Surface Water-Quality Activities of the 

U.S. Geological Survey in New England

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborates with a variety of Federal, State, local, and tribal partners on scientific projects

to provide reliable and impartial water-quality data and interpretation to resource managers, planners, stakeholders, and the 

general public. The themes related to surface water quality include the following:

• Water quality monitoring networks

• Effects of best management practices (BMPs) and low impact development (LID) on water quality

• Load estimation techniques and total maximum daily load assistance

• Mercury studies

• Toxics and emerging contaminants

• Eutrophication and nuisance algal blooms

Water-Quality Monitoring Network

The USGS operates ambient surface water-quality monitoring networks locally and statewide in association with long- and 

short-term projects for a variety of field parameters (for example, 

pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, and temperature) and 

chemical constituents (for example, nutrients and contaminants). 

The USGS has maintained long-term water-quality networks 

measuring multiple constituents in Connecticut and Rhode Island. 

Nutrients, major ions, trace elements, total organic carbon, and 

indicator bacteria have been monitored at multiple sites in Connecticut since 1973. Specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, major ions, trace elements, total organic carbon, 

and indicator bacteria have been monitored at multiple sites in 

Rhode Island since the mid-1970s. The USGS is well positioned 

to provide the most recent statistical trend techniques to analyze 

long-term trends in water-quality data.

National Water-Quality Assessment Program

The USGS National WaterQuality Assessment Program Project 

(http://nh.water.usgs.gov/projects/nawqa/

design2.htm) has evolved over time and 

currently [2016] samples at stations in the 

Connecticut, Green, and Norwalk Rivers. An 

intensive study from 1999 to 2001 related 

water-quality status to extent of urbanization 

in an assessment of macroinvertebrate species abundance, concentrations of toxic trace 

metals, and occurrence of persistent organic 

chemicals, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, chlordane, 

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in streambed sediments. Publication at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/

publication/cir1226.

Water-Quality Trends During the 20th Century

Water-quality data from the Blackstone, 

Connecticut, and Merrimack Rivers during 

parts of the 20th century were examined for 

trends in concentrations of sulfate, chloride, 

residue upon evaporation, nitrate, and total 

phosphorus. Publication at

https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/

wri034012.

Water-Quality Trends in the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode 

Island

Water-quality and streamflow data collected at 37 surface-water monitoring stations in 

the Scituate Reservoir drainage area in Rhode 

Island from 1988 through 2012 were analyzed 

to determine the status and trends in selected 

water-quality constituents. Publication at 

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155058

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Trends in 

Lake Champlain, Vermont

In cooperation with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the 

USGS evaluated status and trends of nitrogen 

and phosphorus concentrations and loads in 

18 tributaries to Lake Champlain. Categories 

of basin characteristics that were examined 

included physical and demographic properties, point sources of phosphorus, land use, and 

BMPs. Publication at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/

publication/sir20135021.

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2016–3012

March 2016
Evaluating Effects of BMPs and LID on Water Quality

The USGS cooperates with the Federal Highway Administration 

and various State agencies in New England to evaluate the effectiveness of BMPs and LID on water quality. The USGS provides the capability for frequent collection of water-quality samples under a variety of 

complex land-use, topographic, and climatic conditions.

Water-Quality Along the Southeast Expressway in 

Boston, Massachusetts

In cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the Massachusetts 

Highway Department, the USGS conducted a 

study to determine the effectiveness of three 

BMPs in reducing suspended-sediment loads 

and related constituents along the Southeast 

Expressway in Boston. The BMPs included a 

single catch basin, three 1,500-gallon oil-grit 

separators, and mechanical street sweeping. Publication at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/

publication/wri024059.

BMPs To Improve Water Quality in Urban Vermont

In cooperation with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the 

USGS collected data from 2000 through 2010 

on streamflow and concentrations of phosphorus and suspended sediment in Englesby 

Brook in Burlington, Vt., to investigate the 

effectiveness of urban BMPs in improving water quality in a small urban stream. 

Publication at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/

publication/sir20125103.

LID and Water Demand Reduction in 

the Ipswich River Basin, Massachusetts

In cooperation with the Massachusetts 

Department of Conservation and Recreation and the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA), the USGS used field and 

modeling studies to examine the effects of 

implementing selected LID techniques and 

water demand reduction strategies on stormwater water quantity and quality in the Ipswich River Basin. The LID techniques studied 

included replacing an impervious parking lot 

surface with a porous surface on groundwater 

quality, installing rain gardens and porous pavement, and installing a 

3,000-square-foot green roof. Publication at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/

publication/sir20105007.

Effects of Sewering on Nitrogen Loads in the Niantic River 

Estuary, Connecticut

In cooperation with the Connecticut 

Department of Energy and Environmental 

Protection (CTDEEP), the USGS conducted 

a study to evaluate the effects of sewering on 

concentration and loads of nitrogen to adjacent 

surface waters on the Niantic River Estuary 

in southeastern Connecticut. Publication at 

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155011.

Load Estimation Techniques and Total Maximum Daily 

Load Assistance

The USGS cooperates with State agencies in New England to 

estimate total maximum daily loads for nitrogen and phosphorus for 

temporal trend analysis and identification of nutrient sources. The 

USGS also cooperates with State agencies to estimate loads of chloride 

from road-deicing activities.

Nitrogen Loads From Streams in Connecticut to the Long 

Island Sound, New York

In cooperation with the CTDEEP, the 

USGS estimated nitrogen loads to Long 

Island Sound from streams in Connecticut 

and contributing areas to the north from 

October 1998 to September 2009. The study 

included an analysis of status and temporal trends in nitrogen loads. Publication at 

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20135171.

Phosphorus Loads in the Assabet River, Massachusetts

In cooperation with the Massachusetts 

Department of Environmental Protection 

(MassDEP) and in support of the requirements 

of total maximum daily load monitoring for 

phosphorus, the USGS collected from October 

2008 to December 2010 weekly flow-proportional, composite water samples for analysis 

of concentrations of total phosphorus and 

orthophosphorus upstream and downstream 

from each of the Assabet River’s two largest 

impoundments: Hudson and Ben Smith. Wastewater discharges to the Assabet River contribute substantial amounts 

of phosphorus, which support accumulations of nuisance aquatic plants 

that are most evident in the river’s impounded reaches during the 

growing season. Publication at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/

sir20135140.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Loads in Lake Champlain

The USGS collaborated with the 

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State 

Department of Environmental Conservation 

to evaluate 20 years of total phosphorus and 

total nitrogen concentration data for 18 Lake 

Champlain tributaries using a new statistical method based on weighted regressions 

to estimate daily concentration and flux 

histories based on discharge, season, and 

trend as explanatory variables. Publication at 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2011.10.002.

Concentrations of Chloride From Road Deicing in 

Chittenden County, Vt.

In cooperation with the Vermont Agency of 

Transportation, the USGS estimated concentrations and loads of chloride from road-deicing 

activities in three streams in Chittenden County 

from 2005 to 2007. For this analysis, the LOADEST regression program was used with a model 

that included two explanatory variables (streamflow and specific conductance). Publication at 

https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20095236.
Mercury Studies 

The USGS cooperates with the EPA, the National Park Service 

(NPS), State agencies, and other organizations to understand the 

environmental occurrence of various mercury species, to evaluate the 

potential for toxicity and bioaccumulation, and to assess potential remediation practices. Monitoring and assessing for mercury in the environment can be complex due to the nature of mercury behavior and the low 

levels in which it occurs; the USGS leads the international and domestic 

scientific community in the science of mercury in the environment.

Mercury Near a Former Chloralki Facility in Coos County, 

New Hampshire

In cooperation with the EPA, the USGS 

conducted a study to compare surface water, 

pore water, sediment, and biota total mercury 

and methyl mercury concentrations upstream 

and downstream from a former chloralkali facility in Coos County and evaluate the potential for 

methylation of divalent mercury and mercury 

bioaccumulation. Publication at 

https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20131076.

Mercury Concentrations in Fish and Loon in Lakes

In collaboration with Ecosystems Research 

Group, Ltd., the EPA, the Vermont Department 

of Environmental Conservation, Biodiversity 

Research Institute, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, and the New 

England Interstate Water Pollution Control 

Commission, the USGS developed the empirical model Mercury Geospatial Assessments for 

the New England Region (MERGANSER) to 

predict mercury concentrations in fish and loon 

tissues in lakes in New England. Publication at 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es300581p.

Sorbent Reduction of Mercury at Acadia National Park, 

Maine

In cooperation with the NPS, the USGS 

studied the potential use of zero valent iron and 

granular activated carbon as sorbent amendments for the reduction of mercury methylation in wetland sediments at Acadia National 

Park. Publication at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/

sir20145234.

Mercury and Methylmercury in Lake Champlain

The USGS studied stream water fluxes of 

total mercury and methylmercury into and out 

of Lake Champlain from 2001 to 2009. Mercury loads to Lake Champlain were partitioned 

between particulate and dissolved forms and 

related to atmospheric deposition. Publication 

at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.07.006.

Toxics and Emerging Contaminants

The USGS cooperates with Indian tribes, the EPA, the Fish and 

Wildlife Service (FWS), and State agencies to understand the environmental occurrence of toxic substances, including pharmaceutical 

compounds, wastewater micropollutants, PCBs, pesticides, and coliform 

bacteria. The USGS is well positioned to provide state-of-the-art science in the field of toxic and emerging contaminants.

Wastewater Micropollutants in Lake Champlain Near 

Burlington

The USGS studied the relative contribution of combined sewer overflow bypass flow 

and treated wastewater effluent to steroid 

hormones and other wastewater micropollutants from a wastewater treatment plant to Lake 

Champlain near Burlington. Contaminant loads 

were studied in relation to magnitude of runoff 

and compound-specific removal efficiencies. Publication at http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/

es3001294.

Fecal Coliform Bacterial Contamination in the 

Meduxnekeag River Near Houlton, Maine

In cooperation with the Houlton Band 

of the Maliseet Indians, the USGS conducted a study to identify potential sources 

of fecal coliform bacterial contamination 

in the Meduxnekeag River near Houlton. 

Fecal coliform bacterial contamination was 

studied in relation to flow conditions, land 

cover, and potential point sources including 

a wastewater treatment plant. Publication at 

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20135144.

Flora and Fauna of the Penobscot River, Maine

In cooperation with the EPA, the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Agency for Toxic 

Substances and Disease Registry, and the FWS, 

the USGS conducted a preliminary contaminant 

screening of the flora and fauna of the Penobscot River ecosystem. The objectives included 

field surveys and laboratory analysis on targeted 

flora and fauna for chemical exposure to dioxins 

and furans, PCBs, total mercury and methylmercury and surveying surface water, drinking 

water, and sediment from the Penobscot River 

and Indian Island in Penobscot County to assess the exposure of tribal 

members to contaminants based on cultural sustenance practices. Publication at http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-12/documents/

final-rare-report-august-2015.pdf.

Pharmaceuticals in the Merrimack River in Lowell, Mass.

In cooperation with the MassDEP, the 

USGS studied the occurrence of 14 commonly 

used human-health pharmaceutical compounds 

and fecal indicator bacteria in the Merrimack 

River in Lowell, Mass., in 2008 and 2009. Publication at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/

sir20115192.
Eutrophication and Nuisance Algal Blooms

The USGS cooperates with water-resource managers at the EPA 

and the NPS to study nutrient inputs to estuaries to better understand the 

process of eutrophication, sources of nutrients and the development of 

nuisance algal blooms.

Sources of Nutrients to Estuaries in the Northeastern and 

Mid-Atlantic United States

In cooperation with the EPA, the USGS 

investigated nutrient sources to estuaries in the 

northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States 

to aid water-resources managers concerned 

with eutrophication and nutrient management. 

Spatially referenced regressions on watershed 

attributes (SPARROW) nutrient models were 

developed to represent source conditions. 

Publication at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/

j.1752-1688.2011.00582.x

Nitrogen Loads to the Northeast Creek Estuary at Acadia 

National Park

In cooperation with the NPS, the USGS 

determined trends in nitrogen loading to the 

Northeast Creek Estuary at Acadia National 

Park from 1999 to 2011 to assess vulnerability to eutrophication and habitat degradation. Publication at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/

ofr20131256.

Nutrient Inputs to the Bass Harbor Marsh Estuary, Maine

In cooperation with the NPS, the USGS 

determined the relative importance of nutrient 

inputs from atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial sources to the Bass Harbor Marsh Estuary 

at Acadia National Park in 2011 and 2012. 

Eutrophication and nuisance algal blooms are 

a recurring problem in this estuary. Publication 

at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145123.

Eutrophication on Cape Cod, Mass.

In cooperation with MassDEP, the USGS 

studied the effects of wastewater-management 

actions on the hydrologic system and nitrogen 

loading rates to ponds, streams, and coastal 

waters on Cape Cod that are at risk for eutrophication. Publication at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/

publication/sir20135060.

For more information, contact

Director, New England Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

331 Commerce Way, Suite 2

Pembroke, NH 03275

Email: dc_nweng@usgs.gov

or visit our Web site at

http://newengland.water.usgs.gov/

The water surface of the Bass Harbor Marsh Estuary is largely covered with green 

macroalgae. Photograph courtesy of Charlie Jacoby, National Park Service.

ISSN 2327-6916 (print)

ISSN 2327-6932 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20163012