Area of Critical Environmental Concern (Massachusetts)

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The Massachusetts Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Program is a list of state-designated places within the Commonwealth that receive special attention due to their natural and cultural resources. The program was established in 1975 and includes a list of thirty ACECs covering over 268,000 acres in seventy six communities throughout the state. The ACEC Program is administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on behalf of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs. [1]

List of ACECs in Massachusetts [2]

Ref#ACEC NameImageArea (acres)DesignatedLocationNotes
1 Bourne Back River 1,8501989Bourne
2 Canoe River Aquifer and Associated Areas Watson Pond, North Taunton MA.jpg 17,2001991Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, and TauntonIncludes Watson Pond, Lake Sabbatia, and the Snake River
3 Cedar Swamp 1,6501975Hopkinton
4 Central Nashua River Valley Nashua River Bolton Flats.JPG 12,9001996Bolton, Harvard, Lancaster, and Leominster
5Cranberry Brook Watershed1,0501983Braintree and Holbrook
6 Ellisville Harbor EllisvilleHarbor06.jpg 6001980Plymouth
7Fowl Meadow and Ponkapoag Bog8,3501992Boston, Canton, Dedham, Milton, Norwood, Randolph, Sharon, and Westwood
8Golden Hills5001987Melrose, Saugus, and Wakefield
9Great Marsh25,5001979Essex, Gloucester, Ipswich, Newbury, and Rowleyoriginally designated as Parker River/Essex Bay
10Herring River Watershed4,4501991Bourne and Plymouth
11Hinsdale Flats Watershed14,5001992Dalton, Hinsdale, Peru, and Washington
12 Hockomock Swamp 16,9501990Bridgewater, Easton, Norton, Raynham, Taunton, and West Bridgewater
13 Inner Cape Cod Bay Cape Cod Bay 2009.jpg 2,6001985Brewster, Eastham, and Orleans
14Kampoosa Bog Drainage Basin1,3501995Lee and Stockbridge
15Karner Brook Watershed7,0001992Egremont and Mount Washington
16Miscoe, Warren, and Whitehall Watersheds8,7002000Grafton, Hopkinton, and Upton
17 Neponset River Estuary Neponset River Granite Avenue Bridge.jpg 1,3001995Boston, Milton, and Quincy
18Petapawag Nashua River Rail Trail 1.JPG 25,6802002Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, and TyngsboroughLower Nashua River and Salmon Brook areas.
19 Pleasant Bay 9,2401987Brewster, Chatham, Harwich, and Orleans
20 Pocasset River 1601980Bourne
21 Rumney Marshes 2,8001988Boston, Lynn, Revere, Saugus, and Winthrop
22 Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System 9,1301978Barnstable and Sandwich
23 Schenob Brook Drainage Basin13,7501990Mount Washington and Sheffield
24Squannassit Squannacook River Townsend Harbor.JPG 37,4202002Ashby, Ayer, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend Squannacook River and Mulpus Brook areas.
25 Three Mile River Watershed Three Mile River 1-10-10.jpg 14,2802008Dighton, Norton, Taunton
26Upper Housatonic River12,2802009Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Washington
27 Waquoit Bay 2,5801979Falmouth and Mashpee
28 Weir River Weir River Massachusetts.jpg 9501986Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull
29Wellfleet Harbor12,4801989Eastham, Truro, and Wellfleet
30Weymouth Back River Weymouth Back River Bridge.jpg 8001982Hingham and Weymouth

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