SUCCESS STORIES
The Ipswich River Watershed Association was founded in 1977
and we have since built a strong base of support through our donors, members and partnerships. We are a small organization with a record of big accomplishments.
We administer the Parker Ipswich Essex Rivers Partnership (PIE-Rivers), are a founding partner in the Greenscapes Coalition and continue to spearhead cutting-edge scientific studies of the Ipswich River. Both our organization and staff have been awarded recognition for our work, including receiving the EPA Environmental Merit Award more times than any organization in New England.
In 2017, we celebrated our 40th Anniversary at Ipswich River Park in North Reading with our partners, members and volunteers.
We are a small organization with a record of big accomplishments.
After many years without at permanent headquarters, we established our Riverbend headqurters thanks to the generosity of Dr. Joseph (Bob) Petranek, who donated his home and 15 acres abutting the river to the organization in 2006.
Riverbend has several sustainability demonstrations, including a green roof and rain garden, as well as a fleet of kayaks and canoes. The fleet supports programs and events that bring new people of all ages out on the river each year.
Our members have free access to the boats, no reservations necessary.
Together we participated in 38 public hearings, generated over 500 comment letters, donated over $35,000 and stopped the proposed Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline. The proposed Lynnfield and Peabody lateral would have traveled for 11 miles along the river and had permanent devastating impacts on the river as well as the public drinking water supply for 350,000 people and businesses.
We continue to watch for and comment on proposed development projects that have significant potential to impact the Ipswich River. To restore and protect the river we strive to work collaboratively with the watershed communities and state and federal agencies. Our policy and advocacy efforts focus on ensuring that water policies, water withdrawal permits, and regulatory decisions are protective of ecosystem health and include prudent water conservation measures.
We received our largest grant to date through the PIE-Rivers Partnership in 2013 from the federal Hurricane Sandy Grant Program. Along with funding provided by our partners, nearly two million dollars are being invested to improve the river's ecology and habitat conditions. The focus of this effort, named the Free Our Rivers Campaign, is dam removal and ecologically safe bridge and culvert designs. See map for identified barriers in the Ipswich River watershed.
The centerpiece of the campaign is the removal of the South Middleton Dam, the first ever main-stem dam removal in the region. It will restore migratory fish access to over one quarter of the Ipswich River watershed and improve boating access.
As approximately 28% of the Ipswich River watershed is upstream of the South Middleton Dam, removal of the dam is expected to restore 56 miles of river and tributary habitat, one of the largest river connectivity opportunities in the state.
Since 1988 we've monitored the health of the Ipswich River with the RiverWatch Program. The program's more than 50 trained citizen-scientists, monitoring a total of 32 sites each month, have helped us develop a water quality database and report analyzing trends.
We've conducted the annual Herring Count since 1999 and are currently working with the US Department of Fish and Wildlife on efforts to restore herring populations in the watershed.
With dogged persistence, former Executive Director Kerry Mackin worked to keep the Ipswich River out of danger for decades. With an aim to aid the next generation of river advocates, we've created a fund to support an annual Kerry Mackin Intern.
This 12 week position offers a chance to gain on-the-ground experience in leadership, environmental stewardship and education while making a lasting contribution with a community driven environmental non-profit organization.
A key part of the Kerry Mackin Intern's duties is planning and facilitating educational youth group outings through our Ipswich River Floating Classroom Program.
The Ipswich River Watershed Action Plan, the Ipswich River Regional Water Conservation Plan, and Water Wise Communities – A Handbook for Municipal Managers were created as resources for local, state and federal officials.
We continue to provide data, educational materials, and programs on the condition of the Ipswich River and how to protect its to health.
Our recently announced Net Zero Policy gives our recommendations on how communities can comply with the state mandated Safe Yield on water withdrawals and manage development without threatening water supplies.
Read more success stories in the Voice of the River Newsletter