Water-quality data for selected wetland streams in central and eastern Massachusetts

Abstract

This report presents water-quality, physical, and biological data collected at 96 sites on 23 streams throughout central and eastern Massachusetts. The data include pH, alkalinity, biochemical oxygen demand, total drainage area, wetland area, concentrations of chlorophyll a and b, and other water-quality data. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Pollution Control, who assisted in providing access to water-quality records. In addition, the author thanks the many persons and organizations who have kindly given their time, information, and guidance to this study. DESCRIPTION OF WETLAND STREAM SITE-SPECIFIC AND REACH-SPECIFIC WATER-QUALITY DATA Stream physical characteristic information and water-quality data were collected at 96 sampling sites in central and eastern Massachusetts Data are arranged in tables 1-6 according to site locations and are assigned unique identifier numbers. A cross-reference list of all sampling sites is provided in table 1. This table includes stream name, river basin name, station identifier number, corresponding area and figure number, USGS downstream order number where applicable, original MDEP station identifier number, and a physical landmark or location with the town name. Subsequent discussions of study sites will use the first column, stream name and station identifier number, to locate and name the sites and reaches. Water-quality investigations often require physical data to supplement site-specific water-quality data. For each stream, measured physical data, including mean width, reach length, channel slope, drainage area, Water-quality analyses for alkalinity (fixed-endpoint to 4.0 standard pH units), and turbidity were done at the Marlborough, Massachusetts USGS water-quality laboratory. Samples requiring suspended-sediment determinations were analyzed at the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USGS water-quality laboratory. Water samples were analyzed for major solutes at the National Water-Quality Laboratory, Arvada, Colorado; analysis methods for major solutes are described by Skougstad and others (1979). Analyses of BOD (5-day), COD, and chlorophyll-a and b were done by the DEP Lawrence Experiment Station, Lawrence, Massachusetts. Measurements of chlorophyll-a and b are described by Greeson and others (1977). Attempts to filter the chlorophyll samples at the sampling sites, as recommended by Greeson and others (1977), were unsuccessful due to high concentrations of suspended matter in the chlorophyll water samples that clogged the hand-operated pump. Consequently, samples were filtered with an electrically operated pump at the Marlborough, Massachusetts USGS water-quality laboratory several hours after collection. Samples were then delivered to the Lawrence Experiment Station for analysis. The delay between sampling and filtration may have adversely affected the analyses of the samples (Greeson and others, 1977, 217 p.). For this reason, the chlorophyll-a and b values are qualified as estimated.

Water quality of selected wetland streams in central and eastern Massachusetts, 1988-89

“…The physical, hydrologic, biologic, and waterquality data used in this investigation are those reported in Socolow (1994). These data were collected by the MDEP from 1962 through 1988 and by the USGS from 1988 through 1989 at 96 upstream and downstream sampling sites on 72 stream reaches in central and eastern Massachusetts.…”

“…The 22 wetland reaches that were selected for analysis in this investigation represent most major river basins in central and eastern Massachusetts. Drainagebasin divides for these streams, and hydrologic and water-quality data-collection sites are shown in figures 2-5 (Socolow, 1994).…”

“…Figure 1. Location of selected areas in Massachusetts where wetland streams were studied (modified from Socolow, 1994). Socolow, 1994 Figure 4.…”

“…Location of selected areas in Massachusetts where wetland streams were studied (modified from Socolow, 1994). Socolow, 1994 Figure 4. Location of hydrologic data-collection sites and contributing drainage-basin divides in northeastern Massachusetts (modified from Socolow, 1994).…”

“…Socolow, 1994 Figure 4. Location of hydrologic data-collection sites and contributing drainage-basin divides in northeastern Massachusetts (modified from Socolow, 1994).…”