USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

01096500 NASHUA RIVER AT EAST PEPPERELL, MA

LOCATION - Lat 42°40'03", long 71°34'32" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Middlesex County, MA, Hydrologic Unit 01070004, on right bank 200 ft downstream from powerplant at East Pepperell and 0.8 mi upstream from Nissitissit River.

DRAINAGE AREA - 435 mi² of which 119 mi² probably is noncontributing. net above gage is 316 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY - WDR MA-RI-84-1: Drainage area.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Discharge: October 1935 to current year. Water-quality records: water years 1952-53, 1973-74.

GAGE - Data Collection Platform with satellite telemeter. Datum of gage is 168.28 ft above NAVD 1988. Prior to May 13, 2020, datum of gage reported as 169.04 ft above NGVD 1929.

COOPERATION - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Water Resources.

REMARKS - Records good. Extremes and daily discharge include water released while diverting water from Wachusett Reservoir, primarily for use in the metropolitan Boston area, and water diverted into basin from Ware River Basin since 1955 for municipal use of Fitchburg. Prior to October 1981, water diverted around station through plant of James River-Pepperell Co. was added to daily figures. Flow occasionally regulated by powerplant immediately upstream of gage.

The historical maximum peak flow of 20,900 cfs on Mar. 20, 1936 is based on rating curve extended above 12,000 ft³/s on basis of velocity-area studies. The maximum peak stage of 19.10 ft is from floodmarks.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Water-quality records: Water years 1952-53, 1973-74.