NRWA Dam Removals in Massachusetts Presentation PDF

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 offered educational talks 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. Presentations were made possible in part by a grant from the MA Division of Ecological Restoration. View NRWA 2024 Dam Removal Presentation slideshow PDF.

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Using Nature to Adapt to Climate Change in the Nashua River Watershed

The NRWA is working with the communities of Ashburnham, Fitchburg, Groton, Leominster, and Pepperell to understand local climate change issues and ways that we can use Nature-based Solutions to address those issues. Citizen input is key to the process as NRWA, town leadership, and consultants work to identify specific sites and solutions to help each  community become more climate resilient. The concepts developed in these five communities will then be applied to create a Nashua River Watershed Nature-based Solutions Plan with tools accessible to all of our watershed communities. This project is funded by a Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant. Learn more about this project and Nature-based Solutions.

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NRWA 2022 Water Report

The Nashua River Watershed Association is pleased to share our 2022 Water Report.  This new report analyzes the results of our 2022 water monitoring season covering topics such as: what do we study and why? what do the results tell us about the health of our waterways? what sections of rivers or streams are facing water quality challenges? The report is detailed and provides supporting images, graphs, and charts. 

Thank you as always to our team of volunteer water monitors.  In 2022, they collected 877 individual surface water samples.  Their dedication makes our work to protect our waterways possible. This Report is dedicated to all of you.

Read the NRWA’s 2022 Water Report.

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NRWA 2023-2028 Strategic Plan

The NRWA is pleased to share its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, a guide to our priorities for our next five years. The Plan is the result of months of conversations, partner listening sessions, and a survey of supporters. We asked for your input, we listened, and your feedback is reflected in this directional piece. We look forward to working with you to achieve these goals. View online.  Download single page for print.  

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Nashua River Watershed Association Statement on MassWildlife’s Proposed Oak Woodlands Restoration at Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area

The MA Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has proposed an Oak Woodlands Restoration project on 215 acres at the Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area (SRWMA), which will result in altering the current forested landscape to an open woodland. The project would require significant clearing of the existing forest, periodic fire management, and herbicide applications.  For a more detailed description of the goals of the proposed project and restoration activities, please see: mass.gov/info-details/oak-woodland-restoration-at-squannacook-river-wma. 

The Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) has been closely keeping track of this proposed project and wishes to share the following significant attributes of the SRWMA project site, which MassWildlife has indicated would be Phase 1* of a multi-phase undertaking:

  • Abuts ~2 miles of the federally-designated Squannacook Wild & Scenic River, which is also a state-designated Coldwater Fisheries Resource; 
  • Is within the state-designated Squannassit Area of Critical Environmental Concern; and 
  • Is a Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Priority Habitat Area.

  • Meets MA DEP state-designated Outstanding Resource Water Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards [314  CMR 4.04(3)

  • Is included in the Squannacook-Nissitissit Rivers Sanctuary Act (MGL, Part I, Title XIX, Chapter 123A, Section 17)

  • Is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries “Essential Fish Habitat”

  • Is a MA DFW Wildlife Management Area Reference Stream

  • US Geological Survey (USGS) gage on the Squannacook River was used as a least impacted site to set flow policy for the state’s Water Management Act. The river is also used as a “clean water” least impacted site by MA DEP’s SMART monitoring program. Water quality information from this site was used in the development of statewide Water Quality Standards including nutrients and pollutant loading analysis.

  • ~50 acres of Shirley Zone 1 Municipal Wellhead Protection Area (a 1,000 foot zone extending from wellhead)  

  • Subject property partially overlays a medium yield aquifer ½ mile upstream from the W. Groton Water Supply District public wellheads.

This site has long been recognized as an area worthy of the highest-level protection and preservation for its existing outstandingly remarkable environmental resource values. Therefore, proposed alteration of the site should be subject to particularly rigorous analysis.

In February of 2022 the NRWA requested that MassWildlife consider at least a three-year moratorium on advancing the proposed project while MassWildlife, NRWA, and other partners: 

  • Identify alternate sites that meet MassWildlife’s state-wide goals for Oak Woodland Habitat;
  • Undertake additional studies on SRWMA; and 
  • Assess the impact of the scale of the proposed project. 

Through dialogue with MassWildlife, the NRWA understands that MassWildlife cannot agree to a moratorium.  MassWildlife has communicated a commitment to transparency and to proceeding on a timeline with opportunities for site walks and public engagement. 

In addition, public comment periods which are required as part of local and state permitting would precede any actual site work by MassWildlife.  Opportunities for comments would occur at both Shirley and Townsend Conservation Commission meetings, and potentially be associated with an Environmental Notification Form (ENF) and Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review.  After reviewing forthcoming documents, the NRWA will offer detailed comments during the public comment periods as they arise.

* The NRWA notes that potential future Phases of the proposed project have not yet been described, but that the entire Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area encompasses a total of more than 1,300 acres.

 

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Chapter 4 Providing Education video link

NRWA 50th Anniversary Video Series

In 2019, the NRWA celebrated its 50th Anniversary.  As part of our celebration, we created a series of six short videos looking at where we began, where we are and where we are going in the future. We hope you enjoy this look at NRWA and what we accomplish together! Thank you!

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 (1:55 min.)
Chapter 5:  Supporting Recreation (1:49 min.)
Chapter 6:  Looking Forward (2:31 min.)

Thank you to our 50th Anniversary Sponsors for making this series possible: Presenting Sponsor, Rollstone Bank & Trust, and Anniversary Sponsors, CanAm Machinery and Enterprise Bank.

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  Pulling invasive water chestnut by hand from a canoe

Controlling Invasive Water Chestnut

The NRWA has been working with the state and local entities, as well as volunteers to control the infestation and spread of invasive water chestnut in the Nashua River.  Learn more.

View new video "NRWA Water Chestnut Pull: Volunteers in Action. (3:14 min) produced by Max McCormick of NorthPoint Productions.

Topographic map segment showing Squannassit and Petapawag ACECs overlay in Groton and West Groton area - mass.gov

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy: Establish Ecology-Based Municipal Open Space Plans

  • Often municipal open space plans are oriented more toward recreational and visual values than ecological values. Critical ecology-based mitigation strategies are also needed. The concept of ecology-based municipal open space plans can be introduced and implemented.
  • Massachusetts municipal officials can assure that their communities participate in the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, which provides grant funding for preparing and implementing mitigation strategies to address climate impacts.

NRWA offers adult education lectures and walks, here at Bolton Flats - photo by Nancy Karuzis

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy: Educate and Coordinate

  • Many people associate climate change with increased storms and sea level rise, not the types of impacts that are taking place right now in our watershed. Educating the public about the changes that are taking place and the mitigation strategies that are available is therefore a critical, immediate need.
  • Coordinate conservation plans among different conservation groups and among different towns. Municipalities and conservation groups can work across town boundaries on ecological strategies and habitat protection. By sharing plans, larger and more effective protected areas can be created. 

Backyard habitat supports a variety of wildlife (left to right): American Lady underwing - photo Nancy Lebedzinski; nesting bluebird-- a fledgling seen here- photo Nancy Lebedzinski; and Lupine bee - photo Gaynor Bigelbach.

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy: Create Backyard Habitat

  • Even small yards can become excellent habitat for insects and birds; and many yards support a range of wildlife. The National Wildlife Federation has a program to certify backyard habitats that can be valuable programs, especially for children.
  • Use pollinator plants in gardens to support bees and other insects.
  • Replace lawns with meadows: Wildflowers and native grasses provide excellent habitat for insects and birds. Converting lawns to meadows has the added benefit of creating attractive landscapes that reduce maintenance requirements.
  • Remove Wildlife Barriers: maintain barrier-free landscapes that allow movement of wildlife through private lands.
  • Plant Trees: Landowners, municipalities, and other private or public entities can work together to plant and maintain trees. Trees sequester and store carbon, moderate temperatures and provide critical habitat, and they enhance the visual landscape. If trees must be removed due to disease, aging, or other requirements, plant new trees. According to Eiseltova and coauthors (2012), a single shade tree can provide the cooling equivalent of many air conditioners running continuously. In Worcester, MA, after thousands of the shade trees infested with the Asian Longhorn Beetle had to be destroyed in 2008, a representative neighborhood city’s summertime energy consumption increased by 37%, demonstrating the great value of shade trees in reducing the urban heat island effect.

 An Example:  Lawn to Meadow: Creating Biodiversity in Your Backyard

Transform you lawn to meadow - photo by Deb FountainImagine waking up to a choir of birds singing, bees buzzing, and butterflies fluttering about! Over the years, Pepperell resident Deb Fountain, turned her turf lawn into islands of native wildflowers, and even a meadow. “I started by planting a meadow and converting small patches around my yard to native plants adapted to my soil, and over the years, it gave me such pleasure, that I couldn’t stop! Now I grow natives for friends, neighbors and our public grounds. I am always delighted to share what I have learned and often even a plant or two.”

Give it a try. Start small. By reducing turf lawns with native wildflowers, hedgerows, trees, and swaths of meadow, you can eliminate the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers that pollute our water, and you will be providing an essential habitat for wildlife, including for our most at-risk native pollinators. You’ll love it and so will the birds! 

Just getting started? Buy native plants at your local garden club plants sales; ask your public librarian for books on native plants for New England; or check out these garden and lawn online resources:

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Actions For Individuals and Landowners 

Plant Meadows: Wildflowers and native grasses provide excellent habitat for insects and birds. Converting lawns to meadows has the added benefit of creating attractive landscapes that reduce maintenance requirements.

Plant and Manage Gardens for Habitat and Carbon Sequestration: Use pollinator plants in gardens to support bees and other insects. Add organic amendments such as compost, manure and crop residues to increase soil carbon and improve soil biology; reduce or eliminate tillage to reduce carbon loss.

Infiltrate Rainwater: Rain gardens, vegetated buffer strips, retention basins, and infiltration catch basins facilitate stormwater infiltration that reduces runoff and increases groundwater reservoirs feeding wetlands and small streams in periods of drought. Such groundwater reserves also provide cool water to help sustain cold water species. Rain gardens and vegetated buffers infiltrate water and provide plantings that increase ecological value and sequester carbon.

Control Invasives: As existing plant species become less well adapted to changing conditions, invasives may be increasingly able to move in to replace them and take over areas. Identify and control invasives, the non-native plants that displace native plants or have the ability to create monocultures.

Manage Forests for Habitat and Carbon Sequestration: Promote forests that have a diversity of tree species, ample tree regeneration of future-adapted species, vigorous trees of various sizes and ages, a variety of tree arrangements, and an appropriate amount of deadwood gives forests a complex structure and helps them withstand and recover from stressors. These practices also improve soil health and increase soil carbon sequestration. When forests need to be harvested, careful adherence to excellent forestry practices, such as those utilizing alternative, less intensive forest management systems and those utilizing Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) can reduce the loss of carbon and maintain ecologically healthy forests.

Consider Personal Lifestyle Changes

Download NRWA's Climate Impact Action List for Individuals and Landowners (PDF).

An Example: Eating Less Meat Benefits Our Climate

Reducetarianism graphic from the Reducetarian FoundationReducetarianism is the practice of eating less meat. The concept is appealing because not everyone is able or willing to follow a completely vegetarian diet. Reducetarians improve their health, save the lives of animals, and help mitigate climate change. Here are some reasons to consider adopting this practice in your life:

  • Every minute, the land equivalent of 7 football fields is cleared to make room for animal agriculture.
  • Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) per day.
  • Transitioning to more plant-based diets could reduce the global mortality rate by 6-10%.
  • Producing one pound of beef requires over 1,800 gallons of water.

Courtesy of the Reducetarian Foundation: http://www.reducetarian.org