Ecological Restoration & Climate Resiliency

Rebuilding Healthy Ecosystems

Our world is home to diverse ecosystems that help us in meaningful ways, including cleaning our air and water, storing carbon, mitigating floods, easing droughts, and producing food. Human activity has shaped these ecosystems for millennia, and the depth of that impact now threatens their health and sustainability. Over time, some ecosystems have become so damaged that they cannot recover without intervention. Ecological restoration seeks to revive these degraded ecosystems, restoring their natural functions and resilience.

OARS ecological restoration work focuses on restoring our rivers to their natural, free-flowing state, unclogging our waterways from invasive aquatic plants, and building up our watershed’s climate resilience.

Restoring River Flow

The Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers watershed houses 161 dams, mainly from the 1700s and 1800s, initially built for milling purposes. These aging dams impede river flow, trap sediment, and contribute to invasive aquatic growth. They also block fish migration, impacting species like river herring and American eel. Advocating for dam removal where feasible, OARS aims to restore river health, reduce pollution, and enhance ecosystem resilience, considering each dam’s removal on a case-by-case basis.

Culverts are vital in the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers watersheds, enabling water flow under roads and pathways. However, many culverts in the region are outdated or poorly designed, leading to significant environmental impacts. Poorly functioning culverts can block fish and wildlife migration routes, fragment habitats, and limit access to crucial breeding and feeding areas. They can worsen flooding by restricting water flow during heavy rains, causing erosion and sedimentation downstream. Properly designing and maintaining culverts is crucial to restoring watershed connectivity, preserving biodiversity, and reducing flood risks . More information on culverts coming soon.

Managing Invasive Aquatic Plants

Invasive water chestnut (Trapa natans) poses a significant threat to our rivers and watershed. These plants form dense mats on the water’s surface, blocking sunlight and depleting oxygen levels crucial for aquatic life. They outcompete native species, disrupting ecosystems and hindering recreational activities. Management efforts focus on early detection and rapid removal to prevent further spread. Controlling water chestnut is essential for preserving native biodiversity and restoring the health of these waterways.

Other invasive aquatic plants are also a significant concern in our waterways. Species such as water hyacinth, water lettuce, milfoil, and more proliferate quickly, blocking sunlight, depleting oxygen levels, and outcompeting native aquatic species. They disrupt natural habitats and hinder recreational activities, necessitating early detection and removal strategies to mitigate their ecological impact and restore river health.

Building Climate Resilience

Rain gardens manage stormwater by capturing runoff from roofs and driveways. They reduce the volume of untreated stormwater entering waterways, preventing erosion, pollution, and flooding. These gardens filter pollutants and sediment, improving water quality as water seeps into the ground. Using native plants, they support biodiversity and provide habitat for wildlife, making them crucial for sustainable water management in urban and suburban areas.

The SuAsCo Climate Resiliency Coalition, convened by OARS, brings together municipalities and non-governmental organizations from across the SuAsCo watershed to enhance resilience to climate change impacts.

REPORT & PULL WATER CHESTNUT

Help us manage invasive water chestnut by using our reporting app to share where you have seen or pulled water chestnut

SuAsCo Climate Resisliency Coalition

OUR WATERSHED

Learn about the SuAsCo watershed and communities it covers

THE SuAsCo WATERSHED

GET INVOLVED

OARS depends on YOU to keep our rivers clean and protected. Check out the many different ways you can get involved

EXPLORE HOW YOU CAN HELP

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Help ensure the health and resilience of our three Rivers for future generations by giving a today, work depends on you!

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NEWS & UPDATES

Your source for the latest OARS news about the SuAsCo rivers, including the latest Otter News stories, press releases, events, and more

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RIVERS REPORT CARD

How healthy are your Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers?

CLEAN UP OUR RIVERS
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