Our People

Alison Field-Juma

Policy Advisor

AfieldJuma@oars3rivers.org (978) 369-3956

Service & Expertise

Climate Resilience
Non-profit Management
River Restoration
Water Policy

Alison joined OARS as Policy Director in June 2005 and served as Executive Director in 2010 until her retirement in 2024. She served as Vice-Chair of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Council, served on the Board of Directors and Executive Steering Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership and was Environmental Co-Chair of their Water Resources Committee, was the Chair of the Aquatic Invasives Management Subcommittee of the SuAsCo Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) and past CISMA chair, and represented OARS on other state and regional advisory boards. Prior to joining OARS, Alison was Director of the Environmental Governance Programme of the African Centre for Technology Studies in Nairobi, Kenya. Alison holds an MSc in Natural Resource Policy and Planning from Cornell University, a BSc in Biology from Tufts University, and is Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness certified.

~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

Our People

Alison Field-Juma