A Turning Point for the River?

The drought of 2022 will go down as the worst in the recorded history of the Ipswich River. As shown in the attached graphic, this year we witnessed both the lowest flow and longest low flow period in the 92 years that we have monitored our beloved river, beyond even the devastating droughts of 2016 and 202. When coupled with last summer’s record high flows, does this series of droughts portend the future for our river in this era of climate change? 

Not necessarily. While we cannot control the future climate, we can control how it impacts our river. We have a number of possible actions that could make the Ipswich River far, far more resilient and healthy. 

If we are successful, we will look back on 2022 as the year everything changed. Never before has there been such a large outpouring of support and commitment to save the river. Your river was regularly featured in local, regional and national news outlets. Every State legislator that represents the watershed became active to address the river’s plight. Governor Baker pledged his support. Senator Markey and Congressman Moulton agreed to make the river a top priority for federal assistance. The local mayors, City Council and Select Boards of virtually every city & town that depends on the river became more actively involved. You, our members, rallied like never before to roll up your sleeves and lend a hand. These efforts culminated in September at the signing of a groundbreaking Charter Agreement between our Association and every City and Town that depends on the Watershed to work collectively to solve the River’s problems once and for all! 

Following the designation of the River in 2021 as one of the most endangered in all of America, your Association developed an ambitious yet achievable 9-step plan to fix the river. One year later, more progress has been made towards its goals than we dared imagine at the time.  Five of the nine steps have been successfully implemented. This includes a proposal just released by the State Department of Environmental Protection which will limit grandfathered water withdrawals known as “registrations”. This is vital as “registrations” make up 80% of the withdrawals from the Ipswich River, often for water that is shipped outside of the watershed, never to return. 

We are making unprecedented progress to save the Ipswich River. With the foundation we have laid, and your support, we have a real chance to rescue this river. It is very possible that we will indeed look back on 2022 as the year when everything changed.   

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