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.