Merrimack Valley Magazine

Historic Rainfall Means Big Changes for Merrimack River

September 10, 2021 by Allison Hastings

The owners of the Great Stone Dam in Lawrence recently lowered the crest gate — a long structure that runs along the top of the dam — to complete repair work, causing the river to suddenly drop about five vertical feet. The crest gate was temporarily raised to control the downstream current of Tropical Storm Ida, which contributed to a mild rise in water levels, but most of that excess flow has now ended. The work on the crest gate is expected to be completed today, Friday, Sept. 10, before the gate will be raised and the level of the river will rise back.

On the topic of water levels, local scientists and environmental organizations are studying the impact of rain on regions like the Merrimack Valley. As this past July was one of the rainiest months on record. This large amount of rainfall has contributed to multiple Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) events. CSOs occur when combined sewer systems discharge excess wastewater directly into nearby streams, introducing toxic materials to the natural environment. According to Policy and Education Specialist John Macone of the Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC), there were 10 days in July when CSOs occurred, which is an unusually high number, and roughly 200 million gallons of CSO waste entered the Merrimack. “Scientists believe that as climate change occurs, the kind of heavy rainfall that we saw in July will be a more common event, and thus the river will see more CSO events and more pollution,” says Macone.

Organizations like the MRWC and Clean River Project are still working hard to fix CSO problems and prohibit pollutants from entering the river.

When the current comes downriver, workers and volunteers associated with the Clean River Project — a nonprofit organization that cleans and preserves a 45-mile stretch of the Merrimack River — go through and count every piece of trash they collect. According to Kristin Bachmann, who works part-time at the organization, their boats are custom-built because they are needed to perform specific jobs. The “River Monster” — so-called due to its enormous power — is one such vessel. It can pull out engines or bicycles that have been dumped and left behind. Roughly 84 cars have been pulled out of the riverbanks due to the efforts of the Clean River Project.

On Saturday, Sept. 18, the Merrimack River Watershed Council is hosting its first annual Save Our River Festival in Newburyport. There will be live music, barbecue and even a cornhole tournament. Click here to learn more.

Invocation at the Merrimack

September 4, 2021 by Matt W. Miller

And now I take a tongue into your mud,

into your syringe and soda bottle banks,

to beg your braided silk, your Pennacook

ikwe, your sliding tar of snake, your mouth

of stones, your clavicle

of roil and moan,

your lover ghosts thrown from Pawtucket Falls,

your whitewater of bread and roses,

your creak

of locks and lifts, your leap from burning windows,

your fished-out crib of salmon and shiv, of shell

casings and shad, alewife and boosted tires,

your cradle

of flywheel, of factory, your mill

girl offering, your doffers, your biddies, your boom

and your busted. Penitent palmed I stand

in this, your sun tussling dawn, to call a song.

My river, roll your blueblack big hips under

the oxidized iron of cantilever and cable,

deluge and slip bridge ribs and sing between

the redbrick and brackish heft of textile mills

turned art galleries with crack alleys.

You,

bender of flashboard pins, come

sing to me,

sluice me, double back and seduce me to

your flood, tenor me down to your Irish blood

canals, your Greek restaurant ghettos,

fluorescent Cambodian groceries, chunk heeled

Brazilian bakeries,

your cobblestones

exposed to sell some rheumy history.

Bones old and broken of flesh, in sack and ash,

I call a song.

You ferried me home, now drink

and spit me out where city hall has crouched

inside downtown’s diverticula,

down to the fountain at JFK plaza where

my brother was suckered by a kid I wouldn’t

hit back.

And there, just one of ten police stations,

Pollard library, and across Arcand Ave,

Lowell High, its field house named after

our grandfather,

the columned Masonic temple,

the bring your own wine Viet Thai, and bars

and bars and bars, one for every St. Anne’s,

Immaculate, and St. Patrick’s.

In your

hydraulic drop prayers are tossed like toasts

to tilted pints. There, here, my palms unfold.

Give willow to me against

my flooded nights, against my broken rites.

So you flow down and roll stones old river,

and moor me here for what I am and not.

Wake my song and pluck me to your pulse.

I’ll stay down in your valley,

drink your ink

of water and dream myself

back into you.

Make me small again, roll me in your lap,

your mud, your moon lit blood.

Supplicated,

by the greasy vents of a train car diner, I beg

your lip of water

to whisper

[This poem, and others inspired by and relating to the Merrimack and our region, can be found in Matt W. Miller’s latest collection, “Tender the River,” published by Texas A&M University Press. Please consider supporting local, independent bookstores if you wish to purchase a copy.]

Native Prose – The Journey to a Cleaner Merrimack

August 10, 2021 by Dyke Hendrickson

The Merrimack River is one of the great assets of the Merrimack Valley. But several years ago it was named by American Rivers, a national advocacy organization, as one of the most vulnerable waterways in the country. Sometimes it appears to be getting dirtier, not cleaner.

I have written a book about this situation titled “Merrimack, The Resilient River: An Illustrated Profile of the Most Historic River in New England.” The publication is an examination of a valuable resource that is in trouble. It is not facing disaster. Residents use kayaks, canoes, motorboats and sailboats to enjoy the Merrimack. People fish. Some swim, though they should not do so after a heavy rain. Thousands each day walk along the waterway or view it from the road. Close to a half-million people get their drinking water from it.

But the health of this historic river is too important to ignore, as it once was.

The Merrimack River has numerous credentials that qualify it as the “most historic” waterway in the region.

Its creds include the following: the birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard (Newburyport, 1790); the start of the industrial revolution (hydro-powered mills in Lowell, 1820s); one of the first planned industrial cities (Lawrence, circa 1847); the discovery of a technology to produce cleaner drinking water (Lawrence, circa 1890); and the site of one of the first victories in organized labor (Lawrence, 1912).

In addition to being a river of historical dimensions, it is also one of the most resilient rivers in the country. For two centuries, it was seriously polluted. Because of discharges from textile mills, its waters often turned orange or green depending on the dye being used at a given mill. Some who used it for drinking water got sick.

For many decades, a community’s wastewater would be sent almost directly into the river. That would include effluent from residential toilets and industrial waste from factories. Until the early 1970s, many communities possessed only the most rudimentary of sewage-treatment plants.

Considering that the European discovery of the river was by Samuel de Champlain in 1605 and that the (Newbury) region was settled in 1635, this river has a long history of surviving the manmade elements.

Check the roster:

Newburyport, building on its revitalized brick downtown and its location at the intersection of the Merrimack and Atlantic, is thriving.

Salisbury is a haven for campers and fried-dough consumers alike; Amesbury is enhancing its location on the river each year.

Top left and bottom right: Photos by Dyke Hendrickson. Bottom left: Photo by Dan Graovac.

Haverhill, Lowell and Manchester, N.H., have made remarkable commercial and residential comebacks. Nashua and Concord, N.H., are prosperous. Lawrence, too, has launched a civic drive to improve the downtown, upgrade housing and enhance education.

Scores of smaller communities are also thriving.

Contemplating the admirable Merrimack, it is noteworthy to realize that most Americans didn’t advocate for the environment until the ’60s.

Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” rang a bell in the early ’60s. And the Cuyahoga River (Ohio) fire in 1969 was an outrageous wake-up call for political action to halt destructive polluting. The resulting Clean Water Act of 1972 kicked off a mandated and federally funded approach to cleaner water. That was about 50 years ago. Because of federal funding and supervision, the Merrimack is one American river that has been made healthier.

Still, users must be wary. In 2021, some who boat, fish and hike the Merrimack have seen effluent in the water after rainstorms. Dogs that romp in the river have developed sores. Needles that once conveyed dangerous drugs have been found on its shores.

But recreation is not the only concern. Combined sewage overflows (CSOs) are still a problem. This occurs as a result of rainwater coming into sewage-treatment plants through municipal pipes. After large, fast-moving storms, an abundance of rainwater mixes with effluent in the plants. They can’t accommodate both effluent and stormwater, so the entire amount is discharged into the river. Millions of gallons of effluent enter the Merrimack each year.

In addition to minimizing CSOs, advocates hope they can limit the entry of chemicals released by some companies near the river. And they want to slow the residential and commercial development that threatens wetlands, streams and tributaries.

Nearly 50 years since the Clean Water Act legislation engineered by Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine, the Merrimack has made a significant comeback.

Also, amendments to the Clean Water Act in 1987 may have saved rivers such as the Merrimack. In the ’80s, President Ronald Reagan wanted to abolish federal grants for sewage treatment. But proponents, led by Sen. George Mitchell of Maine, were able to work out a compromise with the president. As a result, low-interest loans were made available for the construction of sewage-treatment projects.

Towns and cities along the river are seeking these low-interest federal loans once again. Local elected officials are developing an alert system that will notify communities downstream when CSOs have occurred upstream.

And the Merrimack River District Commission was created in the 2019 to provide more governmental attention.

Thus, more help is in the pipeline for one of the region’s most glittering assets.

[Author Dyke Hendrickson’s most recent book, “Merrimack, The Resilient River: An Illustrated Profile of the Most Historic River in New England,” was published by America Through Time and is carried by local retailers and online booksellers.]

MRWC Releases New Video on CSOs in the Merrimack River

July 26, 2021 by Kristin Cole

The Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) has released a new video and webpage explaining why sewage is frequently discharged into the Merrimack River, and what is being done to help solve the problem.

The 8-minute video, narrated by MRWC Environmental Science Fellow Jose Tapia, examines the causes of the Merrimack’s sewage discharges, known as combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The video also provides interviews with regional leaders who are trying to address the problem, as well as tips on what concerned residents can do to help. Watch the video below.

Produced by Elevated Thought, a Lawrence-based art and social justice non-profit, this is the first video that specifically addresses CSOs in the Merrimack River. This video is paired with the release of a new educational webpage which further highlights important data points and describes the pathways to solving the problem.

CSOs have become a frequent news headline in the Merrimack Valley, and have fueled much discussion and debate on social media platforms. CSOs often occur during moderate to heavy rainstorms in five Merrimack Valley cities — Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Nashua and Manchester — where street drains are connected to sewer lines. During rainstorms, too much water enters sewer lines and excess quantities are discharged into the river to prevent damage to sewer plants and sewage overflows into homes and businesses.

“CSOs are a relic of 19th and early 20th century sewer systems that were built in the Merrimack Valley’s industrial cities,” said John Macone, MRWC’s policy and outreach specialist. “Those old sewer systems were designed to dump all sewage into the river, and they are very expensive and complicated to replace.”

On average, about 500 million gallons of CSO wastewater is discharged into the Merrimack in a typical year. That’s a significant drop from 20 years ago, when an average of 780 million gallons were discharged in an average year.

The reduction is due to drought conditions in recent years, and also work being done in cities to replace their sewer lines and upgrade infrastructure. The cost of these upgrades can be in excess of $100 million, and progress can be slow because they are paid for almost entirely by sewer fees collected from city residents and businesses. However, lawmakers in Massachusetts are considering a plan which could provide up to $400 million for water and sewer projects. That funding will greatly increase the speed of CSO-related upgrades.

The year 2021 has already proven to be an unusually active year for CSOs. In the month of July — one of the rainiest Julys on record — over 160 million gallons of CSO waste have been discharged into the Merrimack, according to data from the region’s sewer treatment plants.

NoteWorthy – 7/11/21

July 11, 2021 by Kristin Cole

AROUND THE VALLEY

Harbor Seal Pup Spotted Near Merrimack River

On Friday morning, Dan Graovac, president of the Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) board of directors, spotted and photographed a harbor seal pup on a beach near the mouth of the Merrimack River.

Founded in 1976, the MRWC is a nonprofit organization that works to improve and conserve the Merrimack River watershed with advocacy, education, recreation and science.

The harbor seal photographed above is approximately four weeks old and recently weaned from its mother, and most likely resting before heading back to the ocean. It is important to note that, per federal law, people should get no closer than 150 feet to these seals on a beach as this close proximity puts unnecessary stress on the seal. If you believe a seal is injured or sick, please reach out to the Marine Mammal Rescue at Seacoast Science Center in Rye, N.H., who will send a staff member or volunteer to evaluate the seal.

Photo courtesy of Dan Graovac.

NECC Faculty and Staff Complete National Mental Health First Aid Training

Recognizing that many college students suffer from anxiety and depression, Northern Essex Community College (NECC) is working proactively to help identify students who are struggling and connect them with help.

In the two years it’s been offered at the college, 130 members of the faculty and staff have completed the national Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification training through the college’s center for professional development.

The eight-hour training course teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. The course is taught by behavioral science and human services professor Kathleen Bartolini, who transitioned to teaching after a 20-year career as a child and adolescent psychotherapist.

Individuals enrolled in the program will grow their knowledge of signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental illnesses and addictions; be able to identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental illness or addiction; and increase their confidence in helping an individual in distress.

The Lowell Review Announces First Issue

The Lowell Review is a new publication springing from the RichardHowe.com blog, which shares the stories and creative works of “Voices from Lowell and Beyond.” This publication offers a space for creative and intellectual expression and brings together writers and readers in the Merrimack River watershed and connects them with those who share their curiosity about the small and large matters of life. Each issue includes essays, poems, stories, criticism, opinion and visual art.

Visit here to check out the first issue, which features the works of a number of MVM contributors, including Paul Marion, Doug Sparks and Charles Gargiulo.

New Initiative Inspires Ways to Activate Vacant Storefronts in Downtown Lawrence

In partnership with MassDevelopment TDI, Creative Collective — a business program offering opportunities for small businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits and individuals a modern and creative approach to business growth and brand awareness — was invited to Lawrence to facilitate new and exciting ways to pilot temporary activations of key vacant downtown Lawrence storefronts.

Creative Collective administered a six-month community engagement process through virtual info sessions, direct partner outreach, one-on-one conversations with community members and stakeholders, leadership team meetings and a variety of survey distributions. The information collected from these efforts led to inform the themes of every program slated for the Imagina Essex series, including Imagina Comercio, Imagina Gastronomia, Imagina Arte, and Imagina Teatro.

On Saturday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents and visitors will once again have an opportunity to engage with this process at the second of four events in the Imagina Essex series, Imagina Gastronomia. Food will be the focus of this event with a pop-up farmers market, access to food-aligned organizations and samples and information of local dining hotspots.

Mills42 FCU Teams Up with Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust

In late June, members of the Mills42 Federal Credit Union team worked with Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust.

Their primary mission was to tackle invasive plant species that can be damaging to a waterway’s ecosystem, especially one as critical to the region as the Concord River Greenway.

CCA’s Susan Gates Receives DCU’s Hometown Hero Award

This week, the DCU Hometown Hero award was given to Susan Gates, volunteer executive director of the Chelmsford Center for the Arts (CCA). Gates received the award during Boston 25 News’ Zip Trip to Chelmsford. Watch it here.

Gates has volunteered in this role since the CCA opened in 2009, helping establish the building as a welcoming one for numerous creative organizations. She volunteers over 40 hours each week to help run the center, which boasts live events, an artist residency program, and rehearsal space for musicians.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

MCC Appoints Interim Provost & VP of Student & Academic Affairs

Arlene Rodriguez was named interim provost and vice president of academic and student affairs. With over 20 years of experience working in the Massachusetts community college system, Rodriguez has maintained a lifelong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, which was exemplified when she co-led the initiative “100 Males to College” to create a college-bound culture for low-income males and young men of color. Outside of academia, Rodriguez has been appointed to the Barnstable County Human Services Commission, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, and was on the Springfield YWCA’s board of directors, among other titles. She has also won several awards dedicated to her human service and leadership.

MCC Names 2021-2022 Student Trustee

Brooke Stevenson, of Winchester, has been named as 2021-2022 student trustee of Middlesex Community College (MCC). Stevenson, who transferred from a four-year college, is member of the Commonwealth Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa honors society and student government association. With a passion for helping others, Stevenson is working toward both an associate in criminal justice and a certificate in paralegal studies. Her goal is to work as a paralegal as she earns her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell after she graduates from Middlesex. In the future, Stevenson is considering going to law school and starting a career as a lawyer or forensic scientist.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Elects Three to Board of Directors

Stephanie Cronin, of Dunstable, Mass., has been appointed to executive director of the Middlesex 3 Coalition, a regional economic development organization which fosters business development, job growth and retention. Cronin also currently serves on the MCC Foundation board of directors, MassHire Greater Lowell Workforce Board, FORGE Northeast Massachusetts Advisory Council, Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, and Hanscom Air Force Civic Leader Program.

Diana Nguyen, of Westford, is currently project manager at MilliporeSigma in Burlington, Mass., where she has been managing strategic projects and developing a global talent pipeline of aspiring and curious leaders since 2017. Nguyen is a Lowell High School graduate, and received a bachelor of science degree in management and psychological science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She is pursuing a global executive master of business administration degree from the Rotman and SDA Bocconi schools.

Daniel Donahue of Lowell, earned his associate degree in architectural engineering technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology. That same year he worked for the National Park Service in the North Atlantic Regional Office as an architectural, mechanical, and electrical draftsman. In 1985, he joined Gavin & Sullivan Architects Inc. as an architectural designer/draftsman and has remained with the company ever since.