Welcome to the Millers River Watershed Council!
MRWC has the goal of helping people discover what makes the Millers River and its tributaries a natural treasure, one you can enjoy and help protect. MRWC welcomes your input.
VOLUNTEERS – come forward!
It’s here! Spring of 2013: Trib Watch. A new volunteer water quality monitoring program 
involving temperature, flow, and Macro-invertebrates (bugs). All geared to help citizens help MRWC track stream health. We Need field Volunteers! or help Support Program
If you want to get in or near the water and learn more about our local streams, join the team! Or help in house with the data. Thank You.
2013 Bacteria Sampling MRWC will begin sampling just after Memorial day, we need a few more volunteers and funding! Adopt a Site or Support 2013 program.
May 18th, 12:30-5 Blue Trail Opening Day! Join MRWC as we hold our 2013 opening run down our homegrown Blue Trail. We will do some trail maintenance while we enjoy the river. We will spot cars in Orange, shuttle to Athol and then hit the water. …….Sign up today!
Upper Millers/Otter Trail: are you interested in helping with a new leg of the Blue Trail? 
A New Blue Trail Map is in the works and we need input from area paddlers and history buffs. Next we will need trail stewards. Join the adventure!
Contact watershed@millersriver.net for details.
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Stream Continuity/Culvert Survey Project: Survey Training was held on April 6th @ MREC Athol.
MRWC is partnering with Millers River TU to survey the condition of culverts at stream crossings across the watershed. Failing culverts restrict fish and small wildlife passage and risk road wash-outs. The ongoing survey will identify and help prioritize where improvements are needed. We need volunteers for 1-3 Saturdays this spring/summer/fall and team leaders. Contact watershed@millersriver.net about this effort.
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MRWC “River Verses Poetry Event”: The creative verses flowed
on Friday night 4/5! Nearly 50 people, ages 6 to 82+ came, recited, listened, laughed, mused, and enjoyed some impassioned poetry about our watershed. It was a great night for the Millers. MRWC also presented a list of 2013 Watershed event information.
2012 Bacteria Sampling Report Released MRWC has released the 2012 sampling report for its bacteria monitoring efforts last 
summer. The results were good and the river is suitable for recreation, though swimming is not recommended immediately after a rain storm. Both the FULL report and SUMMARY report are available. Adopt a Site or Support 2013 program.
MRWC releases 2005-09 Macro-Invertebrate report. See full report on our Resources page. Aquatic insects are good indicators of water quality.
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Plant Road paddlers access along the Otter River retired for winter.Volunteers recently removed access mats from the Plant Rd put-in
along the Otter River Blue Trail. These mats help paddlers put their boats in the water without “sinking” into the mud. They will be reinstalled next spring.
MRWC is also working on further improvements for access along the Otter River. Let us know if you want to help.
November 3rd River Clean up-a BIG haul! South Athol Rd, Athol.
What a load they removed! 26+ bags of trash, 22 tires, a gas tank from a car, metal chairs, a muffler & windshield! and miscellaneous other items – all in a quarter mile of road. It was amazing to see the amount of convenience store cups and recyclable bottles discarded along the road. Great job folks, thank you. Thanks to this effort, this scenic location along the Blue Trail looks nicer. MRWC urges people to take care and keep this area clean. Give a hoot, it’s your river.
There’s more:
Rain Garden Pocket Guide now available: published by the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition, this full-color guide is full of photos and illustrations that make building a rain garden simple, fun and affordable.
what is a rain garden?
As a Partner in MWC’s Billion Gallons a Year (BGY) Stormwater Reduction Campaign, MRWC will provide a free copy of the Guide to watershed residents and businesses, while they last. Please contact MRWC to request a copy of the Guide. A modified pdf version of the Guide is also available for download. Contact us
Blue Trail The adventures continued in 2012! A number a key projects were completed on the Blue Trail: a paddling launch in Athol and Trail signs along the trail.
Millers River Blue Trail Guide available. MRWC has released the official Millers River Blue Trail guide in (2) versions, a $3 waterproof edition and a complimentary non-waterproof version. A number of local retailers are carrying the waterproof guide while the complimentary copy can be found at the Athol & Orange public libraries.
