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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TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
(and selling fast)
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WHEN
Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 7–10 pm (doors open at 6 pm)
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WHERE
Fine Arts Theatre
19 Summer St, Maynard, MA 01754
Streaming for 5 days option also available
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INSPIRING FILMS, GREAT COMPANY, AND AWESOME DOOR PRIZES! | | |
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS BEFORE THEY SELL OUT
OARS members receive special pricing.
Please call 978·369·3956 or email OARS to confirm if your membership is current.
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INTERESTED IN SPONSORING THIS POPULAR EVENT?
Showcase your business and its commitment to the environment by becoming one of our WSFF OARS 2023 sponsors.
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FESTIVAL SPONSORS (so far...) | |
DOOR PRIZE DONORS (so far...) | |
OARS and nearly 200 constituents and other advocates met with state legislators and their staff on Mass Rivers’ Lobby for the Rivers Day on March 15! Thank you to our watershed’s Senators Spilka, Friedman, Barrett, Eldridge, and Rausch, and Representatives Lewis, Gordon, and Cataldo and others connecting on the critical need for consistent statewide drought response and supporting the Drought Management Bill (H.861, S.475) filed by Senator Eldridge. OARS and our members testified on the Drought Bill’s Hearing in the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources on April 26. | |
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YOUR ADVOCACY MAKES A DIFFERENCE
YEAR-ROUND!
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It’s that time of year again to sign up to volunteer. Join our group of dedicated citizen scientists working to monitor and improve the water quality of our three rivers and their tributaries. Training sessions are conducted in late April and early May. All volunteers are required to be retrained every year. Please get in touch with Ben at bwetherill@oars3rivers.org to sign up for 2023. | |
JOIN OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS | | |
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The OARS Board of Directors should reflect the increasing diversity of our watershed. We encourage candidates who bring their lived experience and diverse perspectives to join the OARS team! | |
Would you like to help steer OARS?
Learn more here and contact us if you want to be considered or discuss what is involved. If you are passionate about making a difference locally, join our strong team of professionals and volunteers!
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“Our three rivers have so much diversity; flowing from rural forests and farmland to urban oases, with free-flowing rivers and open floodplains to dammed embayments. The people who live in the watershed are equally diverse, and OARS has an amazing opportunity to tap into the wide range of experiences and resources each person brings to protect and restore our rivers and to promote climate resiliency in the watershed.”
—Ingeborg
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Ingeborg has served as president of the OARS Board of Directors since 2021. Specializing in wetland science, her passion for the environment is evident in all she does, including the wetlands walks she hosts throughout the SuAsCo watershed. She is a devoted volunteer and has served in numerous positions within the SuAsCo community, including on the Conservation Commission, Planning Board and, Select board in Stow, and various non-profit boards.
She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts/Lowell, teaching wetland ecology, environmental labs, and ethics for engineers. We are so grateful to have someone with such a strong passion for serving our community who brings a wealth of knowledge to our organization.
WE CELEBRATE YOU, INGEBORG!
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HEALTHY RIVERS
supporting wildlife and our communities
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2022 ANNUAL BIOMASS SURVEY REPORT | | |
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Is there less green in the Assabet’s impoundments?
OARS has been surveying biomass (aquatic plants, from algae to milfoil) in the Hudson, Gleasondale, and Ben Smith impoundments for 18 years. We have found that biomass varies significantly yearly, driven by precipitation and temperature, but each impoundment responds differently. Some are improving, and some aren’t . . .
In 2022, an extremely dry and warm summer, biomass increased in two impoundments, with the Hudson impoundment almost completely covered with algae in August.
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TALBOT MILLS DAM—HAPPY FISH DAY | | |
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World Fish Migration Day at Talbot Mills Dam, North Billerica
The Talbot Mills dam removal project team with Happy Fish, World Fish Migration Day’s mascot, who travels around the world visiting fish passage restoration sites. We are honored to have Happy Fish visit us! The dam removal permitting process begins in May—stay tuned for updates.
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Talbot Mills Dam FAQ goes multilingual | |
A CARING COMMUNITY
that appreciates and protects our rivers through OARS
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FISH STOCKING THE SuAsCo RIVERS | |
Thank you to Concord Outfitters in West Concord and their generous group of Fish Stocking donors for keeping our SuAsCo rivers stocked with rainbow, brown, and brook trout, ready for another fun fishing season. | |
PROTECT & PRESERVE THE SuAsCo RIVERS | | |
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Support the vital work to protect, improve, and preserve the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers and their tributaries and watersheds through OARS.
We depend on our members and community!
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MassECAN conference: Watershed Scale Climate Collaboration
Wednesday, May 3
The Mass. Ecosystem Climate Adaptation Network (ECAN) Spring Conference will be held at Clark University in Worcester, MA, 9:30 am–3:30 pm.
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Concord River Fishway Tour
Saturday, May 20
Centennial Island, Lowell
Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust.
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Fairhaven History & Hike
Spring 2023
Virtual and live meetups
This course meets three times; two for Zoom slide lectures, followed by an optional hike on June 3 (June 4 rain date). Learn about this beautiful locale in Concord and Lincoln along the east side of the Sudbury River.
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