ACEC Designations

Governor
Deval L. Patrick

Lt. Governor
Timothy P. Murray

EOEA Secretary
Ian A. Bowles

ACEC DESIGNATIONS

Below is an alphabetical list of ACECs, with numbers that correspond to the statewide map. Each ACEC name links to a summary sheet with further information. There is also a complete index of ACECs and the 73 towns that have ACECs within them. There are currently 28 ACEC designations, totalling approximately 241,000 acres statewide.

Designation documents for each ACEC, which describe the resources of the designated area, the purpose of designation, and the legal boundary (including reduced topographic maps) are available from the ACEC program.

Designation documents are available online as downloadable pdf files linked on each specific ACEC page below. Maps can be viewed online and accessed via the MassGIS website. See the Links & Downloads column on this page for About ACEC Maps and Boundaries.

A digital data layer of ACEC boundaries is available for free downloading at the MassGIS Website. Large format color printed theme maps are also available to order at a cost from the MassGIS Website.

MASSACHUSETTS AREAS OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN

March 2007
Total Approximate Acreage: 241,000 acres
Approximate acreage and designation date follow ACEC names below.

Please note:
Links to various sites associated with ACECs and summary resource sheets are listed under each specific ACEC.

1 Bourne Back River
(1,850 acres, 1989) Bourne

2 Canoe River Aquifer and Associated Areas
(17,200 acres, 1991) Easton, Foxborough,
Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, and Taunton

3 Cedar Swamp
(1,650 acres, 1975) Hopkinton and Westborough

4 Central Nashua River Valley
(12,900 acres,1996) Bolton, Harvard, Lancaster,
and Leominster

5 Cranberry Brook Watershed
(1,050 acres, 1983) Braintree and Holbrook

6 Ellisville Harbor
(600 acres, 1980) Plymouth

7 Fowl Meadow and Ponkapoag Bog
(8,350 acres, 1992) Boston, Canton, Dedham,
Milton, Norwood, Randolph, Sharon, and Westwood

8 Golden Hills
(500 acres, 1987) Melrose, Saugus, and Wakefield

9 Great Marsh

(originally Parker River/Essex Bay)
(25,500 acres, 1979) Essex, Gloucester, Ipswich,
Newbury, and Rowley

10 Herring River Watershed
(4,450 acres, 1991) Bourne and Plymouth

11 Hinsdale Flats Watershed
(14,500 acres, 1992) Dalton, Hinsdale, Peru,
and Washington

12 Hockomock Swamp
(16,950 acres, 1990) Bridgewater, Easton, Norton,
Raynham, Taunton, and West Bridgewater

13 Inner Cape Cod Bay
(2,600 acres, 1985) Brewster, Eastham, and Orleans

14 Kampoosa Bog Drainage Basin
(1,350 acres, 1995) Lee and Stockbridge

15 Karner Brook Watershed
(7,000 acres, 1992) Egremont and Mount
Washington

16 Miscoe-Warren-Whitehall Watersheds
(8,700 acres, 2000) Grafton, Hopkinton, and Upton

17 Neponset River Estuary
(1,300 acres, 1995) Boston, Milton, and Quincy

18 Petapawag
(25,630 acres, 2002) Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, Tyngsborough

19 Pleasant Bay
(9,240 acres, 1987) Brewster, Chatham, Harwich,
and Orleans

20 Pocasset River
(160 acres, 1980) Bourne

21 Rumney Marshes
(2,800 acres, 1988) Boston, Lynn, Revere, Saugus,
and Winthrop

22 Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
(9,125 acres, 1978) Barnstable and Sandwich

23 Schenob Brook Drainage Basin
(13,750 acres, 1990) Mount Washington
and Sheffield

24 Squannassit
(37,450 acres, 2002) Ashby, Ayer, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend

25 Waquoit Bay
(2,575 acres, 1979) Falmouth and Mashpee

26 Weir River
(950 acres, 1986) Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull

27 Wellfleet Harbor
(12,480 acres, 1989) Eastham, Truro, and Wellfleet

28 Weymouth Back River
(950 acres, 1982) Hingham and Weymouth

	LINKS & DOWNLOADS
•	Statewide Map (pdf)
•	List of ACECs (pdf)
•	ACEC Regulations (pdf) (note disclaimer)
•	ACEC Guide to State Regulations and Programs (pdf)
•	About ACEC Maps and Boundaries
•	Nomination Guidelines
•	Regulatory Summary
•	ACEC Resource Management Plan Guidelines (pdf)