The Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council announces the availability of Wild and Scenic River Community Grants. Recognizing the important role towns and local groups play in the protection of river resources,the grants are intended to advance projects supporting and enhancing the protection and enjoyment of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic River and its outstanding resources.  

The first round of proposals will be due on Oct 25th, for evaluation at the Nov 7th meeting of the River Stewardship Council (RFP). Proposals will be reviewed on an ongoing basis at the RSC monthly meetings at the end of the month.

Interested groups are encouraged to be in touch with Sarah Bursky or Anne Slugg to discuss!

Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of everyday heroes working to protect and care for your Wild and Scenic River. Every year the League of Women Voters and River Stewardship Council together present the River Steward Awards.

Next year's nomination form will be available in early winter, around February. Look for the announcement, or be in touch with Sarah Bursky at .

On June 17th and 18th this year, we celebrated the 16th annual Riverfest celebration! This included over 40 events in 9 communities, ranging from Framingham up to Billerica. A huge thank you to all of our event trip leaders, our volunteers and food sponsors!  From family wildlife viewing and face painting to music and arts, Riverfest is our annual celebration of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic River, now in its 16th year. Join us on a walk, talk, paddle, bike, or festival event.

Special thanks to our Riverfest organizational sponsors: National Park Service Wild and Scenic Rivers Program, OARS, and Sudbury Valley Trustees

Additional thanks to our food sponsors for the Awards Ceremony: Stelio's in Billerica, Sudbury Farms, and Concord Tea Cakes

Next year's Riverfest will once again be Father's Day Weekend 2018. Mark your calendars now and stay in touch!

The Sudbury River Recreation Guide is a guide to the outstanding resources along 15 miles of the Sudbury River. It highlights natural features, ecological areas, historical sites and places described in literature, all of which help to tell the rich story of the Sudbury River. On the Trail you will pass through the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and its wide wetland floodplains which are habitat for many waterfowl. Near Heard Pond you will see Indian Point which once hosted the annual summer encampment of the Nipmucks and in Fairhaven Bay you will travel by the sites seen and written about by Henry David Thoreau. These sites, and many others, are described in the commentary on the Trail.

“A more lovely stream than this,” Nathaniel Hawthorne said of the Assabet River, “has never flowed on earth, except to lave the interior regions of the poet’s imagination.” Glimpses of the region’s early industrial past dot the remote sections with plentiful wildlife. In 1999, the last four miles of the Assabet were designated under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers program.  The Assabet River begins in Westborough, flowing north for 31 miles [through Northborough, Marlborough, Berlin, Hudson, Stow, Maynard and Acton] until it joins the Sudbury River in Concord to form the Concord River, which flows north to join the Merrimack River in Lowell. The river is home to abundant wildlife, including bald eagles, great blue herons, river otters, painted turtles, largemouth bass and many other species of fish. The Assabet offers easy and interesting paddles for the beginning boater. There is also some whitewater in the spring, several dams, and limited water depth in the upper sections during the summer.  We especially recommend the three trips shown in purple on the map.

The Concord River Boater's Trail is a guide to the outstanding resources along 10 miles of the Concord River. It highlights natural features, ecological areas, historical sites and places described in literature, all of which help to tell the rich story of the Concord River. On the Trail you will pass through the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and its wide wetland floodplains which are habitat for many waterfowl.

Use this guide to pick an adventure that’s suitable for the whole family on the Wild and Scenic Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers. The map shows 21 locations with descriptions including trails, suitability for baby strollers, dog restrictions, nearby activities, and more.

CELEBRATING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY & OUR LOCAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS

This year, the River Stewardship Council welcomed award winning storyteller Tony Toledo for a series of four performances, celebrating the fascinating history and special places along our rivers. 

Performances occured in Wayland, Lincoln, Sudbury, and the Assabet National Wildlife Refuge.

Thank you, Tony, and thanks to our generous funders: These performances were possible through the generous support of the National Park Service, grants from the Lincoln, Sudbury & Wayland Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.