Communities

Communities along the Wild & Scenic Nashua River include (from south to north): Lancaster, Bolton, Harvard, Shirley, Ayer, Devens, Groton, Pepperell, and Dunstable.

History

The Nashua River is nationally known for its restoration story, documented by National Geographic in its special edition “Water: The Power, Promise, and Turmoil of North America’s Fresh Water” (1993). The river in the 1960s was heavily polluted with paper pulp and industrial effluent which left it running different colors depending on the dyes in use at the paper mills any given day. Through an effort spearheaded by Marion Stoddart, local citizens, businesses, and municipal leaders pushed for the clean-up of the river which was achieved, in the main, through passage of the Clean Water Act and the building of wastewater treatment plants.

The coalition Marion organized went on to form the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) which continues to lead regional environmental protection and education programs today. It is the NRWA in partnership with the National Park Service and local community volunteers who led the study to achieve Wild & Scenic designation for these rivers. That designation was achieved in 2019, the same year that the NRWA celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Outstandingly Remarkable Resource Values

Beyond its noteworthy history, the Nashua River is remarkable for the conservation efforts that have led to much of its shoreline being conserved creating a sense of wilderness for those recreating there. Miles of the river are flanked by the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge. Other protected lands include the Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area, Groton Town Forest, J Harry Rich State Forest, Surrenden Farm, Groton Place and Sabine Woods. These areas offer extensive opportunities for hiking, bird watching, and enjoyment of scenic vistas, such as the view of the Nashua River valley from the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA.

The river and its conserved corridor lands, provide extensive connected habitat which supports a diversity of plant and animal life. Large wetland areas provide breeding and migration habitat for listed bird species, such as king rail, pied-billed grebe, and common moorhen, as well as providing a home to wood duck, mallards, snapping and painted turtles. The night hawk uses the river on its migratory route, and the fall hawk migration brings viewers to see the large numbers of hawks on the move and the “kettles” that they form floating on thermals in the areas of nearby mountains. The riverine ecosystem also offers nesting areas for the Blandings turtle, which is Threatened in MA.
Paddlers will find many options for trips on the Nashua River with 37 miles of waterway to explore, as well as oxbows and backwaters that are rich habitat for a wide diversity of wildlife, including river otter, mink, beaver, muskrat, bear, great blue heron, kingfishers, and much more. Anglers enjoy the Nashua River for its bass fishing, and hunters find rich game options with duck, turkey, and deer.