by Sarah Kwan | June 21, 2024 | OARS

Concord, MA, June 18, 2024—OARS, along with state and local leaders, community partners, and members of the public, celebrated the unveiling of the 2023 3 Rivers Report Card Grades for the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers with a special event and swim. Held on Tuesday, June 18th, from 11 AM to 1 PM, the event highlighted the health of our beloved rivers, their successes and challenges, and the newly published grades for each section.

The event took place at the Bedford Boat Launch on Carlisle Road in Bedford, MA, where OARS experts guided attendees through the journey of our rivers’ health. The Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers, part of the SuAsCo watershed, received their new grades, reflecting the diligent efforts of OARS and its partners to enhance water quality, connectivity, and wildlife habitat.

Ben Wetherill, OARS Water Quality Scientist, delivered an inspiring presentation on the state of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers and watershed, unveiling their new health grade of B-. In a celebratory moment, a large section of the Upper Concord River was designated “suitable for swimming.” To celebrate this achievement, the OARS team and community members joyfully plunged into the Concord River. This swim symbolized the tangible success of years of dedication to making the rivers “fishable and swimmable,” a core goal of OARS since its inception in 1986.

Quotes:

“It is the most tangible and readily understood proof that our years of work to make our rivers’ fishable and swimmable’, always OARS’ goal and raison d’être, has paid off. It would have been unthinkable some decades ago.”—Alison Field-Juma, OARS Policy Advisor.

“It was honestly one of the most important events in OARS history, a goal since our founding.”—Alison Field-Juma, OARS Policy Advisor.

“I am Ralph Hammond from Bedford, and I grew up on the Concord River on the Clark Farm. We had a beach there, part of the Clarks Camps. The beach was just on the edge of the Concord River off Putnam Road. The last time I swam in the Concord River from that beach was when I was seven, over 70 years ago now. I don’t recall seeing anyone ever swimming on that beach after that, as the river developed a bad smell… Today is the first time since then that I have seen children swimming in the Concord River. I think this is a huge achievement.”—Ralph Hammond, Bedford Resident.

“When OARS was founded, nobody would have considered swimming here. Most wouldn’t have wanted to be downwind of the river. This event marks a huge success, and hopefully someday we’ll be swimming in the sections of the river that didn’t make the grade this time around.”—Matt Brown, OARS Executive Director

The entire OARS team attended the event; representatives from the Sudbury-Assabet-Concord River Stewardship Council, Bedford Town Manager Matthew Hanson, and staff, members of the Bedford MA police force and fire department, and many excited members of the public and OARS community from young to old.

The OARS 3 Rivers Report Card is a scientifically rigorous assessment that informs the public about the health of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord river systems. Under the Clean Water Act, our three rivers should be “fishable and swimmable,” an as-yet-unrealized goal in many parts of the river. This report card represents a significant step forward in achieving this objective.

For more information on the 2023 3 Rivers Report Card and OARS’ ongoing efforts, please visit oars3rivers.org

About OARS

OARS is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, improving, and preserving the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers and watershed for all people and wildlife. Established in 1986, OARS continues to lead the way in river conservation through advocacy, science, and community engagement.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sarah Kwan, Director of Communications & Development | 978·369·3956 | Skwan@oars3rivers.org