USGS MONITORING ACTIVITIES ON THE IPSWICH RIVER
The Final Report is available on-line click here!
Ipswich River, Mass., dried
up during the summer of 1999
Streamflows in the Ipswich River were low through June, July, and August. Flows in most tributaries dwindled to a trickle or dried up altogether. On the mainstem Ipswich, the effects of low flows are most obvious in reaches that have a slight slope or gradient. The low flows in these reaches leaves large stretches of streambed exposed, and streamside habitat features such as undercut banks, root masses, aquatic vegetation, and overhanging vegetation are left high and dry, and are not available to support support aquatic life. In low-gradient reaches that are pooled behind riffles, woody debris, or dams, water velocities slow, temperatures increase, and algal blooms are common. Many fish become concentrated in isolated pools. Water levels will remain low until substantial rainfalls replenish the watershed. As the dry weather persists, and available habitat in the river stays low, and the remaining aquatic life is increasingly stressed due to high water temperatures, lower levels of dissolved oxygen, dwindling food supplies, and predation.
Figure 1.--Exposed aquatic vegetation in channel of the Ipswich River, upstream of Woburn Street, Wilmington, June 17, 1999.
Figure 2a.--Ipswich River downstream of Mill Street, Reading/North Reading, May 25, 1999.
Figure 2b.--Exposed streambed in the Ipswich River downstream of Mill Street, Reading/North Reading. River flow was measured at 2.4 inches deep in a 3-inch wide flume, June 23, 1999.
Figure 3.--Exposed streambed upstream of Rt. 28 in North Reading, June 17, 1999.
Figure 4.--Exposed mussel in streambed of Ipswich River downstream of Chestnut Street, North Reading, June 23, 1999.
Figure 5.--Stagnant reach of Ipswich River downstream of Mill Street, Reading/North Reading, June 30, 1999.
Current USGS projects in the Ipswich basin
The USGS, in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies and local interest groups, is investigating the capacity of the Ipswich River basin to supply adequate water for expected increased development in the basin and is seeking to determine if reduced streamflows in the basin have caused or will cause loss of biological habitat and diversity. The USGS is developing a watershed model of the Ipswich basin that will be used to simulate natural flow in the river and to investigate various water use scenarios. The USGS is also characterizing the macrohabitat of the Ipswich River to better understand the relation between flow quantity and habitat availability at critical areas along the river.
More on: The Ipswich River Basin, Massachusetts
More on: Streamflow & Habitat in the Ipswich River Basin, Massachusetts
More on: The Hydrologic Systems Model for the Ipswich River Basin, Massachusetts
Real-time streamflow and stage data
USGS Monitoring Station: 01101500-- IPSWICH RIVER AT SOUTH MIDDLETON, MA
USGS Monitoring Station: 01102000-- IPSWICH RIVER NEAR IPSWICH, MA
Information on USGS stream gaging stations, maps of gage locations, and historical streamflow and stage data
USGS Monitoring Station: 01101500-- IPSWICH RIVER AT SOUTH MIDDLETON, MA
USGS Monitoring Station: 01102000-- IPSWICH RIVER NEAR IPSWICH, MA
To view today's stream flow in terms of its relation to measured daily streamflows in Massachusetts over the last 30 years, click here!
Reports
Assessment of Habitat, Fish Communities, and Streamflow Requirements for Habitat Protection, Ipswich River, Massachusetts, 199899, report on-line
A Precipitation-Runoff Model for Analysis of the Effects of Water Withdrawals on Streamflow, Ipswich River Basin, Massachusetts, report on-line
Ipswich Habitat Project Chief
- USGS MA-RI Water Science Center
- 10 Bearfoot Road
- Northborough MA 01532
- Phone: 508 490-5000
- FAX: 508 490-5068
- http://ma.water.usgs.gov