River Warden volunteers Brandon Boyd and Russ Liebe hold up a pylon they pulled from the river below Winthrop St in Ipswich.
The River Warden program is beginning its third season! River Wardens were established through the Water Trail project to help maintain the Ipswich River as a great paddling destination. The River Warden corps is made up of volunteers including individuals and Stream Teams, such as the Middleton Stream Team. Wardens take on the responsibility of surveying public landings and sections of river from Wilmington to Ipswich, clearing litter and making note of blowdowns that might block passage. As of April, there was a large blowdown reported between Interstate 95 and Rowley Bridge Rd. in Topsfield.
Woody debris is part of the river environment, which is constantly changing. Always use caution when approaching and navigating around these features. We recently held a training event for the Warden Program and will conduct trainings during the paddling season on topics such as invasive aquatic plants. We hope you will get out and enjoy the River! While the Wardens are doing what they can, we can all do our part by leaving no trace where we paddle or spend time along the river, for others to enjoy.