The U.S. Geological Survey began systematic streamflow monitoring in Massachusetts nearly 100 years ago (1904) on the Connecticut River at Montague City. Since that time, hydrologic data collection has evolved into a monitoring network of 103 streamgage stations and 200 groundwater observation wells in Massachusetts and Rhode Island (2000 water year). Data from this network provide critical information for a variety of purposes to Federal, State, and local government agencies, engineering consultants, and the public. The uses of this information have been enhanced by the fact that about 70 percent of the streamgage stations and a small but increasing number of observation wells in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have been equipped with digital collection platforms that transmit data by satellite every 4 hours. Twenty-one of the telemetered streamgage stations are also equipped with precipitation recorders. The near real-time data provided by these stations, along with historical data collected at all stations, are available over the Internet at no charge. The monitoring network operated during the 2000 water year was summarized and evaluated with respect to spatial distribution, the current uses of the data, and the physical characteristics associated with the monitoring sites. This report provides maps that show locations and summary tables for active continuous record streamgage stations, discontinued Measuring discharge on the Saugus River at the Saugus River Ironworks, Saugus, Massachusetts (station number-01102345). Introduction 3 (RIDEM), and the Providence Water Supply Board (PWSB). The USGS also receives non-monetary services from the Cape Cod Commission, the Cooperative Extension of Martha's Vineyard, and the Nantucket Land Council to support the observation-well network in those areas. The authors are grateful to USGS employees Peter Steeves and Tomas Smieszek for compiling geographic information for the hydrologic monitoring network. Previous Studies Much of the information in this report was compiled from information provided in the USGS annual data reports (for example, Socolow and others, 2001). The annual data reports contain information on station descriptions; hydrologic conditions for the year; dailystreamflow values; daily, bimonthly, or monthly groundwater-level data; and statistical information about the current year's data relative to the historical data collected at a site. Annual data reports also provide information on discontinued stations, partial record sites, and miscellaneous measurements made during the current water year, water-quality data, and information about how the data were collected. Partial-record sites and miscellaneous measurements provide data to augment the continuous monitoring network; partial-record sites are typically operated for specific hydrologic investigations for relatively short periods and, therefore, are not described further in this report. The USGS does not operate a long-term water-quality monitoring network in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. Water-qualit...
