Wild & Scenic: A Conversation with Julia Blatt and Barb Moran

Centennial Arts Center Music Hall, 230 Main St, Concord, MA

Get Tickets Here

Let the 18th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival commence! Wondering where the “Wild & Scenic” title came from? Join us on Earth Day for a conversation with former OARS and Mass Rivers Alliance Executive Director Julia Blatt and WBUR environmental reporter Barb Moran about the Wild and Scenic status, what it means, and the almost-12-year process it took to get it.

This is a limited-capacity event, and a ticket is required to attend. Purchase a ticket to our annual film screenings and add-on registration for this event at no additional cost, while tickets last.

Meet the Speakers

Julia Blatt

Julia Blatt began protecting rivers in 1987, when, as a congressional aide, she initiated a project to gain federal Wild and Scenic River status for the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers. During her eight-year tenure leading the Organization for the Assabet River, the group’s efforts resulted in precedent-setting phosphorus limits for the river’s four wastewater treatment facilities. Julia served as the founding executive director of the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance and led that organization for 16 years, stepping down in January 2026. Under her leadership, that group’s notable accomplishments included big increases in the state’s water agency budgets, a multi-plaintiff lawsuit that forced the EPA to implement stormwater controls in Massachusetts, and passage of a sewage public notification law.

Julia has served on several state advisory committees as well as on the board of River Network, a national river protection organization, based in Colorado. She has been recognized for her contributions to river protection in Massachusetts with awards from the National Park Service, Mass Audubon, Trout Unlimited, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, and the Charles River Watershed Association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Brown and a master’s in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts.

Barbara Moran

Barbara Moran is a correspondent on WBUR’s climate and environmental team. Moran grew up in Hudson, Mass., attended the University of Notre Dame, then got her master’s in science journalism from BU. For 25 years, she has worked as a science journalist covering public health, environmental justice and the intersection of science and society. She has written for many publications, including The New York Times, New Scientist, Technology Review and the Boston Globe Magazine, and produced television documentaries for PBS and others. Her first book, “The Day We Lost the H-bomb,” was an Amazon pick of the month, and described as “riveting” by the Washington Post. She was a Knight Fellow at MIT, and was twice awarded the National Association of Science Writers’ highest honor, the Science in Society Award. At WBUR, Moran focuses on climate science and climate solutions, with as many quirky animal stories thrown in as possible.

Not An oars member? Join Today for discounted event tickets!

See the Full schedule Of festival events

Event Details

Date: Wednesday April 22
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Venue: Concord Academy Centennial Arts Center
Categories: 40 Years—3 Rivers

~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