USGS New England Water Science Center

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USGS New England Water Science Center

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We provide timely, reliable information on the water resources of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Our water research and data help safeguard ecological health, public safety, and environmental sustainability. USGS Comment Policy:

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10/21/2026

Ever wonder what happens when PFAS in groundwater meets the ocean? New USGS research has uncovered the role tidal pumping plays in its movement! 🌊

The study looks at PFAS transport in groundwater from sources to seeps into surface waters, focusing on two fuel tanker-truck roll-over accidents where aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) was applied as a fire precaution, creating a plume of PFAS toward nearby coastal waters over decades. They found that the PFAS from the AFFF traveled with groundwater and discharged within the coastal area between high and low tides (known as the intertidal zone) at detectable concentrations. A novel finding of the study was the widespread influence of 'tidal pumping' on discharge of groundwater and PFAS at the intertidal seeps, which is movement of the seawater in and out of the coastal sediments across the tidal cycle. In higher salinities, some PFAS chemicals are known to 'stick' to sediment grains, and therefore PFAS intertidal processes deserve further research to understand how the intertidal zone influences PFAS loading of coastal waters.

Led by USGS research hydrologist Martin Briggs, the journal article "PFAS from a Discrete-Event Terrestrial Source Migrates with Groundwater to Intertidal Seepages," published in the May-June 2026 issue of "Groundwater" has been named Editor's Choice! 🥳According to the journal, studies selected as "Editor's Choice" are reflective of the "best content published in the journal.”

🎊Congratulations to Marty and the other USGS Water Science Center and Water Mission Area staff who contributed to this study! 🎊

Read the full study here: https://ow.ly/56PI50ZW0ig

📸1: USGS scientists Eric White and Patrick Scordato collect electromagnetic imaging data at high tide to map areas of terrestrial groundwater discharge and the depth of ocean water infiltration into the sediments. They are at Hen Cove in Bourne, MA, in September 2022. Credit: USGS/Martin Briggs
📸2: USGS scientist Zach O'Neal installs piezometers in areas of terrestrial groundwater discharge to track groundwater-surface water exchange through a full lunar tidal cycle to coincide with PFAS chemical sampling. Zach is at Hen Cove in Bourne, MA, in September 2022. Credit: USGS/Martin Briggs

10/13/2026

🎊Highlighting the New England States 🥳:
Rhode Island

One of the biggest threats to Rhode Island's coastal waters originates far from the coastline. The USGS is taking a close look at nitrogen and its impact on Rhode Island's coastal waters.

🌊 Too much nitrogen entering coastal ponds and embayments can contribute to excessive algal growth that leads to low dissolved oxygen. Understanding where this nitrogen comes from, how it travels above and below ground, and how long it takes to reach the coast is key to protecting these ecosystems.

In the Salt Ponds region of southern Rhode Island, USGS and EPA’s Southeast New England Program are estimating how much nitrogen is moving toward the coastal ponds and streams, and how long it will take to get there. Understanding where the nitrogen is, how fast it moves, and the amount that is on the move provides managers with the information they need to target the areas that require nitrogen-reduction management.

Other Rhode Island research at USGS has looked at:
💧nutrient transport around Wickford
💧the water quality of the Sakonnet River
💧how groundwater quality responds when communities change wastewater-management (like switching from septic systems to sewer or permeable reactive barriers)

Sometimes protecting coastal waters begins inland and underneath our feet below the ground!

📸1: A view of Narragansett Bay from Castle Hill Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island. Credit: USGS
📸2: A seagull on the rocky coast next to Beavertail Lighthouse in Beavertail, Rhode Island. Credit: USGS

10/09/2026

A look behind the scenes! 🎞️That is what our local cooperators and stakeholders got last month at our Massachusetts office, a first-hand, up-close peek at how we gather data and deliver reliable science!

We showcased our newest research, explained how we collect and verify data with our equipment, and taught people how to use our web applications!

📹: A montage of video from our Massachusetts Partner Open House. Credit: USGS

10/05/2026

It's all about communication! Science doesn't stop when the research is done. Sharing what we learn and the tools we develop turn that science into something useful for the people who depend on it!

USGS New England Water Science Center hydrologists Travis Smith and Ian Armstrong presented their work at the Vermont Agency of Transportation Research and Innovation Symposium a few weeks ago. Smith and Armstrong both gave presentations and held Q&A sessions by their posters.

Smith talked about USGS' New England hydrologic monitoring network and how the public can access streamflow information in real time. Armstrong discussed USGS StreamStats and its capabilities for sizing stream crossings, such as culverts and bridges. His presentation received the symposium's "People's Choice Award"!

When we share what we discover, we help connect science with the people who use it. 💧

📸 1: Ian Armstrong presents information on USGS StreamStats. Credit: USGS
📸 2: Travis Smith stands next to his poster on New England's hydrologic monitoring network. Credit: USGS

09/27/2026

Rivers connect our communities, ecosystems and coast. World Rivers Day raises awareness about the value of healthy waterways and thriving river ecosystems. 🚣‍♀️

Collecting streamflow and water quality data from our rivers is part of what we do every day, but we also work on multi-year research in watersheds and river systems to shed light on issues that may require restoration, infrastructure, or nutrient management.

🧪 For instance, a four-year USGS investigation collected water-quality data at 12 locations in the lower Merrimack River watershed—from major tributaries and the mainstem to the estuary. Nutrients, metals, bacteria, and other parameters like pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature were recorded.

Dive into the science here: https://ow.ly/OfqF50ZFS6l

📸: A water quality monitoring station near the mouth of the Merrimack River. Credit: USGS

09/22/2026

Fall has arrived in New England (officially! today!), and it's not just leaf color that changes this time of year - water conditions will start to shift too. 🍂

☕So, cozy up beside the fire with a pumpkin spice latte and log on to the USGS New England Water Conditions Explorer to view current streamflow and groundwater levels in the context of historical data.

Check conditions near you: https://ow.ly/rKo850ZFRMa

📸: A USGS streamgage on the Piscataquis River in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine (USGS-01031500). Credit: USGS

09/21/2026

Do we need an excuse to celebrate our estuaries?

Not really, but National Estuaries Week has just begun, so now is the perfect time to chat about these wonderfully productive, biologically rich, and ecological vital habitats!

Where rivers meet larger bodies of water (there are freshwater estuaries too!) estuaries provide nursery habitat for shellfish and finfish and protect shorelines with swaths of wetland vegetation that trap sediment, store carbon, dampen storm waves, and reduce erosion. Sounds pretty amazing, right?

The USGS New England Water Science Center has several water quality monitoring stations along coastal Connecticut and Massachusetts to rapidly track changing conditions, such as salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen.

📸: A USGS water quality monitoring station in the Merrimack River Estuary in Massachusetts. Credit: USGS

09/18/2026

A USGS water science center is not just going to let World Water Monitoring Day go by... 🙌🥳 I mean...it's what we do!

Every reliable water-data point begins with a measurement. 💧 Across New England, USGS monitors streamflow, groundwater and coastal water levels, precipitation, and water-quality parameters. All of these observations support flood and drought preparedness, water management, infrastructure design, and ecosystem protection.

Explore our monitoring work and learn about the New England Water Science Center's hydrologic monitoring branch: https://ow.ly/5N2F50ZFRpu

📸: A USGS hydrologic technician deploys an ADCP from a bridge to record streamflow. Credit: USGS

09/16/2026

Happy Collect Rocks Day! 🪨 The rocks of New England make more than just great mountains for hiking, biking, and skiing. 🎿 Our unique geology influences the movement and chemistry of groundwater!

In New Hampshire, USGS scientists studied how bedrock, hydrology, and the position of the landscape relate to the probability of radon and uranium in groundwater.

Dig into the science: https://ow.ly/GEJ050ZFRfJ

📸1: Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. Credit: USGS
📸2: Map of New Hampshire where elevated radon probabilities are higher or lower. Credit: USGS

09/10/2026

Are your favorite maps colorful? How about interactive? Ok, now what about informative? ...
🌈🗺️📖 Well, then we have what you're looking for...

The USGS New England Water Science Center launched two new web applications that use color to indicate the status of certain water conditions at USGS streamgages. One focuses on whether or not streamflows fall within certain state-required baseflow limits, and the other indicates whether monthly streamflows were higher or lower than usual at gages throughout New England.

Learn more about both applications here: https://ow.ly/Nn3X50ZAxl5

📸: A screenshot image of the USGS "Monthly Streamflow Conditions in New England" web tool. Credit: USGS
📸: A screenshot image of the USGS "Comparison of Streamflow in Maine to Seasonal Aquatic Base Flow" web tool. Credit: USGS

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10 Bearfoot Road
Northborough, MA
01532

Website

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/new-england-water-science-center

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