Len Rappoli

Water Quality Monitoring Volunteer, 1996 to date

Len Rappoli has been an active volunteer with OARS since 1996 after moving into the watershed. He was drawn to the organization’s work and wanted to contribute. Len tells us, “At the time, O.A.R. (Organization for the Assabet River) was sampling only the Assabet River (upper, middle, and lower) for nitrogen and phosphorus parameters as well as measuring pH and dissolved oxygen. There were teams of two samplers each, and I was always one of the samplers.” O.A.R/OARS sent water samples to a laboratory for nitrogen and phosphorus analysis, but volunteers like Len performed pH and dissolved oxygen analysis at the workbench in OARS’“small Damonmill basement office.”

Len says, “One of my fondest memories of early years at O.A.R. is two of the volunteers, Cindy Hutchison and I, sitting side by side at our work bench running the pH and dissolved oxygen samples until well into the afternoon after everyone else had gone home. I am sure I missed a few weekend football games as a result, but I considered it a labor of love.” Len continued this method of testing until OARS rented a high-tech YSI meter to measure this data directly at the river.

Len is a licensed geologist in New Hampshire, and although officially retired, still maintains an active license for hobby. He says, “I think my geology experience has made me a better sampler.” A dedicated volunteer, Len participates in bacteria and chlorophyll sampling and regularly transports water samples to the laboratory in Westboro. He is also involved in special projects, such as recording dissolved oxygen levels with a team at a Billerica dam site. He says, “For OARS I try to contribute whenever possible. I see the work dedicated volunteers are putting in, and I know we have contributed to the improved health of the watershed over the decades.”

When asked about OARS’ future, Len says, “My wish for OARS’ next 40 years is to continue the good work that OARS has done in the preceding 40 years: educating folks that having clean rivers benefits everyone in the watershed, and encouraging river activism because a little volunteer work done by a lot of people is cumulative and goes a long way to promote the public good.”