2022 Community Grants Available

The Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council announces the availability of their 2022 Community Grants. 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. Please see the Request for Proposals and Grant Application for information on eligibility, funding, timeline, grant review criteria, and requested information. 
 
Community Grants Request for Proposals (link to document) 
 
Community Grant Application (link to document)

News of note:
Final Study Report and Transmittal Letters The Final Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study Report and letters transmitting the study to Congress were submitted in Dec. 2021.

January 2022

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!

2021 Community Grants Awarded
The Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Wild & Scenic Stewardship Council is pleased to announce $20,000 in grant funding awarded in the first year of our Community Grants Program. The Council received many excellent applications and selected six projects that demonstrate strong commitment towards protecting the rivers’ resources and building local stewardship of the rivers in accordance with the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Stewardship Plan.
The following projects received funding:
Ayer Conservation Commission - $4,800 for Public Education: Signage for Ayer’s Waterways and Ponds. This project will place attractive and informative signs along roads and on bridges to help residents and visitors see and appreciate the ponds and streams of Ayer.
Bolton Conservation Commission - $2,550 for the Forbush Mill Still River Trail. This project will connect a newly acquired 43-acre property to an existing sports field and parking area by creating a trail along Forbush Mill Road and the Still River.
Brookline Conservation Commission - $3,300 for the Nissitissit River Tree Project. Funding will be used to plant maple trees along a section of the Nissitissit River to enhance the tree canopy and help maintain the cold water fishery.
Pepperell Select Board - $4,000 for the Pepperell Invasive Plant Advisory Committee (IPAC) Start-up. Funding will support the newly appointed committee's goal of enhancing and preserving lands along our rivers from invasive plant species that overwhelm our native plants populations.
Town of Townsend - $3,850 for Adams Dam. This project will protect the Squannacook River by restricting motor vehicle access along the river bank and encouraging pedestrian access from a public parking lot at Jefts St.
Townsend Historical Society - $1,500 for Spaulding Cooperage Preservation and Revitalization. Funding will support restoration of this historical and cultural landmark that fosters public appreciation of the Squannacook River and its significance in the town's heritage.
Grant funding is provided by the Stewardship Council through the National Park Service under CFDA: 15.962 – National Wild & Scenic Rivers System.

We congratulate the grantees and extend best wishes for the success of their projects.