Planning is in the works for Riverfest 2020! Save the date: June 20 & 21st

Celebrate your Wild and Scenic River at RiverFest, a weekend of free activities, from Lowell to Framingham, celebrating our local Wild and Scenic Rivers. Stay tuned for more information about 40+ activities in Lowell, Billerica, Carlisle, Concord, Sudbury, Wayland and Framingham. With free walks, talks, paddles, hikes, music, and family-friendly adventures led by local organizations, there is something for everyone.  See the link below for more information!

Is there an event you'd like to run on the River?

Think your company or organization could sponsor the event?

Email  with any questions.

Email if you want to hear about the benefits of sponsorship.

In recognition of their remarkable value, Congress designated the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers as part of the national Wild and Scenic River System in 1999. The River Stewardship Council was created to promote preservation of these resources. This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the SuAsCo Wild and Scenic Rivers. 

Welcome to the second 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 2019. From newly designated rivers to exciting new citizen science, 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!

Thanks to all of the organizations that applied for this year's Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic River Community grant funds. It was a successful and competitive process this year!

The intent of the community grant program is to provide community groups funds to implement local projects along the Wild and Scenic River that protect and enhance the special values of the River.

Inquire about next year's process by writing Sarah at .

Did you know that the original conservation plan, drafted as a guiding document for collaborating on river conservation work, is now over 20 years old?

Drafted in 1995, this document has served the Wild and Scenic River well for over 20 years. Now, the Council is working to update it.

An update to the River Conservation Plan is now available! Thank you to everyone who participated in the planning and comment process for this document. Multiple municipalities, organizations and agencies were involved.  The intent of this Plan is to reflect the needs and priorities of the communities and agencies involved in river protection, and its priorities will drive projects and funding of the River Stewardship Council in the coming years. Please take a moment now to review the final plan!

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! 

If you're looking for a printed copy of these materials, please email .

In 2019, we celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic Rivers. Stay tuned for specific celebration events this year.

Some of our celebrations were part of the 2018 anniversary celebration. 2018 was a very special year.  On October 2, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.  Thanks to the Wild and Scenic Act,the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers have been protected for future generations.  Special celebrations happened all year long.

The SuAsCo is 20 years old in 2019! Celebrations that happened in 2018:

On October 14th, we held a grand celebration at Minute Man National Historical Park and the Old Manse.  We celebrated "Conservation in Action" with special explorations, raffles and refreshments, followed by a ceremony and remarks by distinguished guests.  Check it out. Held in partnership with: The Trustees, Minute Man National Historical Park, Sudbury Valley Trustees, OARS and the River Stewardship Council

Unveiling of Partnership Rivers Film, OARS Film Festival - March 28th
Patriots Day Parade participation - April 16th
Musketaquid Earth Day Celebration - April 28th
Riverfest - June 16 & 17th 
Michael Goodwin Speaks at the Old Manse, Summer Conversation Series - August 2018

Sudbury Valley Nature Photographers Exhibit - Nov 1 through Nov 29th, Wayland Free Public Library. For more information, go to http://svnp.homestead.com.  

This Land Is Your Land- Nov 3, 2018 - A concert commemorating the 50th anniversaries of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act and the National Trails System Act, with new music inspired by American landscapes.  Visit Juventas. 

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.

As part of the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Act, you helped us capture images of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic River in our online photo contest!

Congratulations to our winners:  Terri Ackerman, Chuck Matzker, Kim Little and Jeff Altschuler.

If you want to see photos, take a look:

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