MassDEP Watershed Planning

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Surface Water Quality Standards

Develops and adopts standards to protect public health, aquatic life, and enhance the quality and value of surface waters in the Commonwealth.

314 CMR 4: The Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards  Regulatory review & standards development activities 

Surface Water Quality Monitoring

Conducts biological and physico-chemical surface water sampling in support of multiple water quality management programs.

Surface Water Quality Monitoring 

Open PDF file, 1.28 MB, for Water Quality Monitoring Strategy 2016-2025 (PDF 1.28 MB)

Annual monitoring summaries  Volunteer monitoring opportunities  Historical water quality and biomonitoring technical memoranda 

Data Management & Water Quality Assessments

Manages biological and physico-chemical surface water quality data and performs biennial water quality assessments.

Data management  Water quality assessment  Integrated Reports [305(b) / 303(d)]  Quality Assurance  External data submittals 

Total Maximum Daily Loads

Develops plans to restore the quality of impaired surface waters.

Total Maximum Daily Loads  Reports by watershed  The Massachusetts Estuaries Project and Reports  Watershed planning vision process 

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Administers grants to assist the restoration of surface and groundwater impaired by nonpoint source pollution and protect water quality.

Nonpoint source pollution  Grants and financial assistance  Watershed-based planning  S. 319 Nonpoint Source Grant  2021 Section 319 Grant Projects  S. 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grant  2020 Section 604(b) Grant Projects