Summer Gala is ON for Saturday!

Greetings Friends and WRWA supporters,

We are looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday for the Gala,

hosted by River Rock Farm on Fisherville Lane, off Horseneck Rd.

Despite our worries about Tropical Storm Debby, and the gray skies today, the weather is now (thankfully) predicted to improve on Saturday.

Thank you for supporting the Watershed Alliance! The Gala will feature great food, a gorgeous riverscape, open bar, live music and our silent auction. See you soon!

Summer Water Quality Monitoring Underway

Since the 1990s, the Westport River Watershed Alliance has been diligently monitoring water quality at 19 sites along the Westport River. This comprehensive program runs weekly from the beginning of June to the end of August, providing a detailed look at the river's health. As bacteria levels can fluctuate daily, each week's data reflects only the specific morning when samples are collected.

This summer, the river has largely met recreational standards, especially during dry weather. However, bacteria levels tend to spike during wet weather, so it’s wise to avoid swimming immediately after heavy rainfall. During dry periods, bacteria levels are typically low, making the river safe for boating and swimming.

For the latest results, visit Westport Watershed River Monitoring.

The vision for the Westport River includes clean water, thriving eelgrass, and vibrant estuarine life. Unfortunately, we have observed increasing issues such as cloudy water, excessive algae, and occasional fish kills, all indicators of significant water quality problems. The primary culprit is nitrogen pollution, posing the greatest long-term threat to the river's health. Each year, we collaborate with the Buzzards Bay Coalition to monitor and address this pollutant.

Learn more about nutrient monitoring at BBC Nutrient Monitoring.

Summer Watershed Discovery Program

WRWA’s summer teachers Zoey and Kaitlin (bottom left) are gearing up to take teens in the Watershed Explorers Discovery Program out for a kayaking trip with Osprey Sea and Surf Adventures located next door to the River Center at the Head of Westport.

Three Weeks Left for River Center Summer Open Days

Climate and Coastal Birds: How Local Students are Helping

Join WRWA, the Westport Land Conservation Trust and the Lloyd Center for the Environment to learn how each organization is addressing concerns about the impacts of climate change on coastal bird populations. We will share the natural history of several species, opportunities for all to learn in the field, an upcoming citizen science project, and you will get a sneak peak at the Lloyd Center's new osprey cam! Beautiful photos by Tom Griswold will be on exhibit and there will be table top activities as part of our Open River Center themed week: Bird Bonanza and Our Coastal Caretakers. Come see how 5th graders in Westport are contributing to the town's climate resilience too! Open to ages 6 and up. Free-of-charge

Seating is limited. In order to reserve a chair, please register in advance.

Oyster Vouchers Still Available

Purchase a $12 voucher from WRWA for a flight of 4

oysters from Westport Sea Farms, Westport Point, MA

during the summer of 2024. Open Fri-Sun, 12– 9 p.m.

(774) 309-3056 • 2065 Main Road, Westport, MA

Specializing in serving the freshest raw oysters direct from our farms in quaint historic Westport Point, and pairing with the best beer and wines from our area!

Good Crowd enjoyed Martin Sexton

at Westport Rivers Vineyard

A near sell-out crowd came out to the Westport Rivers Vineyard for our annual Summer Concert on July 13. Enthusiastic guests tuned in to a great energetic performance by ever-popular Martin Sexton, who was dazzling with his soaring vocals, surprising repertoire and masterful guitar playing.

Everyone had a great time, and we are ever thankful to our friends The Russell family for hosting the event at the vineyard, our sponsors DSK Architects and Planners and Mid-City Steel, and to our many supporters who came to take in the music and the beautiful day.

The Photos Are In!

We are putting together a slideshow of all the beautiful entries submitted for the 2025 calendar. As we have done in years past, our members will be invited to help us choose the winning photos.

Watch for a notice from us next week, with the link to the presentation of all the great photos we have to choose from! We hope you will take a few minutes to enjoy the beauty of Westport and pick the very best ones!