Whitney Pond Dam Removal & River Restoration Project: Ashburnham
Under a grant from the MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), the NRWA is helping to lead outreach and information efforts in Ashburnham in regards to the town's decision to remove the Whitney Pond Dam. The NRWA views dam removal on a case-by-case basis. Each dam, community, and waterway has its own unique set of circumstances that need to be fully understood in the decision-making process. In the end, the decision to repair or remove must be made by the dam owner, in this instance the Town of Ashburnham. Learn more about this project including information about the Whitney Pond Dam, videos of community meetings, plans and permitting documents, and benefits of removal and restoration.
Dam Removals Across New England
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.
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Meets MA DEP state-designated Outstanding Resource Water Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards [314 CMR 4.04(3)
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Is included in the Squannacook-Nissitissit Rivers Sanctuary Act (MGL, Part I, Title XIX, Chapter 123A, Section 17)
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Is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries “Essential Fish Habitat”
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Is a MA DFW Wildlife Management Area Reference Stream
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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.
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~50 acres of Shirley Zone 1 Municipal Wellhead Protection Area (a 1,000 foot zone extending from wellhead)
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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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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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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.
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Eco-Adventures for Youth: Building Relationships with the Natural World
During school vacations and weekdays after school, groups of children can be found in the yard and woods at the NRWA or on local conservation properties building snow shelters in the winter, playing “Animal Guess Who” in the spring, and digging in the dirt to learn about soil layers and insect life in the summer. Their excited chatter tells you they’re having fun. The new knowledge you hear them share with their parents at pick-up time tells you they’re learning. But that’s just the starting point for what NRWA Eco-Adventures are all about.
Why does the NRWA, with its goals to protect water and land, offer these programs for children who have never heard of TMDLs, Forest Legacy, and Smart Growth, and who are certainly in no position to vote for or fund protection efforts? The answer is that these children will be the stewards of our environment in the not too distant future. Helping them to understand and connect with the natural world starting now will aid their progress toward being well informed and engaged adults.
Eco-Adventure programs are about getting children outdoors and having fun. They’re about engaging children’s natural curiosity, teaching them the science of how the world works and how we impact the world. And, perhaps most importantly, they’re about giving children time and opportunity to experience a special moment—catching a crayfish in the clean river, finding a favorite tree to sit by for lunch, discovering a giant ant colony on a hike—that becomes a permanent positive memory about their outdoor adventure.
The goal of Eco-Adventures is for children to feel comfortable in and knowledgeable about our natural world, and to form strong lasting connections with it that they will carry forward with them into adulthood when decisions about protecting natural resources will be theirs to make.
We offer Eco-Adventures for all ages:
Summer Vacation Programs
Summer is the perfect season for long days of outdoor adventure with new and old friends! NRWA’s professional educators and naturalists offer four weeks of summer programming, three weeks focusing on science and nature outdoor activities for children ages 5 to 12, and Adventure Challenge Week for ages 11 to 14 with outdoor hiking, canoeing, and 
wilderness exploration using local conservation properties and the river. Summer programs range from one to four days. Group size is limited to ensure a high quality experience for each child.
Summer programs have included:
How Do They Build That?
Wild World of Water Week
It’s a Bugs Life
Adventure Challenge Week
School Vacation and After-school Programs
What is your child doing during February and April school vacation weeks? How about after school? We like to get children outside engaged in active science and outdoor exploration. We lead programs at our River Resource Center, and we provide off-site programs at schools, community centers, conservation properties, and libraries. NRWA’s after-school and vacation program themes and age 
groups vary with the season. Choose a program from our list of topics, or we can design a program to fit your needs.
School vacation and after-school programs have included:
Science of Winter
Winter Survival
Winter Wonderland
Earth Day Explorations
Outer Artist
Creature Features
Nature Photography
Mad Scientists
Preschool Programs
Preschool programs are offered periodically at our River Resource Center. Also, our professional education staff will travel to any preschool or public library in the watershed and provide hands-on, age appropriate activities for children ages 3-5. Each lesson includes hands-on exposure to nature, outdoor hikes (weather permitting), a story, an art activity, and 
an imaginary game (be an insect!). Preschool lessons run 45 minutes to 2 hours. Choose from our list of topics or let us design a program to meet your needs.
Pre-school Programs
Turtle Time!
Snug in Snow: Animals in Winter
Aquatic Insect Investigations
A Bear Affair
Seeds to Weeds
It’s a Hoot! Owl Facts & Fun
Woodland Wildlife: Mammals of the Forest
Spring Peepers & Other Leapers
For information about NRWA Eco-Adventures, please contact Stacey Chilcoat, NRWA River Classroom Director, at (978) 448-0299, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
River Ranger Adventure Book: Activities to Explore & Discover the Nashua River Watershed
The NRWA’s River Ranger Adventure Book: Activities to Explore and Discover the Nashua River Watershed, a colorful, 16-page booklet, is a fun way to introduce children ages 7 to 12 to the Nashua River, our watershed, river history, local ecosystems, and environmental stewardship concepts. In the River Ranger Adventure Book, children can learn basic outdoor exploration safety, match animals to their tracks and habitats, map how their community is connected to others by water, and much more. This is a great way for young people -- and the adults who are accompanying them -- to have fun exploring and learning while making a meaningful and significant connection to the Nashua River watershed.
NRWA’s River Ranger Adventure Book is free to the public, made possible in part by the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation and the Adelard A. Roy & Valdea Lea Roy Foundation. Pick up your copy at the NRWA’s River Resource Center at 592 Main Street in Groton. If you can’t make it to the River Resource Center, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make other arrangements. Enjoy exploring the wonders of our watershed!!
River Ranger Adventure Book Activity Solutions
Page 2: Activity 2 Word Search for Safety
J O B F B W B P V E T U E V K
W Q S L X G Z X G I I N N X H
R E T A W K I X C N H A J X T
E H F B G D W K O G Q Z O S V
I X H D S I S T P N T R Y D J
K T P C Y I E Z A R X Q R B Q
Z J Z L C E K G E O B W V M E
P O I S O N I V Y S B Y T W J
W K X J V R H B Q N S I D G B
B A Q D R D E Y M T P P Q C F
Page 4: Bonus List of Tributaries to the Nashua River
Nissitissit
North Nashua
Quinapoxet
Squannacook
Stillwater
Page 5: Activity 4 Match the Animal to the Tracks
Page 11: Activity 10 River Scramble
BIRDING
KAYAKING
SWIMMING
HIKING
RUNNING
WALKING
Page 12: Activity 11 Habitat Matching Game
Page 13: Activity 12 Animal Adaptations
Page 14: Bonus Animals on the Front Desk Panels at NRWA River Resource Center
North American Beaver (Castor Canadensis)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias)
Moose (Alces alces)
Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis)
Page 15: Bonus What Does "Nashua" Mean? (Native American "Nashaway")
Nashua or Nashaway means "river with the pebbled bottom."
Environmental Education for Individuals and Families
Whether you’d like to participate in a guided walk on a local conservation property, listen to a lecture on the natural history of turkeys, have your child sharing outdoor adventures during a school vacation, or take the whole family to a maple sugaring workshop, the NRWA has a program that will interest you. Our programs are engaging, science-based, professionally delivered, and fun!
Our Eco-Adventures for children of all ages provide opportunities for young people to get out and explore the natural world, guided by NRWA’s professional educators and naturalists.
NRWA Family Workshops allow families to participate in exciting explorations together, such as a night hike to learn about nocturnal wildlife.
Programs for adults feature guest speakers with topics ranging from general interest subjects such as “Living with Local Wildlife” to technical programs such as “Surveying for Landowners.” We also present environmental films, lead walks, and organize hands-on workshops. For information on training and workshops for professionals.
For young people who are interested in learning on the job, we offer unpaid internships to high school and college students.
We hope you’ll join us at one of our upcoming programs, and be sure to sign-up for NRWA Enews to receive our monthly enewsletter with the latest on NRWA’s work and for advance notice of programs and events.
For questions about programs for individuals and families, please contact Stacey Chilcoat, NRWA River Classroom Director, at (978) 448-0299, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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