 |
|
North Brook, Berlin
|
As the Assabet River winds its 31 miles through
the watershed, over nine dams, and through the historic centers
of old mill towns, its flow is joined by the waters of at
least 16 named streams. Continuing downstream as the Concord
River, another 4 named streams add their flow before the Concord
joins the Merrimack River in Lowell. These small tributary
streams, an almost unnoticed part of the landscape, are the
hidden strength of the bigger rivers. Together they drain
most of the watershed, comprise most of the miles of river/stream,
provide much of the baseflow of the mainstem Assabet during
the summer, and support the last remaining populations of
riverine fish in the watershed.
 |
|
Danforth Brook, Hudson
|
For most of its first 17 years OAR
concentrated on the mainstem of the Assabet River
- for good reasons - but with the StreamWatch project we started
to look upstream too. Of the many tributary streams to the
watershed we decided to work on the largest streams in towns
abutting the Assabet and Concord: River Meadow Brook in Chelmsford,
Nashoba Brook in Acton, Elizabeth Brook in Stow, Danforth
Brook in Hudson, Fort Meadow Brook in Hudson and Marlborough,
North Brook in Berlin, Cold Harbor Brook in Northborough,
Hop Brook in Shrewsbury, and the upper Assabet River just
below the A1 Impoundment. Taken together these streams represent
just over 70% of the drainage area of the basin and give us
a picture of the overall health of the tributaries and, as
we continue to explore them, each stream promises an interesting
and different story.
back to top
|
