Short History of the SRWA
In the early 1970’s a watershed organization, the Shawsheen River Stream Team, was formed to address fears that contaminants were flowing off the Hanscom Air Force Base property into the mid-basin mainstem part of the river, and threatening the wildlife habitat that resided in the area. When contaminants were contained by the mid-1970’s interest waned and the organization disbanded. Soon after, other citizen interest was resurrected in the mid-to-late 1980’s to address river pollution. The Shawsheen Watershed Environmental Action Team (S.W.E.A.T) was formed out of the need to clean up the river from all the years of neglect. Human borne debris had accumulated on the sides and bottom of the river, from Bedford to Lawrence. Since 1990, this group focused on water quality studies and removal of debris from the Shawsheen River.In the early 2000’s S.W.E.A.T was also involved with pulling out tires.
The years 1998 and 2001 witnessed flooding scenarios in the mainstem portions of the river. This promulgated a re-organization to a full-fledged watershed organization called the Shawsheen River Watershed Association (SRWA). This organization began meeting monthly, formed its own charter and constitution, and became a viable 501c3 nonprofit organization in early 2001. Besides the monthly meetings, the organization sponsors an active river debris cleanup program, a public awareness and education program on river safety & paddling techniques, its flora & fauna, and recreational canoe events program for the public. We are also representative river advocates at town meetings on various development issues that face the watershed.
The SRWA has removed vending machines, a wooden pergola, a jungle gym, various types of boats, a restaurant grease pit, shopping carts, uncounted bottles, cans, plastic of all kinds (plastic swimming pool) and all kinds of Styrofoam from the Shawsheen. One of our proudest achievements is the removal of over one thousand tires that were embedded in the sand & silt of the its water and its wetland watershed. “There were more than 7000 tires pulled out of river. I was at two cleanups where we got 800 and 500 tires,” according to participant and current co-president Bob Marsh.
We have been able to accomplish all this because of our members, who pay dues & participate in all of our programs. We also have received numerous grants from various organizations that helps to pay for the costs of disposing truckloads of trash, and also provide free educational programs to the public, such as “Eyes on Owls”, Dr. Jonathon Way on the Eastern Coyote/Coywolf”, “Turtles”, and “Vernal Pools”.
In 2018 we were able to maintain our momentum with monthly meetings and a variety of events, including April’s Earth Day event in Tewksbury that cleared land near the Shawsheen River for parking and installed native plants & benches, a Coyote-Coywolf presentation, plus grant from EMD Serono for signs designating the Shawsheen River & two kiosks at launches in Billerica. Our annual meetings feature educational speakers and this year we invited Dennis Lily from Groundworks, Lawrence, to speak on beautiful Den Rock Park, located in the Shawsheen River’s watershed. We also did clean ups and paddles open to the public in the Shawsheen Watershed & River.
We always welcome the public to our monthly meeting, usually held at either the Tewksbury Public Library or the Tewksbury Senior Center. To learn more please visit our website: Shawsheenriver.net or find us on Facebook: Shawsheen River Watershed Association.
Past Presidents of SRWA include:
Jack Brady
Bob Rauseo
Suzanne Robert
Sue Millman
Justin Damon
Current Co-Presidents are:
Laurie Hartwick and Bob Marsh