USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

01104500 CHARLES RIVER AT WALTHAM, MA

LOCATION - Lat 42°22'20", long 71°14'03" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Middlesex County, MA, Hydrologic Unit 01090001, on right bank 800 ft downstream from Moody Street Bridge in Waltham and 0.3 mi upstream from Beaver Brook.

DRAINAGE AREA - 251 mi² of which 24 mi² probably is noncontributing.

REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 781: 1933(M). WSP 851: Drainage area. WSP 971: 1942: WDR MA-RI-01-1: Drainage area.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Discharge: October 1903 to October 1909 (figures of average weekly discharge, equivalent to records of unadjusted discharge at present site), August 1931 to current year. Water-quality records: Water years 1953, 1959, 1968-70.

GAGE - Data Collection Platform with satellite telemeter. Datum of gage is 19.21 ft above NAVD 1988. Datum previously reported as 20.02 ft above NGVD 1929. Prior to July 10, 1904, at dam 700 ft upstream and July 10, 1904, to Oct. 2, 1909, at dam 0.7 mi downstream at different datums; discharge computed from flow over dam and through wheels and gates of Boston Manufacturing Co. and Waltham Bleachery, respectively.

COOPERATION - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Planning and Engineering.

REMARKS - Records good except those for estimated daily discharge, which are fair. Flow affected by diversion of water from Stony Brook Reservoir (24 mi²) for Cambridge water supply, to Mother Brook (station 01104000), and to and from basin for municipal supplies. Prior to 1960, some regulation by mills upstream. Low flow completely regulated by Boston Edison Co. powerplant prior to 1954.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Water-quality records: Water years 1953, 1959, 1968-70.