Water-Quality Monitoring Strategy for Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary, Southeastern Massachusetts
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- Document: Report (17.0 MB pdf) , HTML , XML
- Tables:
- Table 1.1 (30.3 KB xlsx) - Water-resource and environmental monitoring and sample collection programs in the greater Mount Hope Bay and Taunton River Estuary, southeastern Massachusetts
- Table 1.1 (12.1 KB csv)
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Abstract
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), began a study in 2018 to develop a water-quality monitoring strategy (WQMS) for Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary in southeastern Massachusetts. MassDEP is interested in water-quality data in Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary to characterize current water-quality conditions, assess nutrient-related effects, and capture conditions before and after planned upgrades to wastewater treatment facilities. The WQMS provides an overview of the environmental setting of Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary and of dissolved oxygen and nutrient-related water-quality issues, reviews historical and existing monitoring data, and provides recommendations for future monitoring designed to meet five MassDEP management objectives: (1) support MassDEP’s review of coastal and marine dissolved oxygen criteria, (2) assess conditions within MassDEP waterbody assessment units in Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary with respect to selected criteria in the Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards, (3) assess conditions along the freshwater/saltwater interface (salt wedge) of the Taunton River Estuary and delineate the boundary between the freshwater and saltwater waterbody assessment units, (4) estimate data requirements needed to determine nutrient loads flowing into Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary, and (5) evaluate data requirements needed to support hydrodynamic and water-quality models for Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary. This WQMS may be used by MassDEP to develop a statewide approach for monitoring estuaries in Massachusetts.
Suggested Citation
Armstrong, D.S., 2024, Water-quality monitoring strategy for Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary, southeastern Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5049, 48 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245049
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
ISSN: 2328-031X (print)
Study Area
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Environmental Setting of Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary
- Water-Quality Issues and Management Needs for Monitoring in Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary
- Water-Quality Monitoring Strategy for Mount Hope Bay and Taunton River Estuary
- Summary
- References Cited
- Appendix 1. Current (2023) Water-Resource and Environmental Monitoring and Sample Collection Programs
- Appendix 2. Water-Quality Indicators
- Appendix 3. Monitoring Designs for Estuaries
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Water-quality monitoring strategy for Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River Estuary, southeastern Massachusetts |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2024-5049 |
| ISBN | 978-1-4113-4582-9 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20245049 |
| Year Published | 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | New England Water Science Center |
| Description | Report: ix, 48 p.; 2 Tables |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| Other Geospatial | Mount Hope Bay, Taunton River Estuary |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |