Photograph of bridge-deck scuppers draining into the Charles River on State Route 2A in Boston near U.S. Geological Survey bridge-deck-monitoring station 422108071052501 during a rainstorm.
Transportation-Related Water Projects in New England
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By New England Water Science Center
July 27, 2021
The New England Water Science Center collects data and does interpretive studies on hydrology, hydraulics, and water quality in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in New England and other states.
Hydrologic studies include efforts to measure and analyze streamflows to provide flood-flow estimates that are available in the on-line StreamStats applications. Hydraulic studies include efforts to quantify bridge scour, stream-channel geometry, and runoff timing variables. Water-quality studies include efforts to measure, analyze, and model the concentrations, flows, and loads of stormflows. Water-quality studies also include efforts to measure and analyze changes in groundwater quality associated with the construction and operation of the transportation infrastructure. The results of these efforts are designed to provide tools, techniques, and information that can be used by decisionmakers to meet the DOTs missions to provide a transportation infrastructure that is safe, reliable, robust, and resilient while minimizing adverse effects on the environment.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Transportation-Related Water Projects
The USGS has a long history of cooperative investigations with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and state highway agencies to provide data and information to address various issues related to water resources and the Nation’s transportation infrastructure. These issues cover a wide spectrum and include items such as regional flow statistics, flood documentation, regional stream...
Delineating High-Resolution Urban Drainage Systems for Stormwater Management in the Mystic River Watershed
Characterizing hydrology and pollutant inputs in urban watersheds requires the consideration of both the natural and manmade environment. The Mystic River Basin is a highly urbanized, 76-square-mile watershed north of Boston, Massachusetts, that includes several underserved communities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed a watershed-scale web application of the Mystic River Basin to...
Quality of Stormwater Runoff Discharged from Connecticut Highways
Existing highway-runoff data do not adequately address the informational needs of stormwater professionals in Connecticut because there have been relatively few studies of highway runoff in the Northeastern United States. Consequently, the U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, in cooperation with Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), is conducting a 4-year project...
Effectiveness of Open-Graded Friction Course Pavement in Reducing Suspended-Sediment Loads Discharged from Massachusetts Highways
The U.S. Geological Survey New England Water Science Center, in cooperation with Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), is evaluating how a type of porous pavement affects the discharge of suspended sediment in comparison to the asphalt surface commonly used on Massachusetts highways. The project will expand the understanding of highway runoff concentrations of suspended sediment...
A Statewide Hydraulic Modeling Tool for Stream Crossing Projects in Massachusetts
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass Amherst), in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), began a series of studies in 2019 to develop a GIS-based hydraulic modeling tool and to provide preliminary culvert designs for stream-crossing replacement projects in Massachusetts on USGS StreamStats.
Development of Regional Regression Equations to Estimate the Magnitude of Peak Flows for Selected Annual-Exceedance Probabilities in Maine
The flood-frequency characteristics for streamgages and regression equations for estimating flood magnitudes have been published.
Development of Regional Regression Equations in Connecticut
Knowledge of the magnitude and frequency of floods is needed for the effective and safe design of bridges, culverts, and other structures. This information is also important for flood-plain planning and management. Periodic examination of flood-frequency characteristics is essential to ensure the best estimates of flood magnitudes for a given annual exceedance probabilities (AEP).
SELDM: Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model - Project page
Note: SELDM is now on version 1.1.1.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Bridge-deck scuppers draining into the Charles River
Photograph of bridge-deck scuppers draining into the Charles River on State Route 2A in Boston near U.S. Geological Survey bridge-deck-monitoring station 422108071052501 during a rainstorm.
The New England Water Science Center collects data and does interpretive studies on hydrology, hydraulics, and water quality in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in New England and other states.
Hydrologic studies include efforts to measure and analyze streamflows to provide flood-flow estimates that are available in the on-line StreamStats applications. Hydraulic studies include efforts to quantify bridge scour, stream-channel geometry, and runoff timing variables. Water-quality studies include efforts to measure, analyze, and model the concentrations, flows, and loads of stormflows. Water-quality studies also include efforts to measure and analyze changes in groundwater quality associated with the construction and operation of the transportation infrastructure. The results of these efforts are designed to provide tools, techniques, and information that can be used by decisionmakers to meet the DOTs missions to provide a transportation infrastructure that is safe, reliable, robust, and resilient while minimizing adverse effects on the environment.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Transportation-Related Water Projects
The USGS has a long history of cooperative investigations with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and state highway agencies to provide data and information to address various issues related to water resources and the Nation’s transportation infrastructure. These issues cover a wide spectrum and include items such as regional flow statistics, flood documentation, regional stream...
Delineating High-Resolution Urban Drainage Systems for Stormwater Management in the Mystic River Watershed
Characterizing hydrology and pollutant inputs in urban watersheds requires the consideration of both the natural and manmade environment. The Mystic River Basin is a highly urbanized, 76-square-mile watershed north of Boston, Massachusetts, that includes several underserved communities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed a watershed-scale web application of the Mystic River Basin to...
Quality of Stormwater Runoff Discharged from Connecticut Highways
Existing highway-runoff data do not adequately address the informational needs of stormwater professionals in Connecticut because there have been relatively few studies of highway runoff in the Northeastern United States. Consequently, the U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, in cooperation with Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), is conducting a 4-year project...
Effectiveness of Open-Graded Friction Course Pavement in Reducing Suspended-Sediment Loads Discharged from Massachusetts Highways
The U.S. Geological Survey New England Water Science Center, in cooperation with Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), is evaluating how a type of porous pavement affects the discharge of suspended sediment in comparison to the asphalt surface commonly used on Massachusetts highways. The project will expand the understanding of highway runoff concentrations of suspended sediment...
A Statewide Hydraulic Modeling Tool for Stream Crossing Projects in Massachusetts
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass Amherst), in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), began a series of studies in 2019 to develop a GIS-based hydraulic modeling tool and to provide preliminary culvert designs for stream-crossing replacement projects in Massachusetts on USGS StreamStats.
Development of Regional Regression Equations to Estimate the Magnitude of Peak Flows for Selected Annual-Exceedance Probabilities in Maine
The flood-frequency characteristics for streamgages and regression equations for estimating flood magnitudes have been published.
Development of Regional Regression Equations in Connecticut
Knowledge of the magnitude and frequency of floods is needed for the effective and safe design of bridges, culverts, and other structures. This information is also important for flood-plain planning and management. Periodic examination of flood-frequency characteristics is essential to ensure the best estimates of flood magnitudes for a given annual exceedance probabilities (AEP).
SELDM: Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model - Project page
Note: SELDM is now on version 1.1.1.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Bridge-deck scuppers draining into the Charles River
Photograph of bridge-deck scuppers draining into the Charles River on State Route 2A in Boston near U.S. Geological Survey bridge-deck-monitoring station 422108071052501 during a rainstorm.
Photograph of bridge-deck scuppers draining into the Charles River on State Route 2A in Boston near U.S. Geological Survey bridge-deck-monitoring station 422108071052501 during a rainstorm.