NRWA 50th Anniversary Celebration!
It’s the 50th Anniversary of the Nashua River Watershed Association! Join our year-long celebration!
We are proud of the tremendous progress we’ve made restoring our rivers, protecting their greenways, and inspiring tomorrow’s stewards. We look forward to our collective future—working together to protect this beautiful place we call home.
Free Community Program Series
We want to celebrate with you, and we’re offering opportunities to paddle on our rivers, hike on our trails, tour our cities, and observe our wildlife. In 2019, there will be a free program in each of our 32 communities. Everyone is invited to attend. Come to one program or come to all!
View our 50th Anniversary Calendar of Free Community Programs. For details on specific programs, view our Upcoming Programs and Events.
Anniversary Video Series
We've made a series of short videos to share our story with you. Watch for more chapters to come.
Chapter 1: The Beginning (2:38 min.)
Chapter 2: Protecting Water (2:28 min.)
Chapter 3: Protecting Land (2:20 min.)
Chapter 4: Providing Education (release date Dec. 19)
Chapter 5: Supporting Recreation (release date Dec. 26)
Chapter 6: Looking Forward (release date Dec. 29)
Timeline
Together, over the past five decades, we have had tremendous impact. View the Timeline highlighting our progress. NRWA has always served as a forward-thinking, regional leader, with both the deep-rooted knowledge of our watershed, and the connections and expertise to collaborate with hundreds of partners—state and federal legislators and agencies, local communities, schools, businesses, land trusts, outdoor sporting groups, and sister organizations. The breadth of this work cannot be accomplished alone. We are deeply grateful to the thousands of members and volunteers—like you—who make these achievements possible. Thank you!! Celebrate what we’ve accomplished together!!
Thank you to all of the businesses that are supporting our 50th Anniversary celebration!
Presenting Sponsor
Anniversary Sponsors
Event Sponsors
Anniversary Friends
Better Homes & Gardens, The Masiello Group
Bob Feldman, Marketing and Sales Advisor
Durand and Anastas Environmental Strategies
Greatscapes by R&R Landscaping
The Groton Inn and Forge & Vine
Jeff & Sons Carpentry
Maureen Giattino
Rotary Club of Groton-Pepperell
Shirley Package Store
Thank you to those who provided images for our 50th Anniversary Calendar of Free Community Programs. Cover: Great blue heron by Harvey Serreze. Back cover: Cindy Knox Photography. Interior (in calendar order): Nashua River in winter by Bill Nickerson; family eco-adventures by Gaynor Bigelbach; Baltimore oriole by Harvey Serreze; curious about nature by Gaynor Bigelbach; fishing on the Nashua River by Martha Morgan; Marion Stoddart kayaking by Nancy Ohringer; and River Classroom canoes on the Squannacook River by Nancy Ohringer.
]]>Q: Does the NRWA rent canoes and kayaks?
A: No, but we’d be happy to refer you to local outfitters who do and to provide you with ideas of great places to paddle. Don’t forget to consider buying an NRWA Canoe and Kayak Guide for maps of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers and information on put ins, hazards, and what you might see during your paddle.
Q: Is the NRWA a governmental agency?
A: No, we are not a governmental, regulatory, or enforcement entity. The NRWA is an independent 501( c )(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the natural resources within our geographic region as defined by the watershed of the Nashua River. The NRWA works closely with federal, state and local government officials and agencies to forward our mission. As a non-profit, the NRWA depends on the support of members, donors, and grantmakers (including some government grants).
Q: What is a watershed?
A: Click here. The NRWA uses the term “watershed” to define both the geographic region in which we work as well as our approach to protecting resources, i.e. melding projects to further good land use choices in order to protect water quality and forming inter-municipal and inter-state coalitions to act on a regional landscape.
Q: Does the NRWA purchase land for conservation?
A: While it has been NRWA’s decision to date not to seek to hold land in fee or Conservation Restriction on land, it is not prohibited by our by-laws. In cases of last resort where no other eligible conservation entity will hold a Conservation Restriction, the NRWA may consider doing so. View NRWA General Policy on Conservation Restrictions. Although the NRWA does not itself hold land, the NRWA works in partnership with other entities to facilitate the protection of priority parcels.
Q: Are the rivers safe to swim in?
A: Although the NRWA would not generally recommend swimming in the Nashua River due to continuing issues with non-point source pollution, there are many places to swim in the watershed. Most towns and cities in the watershed maintain town beaches on their ponds. Some of these beaches are open to the general public and some are restricted to town residents. The Town Clerk will provide you with information on access to area ponds in any given town.
Q: Is it safe to eat fish (bass, panfish, catfish, etc.) caught in the Nashua River?
A: MA Fish Consumption Advisories
A: NH Freshwater Fish Consumption Guidelines
Mailing address:
Nashua River Watershed Association
592 Main Street
Groton, MA 01450-1230
Phone: (978) 448-0299
General email: nrwa@NashuaRiverWatershed.org
Individual staff emails
Regular office hours are Monday thru Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
(with the exception of holidays and special occasions)
For a Google Map and directions to the NRWA River Resource Center.
For questions or comments about this website, please email Wynne.
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We have created this statement to demonstrate our firm commitment to your privacy. We do not collect personally identifying information about you when you visit our site, unless you choose to provide such information to us. Providing such information is strictly voluntary. This policy is your guide to how we will handle information we learn about you from your visit to our Web site.
Use of Links
Throughout our Web pages, we provide links to other servers which may contain information of interest to our readers. We take no responsibility for, and exercise no control over, the organizations, views, or accuracy of the information contained on other servers. Creating a text link from your Web site to our site does not require permission. If you have a link you'd like us to consider adding to our Web site, please send an email to nrwa@NashuaRiverWatershed.org with the subject "Link request."
Use of Text and Images
If you would like to publish information that you find on our Web site, please send your request to nrwa@NashuaRiverWatershed.org.
Accessibility
This Web site is designed to be accessible to visitors with disabilities, and to comply with federal guidelines concerning accessibility. We welcome your comments. If you have suggestions on how to make the site more accessible, please contact us at nrwa@NashuaRiverWatershed.org.
Reading or Downloading
We collect and store only the following information about you: the name of the domain from which you access the Internet (for example, aol.com, if you are connecting from an America Online account, or princeton.edu if you are connecting from Princeton University's domain), the date and time you access our site, and the Internet address of the Web site from which you linked to our site.
We use the information we collect to measure the number of visitors to the different sections of our site, and to help us make our site more useful to visitors.
Online Profile Updates and Donations
If you share personally identifying information, this information will be used only to provide you with more targeted content. We may use your contact information to send further information about our organization or to contact you when necessary. You may always opt-out of receiving future mailings; see the "Opt Out" section below.
Sending us an Email
You also may decide to send us personally identifying information, for example, in an electronic mail message containing a question or comment, or by filling out a Web form that provides us this information. We use personally identifying information from email primarily to respond to your requests. We may forward your email to other employees who are better able to answer you questions. We may also use your email to contact you in the future about our programs that may be of interest.
We want to be very clear: We will not obtain personally identifying information about you when you visit our site, unless you choose to provide such information to us. Providing such information is strictly voluntary. Except as might be required by law, we do not share any information we receive with any outside parties.
If you sign up for one of our email lists, we will only send you the kinds of information you have requested. We won't share your name or email address with any outside parties.
Kids and Privacy
For children who visit our site, special rules apply. We do not request personal information about children, such as first and last name or street address and city. When kids send email to us, their online contact information (email address) is not used to re-contact them and is not maintained in retrievable form.
Opt-Out or Change Your Contact Information
Our site provides users the opportunity to opt-out of receiving communications from us through a special online form. You may choose to receive only specific communications or none at all. You may also update your contact information previously provided to us through another online form.
Questions about our policies
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this Web site, you can contact us at: nrwa@NashuaRiverWatershed.org or (978) 448-0299.
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NRWA Internships: Learning on the Job
The Nashua River Watershed Association offers paid and unpaid internships to individuals interested in learning more about the fields of natural resource protection, environmental education, and non-profit communications and development. Interns have an opportunity to work closely with NRWA’s professional staff on a specialized project or with a broader exposure to the range of work conducted by the Association. Interns have worked with our water monitoring program, assisted our educators with classroom lessons, field trips, as well as leading outdoor summer youth programs. Interns may assist with development and publicity work with activities ranging for helping to organize large mailings to creating displays for outreach events. Questions? Please contact Joanne Ward, NRWA Office Administrator, at (978) 448-0299, or email Joanne.
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Thank you for your interest in the Nashua River Watershed Association. The NRWA is an equal opportunity organization and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. The NRWA does not have any openings currently.
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The NRWA Board of Directors and Executive Director hold themselves, and the Association, to the highest standards of governance and accountability, and ensure that the organization is in compliance with all laws applicable to non-profits. It is their goal to further the mission of the NRWA, create a sustainable organization, and maintain the integrity of the Association on behalf of our members, donors, and supporters.
Governance Structure
The Nashua River Watershed Association is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by the Association’s membership at our Annual Meeting. The legal responsibilities of the NRWA Board of Directors are to set policy, approve budgets, hire the Executive Director, and generally oversee the affairs of the organization. The Board has a minimum of seven directors with no maximum. The Board of Directors meets every other month. The Executive Committee fulfills the obligations of the full Board between meeting sessions. The NRWA’s professional Executive Director is responsible for the daily operations of the organization and hiring of staff.
Current NRWA Board of Directors and Staff.
Annual Report
Financials
FY2023 Financial Highlights - unaudited
FY2022 Financial Highlights - audited
FY2022 Balance Sheet - audited
FY2021 Financial Highlights audited
FY2021 Balance Sheet audited
NRWA Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
NRWA Articles of Incorporation
NRWA Bylaws (adopted Nov. 2, 2019)
NRWA Policies
Administrative Policies
Anti-terrorism Compliance Measures
Board Member Job Description
Code of Conduct Policy
Conflict of Interest Policy
CORI Policy
Data Security Policy
Document Retention Policy
Investment Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Program Policies
Conservation Restriction Policy
Dam Removal Policy
Sustainable Water Use Policy
NRWA Tax Documents
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NRWA Publications: Online and For Sale
The following publications are available through the NRWA. To obtain any of the hard copy publications or to purchase Publications which are for sale, visit the River Resource Center.
View Online
NRWA Annual Report
2023 Annual Report
FY2023 Financial Highlights - unaudited
NRWA Newsletters
The NRWA newsletter is mailed quarterly to members, free of charge.
2020 Newsletter Fall Issue
2020 Newsletter Spring Issue
2015 Newsletter Issue 2
2015 Newsletter Issue 1
2013 Newsletter Issue 2
2013 Newsletter Issue 1
2012 Newsletter Issue 2
2012 Newsletter Issue 1
2011 Newsletter Issue 4
2011 Newsletter Issue 3
2011 Newsletter Issue 2
2011 Newsletter Issue 1
Be sure to sign up for NRWA Enews to receive our monthly enewsletter with updates on our project work and advance notice of upcoming programs.
Other NRWA Publications
1995 to 2020 Vision for the Nashua River Watershed
The 2020 Plan establishes a Vision for the watershed in the next quarter century, with goals and strategies for achieving the Vision. Developed by NRWA with input from watershed communities and many local groups, agencies, and individuals.
Books for Sale
Nashua River Canoe & Kayak Guide
Sixth Edition
Published June 2017
NRWA's newly revised pocket-sized Nashua River Canoe and Kayak Guide provides information on canoe put-ins and take-outs, river hazards like dams and rapids, portages, and mile-by-mile notes for all paddleable segments of the Nashua, Nissitissit, Squannacook, North Nashua, and Stillwater Rivers. The Guide is full color, 120-pages, spiral bound for easy use, and pocket-sized to fit in your jacket pocket or backpack (4.5” x 6”).
Price: $20 per Guide (plus shipping and handling if mailed) Order Online Now.
You can also purchase the Nashua River Canoe and Kayak Guide at Nashoba Paddler in West Groton.
National Geographic's
Written in Water: Messages of Hope for Earth's Most Precious Resource
(Hardcover)
In 1993, National Geographic chronicled the story of the clean-up of the Nashua River in its special Water edition. Water resources have become increasingly recognized as a top priority for local and international communities around the globe to assess and protect. With that in mind, National Geographic turned to the world's leading water scientists, authors, and activists to share their thoughts and stories of their work to ensure that there will be enough clean water for all in the future. The result was Written in Water: Messages of Hope for Earth's Most Precious Resource, a collection of essays from world leaders in the field of water supply protection and clean water innovations, including NRWA founder, Marion Stoddart. Other essayists, include Alexandra Cousteau, social environmental advocate and granddaughter of legendary marine scientist Jacques Cousteau; Peter Gleick, environmental visionary and winner of a 2003 MacArthur "genius grant"; Bill McKibben, bestselling author and winner of a Guggenheim fellowship; and Sandra Postel, director of the Global Water Policy Project and National Geographic’s first Freshwater Fellow.
Price: $26 (Plus $5.00 shipping and handling if mailed).
Note: $13 of your purchase goes to support the work of the NRWA!
A River Ran Wild
by Lynne Cherry
(Hardcover)
www.lynnecherry.com
The true story of the history, the polluting and the clean-up of the Nashua River. Lynne Cherry is the author and/or illustrator of over thirty award-winning books for children. She is also a conservationist whose books are used to launch campaigns to save land, clean up rivers, save forests and help migratory birds.
Price: $17 (Plus $5.00 shipping and handling if mailed).
Note: $6 of your purchase goes to support the work of the NRWA!
NRWA River Resource Center
The Nashua River Watershed Association is headquartered at our River Resource Center in Groton, Massachusetts (just one block from the mainstem Nashua River and Petapawag Boat Launch). Map and directions. The River Resource Center houses staff offices, large and small meeting spaces, a collection of wildlife mounts, and the Bill Farnsworth Conservation Clearinghouse. A short self-guided Nature Trail on the property is open to visitors. The trail is less than a half-mile on flat wooded terrain where visitors can view local flora and find signs of local birds and mammals.
Bill Farnsworth Conservation Clearinghouse
Named after one of the NRWA’s founders, the Bill Farnsworth Conservation Clearinghouse provides citizens, watershed planners, local governments, teachers, students, and others access to a wide variety of information about our watershed. The collection of information available includes watershed planning resources, such as by-laws, open space and master plans, historic archives on conservation, resources for educators, audio-visual materials, and materials on recreation in our watershed. The NRWA is in the process of electronically cataloguing the Clearinghouse collection. Those interested in using the Clearinghouse are encouraged to contact the NRWA to make an appointment to do so. Materials must be used on-site, and are not available for check-out.
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NRWA Partners: Strength through Collaboration
The Nashua River Watershed Association’s position as a regional organization allows us to work across town and state boundaries, and to work with groups and individuals focused on land protection, water quality, or environmental education, all in the effort to improve and sustain a healthy quality of life in our communities. One of the Association’s greatest strengths is its ability to form partnerships, gathering together interested stakeholders, government officials, community leaders, educators, and funders, to accomplish both large and small scale projects.
For example, to complete land protection projects, the NRWA has partnered with the Trust for Public Land, The Trustees of Reservations, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service, along with local land trusts like the Groton Conservation Trust, North County Land Trust, and Beaver Brook Association. The Association has worked collaboratively with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the City of Fitchburg, and sportsmen’s groups like Trout Unlimited and Ducks Unlimited to protect water quality and quantity. When providing environmental education opportunities to youth and adults, NRWA works with public schools in Harvard, Groton, Fitchburg, Nashua, and in many other communities, along with private schools like Applewild School in Fitchburg, and participates in groups such as the Secretary’s Advisory Group on Environmental Education (a group advising the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs).
On the occasion of our 40th anniversary, the NRWA took the opportunity to honor our partners through our 40 on Our 40th Awards, recognizing 40 individuals who are both worthy of recognition in their own right, and who also represent the scores of individuals and organizations that have worked with the NRWA through the years.
Also supporting the work of the NRWA are our business partners, along with individual members and donors. Your financial support makes our ongoing work possible.
It would be impossible to list the multitude of organizations and individuals who have partnered with and supported the work of the NRWA; we cannot accomplish our mission alone, and we look forward to a future of continued partnerships and collaboration.
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