Water Resources Institute Program

The Water Resources Institute Program is a grant program with federal funding that provides support for faculty and students working on water resources issues in Massachusetts.

Acid Rain Monitoring Project

Phases I through III of the ARM Project ran from 1983 to 1993 for the purpose of determining the sensitivity of Massachusetts lakes and streams to acid rain and evaluating trends in acidification. The results of that effort involving thousands of volunteers are available in several publications and the complete database. The final report is available as a printed report, downloadable PDF files or on CD-ROM. The latter also includes the complete data sets.

ARM IV is up! The latest phase of the Acid Rain Monitoring Project was launched April 1, 2001. Click here to find out more and to volunteer.

Massachusetts Stormwater Technology Evaluation Project (MASTEP)

We are working with UMass Mechanical and Industrial Engineering on the creation of a web site "Stormwater Clearinghouse", to host a source of verified technical information on stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) to provide information on innovative technologies to BMP users.

Tri-State Connecticut River Initiative

This is a $1.4 million, two-year project to improve the Connecticut River in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont that WRRC is participating in along with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission with the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, and the US Geological Survey. The project includes:
• Real-time water quality monitoring with genetic bacteria-source identification,
• Bioengineering and riparian buffer planting for streambank erosion control,
• Innovative financing for controlling stormwater and CSOs,
• Smart growth tools to protect public water supplies, and
• Low impact development tools to control agricultural runoff.

Stream Continuity Project

We are working with UMass Extension's Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation to catalog stream crossings on a watershed basis and document whether they present a barrier to fish and wildlife passage.

The Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership

The Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership (MassWWP) provides training and other technical assistance to citizen organizations who conduct water quality monitoring programs on the lakes, rivers, and estuaries of Massachusetts.