Helping Nonprofits Clean Up and Protect Local Rivers

By Kathy Register

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Lowell, MA – Not all that long ago there was very little wading in our local river waters. In the late 1960s, the Nashua River, which runs through north-central Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire, was declared one of the 10 most polluted rivers in the United States. Other regional rivers were so foul-smelling that few people wanted to be near them — much less boat, fish or swim in them.

The water quality of our local rivers and streams has greatly improved over the past 50 years, thanks to state and federal Clean Water Acts and the dedicated work of local organizations like the Nashua River Watershed Association Inc. (NRWA) and OARS. With grants from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, these two nonprofits continue to monitor the water in nearby rivers and streams, and advocate for their clean up.

“The Nashua River used to change color depending on what color of paper the mills were making that day,” said Martha Morgan, NRWA Water Programs Director. “Locals used to say it was so full of paper pulp and other debris that squirrels could run across it.”

The Assabet, Sudbury and Concord rivers were also heavily polluted, according to Alison Field-Juma, OARS Executive Director. “These were all ‘working’ rivers,” she said. “Factory mills and other industries have been built along their shores since the gunpowder mills of the Revolutionary War.”  

In addition to industrial discharge, rivers were also plagued by “nutrient pollution,” Field-Juma explained. “They were totally green, but not in a good way. These rivers were full of rotting plants, there was sewage and a lot of algae in them, which kills fish. They gave off foul odors and people didn’t like it.”

The Nashua River Watershed Association, Inc. (founded in 1969) and OARS (established in 1986 as the Organization for the Assabet River) were formed to help clean up the rivers and restore healthy ecosystems for humans and wildlife. Providing support for that work is a Water Resources Initiative Grant Fund, part of Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s annual discretionary grant cycle.

“In 1998, with a grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the Foundation was able to create an endowed fund to protect the water resources in Greater Lowell,” said GLCF President & CEO Jay Linnehan. “The vigilance of our nonprofit partners protects our critical watersheds for future generations. We are grateful for their partnership in improving our community.”

Based in Groton and founded by environmentalists, NRWA is dedicated to cleaning up the Nashua River and its tributaries, and helps protect the land and natural resources in the Nashua River watershed. That area covers 32 communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

“Our three main program areas include land, water and environmental education,” explained Morgan.  “We teach youth and adults about water resources and how to be good stewards of the watershed. We preserve the land, too, because everything that happens on land affects the river. Every time it rains, all that run-off goes into our rivers and streams.”

NRWA’s most recent GLCF-grant funded program continues monitoring river-water quality in seven Greater Lowell towns: Ashby, Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, Shirley and Townsend. It also targets aquatic weed control – removing water chestnut – in Pepperell and Groton.

When monitoring the river, trained NRWA volunteers take monthly water samples in designated areas. Volunteers bring their samples to NRWA headquarters, where the water is analyzed. NRWA has a Quality Assurance Plan that’s approved by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).   

“The state does some river-water testing, but it’s limited,” explained Kath Nelson, NRWA’s Water Monitoring Coordinator. “Our monitoring program supplements MassDEP sampling, and we are able to post a River Report Card days after testing.”

The state also sprays for the invasive water chestnut in the main channel of the Nashua River in Groton and Pepperell, and NRWA conducts “hand-pulls” in the inlets and coves that don’t get sprayed. NRWA summer staff and volunteers go out in canoes and kayaks to hand-pull the water chestnut plants, which, if not properly managed, can clog the river.

“The Greater Lowell Community Foundation really enables these citizen-science projects to happen,” said Elizabeth Ainsley Campbell, NRWA Executive Director. “Most of our volunteer monitors come back year after year and are very protective of this river. People really want to know what’s happening in their own streams and backyards, and they want a way to help.”

“The Nashua River is looking really good, but the work is never really done,” added Morgan. “We’re keeping an eye on it year after year.”

Based in Concord, OARS was founded by a group of sportsmen and conservationists. Originally focused on the Assabet River, the group added the Concord and Sudbury rivers to its purview in 2011, explained Field-Juma.

“Our focus is to restore the health of the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord rivers through science, advocacy and recreation,” she said. “We cover nearly 400 square miles and have about 35 cities and towns in our watershed.

“Our work is science-based: Our volunteers regularly observe and test the water. When we see a problem, we try to identify it, then work closely with our members and local stakeholders to find a solution.”

As part of OARS’ most recent GLCF-funded project, the group focused on tracking down sources of high bacteria pollution in the lower Concord River in Lowell. “Last year, we noticed elevated bacteria levels in the River Meadow Brook area,” said Field-Juma. “This year, we have refined our survey and added test sites, because it’s not that easy to track down these sources of pollution. There’s no one pipe that’s dumping pollution into the rivers any longer.”

There can be a variety of sources contributing to river pollution, she explained, including poorly maintained septic systems, storm water, wildlife (like Canada geese) and other warm-blooded animals living in the area, and, particularly, dog waste that is not properly disposed of.

High bacteria levels in rivers are very common problems, but they can be addressed, she added. “Our goal is for people to be able to safely enjoy recreation activities in our rivers.

“Thanks to the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, this funding has made all the difference in the world for us to be able to focus on this one part of the community,” said Field-Juma. “We would love for people in Lowell to have access to a clean river.”

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 390 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of more than $50 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community. To learn more, visit: www.glcfoundation.org.

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