The waterway preservation group OARS has postponed its “plunge” into the Concord River from Thursday until Tuesday, June 18 at 11 a.m.
The event at the Carlisle Road boat launch had been scheduled for Thursday morning, but was rescheduled because of the forecast for rain.
West Concord-based OARS, established in 1986 as the Organization for the Assabet River (the Sudbury and Concord rivers were added in 2011), says its mission is “to protect, preserve and improve” the rivers and their tributaries and watersheds for public recreation, wildlife habitat, and water supply.
The “plunge,” which is open to all, is meant to symbolize the success of efforts to improve water quality.
Every five years, OARS issues a report evaluating the rivers’ water quality, recreation, “connectivity,” and wildlife habitat. The group is about to release its 2023 study that shows that “some of the areas have improved,” and the Bedford event was scheduled to coincide with that.
The boat launch, accessible from Carlisle Road just east of the Hart Desiato Memorial Bridge, is an area safe for swimming with no known obstructions and a mild current, organizers said.
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I applaud the work OARS does for our river but a word of caution to anyone who will take this plunge. There are brocken bottles, fish hooks and other debris in this area that could cause serious problems so foot protection is a must. Also this river has a large population of huge snapping turtles. Lastly in a report I read from the defunct Putnam Road Wellfield project: it stated that during the low flows of the river typically in August over 80% of the river flow is treated sewage from all the upstream towns like Concord.
Glad to learn of this event. I might not immerse myself, but I will be interested to turn up and put my feet in.