Suasco River Stewardship Council (RSC)

04/08/2026

Happy April! ☀️

03/16/2026

Amphibian Migration: Coming to a Road Near You!

“Big Night” is often used to describe the annual ritual of certain frogs and salamanders when they migrate from their upland overwintering habitat towards a vernal pool. Vernal pools look like small ponds or wetlands which dry up in the summer months and do not support fish populations. Generally, it happens on the first few rainy nights in March when the night temperature is above 40 degrees. While it’s exciting to see amphibians on the move, their yearly migration often forces them to risk their lives crossing dangerous roads.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
• Stay indoors and not drive on rainy nights. It is nearly impossible to see black salamanders and tiny frogs on a dark wet road!
• Find a Vernal Pool Near You! You can do some mapping research (or call the conservation office at 781-259-2612) to find a road near you that abuts vernal pools or wetlands.
• If you have a vernal pool or wetland near you, and end up walking your road on a rainy night, let the conservation office know what you see by filling out this simple google form here. (Be sure to wear lots of lights and reflective clothing!)

LEARN MORE:
Check out this 6 minute Vernal Pool Video created by MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClkpJqa5Z3Q&t=306s

Mass Audubon has some great educational materials, most of which are geared towards kids. Click here: https://www.massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/reptiles-amphibians/vernal-pools

"Thousands of minuscule lives go on the march, called by wetlands that will soon be cloudy with gelatinous egg masses. In some places the emergence occurs over weeks; in others, in a bacchanal known as the Big Night. And a salamander on a Big Night will cross any road in her path—come hell, high water, or Honda." - Ben Goldfarb, author of Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet.

02/25/2026

The rivers are still covered in a layer of snow, made thicker by the recent blizzard. Check out these terrific shots of the Concord River captured by a drone! Blue skies, sunshine, and snow for miles!

📸: Drone photos by Kevin Murphy at the Carlisle River Trail

02/11/2026

Sunset over the Assabet

01/24/2026

Winter on the Concord River. Blue skies today, lots of snow on the way… ❄️

01/05/2026

The SuAsCo Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Council strongly supports river restoration, considering principles, honoring Indigenous Peoples who knew how to sustainably be part of the natural environment pre-colonization: Free the Concord River!Envision celebrating dam removal with a mishoon burn camp on its shores:

what a year its been... many blessings and many hardships.. as we continue to unite and move forward together in a good way nothing could sever our ties. We ...

10/28/2025

Stop by the Fowler Library to see the current exhibition, River Litter! This was a collaboration between , , and . In late September, OARS and volunteers collected materials during their annual river cleanup. Local artists creatively incorporated these items in their pieces.

🗓️The exhibit is open until November 17th.
📍Fowler Library, West Concord

10/21/2025

The Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council announces the availability of the 2025-2026 SuAsCo Wild and Scenic River Community Grants to support projects that protect and/or enhance the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers and their outstandingly remarkable values. The grants program aims to engage municipalities and local organizations in protecting the rivers’ resources and building strong local stewardship of the rivers in accordance with The Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic River Conservation Plan (River Conservation Plan), which can be found here:https://www.sudbury-assabet-concord.org/perch/resources/suasco-plan-whole-final-5-30-19.pdf

To view the application, and to learn more about the application process and project guidelines, please visit our website: https://www.sudbury-assabet-concord.org/

10/18/2025

What a beautiful October day for a paddle! Come enjoy the rivers this weekend with their cheery fall colors 🍁. Also, check out the Halloween displays at the Southbridge Boathouse 🎃!