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Jun082009

Testing shows Nashua River cleaner than it smells

Filed under watersport by andrew wolfe at 3:28 pm

Despite some sketchy results far upstream, the Nashua River has been fit for swimming so far this year in greater Nashua, the NRWA reports:

The Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) has been a watchdog of both the large rivers and smaller streams in north central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire for the past 17 years. The 2009 monitoring season began in May with over 40 volunteers collecting samples and recording observations at 34 sites located from Lancaster, MA to Nashua, NH.

“We have an enthusiastic group of volunteers who have been trained to collect samples, record observations and assist in analyzing samples in the lab,” remarks Kathryn Nelson, NRWA Water Monitoring Coordinator.  Results of the May monitoring show the streams to be in the “excellent to good” ranges for river health (for temperature, dissolved oxygen, and E. coli bacteria), although some locations on the North Nashua River through Fitchburg, Leominster, and Lancaster are in the “fair to poor” zone for bacteria. Typically, possible sources of the bacteria include wastewater discharges, runoff from agricultural fields and lawns, domestic animals, and wildlife. A “report card” showing the color-coded results can be found on NRWA’s website, www.NashuaRiverWatershed.org.

Nelson remarks that the health of a river or stream depends on several variables. Information collected by NRWA includes E.coli bacteria, water temperature, oxygen in the water, depth, flow, cloudiness, and recent rain amounts.  These are all useful in analyzing how pollutants are transported and mixed in the water environment, and can be related to habitat requirements for fish and other aquatic wildlife. Volunteers also report on erosion, trash, invasive species, as well as wildlife and bird sightings.

The good news, Nelson reports, is that most of the sites met state bacteria standards for swimming and boating on May 16th, even though rain two days before washed some pollutants from the land into the water. However, all five sites monitored on the North Nashua, a large tributary that runs through Fitchburg, Leominster, and Lancaster did not meet the state bacteria standard for swimming, and one did not meet the state standard for boating. NRWA will be following up by working with the Fitchburg DPW to investigate drain pipes under city streets that may need fixes or upgrades. The Association also works to educate the public on how to keep our rivers healthy. The NRWA has held workshops on proper manure management, lawn care, and best ways to remove fallen trees in streams to allow boat access. Staff have met with local DPWs to discuss road maintenance practices, and have made presentations to organizations, such as Trout Unlimited, the Rotary and Lions. 

If you would like more information about the NRWA’s water monitoring program, or if you are interested in hosting a presentation or becoming a volunteer, please contact Kathryn Nelson, NRWA Water Monitoring Coordinator, at (978) 448-0299, or email KathrynN@nashuariverwatershed.org.   The NRWA is a non-profit environmental organization that depends on memberships for support.

Viewing 5 Comments

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    Andrew, your title would insinuate that the river "smells"

    I grew up in Nashua and remember when the canal and river did smell...same with Salmon brook and Sandy Pond.

    I didn't recall the River smelling on my last several visits... I also recall seeing a blue heron taking off which I had never seen during my childhood.

    Maybe you were near the hobo camp when you made your observation.
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    Riding over the bridge at Hollis Depot last evening, the river smelled faintly of turpentine. Usually it just has a sort of murky, organic but not entirely pleasant odor. Try paddling up it, and into the Nissitissit, and see if you don't notice the difference. Some rivers just smell (and taste) better than others, just as some lakes are more clear than others.
    I understand, like most rivers it used to be much worse. Thank the Clean Water Act and tougher environmental regulations. I see heron routinely, and there have been osprey nesting there too (gone, last I looked). Beavers, of course, and I once saw a mink.
    Salmon Brook smells absolutely vile; stand on the sidewalk where it flows over the dam and see if you can take it for more than a minute. I'm not sure what happens to that stream, it seems pretty clear as it flows into Nashua, but by the time it reaches Fields Grove it's disgusting.
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    Because treated wastewater is discharged into the river from points upstream, you are going to have what I call for lack of a better term-a "musty" smell. When the ratio of river water to treated waste discharge drops then the musty smell increases. The Merrimack has this smell at different times of the year as well, mostly low water periods. When I was working in the bay area of CA, i noticed this smell everywhere- turns out the hotels and homeowners use this treated sewer water for irrigation of flowers and landscaping-same smell. They call it grey water. They don't want to waste potable water on irrigation there.
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    So is it safe to swim in? at least a few time a week my friends and I float down a part of the river to where the rope swing is and my parents have told me that they would not swim in it, but i'm just trying to understand all this, is it safe for us to swim there?
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    In general, yes, it is safe, though right now the current might be awful strong. I swim there sometimes myself. Check out the water quality test results in the 'Special Reports' section of this website, and show your parents.

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