Current Conditions

USGS Stream Gage Data
For information on USGS studies of the Ipswich River and links to real-time streamflow data, go to the United States Geological Survey’s Ipswich River page.

You can also access streamflow data for difference points in the watershed directly:

• Ipswich River at South Middleton
• Ipswich River at Willowdale Dam (Hamilton/Ipswich)

Watering Restrictions and Local Regulations
Do your part to protect your community’s water supply so there is enough water for drinking and fire protection. People are more important than lawns — if your town has implemented a watering ban, be sure to comply with all regulations.

Watering Bans Explained

What triggers a watering ban?
How much water is in the river. When river flow falls below safe levels for 3 consecutive days, the ban begins. These water conservation measures stay in place until flows rise above the same threshold for 7 consecutive days.

Why is there still a ban, when it’s been raining for days?
The mandatory ban must stay in place until flows rise above a particular threshold for 7 consecutive days. Sometimes towns choose to extend the ban because it’s more convenient for them to continue a ban rather than taking it on and off repeatedly. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to confusion, annoyance, and people losing confidence in watering bans.

Why do we need a ban?
Sometimes the Ipswich River dries up because so much water is taken out. That is not good for wildlife, nature, fire protection, recreation or our drinking water and that’s why the Ipswich River was named one of the most endangered rivers in the nation. Water use can double or even triple in dry summer periods because of the large amounts of water used on lawns – about 15 million gallons a day throughout the Ipswich River region. Since 14 communities use the Ipswich River for water supply, this increased demand literally pumps the river dry at times.

To address this problem, MassDEP set a rule requiring watering conservation when the river is flowing slowly. The rule is that when flows fall below safe levels for 3 days, only hand-watering is allowed. The ban stays in place until flows rise above the same threshold for 7 days. (Danvers and Middleton have different flow action triggers than the other towns.)

The safe level at the South Middleton gage is 19 cubic feet per second. At the Ipswich (Willowdale) gage, the safe level is 53 cubic feet per second. Voluntary restrictions are put in place a little sooner (at higher flows) than mandatory ones.

What towns have watering bans?
Danvers, Hamilton, Lynnfield, Middleton, North Reading, Topsfield, Wenham and Wilmington

How can I find out if there is a watering ban in my town?
Check your local paper, call the DPW or go to your Town’s web site

How can I find out how the Ipswich River is today?
You can see for yourself what the flows are today(and for the past week, month or year).

What else can I do to protect the Ipswich River?
The good news is that you can have a beautiful lawn and landscape without regular watering. New blends of native and adapted drought tolerant grasses can allow you to have a green lawn throughout the summer without watering. You can replace some of your lawn with native plants which require little or now watering. Please visit our native plant gardens at Riverbend (143 County Rd, Ipswich) to take the guess work out of establishing water-wise gardens, go to the native plant section at your local garden center, or visit our Be Water Wise page for tips on river-friendly landscaping and saving money by saving water.