The next regularly scheduled Zoom meeting of the Stewardship Counci will be on:

Thursday, October 15, 2026 ​at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom

​Minutes from August 20, 2026 meeting

West Groton Dam

NSN Stewardship Council Letter to Groton Selectboard re: West Groton Dam - April 17, 2026

Video: Dam Removals in Massachusetts

Video - (31:48 min.) - produced by the Nashua River Watershed Association

Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council

The mission of the Council is to preserve, protect, and enhance the outstandingly remarkable resource values of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers (the “Rivers”) and their tributaries, particularly the biological diversity, recreational and scenic resources, and historical and cultural resources, for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Council may develop and adopt Policies and Procedures as needed to implement Council Bylaws.

The purposes of the Council are as follows:

1. To implement and periodically update the Plan;
2. To provide a forum to explore river and watershed issues which could impact the Rivers and/or their resources;
3. To identify activities and to coordinate with other stakeholders on the implementation of the Plan’s goals and actions, such as project prioritization, project funding and oversight;
4. To provide advisory guidance to the National Park Service, other federal, state, and local authorities, and to other stakeholders as appropriate; and
5. To coordinate and provide opportunities to educate the public on the protection and enjoyment of the Rivers’ special resources.

Read the Nashua River Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Council policies.

The Nashua River Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Council consists of a representative and, in most cases, an alternate appointed by the participating town’s Board of Selectmen. The Council meets on the third Thursday of each month.

Current Stewardship Council Members

Communities (1 vote per community)

• Ayer MA: Beth Suedmeyer (rep / Treasurer) & Robert Pontbriand (alt)
• Bolton MA: Rona Balco (rep) & Rebecca Longvall Bucciaglia (alt / Secretary)
• Brookline NH: Drew Kellner (rep) & Greg Martin (alt)
• Dunstable MA: Max McCormick (rep) & Kate DeLoureiro (alt)
• Groton MA: Stacey Chilcoat (rep) & Diane Carson (alt)
• Harvard MA: Lucy Wallace (rep / Chair) & Michele Girard (alt)
• Hollis NH: Bernadette McQuilkin (rep) & Ben Thyng (alt)
• Lancaster MA: Justin Smith (rep) & Cara Sanford (alt)
• Pepperell MA: Paula Terrasi (rep) & Pat Swain Rice (alt)
• Shirley MA: Heidi Ricci (rep / Vice Chair) & Sarah Widing (alt)
• Townsend MA: Eva Vaughan (rep) & Rob Templeton (alt)

Nashua River Watershed Association (1 vote for the NRWA)

• Wynne Treanor-Kvenvold (rep)

• Marisa Browning-Kamins (alt)

National Park Service (1 vote for the NPS)

• Emma Lord

Devens Enterprise Commission (1 vote for the DEC)

• Neil Angus (rep)
• Deb Seeley (alt)

MA Division of Fish and Wildlife (1 vote for the DFW)

• Patricia Huckery (rep)

The Council engages with other state and federal agencies such as the MA Div. of Ecological Restoration, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey as needed to advance the Council's work.

The Stewardship Plan was adopted by all eleven riverfront communities as a voluntary action plan for stewarding the three Wild & Scenic Rivers and their outstandingly remarkable resource values, serving as a guide for the work of the Stewardship Council. The Appendices provide detailed supporting material on a wide range of topics addressed in the Plan.