Concord River back to swimmable status

July 31, 2024

by Melanie Gilbert | July 31, 2024 | The Lowell Sun

The OARS team and children from the local community plunging into the Concord River in celebration of its swimmability. Photo Credit: Gabriel Feinberg

BEDFORD—OARS, the watershed organization for the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers, restored a significant portion of the Concord River to swimmable status. The milestone was celebrated on June 18, with a special event and community swim at the Bedford Boat Launch, 285–305 Carlisle Road. This milestone highlights the impact of dedicated conservation work on revitalizing urban waterways.

“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,” Policy Advisor Alison Field-Juma said. “It would have been unthinkable some decades ago.”

The celebration coincided with the unveiling of the 2023 3 Rivers Report Card, which is a scientifically rigorous assessment that provides a clear picture of the health of the rivers.

“When OARS was founded, nobody would have considered swimming here,” Executive Director Matt Brown said. “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.”

Published in The Concord Bridge on July 31, 2024: Link to published story

River Log

~30%

of the SuAsCo rivers watershed is wetlands, crucial for wildlife habitat and water quality

~30%

of water samples in the SuAsCo rivers watershed contain PFAS, leading to increased monitoring and remediation by local authorities and environmental groups

~70%

of dams in the SuAsCo watershed are over a century old, requiring extensive upkeep and presenting obstacles to river restoration and fish passage

>40%

of the land within the watershed is publicly accessible, offering recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, and birdwatching to the community

~15%

of the land in the SuAsCo rivers watershed is covered by impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking lots. This contributes to stormwater runoff and water pollution issues

Concord River back to swimmable status