OARS Launches 3 Rivers Adventures and Celebrates Recovery Month

September 30, 2024

OARS River Log | By Matt Brown, OARS’ Executive Director | Published September 30

OARS is actively building capacity for our river recreation offerings, focusing on equitable access for underserved communities. September marked several significant steps in achieving this goal. Through our National Parks Foundation grant funding, we sent four team members, including our two new TerraCorps service members, to become Paddlesports Safety Facilitators through the American Canoe Association. The team spent two days with Zoar Outdoor in Western Massachusetts, honing their water safety and group leadership skills.

September is National Recovery Month, a time to promote and support recovery from substance use and mental disorders. The OARS team was proud to put their new paddle leader skills to use by partnering with River Bend (formely Lowell House’s Recovery Café Lowell), as well as the South Bridge Boathouse, to organize a group paddle to celebrate recovery.

River Bend’s Recovery Café crew gearing up for an adventure on the water with OARS! Excited to kick off our new 3 Rivers Adventures Initiative and share the joy of paddling on our beautiful rivers!

Enjoying North Bridge on a group paddle with River Bend’s Recovery Café as part of OARS’ new 3 Rivers Adventures Initiative

River recreation provides exercise and fresh air and fosters a connection with nature, all of which are essential for all people. Despite a damp and chilly day, the event was well attended and a lot of fun. This was the first time several attendees had been in a canoe, and most had not previously paddled on our 3 rivers. We are excited to continue expanding our river recreation offerings to help connect a greater and more diverse community with our rivers and river recreation in general.

Learn more about our new recreational initiatives on our

Now That’s Paddling webpage

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