Losing Ground 2020: Statistics
Ipswich Watershed
Sixth Edition
Published February 2020, Losing Ground: Nature's Value In A Changing Climate reports on the pace and patterns of land development and land protection in Massachusetts between 2012 and 2017.
These statistics describe changes in land use between 2012 and 2017. Estimates of acres of land converted from a natural state to a developed state can be found here, as well as the rate of development in comparison to other areas. Natural land consists of forest, wetland, and water; open land consists of agricultural areas, bare soil, beaches, barrens, or low vegetation; development includes low density residential and commercial/industrial/high density residential development. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017 (acres)
398
18
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
2.6
18
Total area of development (acres)
26,632
14
Total area of natural land (acres)
65,663
21
Total area of open land (acres)
7,128
21
Percent developed land
27 %
12
Percent natural land
66 %
14
Percent open land
7 %
19
Size of watershed in acres
99,457
21
Size of watershed in square miles
155.4
21
The level of protection for the area is summarized below. We also consider the proportion of important conservation resources that are protected in the area, including BioMap2 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape, Green Infrastructure Network, and relatively climate change resilient land. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of permanently conserved land (acres)
27,407
18
Overall percent permanently conserved
28 %
11
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
4,708
17
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
1,890
13
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
1,748
16
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
191
16
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
4,708
17
Size of watershed in acres
99,457
21
Size of watershed in square miles
155.4
21
Fifth Edition
Released in June 2014, Losing Ground: Planning for Resilience reports on the pace and patterns of land development and land protection in Massachusetts between 2005 and 2013.
These statistics describe changes in land use between 2005 and 2013. Estimates of acres of land converted from a natural state to a developed state can be found here, as well as the rate of development in comparison to other areas. Natural land consists of forest, wetland, and water; open land consists of agricultural areas, bare soil, beaches, barrens, or low vegetation; development includes low density residential and commercial/industrial/high density residential development. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of new development (acres)
492
14
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
3.2
15
Natural land converted to development (acres)
302
15
Open land converted to development (acres)
190
17
The level of protection for the area is summarized below. We also consider the proportion of important conservation resources that are protected in the area, including BioMap2 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape, and relatively climate change resilient land. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Area protected 2005 - 2013 (acres)
1,411
19
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
44 %
20
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
56 %
9
Percent TNC resilient land protected
45 %
11
Fourth Edition
Released in May 2009, Losing Ground: Beyond the Footprint reports on the patterns of development and their impact on the Nature of Massachusetts, 1999 - 2005.
These statistics describe changes in land use between 1999 and 2005. Estimates of acres of land converted from a natural state to a developed state can be found here, as well as the rate of development in comparison to other areas. Natural land consists of forest, wetland, and water; development includes low density residential and commercial/industrial/high density residential development.
Rank in relation to other watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Natural land (acres) converted to development (1999-2005)
1,036
15
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
6.7
16
Acres protected for this area is shown below.
Rank in relation to other watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Acres protected (1999-2005)
691
19