Threats

Centuries of strain on river have added up.

Like most New England rivers, the Assabet River flows through a landscape that bears the imprint of human activity. Roads, houses, and other human uses of the land affect both the river's water quality and its flow. Home to a human population of 177,000 (and growing), the river and the aquifers beneath provide both wastewater disposal and water supply for watershed residents. As the business, industrial, and residential population grows, the demands on the river increase, affecting the river’s water quality, streamflow, and ability to support natural plant and animal populations.

Read more about threats to the river caused by:
Water pollution
Dams and Sediment
Loss of natural flow
Invasive plants and animals