Summary
Total streamflow across the
Shawsheen River
was last observed at
137
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
271
acre-ft of water today; about 151%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
91 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2024-01-11 when daily discharge volume was observed at
859 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Shawsheen River Near Wilmington
reporting a streamflow rate of 59.1 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Shawsheen River, with a gauge stage of
2.89 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Shawsheen River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 124 ft, the
Shawsheen River At Hanscom Field Near Bedford.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2024-04-11 |
| Discharge Volume | 271 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
136.64 cfs
-20.0 cfs (-12.77%) |
| Percent of Normal | 150.89% |
| Maximum |
858.8 cfs
2024-01-11 |
| Seasonal Avg | 91 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shawsheen River At Hanscom Field Near Bedford
USGS 01100568 |
7 cfs | 0.93 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Shawsheen River Near Wilmington
USGS 01100600 |
59 cfs | 2.89 ft | 71.8 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Shawsheen River is a 26.7-mile-long (43.0 km) tributary of the Merrimack River in northeast Massachusetts. The name has had various spellings. According to Bailey's history of Andover, the spelling Shawshin was the most common in the old records, although Shawshine, Shashin, Shashine, Shashene, Shawshene, and later, Shawsheen, are found. The name, says Bailey, is said to mean "Great Spring".The river runs generally northward through the towns of Bedford, Billerica, Wilmington, Tewksbury, Andover, and Lawrence, where it joins the Merrimack. Like its parent, the river has played an important role in the development of the area, including industrial development, with many mills built to take advantage of the river's power. Today there are trails and parks located along several sections of the river, and a preservation effort is carried out by the Shawsheen River Watershed Association.
In June 2001, the Merrimack River Watershed Council determined that the Shawsheen River failed to meet water quality standards. This situation was largely attributed to stormwater runoff via town, private and state storm drain systems. As a result of increased pollutants, major portions of the Shawsheen River are now listed as impaired waters on the 303(d) list of the Clean Water Act.The removal of the Marland Place Dam (originally built in the 1700s) and Balmoral Dam (originally built in the 1920s) allowed alewife and blueback herring to spawn upstream to the Ballardvale Dam in spring 2017, for the first time in over 200 years.