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 riversfishable 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

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