Tri-State Connecticut River Targeted Watershed Initiative

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Results

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

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

Early 2008 Results

Late 2008 Results

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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