Losing Ground 2020: Statistics
Merrimack 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)
1,287
10
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
4.6
5
Total area of development (acres)
57,687
7
Total area of natural land (acres)
103,115
14
Total area of open land (acres)
18,138
12
Percent developed land
32 %
7
Percent natural land
58 %
21
Percent open land
10 %
11
Size of watershed in acres
178,960
15
Size of watershed in square miles
279.6
15
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)
26,923
20
Overall percent permanently conserved
15 %
22
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
5,621
14
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
2,825
7
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
1,696
19
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
216
13
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
5,621
14
Size of watershed in acres
178,960
15
Size of watershed in square miles
279.6
15
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)
1561
5
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
5.6
3
Natural land converted to development (acres)
773
7
Open land converted to development (acres)
788
4
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)
1,871
17
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
23 %
29
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
28 %
28
Percent TNC resilient land protected
23 %
29
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)
2,380
10
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
8.5
9
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)
2,542
11