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about the hydrology of the Ipswich River
           

  Streamflow

One of the most serious threats to the health of Massachusetts rivers is that many of them don’t have enough water throughout the year to sustain the aquatic ecosystems that depend on the river’s flowing waters. There are five fundamental ways we can help restore the natural flows of our rivers:

Conserve water
We don't always use the water wisely when we withdraw water from our rivers to supply homes and businesses, and sometimes we pump more water than the rivers can sustain.

Recycle "grey" water and stormwater
We treat used water as waste instead of cleaning and recycling it back into the ground where it can replenish river systems. The result is a major net loss of water for many rivers, especially in eastern Massachusetts.

Recharge groundwater supplies with rainwater
Groundwater is reduced as we continue to pave over the landscape. Water runs off and is diverted away from the watershed, instead of soaking into the ground and recharging groundwater supplies.

Remove old dams
Dams capture water that would otherwise flow downstream, leaving the downstream sections dry or depleted. There are more than 3000 dams on Massachusetts rivers and streams.

Determine the "Safe Yield"
We cause water deficits when water is removed from one river system and pumped to another, without consideration of the donor river's safe yield.

Instead of “balancing the water budget,” many Massachusetts rivers experience serious water deficits. This is especially damaging when human activities like lawn watering – which increases in dry summers – exacerbate naturally low-flow conditions, or when water losses prevent fish spawning or migrations, or dry up critical habitats.