About MassDEP’s INSPIRE Tool for Nonpoint Source Capacity Building
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), through the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Section in the Watershed Planning Program (WPP), developed INSPIRE as an online GIS-based capacity building tool. It shares information about the Clean Water Act (CWA) sections (§) 604(b) and 319 grants; showcases successful NPS-funded projects throughout the Commonwealth as examples; and presents a collection of geospatial layers as resources to help communities develop new project ideas for competitive grant proposals.
The CWA establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into waterbodies and regulating quality standards for surface waters. The objective of the CWA is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. To meet this goal, each state must assess waters within its borders.
In Massachusetts, water quality impairments are assessed by MassDEP and reported to USEPA in fulfillment of reporting requirements of sections 305(b), 303(d), and 314 of the CWA. NPS pollution, which is caused by runoff of precipitation over or through the ground, represents the most significant source of pollution overall in the nation. To mitigate NPS pollution, the Watershed Planning Program, awards funding on an annual basis through two CWA grant programs, the §604(b) Watershed Planning Grant Program and the §319 NPS Competitive Grant Program.
The INSPIRE Tool provides a geospatial representation of §604(b) and §319 grant projects awarded by MassDEP since the inception of the grant programs in the early 1990s that integrates information related to the NPS grant projects, including the geographic locations and associated project information.
Users can utilize this tool to identify relevant spatial data such as watersheds, rivers, lakes, wetlands, political and administrative boundaries, Massachusetts Environmental Justice (EJ) populations, and MassDEP Integrated List of Waters (§303(d)/§305(b) list) in proximity to the area of the user’s interest. Users will also be able to add their own data to customize a visualization to their specific needs. This tool will directly benefit potential §604(b) and §319 grant applicants by providing geospatial information to investigate and visualize ideas for the development of successful future NPS grants.
How to Use the INSPIRE NPS Capacity Building Tool
This interactive map provides information about NPS grants as well as spatially related data layers of interest. A User Guide is available here: INSPIRE Tool for NPS Capacity Building User Guide.
To start, open the INSPIRE Tool. Review the information displayed on the Splash Screen, check the check box, and click the OK button to enter the application. A side panel provides general information about the tool as well as links to the User’s Guide and other resources. Along the top of the screen, the user will find six tabs that display specific categories: Planning Grants, Watershed-Based Plans, Action Grants, All Nonpoint Source Pollution Grants, Statewide Projects, and Timeline.
Within the tab views, CWA grant projects are represented by different colors and symbols; all §604(b) grant projects are depicted by purple symbols while §319 grant projects are depicted by green (Implementation), orange (Healthy Waters Protection), and light blue (Capacity Building) symbols. Clicking on any NPS grant project symbol will open a dialog box with information about that project.
A variety of widgets are provided to maximize the user experience. In the upper left corner of the map field, Search, Basemap, and Measure tools are provided. Along the left side, Information, Draw, and Print tools are provided. The Information widget provides information about the selected tab. In the upper right corner of the map field, Legend, Map Layers, Add Data, Near Me, Filter, Find a §604(b) Project, and Find a §319 Project tools are provided. Under the Timeline tab only, a Timeline tool and 604(b) & 319 Grant Information tools are provided.
Clicking on the layer list icon will open the list of pre-loaded layers.
Clicking on the legend symbol will display the symbology for each active layer.
Clicking on any data layer will open a dialog box with information about that layer.
Please refer to the INSPIRE User Guide for more information and specific instructions on the use of map features.
Additional Resources
Help us improve the INSPIRE NPS Capacity Building Tool
If you discover errors, have questions regarding NPS and associated content in INSPIRE, or have suggestions to enhance the mapping experience, please use this INSPIRE Feedback Form to share your comments or email us at padmini.das@mass.gov, judith.rondeau@mass.gov, or dep.wpp@mass.gov.
Legal Disclaimer
Terms of Use: The INSPIRE Map Viewer includes a variety of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) generated data layers which may be viewed by the general public for informational purposes. MassDEP §319 Projects and §604(b) Projects data layers, in particular, may be used to identify federal Clean Water Act (the CWA) §319 and §604(b) grant projects, respectively, that have been awarded by MassDEP. The INSPIRE Map Viewer also includes additional data layers, such as the Watershed-Based Plans data layer. The grant projects data layer, supplemented by additional data layers, was developed to aid in the visualization of the approximate geographic distribution of awarded non-point source (NPS) grants and the priorities of the NPS Management Section (which is within the Watershed Planning Program). These data layers show project locations, hydrographic data, watersheds, and political boundaries based on grant project reports, water quality monitoring data, USGS HUC12 watershed delineations, and publicly available GIS data submitted to MassDEP. These data layers were created for planning purposes and represent only the approximate, relative location of property boundaries and/or regulated areas. MassDEP, at its discretion, may periodically update the CWA §319 and §604(b) Projects layers and Watershed-Based Plan data layers to reflect additions or changes in NPS Management Section priorities and to correct any errors which may be identified.
WARNING: By using these applications/data, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions: All data is provided “as is” and neither the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) nor MassDEP make any warranties or representations, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy or reliability of the data or related cartographic digital files, regardless of format or means of transmission, or their suitability or fitness for any particular use or purpose. Use of this information shall be at the user’s own risk and MassDEP shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein or for any loss or harm that may result to any person due to any person’s use or reliance on the data layers. The information shown in these data layers does not constitute legal advice as to any matter and should not be construed as a “legal description” or be utilized for any other legal purposes. You acknowledge that if more precise information is needed, you may need to consult a legal survey, primary source documentation, and/or the appropriate regulatory agency.