by Kim Kastens, Lucy Kirshner & Norm Strahle
OARS (the Organization for the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers) recently issued the first-ever report card on the status of those rivers, covering water quality, streamflow, scenery, habitat, and recreation. Come learn about the methods and findings from OARS Executive Director Alison Field-Juma on Wednesday, January 22, 2019, 1:00–2:30pm at the Acton Senior Center, 30 Sudbury Road, Acton.
Have you wondered if it is safe to eat the fish from the Assabet River, or dip your toes into the Concord River? Our local rivers are natural and historic treasures, but how healthy are they? Many people, here in Massachusetts and across the country, have such questions about their local waterways.
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science has developed a methodology for creating objective and detailed “report cards” on water bodies, such as watersheds or estuaries. Working with collaborators from the University of Maryland, OARS, a local, nonprofit watershed organization, used this methodology to develop such a report card for the Sudbury/Assabet/Concord (SuAsCo) watershed. The methodology is designed to surface and reflect local stakeholder values, and many local volunteers were involved in field work and prioritization. The intent is to repeat the process periodically in the future, to monitor changes over time.
The Assabet River flows through the southeast corner of the Town of Acton, and the entire Town is within the SuAsCo watershed. The lower Assabet received a grade of B, tied for the highest grade of any of the river sections. The lower Assabet grade covers the river section from Elizabeth Brook in Stow, through Maynard and Acton, to the confluence with the Sudbury in Concord. This section got As for trails and dissolved oxygen, and Cs for nitrates and fish edibility.
Alison Field-Juma joined OARS in 2005 and has been Executive Director since 2010. Prior to her tenure with OARS, Alison was Director of the Environmental Governance Programme of the African Centre for Technology Studies in Nairobi, Kenya. The January 22 event will introduce the report card findings, with a focus on Acton’s section of the watershed, and encourage discussion of how we can improve our local rivers. Bring your ideas and questions!
Event information:
- Wednesday, January 22, 2019, 1:00–2:30pm
- Acton Senior Center, 30 Sudbury Road (map), less than a quarter mile south of the Assabet River
- free admission, ample parking
- within the MinuteVan service area and hours of operation
- all are welcome (no need to be a senior or an Acton resident to attend)