Thank you to everyone who joined the celebrations this past year for the 50th Anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

An amazing day on Oct 14th...

On Sunday Oct 14th at The Old Manse and Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord we had an incredible celebration. This event was coordinated by your partners along the River:  The National Park Service, the Sudbury Valley Trustees, OARS, The Trustees, and the River Stewardship Council. 

 

Schedule of Events: 

Special pre-event paddle — 10 am to 2 pm

Fall Paddle on the 3 Rivers with the River Management Society: 

Join the RMS Northeast Chapter fall paddle on Sunday October 14th, from 10am–2pm for a beautiful fall paddle on the Wild and Scenic Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers. You are welcome to bring your own boats, and a limited number of boats will be available for use on a first come first serve basis. Historian Brian Donahue of Brandeis University will be providing context about the Rivers, and SuAsCo River Stewardship Council representatives will be your local guides. To RSVP, you must contact RMS Chapter Chair Emma Lord at .

2 pm — Celebration at the Old Manse and Minute Man National Historical Park:

Reception — Come to the tent at the Old Manse for refreshments, a chance to enter the raffle, a look at the 2018 draft update to the River Conservation Plan, special presentations by partner organizations, and time with colleagues and friends. 

The family tent will offer some craft activities and an opportunity to become a Junior River Rangers with OARS' educators!

Raffle -  Stop by the River Stewardship Council for a FREE raffle ticket for great prizes - a CSA share, REI items and 50th anniversary gifts. All you have to do is an some idea for or comment on our Conservation Plan! You must be present at the 3:30 ceremony to win.

Chat with our major partners - Sudbury Valley Trustees, OARS, CISMA, Mass Audubon and others - about programs across the region, covering land conservation, water quality, and more.

Additional tours:  Ranger talks and tours of The Old Manse will also be offered in the area according to their regular schedule. Please see The Old Manse  and Minute Man NHP listings.

2:30 pm —  Anniversary Celebrations — Session I: Meet at the reception tent at the Old Manse

These special one-day only opportunities will all conclude in time for the 3:30 pm reception. Some will finish in time for the 3:00 pm activities. Schedule will be available on-site. You do not need to RSVP for individual activities. Please note that individual activities may change. Please see the event listings on the day-of the event for final details.

• "Short and Sweet guided anniversary paddle on the Concord River" — Limited seats available by RSVP or on a first-come first-served basis for a guided, instructed paddle under the Old North Bridge. Experience the Wild and Scenic River from the water! 45 min. No experience necessary. All gear (life jackets, paddles) will be available on-site. 

• Rooted in Land: Landscape Restoration at the Old Manse

  Join Site Manager Sara Patton Zarrelli and General Manager Guy Hermann for a guided walk in the Old Manse landscape. Learn how different residents used and changed the landscape to provided sustenance, inspiration, and recreation between 1770 and 1850 and how the Old Manse portrays these uses today. Following the walk, we’ll discuss the current landscape restoration project, community involvement, and Trustees philosophy for cultural landscape management.  

  Walk is approximately .5 miles; participants should be comfortable walking on unpaved and uneven surfaces.

• The Concord River Through Time, an Anniversary Ranger Talk 

            Our Wild & Scenic river has been of great importance to people living in this area for thousands of years; from a Native American village, the English colonial settlement, and a town in the midst of war and                  revolution; followed by a revolution of words and thoughts. Co-sponsored by Minute Man National Historical Park.

3:00 pm — Anniversary Celebrations - Session II - Meet at the reception tent at the Old Manse

These special one-day only opportunities will all conclude in time for the 3:30 pm reception. Maps and schedule will be available on-site. You do not need to RSVP for individual activities.

• Stewardship in Action: A Project to document rare turtle and flower species with Minute Man NHP Resource Program Manager Margie Coffin-Brown
• Land Conservation along the Rivers - with Sudbury Valley Trustees and Steve Sloan
• The Wild and Scenic River, A look back and forward, What it means for you? with the River Stewardship Council
• Water Quality Then and Now with OARS Scientist Sue Flint

What IS the state of water quality in the rivers? How has it changed since the time of designation? Why can you fish in it but not eat the fish?  Spend some time by the water with OARS staff scientist Sue Flint and  experience what a long-term water quality monitoring program means for your community. Bring your questions!

Please begin walking down to the ceremony at the Old North Bridge at 3:20 pm.

3:30 pm — Anniversary Ceremony and Celebration at the Old North Bridge

Join representatives from the 8 towns along the Wild and Scenic River, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and others to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the 20th anniversary year of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic River!

4:00 pm— Raffle Prizes Announcements

4:15 pm — Reception continued in the reception tent at the Old Manse

"Short and Sweet guided anniversary paddle on the Concord River #2" - Limited seats available by RSVP or on a first-come first-served basis for a guided, instructed paddle under the Old North Bridge. Experience the Wild and Scenic River from the water! 45 min   

5:00 — Conclude

RSVP is not required but we'd love to know you're coming. To RSVP and/or to save a seat on the 2:30 or 4:15 paddle leaving from Minute Man NHP: