Coursing Through Time

Future environmental river quality awash
with current preservation efforts

By Taryn Plumb

Turley Publications Correspondent

WARE - For millennia, it surged along its course unperturbed, widening and narrowing, rushing and creeping, gurgling and roaring.

It witnessed millions of creatures – birds, bugs, fish, furry critters – come and go, the Natives right along with them.

Then, the settlers came and redefined it, granting it a sort of majesty. Mills replaced trees, sluiceways were dammed up and suddenly, the river's winding, swirling flow fueled not only industry – it enabled human life.

For decades, it continued in this pivotal role, like a leading actor in the play of history.

But then, with the cacophony of the 20th century, most of the mills were lost. And so, with the industrial age eroded, the river returned to its humming course, passing like a shadow as homes and businesses began cluttering the landscape and roads became thrumming patchworks.

And, in some ways, it was forgotten.

But today, as conservation and environmentalism become ever more emphasized and underlined, some are hoping to exploit the river for what it's been all along: A natural asset. Various efforts are underway to not only preserve its coursing currents, but the land and defunct railroad beds that greet it.

The goal is to give the river “a certain amount of recognition and respect,” said Martha Klassanos, member of the Ware Conservation Commission. "Ware has a very valuable asset that people just don't think about. It's something to be proud of."

For starters, the goal is to figure out just what's there.

To that end, the Chicopee River Watershed Council – which reinvigorated its efforts earlier this year – recently embarked on a stream survey. As part of that, a group paddled roughly five miles of the river from Barre Falls to Wheelwright, detailing special features, highlights and “concerning points,” as explained by Ware resident Keith Davies, council member. As time goes on, the council will do additional segments of the river, he said, then fan out to its tributaries.

"They're like the veins in your body," he explained of the various waterways that spill into the Ware, "They all join that one big vein."

With the surveys, the goal is to develop an inventory and, ultimately, an understanding of the lay of the river and the outlying factors that impact it, and vice versa, he said. For instance, surveyors analyze buffer zones, evident runoff, present wildlife, algae and the amount of trees and shrubs and where they're located.

It's all in the preliminary, information-gathering stage, Davies said, and will eventually lead to the development of a management plan, public outreach and the creation of a watershed map spotted with unique features. “Once you see what's there, you know what needs to be done,” he said.

In a similar effort, portions of long-obsolete railroad beds that trace the river's path are being cobbled together for eventual use for walking and biking.

For starters, the East Quabbin Land Trust purchased 3.2 miles of bed once part of the Central Massachusetts Railroad, and is in the process of fixing bridges that cross the Ware River in Hardwick and New Braintree so it can be opened to the public, according to executive director Cynthia Henshaw.

Similarly, Ware owns a southern part of the Ware River Rail Trail, a mile-and-a-half section that stretches from Wal-Mart to the town dump, according to Klassanos. Like the EQLT, they're also in the process of getting bridges installed, she explained.

But former railroad bed or not, securing any land along the river is pivotal, Henshaw stressed – and for myriad reasons, including conservation of animal habitat, as well as protection of both the quality and the quantity of public drinking water supply.

To that end, in June, the state's Agricultural Preservation Restriction program purchased the development rights for 52 acres in Ware, comprising about 2,000 feet of river frontage, Henshaw explained. The town is also always looking to work with families who might be interested in donating their land or placing conservation restrictions on it to protect the watershed, Klassanos explained.

"There are significant portions of the Ware River that we're seeing being conserved," said Henshaw. "It still feels very pristine, and as long as we're able to conserve the banks of the river, it will continue to feel that way."

All told, Klassanos estimated, about 10 percent of the river is developed.

As for water quality, although information from recent tests isn't yet available to glean information from, it's “generally good, but may not necessarily be outstanding or pristine in some sections,” Davies surmised.

In the end, the goal of these various efforts is to draw attention to the river – yet, at the same time, retain its purity.

"It is an under-utilized recreational resource," said Henshaw, calling it a "beautiful and scenic" waterway with "tremendous" wildlife habitat. Many sections are "priority habitat," she added, meaning they support rare and protected species, such as turtles, freshwater mussels and fish.

“It's a rich area in terms of diversity and wildlife habitat,” agreed Klassanos. “It's a wonderful resource. Some of the nicest parts of Ware go along the river."

But the battle is getting people to understand that, she said. “You can't love what you don't know,” she explained.

One issue: A lack of sufficient access, or put-in, points. Davies noted just a handful of boat launches, including ones in Barre Plains and Barre Falls, and new concrete and handicapped accessible fishing piers at Grenville Park as well as a boat launch there. Klassanos said there are also launches in Gilbertville. Increasing those (and also the awareness of them) will be a future goal, both Klassanos and Davies noted; to do so, grants may be available. 

Similarly, people need to be educated that, even if they don't live near the river, their actions impact its overall purity and health. For instance, if people fertilize their lawns or change their oil in their driveways, the rain “washes, rinses, scours across the land,” Davies explained, and a portion of such substances can inevitably end up in the water.

"As important as the river is, is what we do on the landscape in adjoining areas,” Davies said. “The river is more than just a sliver.”