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The New
England Coastal Basins study unit is one of more than 50 National
Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program studies across the
United States. The NAWQA Program is designed to describe the
status and trends in the quality of a large, representative
part of the nation's surface- and ground-water resources,
and to provide a sound, scientific understanding of the primary
factors affecting the quality of these resources. NAWQA will
provide a basis on which regional and national level policy
decisions can be based, in order to protect, use, and enhance
water resources.
The New
England Coastal Basins (NECB) study unit includes many important
New England rivers, and represents a mixture of urban and
industrial areas, rapidly urbanizing areas, and large forested
areas. Major rivers and their watersheds include the Kennebec,
the Androscoggin, the Saco, the Merrimack, the Charles, and
the Blackstone Rivers. Study activities in the New England
Coastal Basins began in 1996 with planning work. The monitoring
phase began in the fall of 1998 and continued through 2001.
For more information about the NECB, contact Sarah Flanagan,
study chief, at: sflanaga@usgs.gov.
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Summary of major findings for NECB
study available
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1226
Water Quality in the New England Coastal Basins: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, 1999-2001
This report contains the major findings of a 1999-2001 assessment of water quality in the New England Coastal Basins. It is one of a series of reports by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program that present major findings in 51 major river basins and aquifer systems across the Nation.
This report is intended for individuals working with water-resource issues in Federal, State, or local agencies, universities, public interest groups, or in the private sector. The information will be useful in addressing a number of current issues, such as the effects of agricultural and urban land use on water quality, human health, drinking water, source-water protection, hypoxia and excessive growth of algae and plants, pesticide registration, and monitoring and sampling strategies. This report is also for individuals who wish to know more about the quality of streams and ground water in areas near where they live and how that water quality compares to the quality of water in other areas across the Nation.
For the full report, visit http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/2004/1226/
