Our 6th year participating in the Dragonfly Mercury Project on the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers was a success! Thank you to everyone who helped us on July 31st and August 14th, 2025! We had a great time collecting, measuring, and identifying dragonfly larvae to the family level. 

Mercury is a toxic pollutant that poses a danger to both humans and wildlife. Dragonfly larvae are helpful indicators because they can be used to predict the amount of mercury in our rivers. To learn more about the Dragonfly Mercury Project, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/articles/dragonfly-mercury-project.htm

Click here to register and view event details. The event is a lecture that will be held on Thursday August 14th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Sudbury Historical Society.

Neela de Zoysa, a botanist and Sudbury resident, will introduce us to the signature ferns, shrubs, trees, and wildflowers of these riverine habitats along the important Sudbury River, which forms much of the eastern boundary of the Town of Sudbury. From blueberries to buttonbushes, from dogwoods to willows, and everything in between, Neela will guide us on this fascinating glimpse into the natural landscape of Sudbury, as well as touching on the Atlantic Cedar Swamps of Westborough and its merging with the Assabet River to form the Concord River as it flows into the mighty Merrimack River in Lowell.

This summer, there will be some opportunities to get out on the rivers, and help with conservation efforts. 

Community Water Chestnut Pull at Bedford Boat Ramp

• When: Saturday July 19th from 9am to noon
• Water chestnut is an invasive aquatic species that grows during the summer months. This invasive growth limits sunlight, oxygen, and nutrients in the water, harming aquatic plant and animal species. The presence of water chestnut, particularly in dense clusters, can also make recreational activities more challenging, such as boating, fishing, and swimming. For more information on water chestnut, including its history and the removal process, click here.
• Water chestnut has a distinct leaf shape, making it easy to identify and remove by hand. Paddle Boston is providing canoes, paddles, and PFD for participants!
• To sign-up and view important event details, click here.

This summer, we will not be having an in-person Riverfest. Instead, take yourself on a virtual tour, with the opportunity to explore the Concord River, the Middlesex Canal Musesum, and more! 

This past Saturday (June 21), nearly 100 people came together at The Old Manse in Concord to celebrate the summer solstice. The evening started with lantern-making, Earth Float decorating, and games before listening to the talented Anna Huckabee Tull & Friends perform a lovely repertoire, featuring river-themed songs. Then, it was time to launch the Earth Float into the Concord River, where we watched it travel under the Old North Bridge and make its way downstream as the sun began to set. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

To see more photos and videos from the event, check out our Facebook and Instagram!

Warner’s Pond Dam is located on Nashoba Brook, approximately 0.25 miles upstream of the confluence with the Wild and Scenic Assabet River in West Concord. Currently, the Town of Concord is exploring alternatives to pond management, including dam removal, to address eutrophication and sedimentation in Warner’s Pond as a result of the dam.

Learn more about the benefits of restoring Nashoba Brook!

Discord on the Concord: River Ice Breakup and the Revolution of the Seasons (Then and Now)

Saturday, May 3rd @ 10am, Concord Free Public Library

Goodwin Forum
129 Main Street, Concord, MA

Discord on the Concord" By Professor Robert Thorson, University of Connecticut

The Sudbury-Assabet-Concord (SuAsCo) Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council hosts University of Connecticut Professor Robert Thorson and a special presentation on the history of our rivers as part of Concord250.

Event Flyer

The Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council awarded $43,188 in Community Grants in 2024! The following projects received funding:

Concord Land Conservation Trust for "Water Chestnut Control in the Sudbury River (Concord)" ($15,000) - Chemical treatment of approximately 11 acres of water chestnut in the Sudbury River, from the Sudbury Road bridge downstream to just past the Route 2 bridge in summer 2025.

Concord Museum for "The Benjamin Lincoln Smith Collection Inventory Project" ($6,350) - Supporting two interns for the Musketaquid Archaeological Internship during the summer of 2025 to inventory, rehouse, and digitize approximately 7,000 historic Indigenous artifacts from the Benjamin Lincoln Smith collection, enhancing insights into Indigenous life.

Massachusetts Rivers Alliance for "Dam Busters 201 Webinar Series" ($11,838) - Expand on the highly successful and popular year-long webinar series "Dam Busters 101." 201 will equip municipal and NGO project managers with the knowledge to initiate and accelerate dam removal projects, enhance public safety, improve environmental health, and create economic benefits across the state.

Town of Westborough Conservation Department for "Invasive Species Management Westborough Pilot Program" ($10,000) - Eliminate Japanese knotweed and Phragmites in target areas while generating useable byproducts from the generated biomass and set the stage for habitat restoration to follow.

Welcome to the fourth edition of Wild and Scenic River Currents, an annual newsletter designed to recognize the accomplishments of the National Park Service wild and scenic river (WSR) community. This edition features a collection of articles that highlight the accomplishments of our community during 2021. From exciting new citizen science to valuable land protection successes, there is much to celebrate and appreciate. We hope you enjoy reading this edition, seeing our collective impact, and looking back at the highlights of the past year. Thank you for all you do to keep our rivers clean, healthy, and free-flowing!

Over $1,000,000 brought to the region...

12 municipalities and 45 partner groups benefitting from funding...

2,401 acres conserved in part with Wild and Scenic support...

1000+ acres of land stewarded...

Over 15,000 experiences for youth along the rivers...

These are some of the successes that have resulted from Wild and Scenic designation. So much has been accomplished to protect and enhance community resources.  Next year, in 2019, the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic River will celebrate 20 years as being designated by Congress. Did you know that the work to designate the river began 12 years before designation? 

Take a look at our new report: 20 Years of Impact and celebrate all that you and others have been a part of!