DCR Office of Watershed Management

The Office of Watershed Management within DCR's Division of Water Supply Protection manages and protects the drinking water supply watersheds for approximately 3 million residents of Massachusetts, primarily in Greater Boston.

The Quabbin Reservoir, Ware River, and Wachusett Reservoir watersheds are the sources of drinking water for treatment and distribution by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA).

Who we serve

DWSP Watershed Protection Plan Achievements from 2014 to 2018 - an ArcGIS Story Map is a summary of major accomplishments by DWSP staff from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018.

All DWSP plans, including the DCR Watershed Protection Plan FY19-FY23, can be found at DCR Plan Publications.

See current conditions at Quabbin Reservoir from MWRA's Quab-Cam. 

The MWRA website also has an excellent history of the metropolitan Boston water supply system from colonial to modern times.

What would you like to do?

Top actions & services

Interactive Watershed System Description: Definitions, Facts, Figures, and Maps  Public Access Maps, Rules, Fishing & Hunting Information  DCR Watershed Water Quality 

More actions & services

Watershed Protection Act  Watershed Education Programs  Watershed Management Newsletters and Brochures  DCR Watershed Natural Resources Programs - Forestry, Wildlife, and Land Acquisition  Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Program   DCR Watershed Advisory Committees 
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