Roots & Rivers
Haverhill Conservation in Action
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Let's Hike Haverhill in 2026!
Join Team Haverhill and Essex County Greenbelt Association for FREE monthly guided hikes around Haverhill's beautiful open spaces. Spots fill quickly, so sign up as soon as registration opens!
Click here to see the scheduled hikes and sign up!.
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Happy Earth Month, Haverhill!
Celebrate Haverhill's inaugural “Earth Month” with us! In response to community feedback, the City has worked collaboratively with organizations, artists and businesses to create an “Earth Month” calendar of environmentally themed events during the month of April. Join your community for the Annual City-wide Earth Day Cleanup!
View & Download the calendar
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The Conservation Department has several upcoming events throughout Earth Month - help on the trails, remove some invasives, and learn about recent progress in Haverhill's open space protection!
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Participate to win the Earth Month Giveaway
Everyone who participates in five Earth Month events will be entered into the drawing to win the Earth Month Gift Basket! This prized basket includes a plethora of landscaping tools, a gift certificate to Ruth's House, a 64-gallon recycling toter, and more. Punch cards will be available at all Earth Month events and can be dropped off at the Haverhill Public Library Reference Desk no later than May 1 for entry in the drawing. There is no purchase necessary to participate. Winner will be drawn on May 5.
Learn more at the original post from the Mayor on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GZdZuyZt8/
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Get ready for Let’s Paddle Haverhill!
Spring 2026 has sprung and we are pleased to bring another season of community paddles. This season will offer 6 events including some favorites from 2025 as well as 3 new destinations. The first paddle will be May 9th, leaving from the Millvale Reservoir pumphouse located at 183 Millvale Road at 10am sharp. Visit letspaddlehaverhill.com or follow Team Haverhill on Facebook for updates and registrations!
Let’s Paddle Haverhill! is a series of FREE group paddles on the waters of Haverhill and beyond. Inspired by the very successful Let’s Hike Haverhill series, Let's Paddle Haverhill invites new and experienced paddlers to explore Haverhill's lakes, ponds, and rivers and to create connections with other Haverhill paddlers.
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Vernal Pool Awakening around Haverhill
Do you hear the calls of the wood frogs and spring peepers? Warm temperatures and rain will bring an explosion of amphibian activity throughout April! During this time of the year, frogs, toads, and salamanders will migrate to their breeding sites in Vernal Pools, sometimes traveling long distances and across roads. These are temporary pools that fill with snowmelt and rain, typically dry by summer, and have no breeding fish population. They serve critically important roles as host to an amazing diversity of organisms. Learn about these ephemeral wetlands, meet their wildlife, and help to protect them through the Vernal Pool Association and Mass.gov.
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| Have you encountered any roads in Haverhill with numerous amphibian crossings? Let us know where! | | | | | Visit some vernal pools in Haverhill at Crystal Gorge and Brandy Brow Forest! This photo shows two wood frog egg masses at different ages. If you've never encountered them before, right now is the best time to get out there to see them. Look along branches and debris in the water for these jelly-blobs - but please do not disturb them. If you're lucky, you might find a slimy friend along the way. If you're interested in citizen science, the state accepts observations of vernal pools and rare species at the following link: Report rare species & vernal pool observations. | |
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Explore Haverhill's Open Spaces: Clement Farm
Have you been to Clement Farm Conservation Area? This special property has many uses, including the free, volunteer-run disc golf course, girls' softball fields, the American Legion, and 1.5 miles of woodland trails. Steep terraces, created from mass meltwater drainage following the retreat of the glaciers, overlook the Little River watershed. The river’s unique loops are visible from the western trails. The City was also recently funded for improvements to the softball fields and disc golf course & trails parking.
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Tips for Saving Water
Drought or not... Do your part!
The City of Haverhill remains under a Drought Emergency, and water supply conditions continue to be closely monitored. Although outdoor water use is limited during the winter months, the Haverhill Water Department urges residents and businesses to be especially mindful of indoor water use. Indoor conservation remains essential to protecting the City’s drinking water supply. Do your part with these Indoor Water Conservation Tips and get updates on the City of Haverhill's Water Supply Status. Follow along on Facebook for more water conservation tips.
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Gardening for Life
Who do we garden for, and why? For many, gardens are a work of art appealing to our preference of textures, colors, scents, and statures. Nowadays, there is a push to build landscapes a bit differently - by including a diversity of native plants, leaving nature's "mess", eliminating lawn area, and supporting local food webs at home.
Doug Tallamy, an American etymologist, conservationist, professor and author, has transformed our understanding of the relationship between native plants and wildlife and inspired us to change how we see our yards through his research and books. If you're not familiar with his work, read his short article, "Gardening for Life."
Homegrown National Park
Homegrown National Park was coined by Doug Tallamy with a simple concept: we can all make a difference in our habitats by restoring habitat where we live, work, and play. Join the movement and learn how to best use your yard to protect biodiversity. Let's get Haverhill on the map!
Homegrown National Park - Regenerate Biodiversity
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Get Involved with Haverhill's Trails Stewards
Do you love spending time in Haverhill’s parks and open spaces? Give back to the trails you hike, bike, birdwatch, or ski by becoming a Haverhill Trails Steward! Stewards work on their own time by reporting issues, picking up litter, clearing small debris, and performing light trail maintenance and also join group workdays to tackle larger projects as a team.
Learn more about the program and sign up to join the team!
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New Birdhouses at Several Conservation Areas
Local Haverhill Trails Steward, Don Fumia, has donated about a dozen bird houses to our conservation areas, including Meadow Brook, Wheeler Woods, and John's Woods (pictured here) so far. These homes will provide nesting spots for bluebirds, woodpeckers, and sparrows.
"I read a little about the species and just love them."
Each birdhouse is strategically placed along trails and open areas where hikers see them and enjoy the family of birds living there without disturbing them. John's Woods, one of Don's favorite trails, was a perfect location to install these houses along the wood line of the open meadow. The bluebirds graciously accepted this gift and have already moved in! Give these a visit and keep an eye out for nesting birds!
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