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

Thursday, May 30, 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.

Wild and Scenic River Stories

The Ingenuity of Aquatic Plants: Beauty, Resilience and Entrapment

Monday, May 20, 2024, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, at the Thayer Memorial Library, 717 Main Street in Lancaster, MA

Once one of the ten most polluted rivers in the United States, the Nashua River has again become a healthy habitat for a diverse population of plants and animals through the restoration efforts of the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) and local communities. The river’s biodiversity and its history of restoration are two elements that qualified the Nashua River to be designated as part of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System in 2019.

Join Nashua River Watershed Association Environmental Educator Gaynor Bigelbach as we take a closer look at our water ecosystem and “The Ingenuity of Aquatic Plants: Beauty, Resilience, and Entrapment”. This presentation will be made on Monday, May 20 at 6:30 pm at Thayer Memorial Library, 717 Main Street in Lancaster, MA. We’ll explore the fascinating adaptations found in some of our common aquatic plants. Discover how Scented Water Lily pads stay afloat even during a downpour, why Pickerel Weed leaves are the perfect shape to shed water, and how the diminutive Bladderwort sets a deadly trap. After a short talk with original photographs from local wetlands, participants will use botany loupes and microscopes for a hands-on examination of aquatic plant specimens.

Registration is required, space is limited. Register online with the library or call 978-368-8928.

This free public program is funded through the generous support of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit River Wild & Scenic Stewardship Council. The mission of the Council is to preserve, protect, and enhance the outstandingly remarkable resource values of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers and their tributaries. Learn more at: wildandscenicnashuarivers.org.

Dam Removals in Massachusetts

Tuesday, May 28 at 6:30 pm at the Conant Free Public Library, 4 Meetinghouse Hill Road in Sterling, MA

Across New England, aging and unsafe dam infrastructure has led to an increase in dam removals. These dam removals can provide significant public safety and ecological benefits, from a reduced risk of flooding to restored river connectivity. Supported by the MA Division of Ecological Restoration, the Nashua River Watershed Association is offering an educational talk about dam removals in Massachusetts, covering a general overview of why and how unsafe dams are removed, and what changes you might expect to see in your community as a result.

Registration required; register online through the library or call 978-422-6409.

Questions? Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., NRWA Watershed Scientist.

This presentation is free and open to the public, made possible in part by a grant from the MA Division of Ecological Restoration.

Fundamentals of Dam Removal for Dam Owners and Municipalities

 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.