Area of Critical Environmental Concern (Massachusetts)


The Massachusetts Area of Critical Environmental Concern 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 on behalf of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

List of ACECs in Massachusettshttp://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/acec/listACEC.pdf [November 2010 list]

Ref#ACEC NameImageArea DesignatedLocationNotes
1Bourne Back River1,8501989Bourne
2Canoe River Aquifer and Associated Areas17,2001991Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, and TauntonIncludes Watson Pond, Lake Sabbatia, and the Snake River
3Cedar Swamp1,6501975Hopkinton-
4Central Nashua River Valley12,9001996Bolton, Harvard, Lancaster, and Leominster
5Cranberry Brook Watershed1,0501983Braintree and Holbrook
6Ellisville Harbor6001980Plymouth
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
12Hockomock Swamp16,9501990Bridgewater, Easton, Norton, Raynham, Taunton, and West Bridgewater
13Inner Cape Cod Bay2,6001985Brewster, 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
17Neponset River Estuary1,3001995Boston, Milton, and Quincy
18Petapawag25,6802002Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, and TyngsboroughLower Nashua River and Salmon Brook areas.
19Pleasant Bay9,2401987Brewster, Chatham, Harwich, and Orleans
20Pocasset River1601980Bourne
21Rumney Marshes2,8001988Boston, Lynn, Revere, Saugus, and Winthrop
22Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System9,1301978Barnstable and Sandwich
23Schenob Brook Drainage Basin13,7501990Mount Washington and Sheffield
24Squannassit37,4202002Ashby, Ayer, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, and TownsendSquannacook River and Mulpus Brook areas.
25Three Mile River Watershed14,2802008Dighton, Norton, Taunton
26Upper Housatonic River12,2802009Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Washington
27Waquoit Bay2,5801979Falmouth and Mashpee
28Weir River9501986Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull
29Wellfleet Harbor12,4801989Eastham, Truro, and Wellfleet
30Weymouth Back River8001982Hingham and Weymouth