Low-flow metrics and explanatory variable data for 107 basins in Massachusetts, 1943-2022

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, evaluated potential drivers of low streamflows in Massachusetts by use of statistical models with selected low-flow metrics as the dependent variables. Low-flow metrics were computed in six ways: the 2nd and 10th percentile of daily flows during a climate year, these same percentiles normalized by median flows, and the duration of time during each climate year that flow was below two long-term low-flow thresholds. These low flows were described for 107 catchments across Massachusetts (some included drainage area in surrounding states) for all climate years of available streamflow data between 1943 and 2022 that met study criteria. Explanatory variables describing potential drivers of these low streamflows were also calculated for each catchment and climate year so that regressions models could be fit to the data. This data release contains a single table that includes all the calculated low-flow metrics and explanatory variables.