Our Story
Established by concerned citizens in 1986 as the Organization for the Assabet River (OAR), OAR served the 177,000 residents of the 178-square-mile, 21-town Assabet River watershed. A 1998 capacity-building grant from the Commonwealth enabled OAR to hire its first professional executive director, and the organization has grown steadily since then. OARS currently has five staff (part-time), an active 11-member board, and many active volunteers—to whom we are very grateful. In April 2011, OAR members voted overwhelmingly to add the Sudbury and Concord rivers to its mission and change the name to OARS. OARS now serves the 34 towns and 2 cities of the 399 square mile watershed. As a small organization serving a large area, we accomplish our mission through strategically targeted, science-based advocacy and education.
Our History
We Have Come a Long Way
The Assabet River was once known as the “cesspool of Massachusetts” due to the smells that came off it from rotting bacteria, algae, and other water plants such as duckweed that ladened its waters. Ann Zwinger wrote in A Conscious Stillness (1982), “the river smell is nauseating, reeking like an unpumped-out campground outhouse times ten.” This sad state resulted from eutrophic growth promoted by excesses of phosphorus and nitrogen entering the water from treated wastewater discharged from five wastewater treatment plants. It was further exacerbated by surface water run-off of fertilizer from farms, golf courses, and lawns and untreated stormwater from roads and parking lots.
Our Work is Not Done
The Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord rivers are now assets to the towns and cities they flow through. Sections of each have been federally recognized as Wild and Scenicfor their outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational features. But, there is still much to do to reach our goal of declaring all three rivers clean enough for fishing and swimming and boost their resilience to climate change.
Follow the History of OARS and the work we have done in restoring and protecting the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers and watersheds
2022
Clean Water Act Advocacy
Negotiated settlement under the Clean Water Act to increased permitting consistency.
2021
Clean Water Act Advocacy
Negotiated settlements under the Clean Water Act to prevent backsliding and increased discharge.
2020
Started Monitoring Mercury Using Dragonfly Larvae
Data collection for study of mercury in rivers in National Parks
2019
Began Monitoring Bacteria
Added bacteria monitoring to water quality program, with hotspot tracking to remove sources.
2017
Installed Fish Sculpture on Assabet River Rail Trail
Visit this colorful xylophone metal sculpture made from river trash by Nashoba Valley Technical High School students and OARS Board member.
2016
Hosted our First Land & Water Legislative Breakfast
Partnered with Sudbury Valley Trustees to advocate for land and river legislative priorities and the Green Budget.
2015
Published SuAsCo River Recreation Maps
Developed and printed river recreation maps for all three rivers, showing access, landings, and riverside trails. Our online river recreation map provides paddling trips and historical details.
2013
Public Forum on Adaptation to Climate Disruption
OARS has recognized that climate change threatens our communities and could undo much of the progress made in restoring the health of our rivers.
2012
Assabet River Wastewater treatment plants all met new, stringent pollutant discharge limits
Advocacy and permit appeals led to treatment plant upgrades, which resulted in historic low phosphorus discharges into the Assabet River. Concord and Sudbury River discharges followed suit.
2011
OAR becomes OARS
OAR members voted to add the Sudbury and Concord rivers to our mission; programs expanded to serve all 3 rivers.
2009
Assabet River Restoration and Dam Removal Workshops
OARS’ series of stakeholder workshops and forums on River Restoration and Dam Removal based on the Army Corps of Engineers’ study of dam removal.
2009
Clean Water Act Advocacy
Negotiated settlements under the Clean Water Act to prevent increased discharge.
2009
First Intel-OARS Environmental Innovators Contest
Began a five-year partnership with Intel to offer a contest for high school students to inspire innovation in solving river-related environmental challenges.
2009
First OARS Wild & Scenic Film Festival
This popular trademark OARS event in Maynard annually brings people together to celebrate the community and inspire action.
2008
Assabet River Sediment and Dam Removal Study by Army Corps of Engineers
Technical Advisory Committee member for study to assess the impact of dam or sediment removal on river eutrophication. Dam removal was identified as the most effective response.
2008
Started volunteer water chestnut pulls
Organized volunteers to remove invasive water chestnut from our rivers. This aquatic plant spread rapidly in our 3 rivers, harming biodiversity, reducing water quality, and impeding recreation. Ongoing work by paid staff, trained volunteers, and other methods has brought it largely under control.
2005
Permits issued for wastewater treatment plants to limit phosphorus in effluent by 2010
Access nutrients in the Assabet River from wastewater effluent promoted the eutrophic growth of water plants, which, when rotting, produced the fowl odor responsible for giving the river its infamous nickname, the Cesspool of Massachusetts.
2004
Clean Water Act Advocacy
Negotiated settlements under the Clean Water Act to set precedent-setting phosphorus discharge limits.
2004
Launched Water Wise Workshops
Bringing hands-on lakeside and riverside watershed education every summer to children from Hudson, Marlborough, and Framingham who would not otherwise have this experience.
1999
Assabet phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Analysis begins
1992
Launched Water Quality Monitoring Program
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Over 240 samples collected per year from 32 sampling sites
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Over 25 Community Science Volunteers per year
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1987
OARS’ first Annual River Cleanup
River cleanups are held every year where volunteers have removed tons of tires and other trash from the rivers.
1986
Organization of the Assabet River (OAR) founded
About Us
We are the voice of our 3 rivers, learn about our mission, vision, and see what we have accomplished together over our nearly 4 decades of advocacy for the SuAsCo rivers.
ABOUT OARSOur Team
Meet the team working together for a clean, protected, and resilient SuAsCo watershed
MEET THE TEAMCareers
Do you want to work for a creative, mission-driven organization striving for a clean, protected, resilient SuAsCo watershed? Join our passionate, interdisciplinary team
SEE OUR LATEST OPPORTUNITIESPartnerships
Meet the partners and organizations that help amplify our impact, unite communities, and ensure the long-term health of our rivers and watershed
MEET OUR PARTNERSOur Rivers
Learn more about the three rivers that bring our the SuAsCo watershed and our community to life
THE SuAsCo RIVERS