The Great Works River Watershed Coalition (GWRWC) is a volunteer group that monitors the water quality of the Great Works River and its tributaries at sites in Sanford, North Berwick, and South Berwick. The group seeks volunteers and members to assist in the biweekly monitoring program that begins on Saturday, May 30. Coalition members and volunteers also participate in several other events including watershed surveys, stream habitat surveys, and canoe trips.
On Saturday, May 16, a water quality training session will be held in South Berwick at Leigh’s Mill Pond on Vine Street, between 9AM and 10:30AM. The purpose of the training is to ensure that all monitors make the same measurements and record their data in the same way. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer monitor should attend this training program.
On Saturday, May 23, the group will guide a canoe/kayak trip and river clean-up on the Great Works River starting at the bridge on Brattle Street; this trip starts at 12:30 PM and will last approximately 2 hours. This is a very easy section of the river to paddle, with no white water or portages. The purpose of the river trip is to identify any pollution sources, to clean up litter along the shoreline, and to enjoy our river resource. Don’t forget to bring a PFD, lunch, water, and a bag to store litter!
Water quality monitoring begins on May 30 and continues biweekly until September 5. Anyone interested in joining the coalition and assisting in their endeavors should contact the GWRWC Volunteer Coordinator John Branagan at 603-475-1564 or GWRWC President Mike Cannon at 207-384-5881. More information is also available on the GWRWC web site, www.gwrwc.org.
