Water-Resources Investigations Report 90-4144
By
Alison C. Simcox
This report describes the water resources of Massachusetts. It contains sections describing the location, use, quality, and management of water resources in Massachusetts, followed by a summary of the surface water and ground-water resources of all 27 river basins designated by the State for planning purposes. The data for each basin include information about selected continuous record streamflow-gaging stations, the distribution and size of major lakes and streams, and the character of the principal aquifers. Each basin summary is accompanied by a map that shows basin and political boundaries, hydrography, locations of continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations, and aquifer areas. The aquifer areas were derived from the Hydrologic Investigations Atlases and generally show areas that are likely to yield 100 gallons per minute or more to individual wells. The report was compiled from many reports, including 30 U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Investigations Atlases that inventory water resources of the State.
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Physiographic setting
Glacial history
Geohydrologic setting
Hydrologic cycle
Surface water
Ground water
Stratified-drift aquifers
Bedrock aquifers
Water use
Water quality
Surface water
Ground water
Stratified drift
Bedrock
Crystalline bedrock
Sedimentary bedrock
Carbonate bedrock
Sources of contamination
Water-resources management
River basins in Massachusetts
Merrimack River basin
Nashua River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Concord River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Shawsheen River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Merrimack River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Coastal River basins
Parker River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Ipswich River basin
Surface water
Ground water
North Coastal basin
Surface water
Ground water
Boston Harbor (Mystic River) basin
Surface water
Ground water
Charles River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Boston Harbor (Neponset, Weymouth and Weir Rivers) basin
Surface water
Ground water
South Coastal (North and South Rivers) basin
Surface water
Ground water
South Coastal (South Coastal Shore) basin
Surface water
Ground water
Buzzards Bay basin
Surface water
Ground water
Cape Cod and the Islands
Surface water
Ground water
Taunton River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Blackstone River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Ten Mile River and Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay Shore basins
Surface water
Ground water
Thames River basin
French and Quinebaug River basins
Surface water
Ground water
Connecticut River basin
Millers River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Deerfield River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Chicopee River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Westfield and Farmington River basins
Surface water
Ground water
Connecticut River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Housatonic River basin
Housatonic River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Hudson River basin
Hoosic River basin
Surface water
Ground water
Summary
References cited
1. Physiographical provinces and subdivisions in Massachusetts
2-4. Maps showing:
2. Average annual precipitation in Massachusetts
3. Average annual runoff in Massachusetts
4. Location of planning basins in Massachusetts
5. Graph showing average instantaneous discharge as a function of drainage area for selected streamflow-gaging stations in Massachusetts with 20 or more years of continuous record
6. Photograph showing the Connecticut River, Deerfield, Massachusetts
7. Map showing location of Massachusetts planning basins within the Merrimack River basin
8-11. Maps showing location of principal streams and areas of stratified drift:
8. In the Nashua River basin
9. In the Concord River basin
10. In the Shawsheen River basin
11. In the Merrimack River basin
12. Map showing location of Massachusetts planning basins within the Coastal River basin
13-16. Maps showing location of principal streams and areas of stratified drift:
13. In the Parker River basin
14. In the Ipswich River basin
15. In the North Coastal basin
16. In the Boston Harbor (Mystic River) basin
17-24b.Maps showing location of principal streams and areas of stratified drift:
17. In the Charles River basin
18. In the Boston Harbor (Neponset, Weymouth and Weir Rivers) basins
19. In the South Coastal (North and South Rivers and
South Coastal Shore) basins
20a. In the Buzzards Bay (Weweantic River) and South Coastal drainage basins
20b. In the Buzzards Bay basin
21a. On Cape Cod
21b. On the Islands (Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket)
22. In the Taunton River basin
23. In the Blackstone River basin
24a. In the Ten Mile River basin
24b. In the Narragansett Bay, Mount Hope Bay, and Buzzards Bay basins
25. Map showing location of Massachusetts planning basins within the Thames River basin
26. Map showing location of principal streams and areas of stratified drift: in the French and Quinebaug River basins
27. Map showing location of Massachusetts State planning basins within the Connecticut River basin
28-32. Maps showing location of principal streams and areas of stratified drift:
28. In the Millers River basin
29. In the Deerfield River basin
30. In the Chicopee River basin
31. In the Westfield River and Farmington River basins
32. In the Connecticut River basin
33. Map showing location of Massachusetts planning basins within the Hudson River basin
34. Map showing location of principal streams and areas of stratified drift in the Housatonic River basin
35. Map showing location of principal streams and areas of stratified drift in the Hudson and Hoosic River basins
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PDF version of report (8.15 MB) --105 pages
The citation for this report, in USGS format, is as follows:
Simcox, A.C., 1992, Water resources of Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 90-4144, 94 p.
For more information about USGS activities in Massachusetts-Rhode Island District, visit the USGS Massachusetts-Rhode Island Home Page.
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