Pirone Park in Ayer: Earth Month Volunteer Opportunity!

Volunteer Native Planting and Invasive Removal Project

Saturday, April 20 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at Pirone Park, 18 Pond Street in Ayer, MA

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! Ages 10 and up

The Nashua River Watershed Association and the Ayer Conservation Commission seek volunteers to assist with planting of native trees and shrubs at Pirone Park in Ayer. We will also be removing invasive plants in the same area. The event will take place from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. This volunteer planting and removal effort will help to improve the ecosystem along the shoreline of Grove Pond. Native trees and shrubs provide habitat for our local pollinators, birds, and other wildlife, as well as helping to stabilize the shoreline and prevent bank erosion.

We’ll meet at 8:45am at 18 Pond Street in Ayer (map below). Some work gloves and tools will be available for use, but if possible, volunteers are asked to bring their own loppers, pruning shears, trowels, small handsaws, and work gloves. Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and a hat; consider bug repellent and sunscreen. Be sure to bring drinking water. 

This event is for ages 10 and up. Any participants under 18 years of age need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

This event is hosted by the Nashua River Watershed Association, with support from the US Department of Agriculture, and in partnership with the Ayer Conservation Commission.

Registration is required for planning purposes. Register online today! Thank you!

Celebrate the Earth!  Celebrate Ayer!  Celebrate Community!

Click image or this link for Google Map to the Pirone Park event parking and meet-up location at 18 Pond Street in Ayer.

 

 

Photo of Pirone Park from Town of Ayer website.

Adams Dam Park in Townsend: Earth Month Volunteer Opportunity!

Adult Volunteer Native Planting Project

Tuesday, April 23 from 9:00 to 11:30 am at Adams Dam Park in Townsend, MA

CALLING ADULT VOLUNTEERS! 

The Nashua River Watershed Association and the Townsend Conservation Commission seek six to eight volunteers to assist with planting of native plants at the Adams Dam site in Townsend. The event will take place from 9:00 to 11:30 am. Volunteers will plant native plants on the slope of the shoreline of the Squannacook River in order to improve the riverside ecosystem. Native plants will help to stabilize the streambank preventing erosion, slowing storm runoff into the river, and they will provide  habitat for local wildlife. 

We’ll meet at 8:45am at the Adams Dam Park parking area, behind the Farmers Exchange on Rt. 13 in Townsend (map below). Some tools and work gloves will be available for use, but if possible, volunteers are asked to bring their own spades, trowels, and work gloves. Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and a hat; consider long sleeves and long pants, bug repellent, and sunscreen. Be sure to bring drinking water. 

This volunteer event is for adults only due to the steep slope of the planting area and proximity to water. Volunteers should be comfortable working on steep slope.

This event is hosted by the Nashua River Watershed Association, with support from the US Department of Agriculture, and in partnership with the Townsend Conservation Commission.

Registration is required for planning purposes. Register online today! Thank you!

Celebrate the Earth!  Celebrate Townsend!  Celebrate Community!

Click image or this link for Google Map to the Adams Dam Park event meet-up location in the parking area behind the Farmers Exchange on Rt. 13 in Townsend, MA.

Nashua River Rail Trail Pepperell: Earth Day Volunteer Opportunity!

Volunteer Invasive Garlic Mustard Removal

Wednesday, April 24 from 9:00 am to Noon on the Nashua River Rail Trail in Pepperell, MA

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! 

Join friends and neighbors as we celebrate Earth Month 2024 with a volunteer invasive garlic mustard plant removal along the Nashua River Rail Trail in Pepperell, MA. The event will take place from 9:00 am to noon. Volunteers will hand pull plants along the trail in order to improve the trailside ecosystem. This plant invades roadsides and trailsides, replacing native plants and negatively impacting habitat for local wildlife. 

We’ll meet at 8:45am at the Rail Trail parking lot on Main Street (Rt. 113) in downtown Pepperell, MA (map below). Some work gloves will be available for use, but if possible, volunteers are asked to bring their own. Be sure to dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and a hat; consider bug repellent and sunscreen. Be sure to bring drinking water. Youth under age 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

This event is hosted by the Nashua River Watershed Association, with support from the US Department of Agriculture, and in partnership with the Pepperell Invasive Species Committee. This event is part of Pepperell's 2024 Garlic Mustard Challenge.

Registration is required for planning purposes. Register online today! Thank you!

Celebrate the Earth!  Celebrate Pepperell!  Celebrate Community!

 

Click image or this link for Google Map to Nashua River Rail Trail event meet-up location at the Nashua River Rail Trail parking lot on Main Street (Rt.113) in downtown Pepperell.

 

 

Groton Town Forest Earth Day Volunteer Opportunity!

Volunteer Invasive Plant Pull and Tree Planting

Monday, April 22 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Groton Town Forest in Groton, MA

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! Opportunity for Ages 14 and up

Join friends and neighbors as we celebrate Earth Day 2024 with a volunteer invasive plant removal and native tree planting at Groton Town Forest on the banks of the Nashua River in Groton, MA. The event will take place from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Volunteers will cut, hand pull, and stack invasive plants and plant native trees in order to improve the riverbank ecosystem along the Nashua River. By restoring riparian forests in our community, we can cool water temperatures, reduce riverbank erosion, filter runoff or pollution, sequester carbon, and enhance native biodiversity.

Volunteers will meet at the main parking area at the southern end of Town Forest Road in Groton, MA at 2:45 pm. Some tools and work gloves will be available for use, but if possible, volunteers are asked to bring their own loppers, pruning shears, and work gloves. Be sure to dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, a hat; consider long sleeves and long pants, bug repellent, and sunscreen.  Be sure to bring drinking water. 

This volunteer event is for ages 14 and up. Youth under age 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

This event is hosted by the Nashua River Watershed Association, with support from the US Department of Agriculture, and in partnership with the Town of Groton Invasive Species Committee.

Registration is required for planning purposes. Register online today! Thank you!

Celebrate the Earth!  Celebrate Groton!  Celebrate Community!

 

Click image or this link for Google Map to the Groton Town Forest event meet-up location at the end of Town Forest Road in Groton, MA.

Hickory Hills Lake Lunenburg: Earth Day Volunteer Opportunity!

Volunteer Invasive Purple Loosestrife Plant Removal

Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at Hickory Hills Lake, 19 Island Road in Lunenburg, MA

Raindate: Sunday, April 28 same time

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! Opportunity for Ages 14 and up

Join friends and neighbors as we celebrate Earth Day 2024 with a volunteer invasive purple loosestrife plant removal on the shorelines of Hickory Hills Lake in Lunenburg, MA. The event will take place from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Volunteers will hand pull plants on the shoreline of the lake in order to improve the waterfront ecosystem. This plant invades marshes and lakeshores, replacing natural wetland plants and impacting habitat for local wildlife. 

We’ll meet at 9:45am at 19 Island Road in Lunenburg (map below). Some tools and work gloves will be available for use, but if possible, volunteers are asked to bring their own loppers, pruning shears, and work gloves. Please dress for the weather, consider long sleeves, long pants and a hat. If you can wear rubber boots, muck boots, or waders that will allow access to more plants; otherwise wear sturdy shoes. Consider bug repellent, and sunscreen. Be sure to bring drinking water. 

This volunteer event is for ages 14 and up. Youth under age 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

This event is hosted by the Nashua River Watershed Association, with support from the US Department of Agriculture, and in partnership with the Hickory Hills Landowners, Inc.

Registration is required for planning purposes. Register online today! Thank you!

Celebrate the Earth!  Celebrate Lunenburg!  Celebrate Community!

 

Click image or this link for Google Map to Hickory Hills Lake event meet-up location at 19 Island Road in Lunenburg.

 

 

 

 Hickory Hills Lake photo by John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons



Riverfront Park Earth Day Volunteer Opportunity!

Volunteer Invasive Plant Pull

Sunday, April 21 from⋅9:00 am – Noon at Fitchburg Riverfront Park

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! Opportunity for Ages 14 and up

Join friends and neighbors as we celebrate Earth Day 2024 with a volunteer invasive plant removal at Riverfront Park in downtown Fitchburg. The event will take place from 9:00 am to Noon. Volunteers will cut, hand pull, and stack invasive plants in order to improve the riverbank ecosystem along the North Nashua River. Invasive plants can crowd out native species and negatively impact habitat for our local pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.  

Some tools and work gloves will be available for use, but if possible, volunteers are asked to bring their own loppers, pruning shears, and work gloves. Be sure to dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, a hat, and sunscreen, and bring drinking water. 

This volunteer event is for ages 14 and up. Youth under age 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

This event is hosted by the Nashua River Watershed Association, with support from the US Department of Agriculture, and in conjunction with the City of Fitchburg's Earth Day Celebration. 

After our invasives pull, be sure to stay and enjoy the fun at the Fitchburg Earth Day Celebration taking place at Riverfront Park from Noon to 3:00 pm.

Registration is required for planning purposes. Register online today!  Thank you!

Celebrate the Earth!  Celebrate Fitchburg!  Celebrate Community!

 Click image or use this link for map/directions to Fitchburg Riverfront Park, 51 Commercial Street in Fitchburg, MA

 

Wednesday Walk at MA Audubon's Wampanoag Lake Sanctuary in Ashburnham

Wednesday, April 3 from 9:30 to 11:00 am

You're invited to join Nashua River Watershed Association educators for our upcoming walk in Ashburnham!    

NRWA Education Associate Gaynor Bigelbach will lead walkers on a leisurely one mile loop through ecologically managed grasslands, and a picturesque red spruce and balsam fir forest. This sanctuary is well loved by birders so please feel free to bring binoculars. For the safety of all, no dogs are allowed. Appropriate hiking attire is encouraged. This walk is free and open to the public

Space is limited so registration is required. Register online today. Directions will be provided upon registration.

Questions? Email registration@NashuaRiverWatershed.org.

This free nature walk is made possible by a grant from the Doyle General Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.

Come explore the wonders of beautiful Central Massachusetts with us!

 

Wild & Scenic River Stories: Fisher, Beaver, and Bear

Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm
at the Ashby Free Public Library, 812 Main Street in Ashby

View a video preview of our River Stories Program.

Once one of the ten most polluted rivers in the United States, the Nashua River has once again become a thriving wildlife habitat through the restoration efforts of the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) and local communities. 

Join us for a free interpretive presentation about the behavior and physical adaptations of three of our larger mammals who depend on the landscapes and habitat of our nationally recognized Wild & Scenic Rivers, the Nashua, the Squannacook & the Nissitissit.

Using her locally filmed video and photographs, paired with footage from her network of motion sensitive cameras, NRWA Educator Gaynor Bigelbach will take participants behind the scenes of the lives of these animals. Learn about their behavior, how they are perfectly adapted to their environment, why our wild and scenic rivers create healthy habitat for these animals, and how we can live alongside them without conflict.

Questions? Please contact Heather Perry at Ashby Free Public Library, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 978-386-5377.

This free public program is presented by the NRWA in partnership with and funded by the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit River Wild & Scenic Stewardship Council. Learn more at: wildandscenicnashuarivers.org.

 

Whitney Pond Dam Removal Information Meetings

Free and open to the public

Thursday, March 21 at 1:00 pm at Ashburnham Town Hall Auditorium-- completed

Thursday, April 11 at 7:00 pm at Ashburnham Town Hall Auditorium

Ashburnham-area residents are invited to join staff from the Nashua River Watershed Association, the MA Division of Ecological Restoration, and project engineers for a conversation about the removal of the Whitney Pond Dam. We are offering two meeting dates; the formal presentation will be the same at both.

In 2018, the Town of Ashburnham began to pursue removal of the dam due to its public safety risks and the financial burden to repair, maintain, and inspect it. Removing the Whitney Pond Dam will improve public safety, eliminate public spending on dam maintenance, and greatly benefit fish, wildlife, and public health.

We will discuss:

  • The history of the dam and its current status
  • The reasons to remove the dam and the removal process
  • The benefits to your community and local wildlife

There will be plenty of time for general questions, as well as technical questions to be answered by engineers.  Light refreshments will be served.

We want to hear your insights and questions!

For more information This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., NRWA Watershed Scientist.

 

     

 

 

Spring Celebration & Auction 2024!

Friday, April 5, 2024 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway in Devens, MA

Purchase Tickets Now! RSVP deadline has been extended to: March 26th at 8:00am

CONNECT with friends and NRWA supporters for a fun evening! The gala begins at 6:00 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar to enjoy as you bid in the Silent Auction, followed by dinner and the excitement of our Live Auction.  

BID on fabulous weekend and vacation getaways, and one of a kind experiences including a paddle with Marion Stoddart.  Items and services you need and want – from a bicycle tune up to gift certificates at local restaurants.  A preview is below!       

SUPPORT NRWA programs in your community that protect our water and land, connect people with nature, and improve climate resilience with nature-based solutions. 

Purchase Tickets Now!

PREVIEW our offerings, and please share this with family and friends.

  VACATION GETAWAYS

Plan now to bid on our great getaways—local favorites and distant destinations. Coordinate with family and friends to share the cost, and the fun!

 

  A One Week Stay in East Sandwich on Cape Cod.  

  • Only 800 feet from the beach!

  • Sleeps eight comfortably, with 3 over-sized bedrooms and one and a half baths. 

  • Wrap-around deck with awnings and natural gas fire pit for cozy evenings.

  • Available the week of September 7 - 14, 2024.

 

  Seven nights at the Alpine Retreat in Lake Tahoe. 

  • Located on the back of the Alpine Meadows, and in the Tahoe National Forest Area.

  • Comfortably sleeps eight (3 queens, 2 singles) with two and a half baths.

  • Available select weeks between April 2024 and May 2025.

  • Does not include airfare or car rental.

 

   Luxurious Tropical Villa Muluk in Akumal, Mexico! 

  • 5 nights stay at a luxury vacation home rental 62 miles south of Cancun.

  • Bookings based on availability, additional nights available at a discounted rate

  • Valid thru May 2025, not available December 15, 2024 - January 16, 2025.

  • Airfare and transportation not included.

A one of a kind South African Photo Safari package!  

  • 6 days and 6 nights of accommodation for two at the Zulu Nyala Heritage Safari Lodge.

  • Includes 3 meals and 2 game viewing activities each day!

  • Situated in the heart of South Africa’s Zululand conservation region.

  • Valid for 2 years after purchase, airfare and transportation not included.


  EXPERIENCES

 

  • Four tickets to a New England Patriots home game, Paddle with NRWA founder Marion Stoddart, A round of golf for four at the Nashua Country Club.

  • Guided fly fishing tour on a local river, Day sail on the Atlantic out of Newburyport MA, Freshen your culinary skills with a cooking class.

    AND MUCH MORE!

 

  • Fresh Vegetable Share from Upswing Farm, Hand-crafted pysanky eggs, Gift cards to local restaurants, Museum passes, Hand-crafted jewelry, and Apparel from Patagonia.

 

For more information, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 978-448-0299.

We hope to see you on April 5th!

 

Thank you to our Sponsors! 

Premiere Sponsors

                

  

Sponsors

          

 

Image banner: Mallard image by Sherry Anders.

 

Fundamentals of Dam Removal for Dam Owners and Municipalities

The NRWA recently hosted and recorded a free webinar for municipalities, dam owners, and other entities interested in learning about the fundamentals of dam removal in their communities. View the videoView the PPT slides.  Please note, the NRWA will be offering a presentation for the general public at a later date.

Featured Speakers and Topics included:

  • Susie Bresney, Ecological Restoration Specialist for the MA Division of Ecological Restoration on the benefits of dam removal
  • Neil Shea, Restoration Program Director from the Ipswich River Watershed Association on public outreach surrounding dam removals
  • William Hinkley, Director of Grants Administration at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs on funding opportunities for dam removals
  • Kristopher Houle, Senior Project Manager at Tighe & Bond on the permitting associated with dam removals in Massachusetts 

 Questions? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., NRWA Restoration and Land Programs Associate, or call (978) 448-0299.

 

 

Climate Impact in the Nashua River Watershed: What is Happening and Actions We Can Take

Free Five Part Speaker Series

In 2022, the NRWA presented this speaker series on “Climate Impact in the Nashua River Watershed: What is Happening and Actions We Can Take”. Each presentation was recorded and is available for viewing thru links on this page or on our YouTube channel. 

2022 Presentations

Climate Change in the Nashua River Watershed with Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, Earth and Geographic Sciences, and Dr. Christopher Picone, Ecology and Environmental Science, both professors from Fitchburg State University. During the presentation, Dr. Picone spoke about an easy online tool that individuals can use to estimate their household carbon footprint, that is the CoolClimate Calculator, created through the University of California, Berkeley.  View recording of presentation

Getting to Know the Soils of Massachusetts and Why It Matters with Dr. Ralph S. Baker, Ph.D. in soil physics. Soils are not all created equal. Understanding how they differ, and why, is important if we’re to recognize their key role in a changing climate. Ralph introduces how the soils of Massachusetts are arranged on the landscape, where soils information can readily be obtained, as well as answering such questions as what soils sequester the most carbon in Massachusetts?  You may also be interested in viewing the Supplemental Materials prepared by Dr. Baker, which includes supporting materials for his slides, including web links to additional resources. View recording of presentation.

Wild Resilience with Jon Liebowitz, Executive Director, and Sophie Ehrhardt, Wildlands Partnership Coordinator, both from Northeast Wilderness Trust, spoke about the ways that wilderness can aid with both mitigating and adapting to a changing climate, including resilience, biodiversity, and carbon storage. There is also a list of Supplemental Materials which provides links to materials referenced in the video, as well as additional resources suggested by the speakers. View recording of presentation.

Impacts of Climate Change on Our Rivers and Streams with Sarah Widing, PE, Senior Water Resources Engineer at Inter-Fluve.  Climate change is causing – and will cause – varied and diverse changes to our rivers and streams. Every process that contributes to what we understand to be the river will be affected: precipitation, groundwater, vegetation, soils, human interventions. Sarah discusses some ways that the engineering and restoration design communities are responding to the impacts of climate change and incorporating future uncertainty into design.  View recording of presentation.

Torrential Rains from Slow Moving Tropical Systems:  Is This Part of the New Normal? with David Vallee, Hydrologist-in-Charge at National Weather Service/NOAA Northeast River Forecast Center. During this final presentation in our 2022 series, David reviews the current state of precipitation, temperature, and flood frequency in our region, and looks at how the behavior of our tropical systems has changed leading to more frequent events like Florence, Henri, and Ida. He showcases the new services NWS is working on: real-time forecast flood inundation services. View recording of presentation.

Additionally, in October 2019, Dr. William Moomaw Emeritus Professor of International Environmental Policy and Founding Director of the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy at The Fletcher School, spoke at the NRWA on the topic of “Watersheds: Mitigating and Adapting to a Changing Climate”.  View video of Dr. Moomaw's presentation.

For more reading about climate change in the Nashua River watershed, be sure to visit the Climate Impact section on our website by clicking on What We Do in the main menu bar, then click on Climate Impact in the dropdown menu.

About the Speakers in this Series

Dr. Elizabeth Gordon

Dr. Elizabeth Gordon is a Professor in the Earth and Geographic Sciences Department at Fitchburg State University.  She teaches courses focused on atmospheric and ocean sciences including Oceanography, Meteorology, and Climatology, and co-teaches a course on Climate Change and Human History. Liz has a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.

Dr. Christopher Picone

Dr. Christopher Picone has been a professor of Ecology and Environmental Science at Fitchburg State University since 2004.  He serves on several conservation committees in Ashburnham, and recently joined the NRWA Board of Directors. Chris has a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Ralph S. Baker, Ph.D.

Dr. Ralph S. Baker has served on the NRWA’s Board of Directors for over 15 years, and currently is Vice President.  He chairs the NRWA’s Climate Change Committee.  He also has served on the Fitchburg Greenway Committee for over 15 years.  In 2016 he convened the Fitchburg Trails Vision Committee, which he chaired. Their Fitchburg Trails Vision Plan, a master plan for the non-motorized recreational trails in Fitchburg was completed in 2020.  He also serves on the city of Fitchburg’s Conservation Commission.  A soil scientist, Dr. Baker earned a Ph.D. in soil physics from the Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1989.  He co-founded TerraTherm, Inc. in 2000, and was its CEO, Chairman and Chief Scientist, designing and carrying out hazardous waste cleanup projects throughout the world. He retired in 2015, after a career focused on the cleanup of toxic organic chemicals in soil and groundwater. 

Jon Liebowitz

Jon Liebowitz is the Executive Director of Northeast Wilderness Trust based in Montpelier VT.  He has worked in the field of private land conservation since graduating from Vermont Law School in 2011 with a Juris Doctor and a Masters in Environmental Law and Policy. Prior to joining Northeast Wilderness Trust, Jon was the Executive Director of Montezuma Land Conservancy in Cortez, Colorado. He serves on the Rewilding Leadership Council, the Steering Committee of Wildland and Woodlands, and the Board of Vermont Parks Forever.

Sophie Ehrhardt

Sophie Ehrhardt coordinates the Wildland Partnership and Wild Carbon Project at Northeast Wilderness Trust. She is focused on protecting the forests and waters of the Northeast for all species that reside there, and on playing a role in addressing climate change. Sophie has a Masters degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. 

Sarah Widing

Sarah Widing has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master's degree in Water Resources engineering, both from Tufts University. She has over 18 years of experience in private consulting and engineering design specializing in surface water. Her background includes floodplain modeling and mapping, stormwater management permitting and design, stream-crossing design (critter-friendly design), and dam safety. She is currently employed at Inter-Fluve, an interdisciplinary ecological restoration design firm that specializes (on the East Coast) in dam removals and cranberry bog restorations. She is currently an active member of the Town of Shirley Planning Board, and recently joined the NRWA Board of Directors.

David Vallee

David Vallee is the Hydrologist-in-Charge of the National Weather Service’s Northeast River Forecast Center and Acting Chief, Water Resources Service Branch. The center provides detailed water resource and life-saving flood forecasting services to National Weather Service Forecast Offices and the hundreds of federal, state and local water resource entities throughout the Northeast and New York. David has worked for the National Weather Service for over 30 years, serving in a variety of positions including Senior Service Hydrologist at the Taunton Weather Forecast Office from 1993-2000 and as Science and Operations Officer from 2001-2006. David has extensive experience leading hydrometeorological forecast and warning operations and directing weather research and training programs. David’s research activities span a variety of topics including flooding, severe weather forecasting and orographically enhanced heavy rainfall in southern New England. He has been leading an effort at the Northeast River Forecast Center to examine changes in precipitation and temperature patterns across New England and their impact on flood behavior.