canoe

Tri-State Connecticut River

Targeted Watershed Initiative

 canoe

This is a temporary results website for the Tri State Connecticut RiverTargeted Watershed Initiative. We will post updates on the status of the detailed project website as they become available.

Project Background

This  water quality monitoring project isconducted by the University of Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center in partnership with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, and the Connecticut River Joint Commissions.  The project is one of ten Connecticut River projects funded under a $953,000 Targeted Watershed Initiative grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, matched by $458,000 in local funding commitments. 

Until now only limited water quality information has been available for the Connecticut River. This information has indicated that in many urbanized areas the river’s bacterial contamination is so high during wet weather events—due to combined sewer overflow discharges and to urban stormwater flows—that it does not meet standards for recreational uses. 

This monitoring project examines water temperature and bacteria at 26 sites along the river, on river stretches between Turners Fall and Greenfield, Massachusetts, between White River Junction, New Hampshire, and Hartford, Vermont, and between Chicopee and Holyoke, Massachusetts (starting soon). Data will provide a more complete picture of the river’s health and understanding about sources of contamination. This will be useful not only to recreational users who have direct contact with the waters, but to local, state, and federal officials in addressing combined sewer overflow discharges and stormwater flows. 

Bacteria Monitoring

The results are updated after sampling is completed on Mondays and Thursdays. The results are posted in the results table and are color coded according to New Hampshire and Massachusetts Criteria for E. coli levels (see below). The results for each reach are color coded according to their state's specific standards for Class B waters and the level of E. coli detection in the sample. The state of Massachusetts does not have E. coli criteria in place for secondary contact recreation, thus the New Hampshire water quality standards will be used.

New Hampshire Criteria1  for E. coli (Escherichia coli; units = colonies/100ml):
Geometric mean2
Single sample maximum
Appropriate Recreational Use3
<  126
406
suitable for primary water contact (swimming)
126 - 630
407-2030
suitable for secondary contact only (boating, but no swimming)
> 630
2030
unsuitable for recreation (no boating or swimming)
Massachusetts Criteria  for E. coli (Escherichia coli; units = colonies/100ml):
Geometric mean
Single sample maximum
Appropriate Recreational Use 3
<  126
235
suitable for primary water contact (swimming)
< 126
235
suitable for secondary contact only (boating, but no swimming)
>630
12604
unsuitable for recreation (no boating or swimming)

1. The Connecticut River as it flows between Vermont and New Hampshire is by law considered to be within New Hampshire boundaries, and therefore subject to New Hampshire’s water quality standards and criteria. State of New Hampshire 2008 Section 305(b) and 303(d) Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology.
2. Geometric mean of 3 or more samples taken within a 60 day period for New Hamshire, and geometric mean of 5 or more samples taken within a 60 day period for Massachusetts.
3. Levels are indicated for Class B waters. The Connecticut River in New Hampshire and Massachusetts is designated as a class B waterway. 
4. 10% of all samples should not exceed 1260 colonies / 100 ml. See Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Pollution Control: 414cmr4.05(3)(b)4

Results Updated October 22, 2008
 
Site
8/21/08
8/25/08
8/28/08
9/4/08
9/8/08
9/11/08
9/15/08
9/18/08
9/22/08
9/25/08
9/29/08
10/2/08
10/6/08
10/10/08
Wilder Picnic Area, Wilder VT
ns
ns
ns
<1
ns
ns
14w
30
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
E. Wilder Boat Launch, Lebanon NH
46
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
Lyman Point Park, Hartford VT
400
ns
ns
6
ns
ns
ns
10
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns

Lebanon Public River Access, Lebanon NH
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
20w
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
Blood Brook, Lebanon NH
24
23
12
4
70w
42
35w
28
4
8
ns
ns
ns
ns
Hanchett Brook, Plainfield NH
ns
ns
5
ns
ns
58
ns
ns
ns
22
ns
ns
ns
ns
Riverview Farm, Plainfield NH
ns
ns
129
ns
ns
38
ns
ns
ns
16
ns
ns
ns
ns
Sumner Falls, Hartland VT
66
26
58
12
42w
84
38w
26
18
12
ns
ns
ns
ns
Cornish Boat Launch, Cornish NH
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
20
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
North Star Canoe Rentals, Cornish NH
ns
37
ns
ns
60w
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
Wilgus State Park, Ascutney VT
ns
21
ns
ns
46w
ns
ns
ns
32
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
Northfield Boat Ramp MA
29
27
17
40
610w
53
210w
19
ns
9
90w
23
14
10
Munn's Ferry, Northfield MA
ns
ns
16
ns
400w
ns
ns
ns
ns
13
97w
ns
18
ns
Barton Cove,
Gill MA
ns
ns
ns
ns
370w
ns
240w
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
Rock Dam,
Turners Falls MA
10
16
17
30
680w
110
47w
12
ns
16
49w
24
8
14
Sunderland Bridge, Sunderland MA
17
13
16
35
ns
56
ns
21
ns
40
34w
ns
ns
ns
Hatfield Boat Ramp, Hatfield MA
5
14
ns
12
ns
68
ns
14
30
ns
ns
34
ns
1
Brunelles Marina, South Hadley MA
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
1
128w
44
16
10w
Willamansett Bridge, Holyoke MA
25
64
120
15
1571w
50
1040w
95
77
38
<1w
100
52
60w
Jones Ferry, Holyoke MA
ns
ns
ns
ns
209w
38
9
1
ns
14
120w
26
18
5w
Medina St. Boat Ramp, Chicopee MA
440
29
60
68
2040w
81
340w
74
50
42
800w
75
42
85w
Davitt Bridge Route 116, Chicopee MA
54
66
50
75
3467w
112
157w
60
60
35
620w
100
41
44w
Bassett Marina, Springfield MA
2800
440
240
680
7000w
6700
13286w
141
960
380
6417w
3900
6100
210w
Pychon Park, Springfield MA
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
0
123
75
103w
173
33
34w
Six Flags Park, Agawam MA
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
95
35
114
<1w
159
15
10w

"w" next to E. coli count signifies wet weather event (>0.1 inches of rain in 24 hours)
ns = not sampled, nd= no data
† sample taken on 7/23/08 for demonstration purposes

 

The above table presents 2008 E. coli bacteria data in number of colonies per 100ml of water. The sites are listed from upstream (top of the table) to downstream (bottom of the table), so you can visualize how E.coli counts vary from the northern most reach to the southern most reach of river we are sampling. The three reaches are Hartford, VT/Cornish, NH, Turners Falls/Greenfield, MA and Chicopee/Holyoke, MA. Color codes indicate which single sample maximum value range each result falls into, as listed in the New Hampshire/Massachusetts Criteria  for E. coli table.

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