The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation, Office of Water Resources, began a study in 2019 to update the regional regression equations for estimating selected low-flow statistics at ungaged sites in Massachusetts.
Low-flow statistics are crucial for water-resources planning, management and permitting because they inform water-resources decisions. Decision-makers must ensure that there is adequate streamflow to meet various objectives, such as water supply, agriculture, water-quality standards, recreation and aquatic habitat protection.
Regional regression equations for estimating selected low-flow statistics in Massachusetts were last published by Ries and Friesz (2000) and are currently available on the web-based application USGS StreamStats. These equations were based on data through 1995. Additionally, there are no regional regression equations for southeastern and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Updated low-flow equations would benefit from additional streamflow data, improvements in geographic information system (GIS) data and improvements in streamflow statistical analysis methods.
This low-flow study is being done in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Water Resources, and it will provide updated regional regression equations for estimating low-flow statistics in Massachusetts. It will also explore the development of low-flow equations for southeastern and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The study began in July 2019 and will end in June 2023.
The study objectives are to:
- Provide updated estimates of selected streamflow statistics (i.e. the 99-to-50-percent flow duration; low-flow frequencies 7Q2 and 7Q10; mean annual; and mean and median monthly flows); and updated basin, land-use and climatic characteristics for the selected streamgages in, and near, Massachusetts.
- Provide updated regional regression equations for estimating selected low-flow statistics at ungaged sites in Massachusetts.
- Investigate methods for estimating selected streamflow statistics at ungaged sites in the southeastern and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
- Evaluate potential long-term trends in the annual average 7-day low-flow for selected streamgages in, and near, Massachusetts.
- Overview
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation, Office of Water Resources, began a study in 2019 to update the regional regression equations for estimating selected low-flow statistics at ungaged sites in Massachusetts.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.U.S. Geological Survey Mill River at Northampton, Massachusetts streamgage (01171500) on October 11, 2022 looking downstream. The low-flow was about 12 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a 56.2-square-mile drainage area. Low-flow statistics are crucial for water-resources planning, management and permitting because they inform water-resources decisions. Decision-makers must ensure that there is adequate streamflow to meet various objectives, such as water supply, agriculture, water-quality standards, recreation and aquatic habitat protection.
Regional regression equations for estimating selected low-flow statistics in Massachusetts were last published by Ries and Friesz (2000) and are currently available on the web-based application USGS StreamStats. These equations were based on data through 1995. Additionally, there are no regional regression equations for southeastern and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Updated low-flow equations would benefit from additional streamflow data, improvements in geographic information system (GIS) data and improvements in streamflow statistical analysis methods.
This low-flow study is being done in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Water Resources, and it will provide updated regional regression equations for estimating low-flow statistics in Massachusetts. It will also explore the development of low-flow equations for southeastern and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The study began in July 2019 and will end in June 2023.
The study objectives are to:
- Provide updated estimates of selected streamflow statistics (i.e. the 99-to-50-percent flow duration; low-flow frequencies 7Q2 and 7Q10; mean annual; and mean and median monthly flows); and updated basin, land-use and climatic characteristics for the selected streamgages in, and near, Massachusetts.
- Provide updated regional regression equations for estimating selected low-flow statistics at ungaged sites in Massachusetts.
- Investigate methods for estimating selected streamflow statistics at ungaged sites in the southeastern and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
- Evaluate potential long-term trends in the annual average 7-day low-flow for selected streamgages in, and near, Massachusetts.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.U.S. Geological Survey Green River near Colrain, Massachusetts streamgage (01170100) on October 4, 2022 looking downstream. The low-flow was about 7.7 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a 41.4-square-mile drainage area. - Multimedia
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