News, events, and updates you Otter know from OARS. | |
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OARS 3 RIVERS
A strong, effective, and sustainable organization
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OARS is recruiting a mission-driven Executive Director to lead the organization in restoring the health and building the resilience of the SuAsCo watershed for all people and wildlife. Current Executive Director Alison Field-Juma is retiring after 18 years. OARS’ President Ingeborg Hegemann agrees that the timing is just right: “We have wonderful staff, a clear vision, and a collaborative and interested board.”
Please share with your contacts!
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HEALTHY RIVERS
supporting wildlife and our communities
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Monitoring the Health of our Waterways | | |
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Since 2005, OARS has been monitoring the biomass of aquatic plants in three Assabet River impoundments. In 2023, due to heavy precipitation, there was a considerable reduction in biomass levels, with low levels observed in Hudson, Gleasondale, and Ben Smith. Long-term patterns indicate a worsening trend for Hudson, a significant change for Gleasondale, and an improving trend for Ben Smith. | |
Check out the new pollinator raingarden OARS has installed at the Senior Center in Marlborough! The garden, which faces Ward Park, will educate the public about raingardens and pollinators and the installation process of these nature-based solutions to stormwater and flooding. The garden, officially open in spring 2024 when the flowers are in bloom, is supported by DuPont's Clear into the Future grant, volunteers, SuAsCo Climate Resiliency Coalition, Community Foundation for MetroWest, Clay Larson at A Yard and a Half, Russell's Garden Center, and the City of Marlborough. A big thank you to Edward Feather for volunteering his talent to document this installation. | |
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CARING COMMUNITY
that appreciates and protects our rivers through OARS
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Support the vital work to restore, protect, improve, and preserve the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers and their tributaries and watersheds through OARS. | |
37th Annual SuAsCo Rivers Cleanup | |
September marked our 37th Annual SuAsCo rivers cleanup. Despite all the rain, record high water levels, and postponed events, our dedicated community still waded and paddled out into the rivers to remove trash and invasives for appropriate disposal. | | |
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Thank you to the 42 dedicated volunteers who braved the rain on Sat, Sept 23, in collaboration with OARS and the Town of Acton, to remove a mountain of water chestnut from Ice House Pond in Acton. An estimated 16,400 water chestnut plants were removed! This helps to restore the pond's ecological health and helps prevent these plants from spreading further. Thank you also to Paddle Boston for generously providing canoes for the event. | |
Team-up Cleanup Highlights | | |
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A big thank you to Team-up Cleanup responders, Sandy & Al Peirce, who paddled a section of the Assabet River between Powedermill Dam (Acton) and the east end of Elks Parking Lot (Maynard). Together, they removed 58 miniature alcohol bottles (nips), 17 Schweppes 2-liter ginger-ale plastic bottles, 15 recyclable water/juice plastic bottles, 13 glass bottles, 45 non-recyclable containers, and two balloons. | | |
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Another big thank you to Team-up Cleanup responders, Drew & Cathy Simmons, who paddled a section of the Assabet River near Winter Street in Hudson once the river levels dropped. Together, they removed ten giant bags of trash! | |
Our River Paddle and River Walk Cleanup Day events were postponed due to dangerously high water levels. As the water levels drop, please inform us of any areas needing a Cleanup, and keep an eye out for our future Cleanup walks and paddles! Together, we can ensure safe and clean waters for all. | |
Thank you also to all our cleanup sponsors who helped make our cleanup month happen. | |
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Put Your Hands in the River
The Formation and Fate of the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord Watershed
Thurs Oct 26 | 7 PM to 8PM | Maynard Public Library, Roosevelt Room
Presentation and discussion with Alison Field-Juma, OARS Executive Director.
Attend in-person or online.
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Fall Festival at Stow Acres
Sun Oct 29 | 1 to 4 PM | Stow Acres North Course Park, 58 Randall Road
Informational tables, walks and tours, games and face painting, costume prizes, apple treats.
Help shape our master plan and more!
Come play at Stow acres
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Discussing the Path to an Inclusive Green Economy
Thurs Nov 2 | 6 to 8 PM | Nashoba Brook Bakery, 152 Commonwealth Ave, #3, Concord
Join Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) for food, drinks, networking and a discussion of the path to an inclusive green economy with ELM
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Greater Boston Trout Unlimited—Beginner Streamer Fly Tying Workshop & Assabet River Introduction
Thurs Nov 4 | 8 to 11 AM | $30 | Concord Outfitters, 113 Commonwealth Ave, Concord
Learn the art of crafting effective streamer flies. After a morning of tying flies participants will meet at the nearby Assabet River to put their new creations to use.
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