Sections of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit rivers—52.8 miles in all—are now officially designated as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. President Donald Trump signed the designation into law March 12. This brings to successful conclusion the decade-long effort of the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA), the Nashua River Wild and Scenic River Study Committee, and 11 Massachusetts and New Hampshire communities to achieve this national recognition.
“This has been an incredible journey,” said Lucy Wallace, chair of the study committee and president of the NRWA. “We’re tremendously excited about what designation means for the future of our rivers.”
Winter kayaking on the Nashua River. (File photo)
Designation makes preservation of outstanding resources a paramount factor for all river-related projects that require federal funding or permits, such as new dams and hydroelectric development, but does not impact existing facilities, according to Elizabeth Ainsley Campbell, executive director of the NRWA and a member of the study committee. “Designation makes the rivers eligible for federal funds and technical assistance in support of the goals identified in the study committee’s stewardship plan.”
The Nashua Wild and Scenic River Act was included as part of the Natural Resources Management Act, S. 47. Sen. Ed Markey (MA-D) was key in getting the act moved through the Senate this month, with the full support of Senators Elizabeth Warren (MA-D), Jeanne Shaheen (NH-D), and Maggie Hassan (NH-D). In the House, Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Rep. Anne Kuster (NH-02) supported the progress of the bill through passage on Feb. 26.
“This entire process started 10 years ago when conversations began between the NRWA, the National Park Service, and then U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas’s office about whether the Nashua River might be eligible and suitable for designation,” said Wallace. Following a promising preliminary review, and demonstrated support from the communities, Tsongas forwarded and championed the necessary legislation to authorize a formal study of the rivers.
A ‘stunning moment’
That authorization was signed by President Obama in December of 2014, according to Al Futterman, NRWA land programs director and coordinator for the Nashua River Wild and Scenic River Study Committee. The three-year study was conducted by a committee of volunteers appointed by the 11 riverfront communities in the study area, together with the NRWA and NPS. Last spring the 11 communities—Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend in Massachusetts, and Brookline and Hollis in New Hampshire—voted affirmatively at their annual town meetings to accept the committee’s stewardship plan and its recommendation to seek designation. The Nashua Wild and Scenic River Act was introduced to Congress by Rep. Tsongas in the fall of 2018. “It’s a stunning moment,” said Futterman.
Now that designation has been achieved, the next step will be the formation of a stewardship council comprising representatives appointed by the 11 participating communities, plus the NRWA and the National Parks Service. The council will implement the locally developed stewardship plan. Less than one-quarter of 1 percent of the rivers in the nation are protected under the National Wild and Scenic River Act. For more information contact Al Futterman, study committee coordinator, at alf@NashuaRiverWatershed.org.
This story is based on a press release posted March 12 by the Nashua River Wild & Scenic River Study Committee of the Nashua River Watershed Association.
