Check the current water quality status here.
The Baseline Monitoring Project collects baseline water quality data, shares the information with others, and reduces water quality impairments. Baseline water quality monitoring is performed in the main stem of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts, with some in southern New Hampshire. Monitoring includes the parameters pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity (water clarity), and bacteria (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus). Water quality, combined sewer overflow, and meteorological data are analyzed with descriptive statistics (e.g. mean, median, minimum and maximum values) to determine sources of pollution, and results are presented in an annual report that is made available to the public, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Protecting the watershed occurs in the form of reporting poor water quality observations (e.g. high bacteria concentrations, extremely low pH) to MassDEP and EPA when they are realized in order to hold polluters responsible. Promoting a healthy ecosystem is done through public education and outreach.
The Search and Restore Project seeks to pinpoint the problem pollutants and sources. This is a more detailed profile of the Merrimack’s health than the Baseline Monitoring Project and begins the active process of reducing specific impairments. This is the second step in protecting the Merrimack River and will collect the nutrient and pathogen data necessary to identify problem locations, develop discharge limits and waste load allocations, and assess the development techniques and management practices that will best protect the river for each of the various impairments.
The Safe Beaches Project monitors two popular swimming areas along the Merrimack River to determine pathogen and nutrient levels on a near real-time (24 hour) basis. Data collected will be used to generate a model to predict safe or unsafe swimming conditions, and locate and remediate contributors to high bacteria counts.
Objectives and goals: Improved water quality in the Merrimack River and its watershed.
Justification: The monitoring projects incorporate science through water quality monitoring and data analysis, advocacy through outreach and education, and partnering with other watershed organizations, towns, and individuals.
Funding Source: Grants
Required Resources: Volunteers (river monitoring volunteers and boat operators with access to boats); river monitoring instruments and test kits (e.g. YSI MPS 556 multi-probe meters; IDEXX Colilert and Enterolert systems; nutrient, and surfactant kits) with associated consumables; Secchi disks; GPS units; water sampling equipment (bottles and labels) and laboratory analyses; Quality Assurance Project Plan; and statistical software
Start/completion date, anticipated duration: Baseline monitoring 2007-ongoing; Search and Restore 2009-ongoing; Safe Beaches 2010-2011
Milestones: 240 interested volunteers (94 trained in monitoring, with over 30 active in 2009); 120 monitoring trips to date; 4 Notices of Noncompliance; featured in over 20 published news articles since 2006; approximately 100 miles of shoreline surveyed
Deliverables: Data collected, volunteers, Notices of Noncompliance, Annual River Monitoring Report, Earth Day Celebration
Status: Baseline Monitoring is an ongoing project. Search and Restore has been planned and is receiving funding, and preliminary screening has been performed. The Safe Beaches Project began in 2010 and will continue through 2011.
