Millers River Watershed Council

Millers River Watershed Council MRWC’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of the Millers River and its watershed for the long-term benefit of its human and non-human residents.

visit us @ www.millerswatershed.org The Millers River Watershed Council was formed at a time when the color and smell of the Millers River, considered by many anglers to be the “best trout stream in the state,” varied on a daily basis. In the early 1960s, farmers started fencing their stock away from once clear drinking spots along the river. In the late 1960s, at a meeting between a farmer and a

University of Mass Dairy Extension agent at the
Millers-CT confluence by Ivan Ussach

Confluence of Millers and Connecticut Rivers

confluence of the Millers and the Connecticut River, they decided to persuade two residents from each of the 17 watershed towns to meet and formulate an action plan to discover the cause and work towards a pollution solution. Uncertain of the sources of the problem, the group formed search parties to explore the watershed and, if and when sources were found, to lobby local and state officials to help them clean up the river. In this way, the Millers River Watershed Council had its beginning and by 1970 the group was incorporated as a nonprofit. Passage of the federal Clean Water Act in 1972 helped the Council’s efforts to pressure municipalities and industries to construct and properly operate wastewater treatment plants. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, non-point source pollution had begun to receive increased attention, and the Council was successful in actively opposing “economic development” proposals involving the processing of toxic waste in Orange and the expansion of landfills in watershed communities. The implementation of the Massachusetts Watershed Initiative in the late 1990s led to the creation of basin-wide Assessment Reports and Action Plans for the Millers River Watershed, as well as local Stream Teams for the Tully and Otter Rivers. While many water quality issues have been addressed by a variety of watershed stakeholders, many others continue to need attention, and the level of volunteer participation by community members continues to ebb and flow. Millers River, Erving Ledges

Millers River, Erving Ledges © John Burk

In 2005, a MRWC volunteer with a professional environmental background became its part-time Coordinator, and the organization focused more on a proactive approach to engaging local residents in watershed stewardship–including recreational, educational and volunteer water monitoring programs.

Working together to save the environment!
11/06/2025

Working together to save the environment!

06/23/2025
More from Winchendon People are reporting that the runoff from the landfill is going into the Millers River
05/10/2025

More from Winchendon
People are reporting that the runoff from the landfill is going into the Millers River

More disturbing information from Winchendon
05/10/2025

More disturbing information from Winchendon

This is very alarming!Winchendon
05/06/2025

This is very alarming!
Winchendon

02/08/2025

Dear friends and residents of the Millers River Watershed,

The Public Informational Meeting (PIM) for the proposed expansion of the Gardner sludge landfill (SLF) is scheduled for this Monday, Feb. 10th, at 6 pm at City Hall (Perry auditorium), 95 Pleasant Street. We need many voices to speak up to oppose the expansion and support a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative for Gardner, Templeton and the rest of the watershed. Please consider attending if you can, or commenting by email to [email protected] --until Feb. 15!

Below are some talking points you can use. Even if you are not a Gardner or Templeton resident concerned about the contamination of public and private drinking water wells and the Otter River, as well as the many other concerns raised by the proposed expansion, you can share your concern for the Millers River, which receives contaminants from the Otter River. More broadly, landfills are a poor, out-dated choice in general and for our region. A recent report by MassDEP noted that landfill emissions are the leading contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in MA. There are better alternatives!

Thank you for your concern and support, and hope to see you at the Feb. 10th meeting.
For the watershed,
Ivan Ussach
MRWC director

The following are some summary talking points on the SLF expansion.

SLF vs. Alternatives
Sludge Landfill is all cost ($12M to $15M), no revenue. All at once build-out locks City to Landfill for 17-years.
Sludge Landfill has a long term liability (obligation) for City. Closure costs and post closure maintenance/monitoring will be in the millions.
HTC alternative has revenue and projects a profit. Will help fund City water/sewer infrastructure projects or lower sewer rates.
Fitchburg plans for a Biosolids Mgmt. Facility that offers a low cost haul-away option. No long term liability for Gardner.
Other haul-away options offer an interim solution to bridge gap from Sludge Landfill to better solution.
Threatens Drinking Water
71 private wells and 2 Templeton public wells within 1-mile.
Gardner Sludge contains PFAS compounds.
City does not have plans or funds to fix any future off-site contamination.
Poor Air Quality
Sludge Landfill emits gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulfide (nauseous rotten-egg gas).
Impacts residents and visitors to 4 nearby cemeteries and 2 conservation areas.
Expanded height, from 50 to 70 feet, will enhance gas movement with wind conditions.
Environmental Destruction
Permanently destroys 8.75 acres of forested land.
Destroys large section of Gardner’s Esker and eliminates hiking trails.
Site Problems today
Con Com Enforcement Order for Sludge Landfill erosion due to siltation releases to wetland. Second EO in past 4 years.
1,4-dioxane contamination to groundwater and off-site pond. Cause and corrective action plan unknown.
Closed Solid Waste Landfill, same site, now requires expensive repairs ($814K) to erosion problems, damaged monitoring wells, and failing leachate pumps

12/18/2024

Happy Watershed Wednesday - Please support MRWC to help protect the Millers River & Watershed: It's where we live!
Hi folks - Season's Greetings! It's Watershed Wednesday, the one time of the year when we ask directly for your financial support for the Watershed Council. Together, we are the eyes and ears of the Millers River & Watershed: 400 square miles comprising all or part of 17 Massachusetts towns and six in New Hampshire.

I'd like to ask all of you receiving this newsletter to take a moment to consider making a donation to support our work: We need your support! Please give what you can--donations of any size are appreciated! You can donate on our website (use the orange "Make A Donation" button on right side of webpage) by PayPal or credit card, or send a check made out to Millers River Watershed Council to 100 Main Street, Athol MA 01331.

https://millerswatershed.org/

Please Support MRWC!

We count on all of you who appreciate the Millers River, its 400 square-mile watershed, and all of its human and non-human communities. Please support MRWC's efforts to ensure we all have healthy waters for healthy communities! You can donate on our website (use the orange "Make A Donation" button on right side of webpage)by PayPal or credit card, or send a checkmade out to Millers River Watershed Council to 100 Main Street, Athol MA 01331.

Thank you, from the heart!

For the watershed,

Ivan Ussach
MRWC Director
[email protected]

Beautiful day for a boat ride down the Connecticut River.
09/21/2024

Beautiful day for a boat ride down the Connecticut River.

Good article!
04/28/2024

Good article!

The Millers River meanders through both Athol and Orange, carrying with it not only the beauty on its surface, but a long history stretching back to when the river was first formed 25,000 years ago.The first people known to be living near the river...

04/02/2024

Total Solar Eclipse along the Upper Connecticut River! 🌑

Mark your calendars: On April 8th, a total solar eclipse will be visible along the Upper Connecticut River, and a partial solar eclipse will be visible through the entire watershed!

A total solar eclipse occurs when the earth, moon, and sun perfectly align, so that the moon completely blocks the sun. During totality, the sky darkens as if it were night.

The total solar eclipse on April 8th will move along a path from the Pacific coast of Mexico through the United States to the east coast of Newfoundland. Along the Connecticut River, totality will occur from Waterford, VT and Lancaster, NH northward. Although totality will last only a few minutes, a partial eclipse will be visible for as long as two hours throughout the watershed. In Lancaster, NH, the partial eclipse will begin at 2:16 p.m. and end at 4:38 p.m., but totality will only last from 3:27 to 3:30 p.m.

What does the solar eclipse mean for the river and for fish and wildlife? Most notably, the sudden darkness during an eclipse causes animals to alter their behavior as if it were twilight. Macroinvertebrates start their vertical migrations to forage near the water’s surface. Some fish (e.g. herring) also school at the water's surface, and reef fish retreat to the safety of reefs (neither, of course, occur in the Upper Connecticut River). Bees stop flying, and birds stop singing and fly to their night-time roosts. Bats may even start flying, although probably not on April 8th, at least in northern New England!

P.S. safety is important so please wear your solar-viewing glasses!

Address

Millers River Environmental Center At 100 Main Street
Athol, MA
01331

Telephone

+19782489491

Website

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