This agreement provides funding to the merrimack river watershed council to implement its merrimack river hot spot detection and green infrastructure solutions project

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 awarded $352,000 to the Merrimack River Watershed Council, Inc. under the Congressionally Mandated Projects program (CFDA 66.202) effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. This cooperative agreement funds the Merrimack River Hot Spot Detection and Green Infrastructure Solutions Project, which implements requirements outlined in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The project targets the mainstem Merrimack River and its tributaries from Nashua, New Hampshire to the river's mouth, with specific focus on the communities of Lowell, Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill.

The primary deliverables include water quality monitoring at 13 mainstem locations, combined sewer overflow (CSO) monitoring from April through October, seasonal cloud-based sensor monitoring in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and visual observations informed by community input. The recipient will produce a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), five Sampling and Analysis Plans annually, fifty site-specific reports, and up to five annual reports documenting identified pollutant hot spots, source investigation results, and subsequent actions taken. These activities are designed to identify pollutant sources, develop watershed-based plans, and establish appropriate green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) for the Merrimack River Watershed. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.

This project which will investigate the sources of pollutant hot spots and support the development of watershed base plans and further green infrastructure BMP planning for the merrimack river watershed as directed in the 2022 consolidated appropriations act. The project area includes the mainstem merrimack river and its tributaries from the city of nashua, NH to the mouth of the river and is centered around the communities of lowell, lawrence, methuen, and haverhill. Activities:the activities to be performed include the (1) identification of pollutant hot spots in the watershed, (2) further investigation to identify pollutant sources, and (3) sharing and disseminating the #64257; ndings to prioritize the development of watershed base plans and the development of appropriate green infrastructure bmps. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include main stem merrimack river water quality monitoring at 13 locations for multiple parameters, CSO monitoring from april through october, the collection of additional monitoring from the seasonal operation of a cloud-based sensor in newburyport, MA, and visual observations from mrwc staff at several locations informed by community input solicited through mrwc's newsletter and social media outlets. The expected outcomes include a final qapp, five (5) sampling and analysis plans (saps) per year, fifty (50) site-speci#64257; c reports, and up to five (5) annual reports on hot spots identi#64257; ED, results of source investigations, entities provided with investigative results and updates of further action taken as a result of #64257; ndings. The intended primary beneficiaries are the communities of lowell, lawrence, methuen, and haverhill, as well as other communities along the mainstem of the merrimack river and its tributaries from the city of nashua, NH to the mouth of the river in newburyport, MA.