OARS

OARS hosted the first Water Wise Workshop of 2025 at the Concord Fowler Library. We are excited to continue our efforts on educating youth about the environment and the SuAsCo watershed! Thank you to the Concord Fowler Library for having us!

It's almost time for OARS' 17th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Enjoy a great line-up of films that share stories of love for the outdoors, activism, and an awareness of change in the natural world. Introducing HERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, the first film in our amazing line-up: Aotearoa joins a fun, global competition where ecologists and enthusiasts scour cities to uncover the weird and wonderful wild. But can they save the planet, one photo at a time? ?? ?? Join us on Wednesday, April 23rd, from 7 to 9:30 pm (doors open at 6pm) at the Maynard Fine Arts Theatre.?? DON’T MISS OUT! PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TODAY! To learn more about the full lineup of films slated for screening and to purchase tickets ($25), visit this link: https://lnkd.in/ecYkxPfb

Do you have a child in grades K-5? Join OARS at the Concord Fowler Library for a stand-alone Water Wise Workshop on March 12 from 2-3pm. Participants will learn about environmental science and the SuAsCo watershed through activities and crafts! Sign up using this link: https://lnkd.in/ei46h98u

Interested in creating art for the Rivers of Concord Show? Help us celebrate our rivers during the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution! Art will be displayed from March 27 to June 20th in the Concord Fowler Library. Drop off work at ArtScape from March 21-23rd, 12-4 PM.

Curly Pondweed is an invasive submerged plant. Curly Pondweed gets its name from its wavy leaves that can be up to 3 inches long. The leaves have a mid-vein and toothed, or serrated, edges. Curly Pondweed generally grows from the shore?and?can grow to be up to 15 feet tall. Curly Pondweed has a different life cycle from native pondweeds, which helps to distinguish between the invasive and native plants. Heartleaf Pondweed is native to Massachusetts. Its floating leaves are shaped like a heart, and black dots appear on the stems. Heartleaf Pondweed can be found in lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. Interested in getting involved to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species? Become a Weed Warrior and learn how to identify, remove, and report Water Chestnut infestations from our rivers. Whether you prefer working alone or with a team, your help is needed! Click this link for more details: https://lnkd.in/e-ua4E94

Native to Southeast Asia, the Asian Clam is a persistent and hardy species which has now spread to over 39 states. They are very small, averaging less than 1.5 inches wide. Their shells have distinctive concentric ridges, with a green and brown hue. They prefer quieter waters with low salt content and sandy substrates; however, populations have been found inhabiting a variety of environments. Asian Clams can spread rapidly, and they are extremely harmful to our environment. They can displace native species, reduce biodiversity, damage boating equipment, and alter the order of the food chain. To manage Asian Clams, chemical control and temperature alteration are used; however, these methods are often not suitable for lakes or ponds. To help prevent the spread, never release any plant or animal into a waterbody unless it came from that waterbody and report any suspected sightings of Asian Clams to the Department of Conservation and Recreation right away.? The Eastern Floater is a native mussel which inhabits streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds throughout Massachusetts. They are medium-sized, as they are about 6.5 inches wide, and their shell varies in color (yellow, brown, green, etc.). Muskrats and otters easily break their fragile shells during their routine hunt for food. The Eastern Floater can tolerate a variety of environments, including those with silt, mud and low dissolved oxygen levels. Fortunately, because of their ability to endure such undesirable habitats, they are currently secure in Massachusetts.

Water Hyacinth overwhelms rivers and lakes throughout the United States. While it is predominately present in the southeast, it has been reported as far north as New York and Massachusetts. Water Hyacinth tolerates various types of freshwaters, and has round, leathery leaves attached to spongy stalks. This species is not yet fully established in Massachusetts, so the best management options are prevention and early detection. Control techniques like mechanical chopping and biological control have been used in states where Water Hyacinth invasion is a major problem. American Frog’s Bit is native to our watershed. Frog’s Bit has slender leaf stalks and lighter sparse roots and can be rooted or free-floating. The seeds of Frog’s Bit can remain in large masses to survive the winter.?Frog’s Bit does not rely on seeds alone for propagation, it also forms starchy winter buds that sink below the surface to survive the colder months. Frog’s Bit is most often found in quiet, shallow waters.?

Eurasian Watermilfoil has established itself in a variety of aquatic habitats across the United States. It can tolerate water with a wide range of temperatures, chemistry conditions, and pH. While it prefers slow moving waters, it occasionally exists in rivers. Eurasian Watermilfoil dominates the surface of water bodies, preventing sunlight from reaching native plants. This species is not a valuable food source for aquatic animals and can interfere with the native food chain. Low Watermilfoil is native to our watershed. Its stem is covered with limp leaves and the plant may appear red tipped. Low Watermilfoil and Eurasian Watermilfoil can easily be confused. That’s why it is important to always clean, drain, and dry your boats to prevent the spread of invasive species!?

This week is National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Each day, OARS will be highlighting different invasive species that pose a threat to our rivers. Water Chestnut is one of the most prevalent aquatic invasive species in our watershed. These plants form dense mats on the water’s surface, blocking sunlight and depleting oxygen levels crucial for aquatic life. They outcompete native species, disrupting ecosystems and hindering recreational activities. ? Management efforts focus on early detection and rapid removal. OARS hosts Water Chestnut Pulls from June to August to prevent further spread. We rely on volunteers to help us in our efforts! To report Water Chestnut sightings, visit OARS Water Chestnut App (https://lnkd.in/eYtjpCGP). Fill out the information to help us highlight areas of high concern. These submissions get added to our Reported Water Chestnut Sightings Map. Follow along this week to learn about more invasive species in our watershed!?

Celebrate the kickoff of OARS' new initiatives with our first-ever paddle race on the Concord River! There will be a 3-mile short course, a 6-mile long course and a kid's race. Prizes will be available! We need volunteers to help out with this event! If you would like more information about volunteer opportunities, registration, and the courses, click this link: https://lnkd.in/edAwXKrN