News of note:
April 2021 - Community Grants Awarded
The Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council announces their 2021 Community Grants awards. The grants are to advance projects that protect and/or enhance the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Wild and Scenic Rivers and their Outstandingly Remarkable Resource Values. The Community Grants Program aims to engage municipalities and local organizations in protecting the rivers’ resources and building strong local stewardship of the rivers.

Past news of note:
March 12, 2019
The “Nashua Wild and Scenic Rivers Act” has been signed into law by the President!  Sections of our Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers are now officially designated as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System!
 
The “Nashua Wild and Scenic River Act” was included in the Natural Resources Management Act (S.47) that was passed by both the Senate and the House in February, and was signed into law by the President.
 Read the Nashua River Wild and Scenic River Study Committee press release.

View Stewardship Plan and        Full Appendices

View “Nashua, Nissitissit, and Squannacook Rivers: Forever Wild and Scenic” Video

​View Upcoming Events

View National Park Service "River Connections: Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers" Video

April 2021

OVERVIEW

Since its inception in 2015, the Nashua River Wild and Scenic Rivers Study Committee has worked to identify our river-related outstandingly remarkable resource values, consider the eligibility and suitability of the rivers for designation, and develop a voluntary stewardship plan with much public input. A major milestone in this process was reached  with the acceptance  by all eleven participating communities at their 2018 annual town meetings  of the "Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Stewardship Plan" and its recommendation to seek federal designation of the rivers as "Wild and Scenic."

The “Stewardship Plan” is a companion document to the “Study Report” currently being prepared by the National Park Service for congressional review. Numerous letters of support are being collected for inclusion in the Study Report.

In September 2018 Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-03) introduced a bill to Congress, the Nashua River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, that is authored by herself and Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02) that would add segments of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers System.  A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by MA Senators Markey and Warren, and NH Senators Hassan and Shaheen, and was heard in the National Park sub-committee of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Nashua River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was included in S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act (‘federal lands package’) but did not proceed before the end of the 115th Congressional Session.

Early in the 116th Congressional Session, S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act, was brought to the U.S. Senate, and the Nashua River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was still included in this large package. On February 12, 2019 S. 47 passed in a 92 – 8 vote. On Feb. 26th, the Nashua Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, included in the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47), was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, with a vote of 363 to 62. The President signed the Act into law on March 12, 2019 thereby officially designating sections of the rivers as Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Now that designation has occurred, the Study Committee has morphed into the formal Stewardship Council, as described in the Stewardship Plan. Work to protect our outstandingly remarkable resources -- our biological diversity, scenic & recreational, and historical & cultural values -- will continue!