH 12,590.24
5 BACTERIA, ESCHERICHIA COLI 1,278.26
6 EXCESS ALGAL GROWTH 921.40
7 DISSOLVED OXYGEN SATURATION 892.10
8 CYANOBACTERIA HEPATOTOXIC MICROCYSTINS 701.36
9 OTHER FLOW REGIME ALTERATIONS 520.00
10 CHLOROPHYLL-A 495.19

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 186,361.57
2 SOURCE UNKNOWN 86,247.15
3 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - ACIDITY 11,376.36
4 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 562.00
5 TRANSFER OF WATER FROM AN OUTSIDE WATERSHED 548.00
6 LITTORAL/SHORE AREA MODIFICATIONS (NON-RIVERINE) 520.00
7 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 465.00
8 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 407.10
9 ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS 238.50
10 ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 222.00

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
AQUATIC LIFE 9.19 73.59 .95 25.46 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
FISH CONSUMPTION 17.70 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION 12.84 67.43 .00 32.57 color.gifcolor.gif
SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION 13.49 98.88 .00 1.12 color.gifcolor.gif
SHELLFISHING 17.70 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
The state assessed 17.70 square miles of bays and estuaries, or 100.00% of 17.70 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 17.70 100.00
Total Square Miles Assessed 17.70 100.00

New Hampshire Top Causes of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Square Miles
Impaired
1 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 17.70
2 DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 17.70
3 MERCURY 17.70
4 ENTEROCOCCUS 4.18
5 FECAL COLIFORM 3.43
6 OTHER FLOW REGIME ALTERATIONS 1.24
7 DISSOLVED OXYGEN SATURATION 1.10
8 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 17.70
2 SOURCE UNKNOWN 17.70
3 WET WEATHER DISCHARGES (POINT SOURCE AND COMBINATION OF STORMWATER, SSO OR CSO) 2.66
4 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 1.73
5 LITTORAL/SHORE AREA MODIFICATIONS (NON-RIVERINE) 1.24
6 SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS (COLLECTION SYSTEM FAILURES) 1.10
7 UNPERMITTED DISCHARGE (DOMESTIC WASTES) .88
8 ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (NPS) .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
FISH CONSUMPTION 70.20 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION 4.27 90.86 .00 9.14 color.gifcolor.gif
SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION 3.99 97.99 .00 2.01 color.gifcolor.gif
SHELLFISHING 70.20 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
The state assessed 70.20 square miles of oceans, and near coastal, or 100.00% 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 70.20 100.00
Total Square Miles Assessed 70.20 100.00

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

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Square Miles
Impaired
1 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 70.20
2 DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 70.20
3 MERCURY 70.20
4 ENTEROCOCCUS .39
5 FECAL COLIFORM .21

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 70.20
2 SOURCE UNKNOWN 70.20
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 (Square Miles) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
ALUMINUM 104.48 212.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ARSENIC 5.77 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BACTERIA, ESCHERICHIA COLI 422.19 1,278.26 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BENTHIC-MACROINVERTEBRATE BIOASSESSMENTS (STREAMS) 100.91 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BENZO(A)PYRENE (PAHS) .20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CADMIUM 5.27 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHLORIDE 25.69 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHLOROPHYLL-A 5.68 495.19 .47 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHROMIUM (TOTAL) .50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COPPER 17.81 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CYANOBACTERIA HEPATOTOXIC MICROCYSTINS .00 701.36 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DDD .50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 18.19 384.10 17.70 .00 70.20 .00 .00 .00 .00
DISSOLVED OXYGEN SATURATION 81.88 892.10 1.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ENTEROCOCCUS .00 .00 4.18 .00 .39 .00 .00 .00 .00
EXCESS ALGAL GROWTH .00 921.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FECAL COLIFORM .00 .00 3.43 .00 .21 .00 .00 .00 .00
FOAM/FLOCS/SCUM/OIL SLICKS 2.38 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HABITAT ASSESSMENT (STREAMS) 59.02 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
IRON 23.23 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LEAD 10.02 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MANGANESE 3.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MERCURY 9,612.45 186,361.57 17.70 .00 70.20 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 34.92 69,078.47 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER FLOW REGIME ALTERATIONS 22.53 520.00 1.24 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OXYGEN, DISSOLVED 149.80 150.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PH 877.38 12,590.24 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 176.05 14,719.90 17.70 .00 70.20 .00 .00 .00 .00
SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION .00 23.22 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ZINC 11.02 .00 .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) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
ACID MINE DRAINAGE 5.25 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AIRPORTS 1.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (NPS) .30 14.80 .47 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - ACIDITY .00 11,376.36 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 9,612.45 186,361.57 17.70 .00 70.20 .00 .00 .00 .00
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 49.50 562.00 1.73 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COMMERICAL DISTRICTS (SHOPPING/OFFICE COMPLEXES) 9.05 17.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DISCHARGES FROM MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEMS (MS4) .00 19.93 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FLOW ALTERATIONS FROM WATER DIVERSIONS .00 42.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HIGHWAY/ROAD/BRIDGE RUNOFF (NON-CONSTRUCTION RELATED) 9.55 15.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS 29.30 238.50 .36 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
IMPACTS FROM HYDROSTRUCTURE FLOW REGULATION/MODIFICATION 6.86 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 27.32 407.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LANDFILLS 26.53 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LITTORAL/SHORE AREA MODIFICATIONS (NON-RIVERINE) .00 520.00 1.24 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LIVESTOCK (GRAZING OR FEEDING OPERATIONS) 8.01 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 11.62 465.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 18.92 59.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) .00 222.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PACKAGE PLANT OR OTHER PERMITTED SMALL FLOWS DISCHARGES .00 142.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PETROLEUM/NATURAL GAS ACTIVITIES .20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POLLUTANTS FROM PUBLIC BATHING AREAS .03 25.16 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POST-DEVELOPMENT EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION .00 3.29 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS .00 62.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS (COLLECTION SYSTEM FAILURES) .00 .00 1.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,311.22 86,247.15 17.70 .00 70.20 .00 .00 .00 .00
STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 15.67 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TRANSFER OF WATER FROM AN OUTSIDE WATERSHED .00 548.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UNPERMITTED DISCHARGE (DOMESTIC WASTES) 2.38 .00 .88 .00 .05 .00 .00 .00 .00
UNPERMITTED DISCHARGE (INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL WASTES) 2.38 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WATERFOWL .00 .00 .00 .00 .05 .00 .00 .00 .00
WET WEATHER DISCHARGES (POINT SOURCE AND COMBINATION OF STORMWATER, SSO OR CSO) .74 .00 2.66 .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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