978-448-0299EMAIL
Nashua River Watershed Association logo
DONATEVOLUNTEER

Programs

Stream Crossings Assessment Project: Call for Volunteers

NRWA Volunteer & Training Opportunity: Stream Crossings Assessments

The Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) is seeking volunteers to help with our stream crossings assessment project. We’re evaluating culverts and bridges to determine their ability to pass water, support wildlife movement, and maintain structural integrity. These assessments play a key role in preventing flooding, restoring aquatic connectivity, and improving climate resilience. 

Volunteers are needed from March 1 to April 30, 2025. We will be assessing culverts in the following towns:

  • Massachusetts: Fitchburg, Lancaster, Leominster, Rutland, Sterling
  • New Hampshire: Brookline, Hollis, Nashua, Wilton

Prior knowledge is not essential. For those who are interested, volunteer participation does create an opportunity to become certified to conduct Stream Crossings Assessments using the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) protocols. 

Volunteering Details

Volunteers will work alongside NRWA-certified staff to collect field data on culverts and stream crossings. This is a great way to get hands-on experience in watershed science and ecological restoration without committing to the full certification process.

  • Flexible participation – Join for a single day or multiple days based on your availability.
  • Hands-on fieldwork – Explore local streams, learn about watershed science, and contribute to real-world conservation efforts.
  • Typical field day – Runs from 9 AM to 5 PM, but we can adjust based on your schedule.

Certification Training Option

For interested volunteers, NRWA offers NAACC Field Training and Shadowing for non-tidal stream assessments. To become certified, participants must complete:

  • A 2-hour self-paced online training, followed by an online quiz.   
  • Three days of fieldwork with an NRWA coordinator

Training is available on a rolling basis throughout March and April 2025. We encourage early participation, as assessments are ongoing.

How to Get Involved

If you are interested, please email Utkir Adkhamov, the Project Coordinator. 

Feel free to share this opportunity with anyone who might be interested and join us in making our watersheds more connected and resilient!  Thank you!

The NRWA’s stream crossings assessment project is funded in part by grants from the MA Division of Ecological Restoration and the Nashua, Squannacook, & Nissitissit Rivers Wild & Scenic Stewardship Council.

Division of Ecological Restoration
Nashua River Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council

Upcoming Programs

NRWA Curiosity Club

If you have ever looked at the natural world and wondered “Why?”, “What?” or “How?” then Curiosity Club is for you! Join Nashua River Watershed Association Education Staff for an hour of exploration with nature specimens, magnifiers, microscopes and plenty of time to investigate and find answers.

Fearless With Color: Selected Works in Watercolor

Experience the bold, expressive watercolor paintings of artist John Barnard in Fearless With Color, throughout September at the Prescott Community Center in Groton, with an opening reception on Friday, September 11, from 5:00–8:00 PM.

NRWA Annual Meeting 2026

Join us to celebrate the progress we’ve made together to protect the nature of our communities, and the positive impact for our individual and collective well-being. — Thurs Nov 12th from 7 to 9pm. Registration required.

Video: Dam Removals in Massachusetts

In this video presentation, the Nashua River Watershed Association gives 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.

Video: NRWA Paddling 101

ACA Certified Guide Stacey Chilcoat presents a talk about paddling equipment & safety, paddling options and accessibility, and best practices when exploring the diverse habitats of our local rivers. She also introduces NRWA’s new online paddling maps.

Past Programs

Learn to Fly Fish Workshop

Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Squan-a-tissit Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) leads this hands-on, full day Learn to Fly Fish Workshop, a no pressure beginner’s class with the opportunity to learn all the basics from experienced instructors. Space limited to 10; registration required.

Caterpillars of New England: Celebrating Spring Biodiversity – Virtual

Thursday, May 14 beginning at 7:00 pm on Zoom

The NRWA is hosting The Caterpillar Lab for a video- and photography-packed presentation revealing the caterpillars whose ecosystems we inhabit, and our roles as neighbors, stewards, and champions of these incredible insects. Registration required; register online today.

The World of Turtles with Sy Montgomery & Matt Patterson

THIS PROGRAM IS FULL TO CAPACITY

Saturday, April 18th beginning at 1:00 PM
Arlington Street Community Center
36 Arlington Street, Nashua, NH 03060

Join award-winning author Sy Montgomery and illustrator Matt Patterson for an engaging, family-friendly exploration of the fascinating world of turtles.

Dam It: Partnering with Beavers to Save the Planet with Author Ben Goldfarb – Virtual

Thursday, March 12 beginning at 7:00 pm on Zoom

Join Ben Goldfarb, author of the acclaimed book, “Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers” to learn more about “nature’s engineer” the North American beaver and their role in wetland restoration, some of the most valuable habitats for natural and human communities. Registration is required; register online.

Water’s Journey: A Three-part Series- Virtual

Part 3: Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 pm on Zoom
Part 1 & 2 can be viewed on NRWA’s YouTube channel

Water is at the heart of all that the Nashua River Watershed Association does, and understanding the science of hydrology– how water moves through our watershed- is essential to our work. Join NRWA Board members as they lead this series covering basic hydrology concepts, human and climate alterations to natural hydrology, and actions we can take to protect and restore our natural hydrology. Registration required; register online.

Winter Sowing: Get a Head Start on Your Spring Garden

Jan. 22 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the NRWA River Resource Center

Winter sowing is a way to get a head start on your garden by planting seeds outdoors in the winter in order to develop healthy seedlings ready for planting in spring. You can winter sow many types of plants including perennials, vegetables, and herbs. This presentation will focus on the winter sowing of native perennials. Registration required; register online.

NRWA Storytime at Groton Public Library

January 13 from 10:30 to 11:00 am at the Groton Public Library

NRWA Education Director Gaynor Bigelbach visits the Groton Public Library to read aloud two of Amy MacDonald’s charming picture books about Little Beaver, and lead a simple craft project. For children under age 5.

How Animals Prepare for Winter

December 21 from 1:00 to 3:00pm in Devens
Join the fun of this winter solstice program at the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge’s Bill Ashe Visitor Facility. Appropriate for ages 8 and up. Registration required.

NRWA Annual Meeting 2025

Join us to celebrate the progress we’ve made together to protect the nature of our communities, and the positive impact for our individual and collective well-being. — Thurs Nov 13th from 7 to 9pm. Registration required.

Paddling 101 with Stacey Chilcoat

Enjoy this zoom presentation on the basics of paddling and NRWA’s new online paddling maps presented by Stacey Chilcoat, ACA paddling instructor and naturalist– Wed. Sept. 24 at 7pm. Registration required.

Guided Fern Walk in Shirley, MA

Join NRWA and our guest host, Elizabeth Perry, for an exploration of ferns at Farandnear in Shirley, MA on Sun. Sept. 14 from 1 to 3pm. Registration is required.