Nashua River

The river's name derives from an Algonkian word meaning "beautiful river with a pebbly bottom."{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6YMbAQAAMAAJ&q=nashua++|title=The Native North American Almanac|date=April 24, 2001|publisher=Gale Research, Incorporated|isbn=9780787616557|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xCHQC6Mk3tIC&q=+nashua|title=Signatures|first1=Roger C.|last1=Farr|first2=Dorothy S.|last2=Strickland|first3=Richard F.|last3=Abrahamson|first4=Harcourt Brace &|last4=Company|date=April 24, 1999|publisher=Harcourt Brace|isbn=9780153101243|via=Google Books}}

The Nashua River was heavily used for industry during the colonial period and the early years of the United States. During the late 18th century and early 19th century, the heavy concentration of paper mills and the use of dyes near Fitchburg resulted in pollution that notoriously turned the river various colors downstream from the factories.

In the mid-1960s, Marion Stoddart started a campaign to restore the Nashua River and its tributaries. She built coalitions with labor leaders and business leaders, in particular the paper companies who were the worst polluters of the river. With federal help, eight treatment plants were built or upgraded along the river. A broad conservation buffer was created along about half the river and its two main tributaries. By the early-1990s, most of the industry was still located along the river, but many parts of the river were once again safe for swimming. Her work is the subject of a 30-minute documentary movie titled Marion Stoddart: Work of 1000.{{Cite web| url=https://www.der.org/work-of-1000/| title=Marion Stoddart: The Work of 1000| website=Documentary Educational Resources| access-date=April 24, 2020}}

Recovery has sparked recreational use of the river at places like Mine Falls Park in Nashua.

The largely volunteer Nashua River Watershed Association, based in Groton, Massachusetts, oversees the condition of the river.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nashuariverwatershed.org/|title=Nashua River Watershed Association - Home|website=www.nashuariverwatershed.org}}

In 2013, Public Law 116–9{{USPL|116|9}} designated {{Cvt|27|mi|km}} of the Nashua River as a National Wild and Scenic River. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Niki Tsongas (D, MA-3), supported by the Nashua River Watershed Association{{cite web|date=June 6, 2013|title=Tsongas testifies in favor of bill to designate Nashua River as Wild and Scenic|url=http://tsongas.house.gov/press-releases/tsongas-testifies-in-favor-of-bill-to-designate-nashua-river-as-wild-scenic/|accessdate=June 23, 2014|publisher=House Office of Rep. Tsongas}} and The Wilderness Society.{{cite web|last1=Rowsome|first1=Alan|date=June 12, 2013|title=House Natural Resources Committee mark-up mixed bag for wilderness|url=http://wilderness.org/press-release/house-natural-resources-committee-mark-mixed-bag-wilderness|accessdate=June 23, 2014|publisher=Wilderness Society}}

From its impoundment at the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton, Massachusetts, the South Nashua River flows north and joins the North Nashua River in Lancaster. The North Nashua River flows southeast from Fitchburg and Leominster to Lancaster. The Nashua River flows northward from Lancaster, meandering its way through the north-central Massachusetts towns of Harvard, Groton, Dunstable, and Pepperell, before eventually emptying into the Merrimack River at Nashua, New Hampshire. The Nashua River watershed has a total drainage area of approximately {{convert|538|sqmi}}, with {{convert|454|sqmi}} of the watershed occurring in Massachusetts and {{convert|74|sqmi}} in New Hampshire. The Nashua River flows for approximately {{convert|56|mi}}, with approximately 46 of those miles (74 km) flowing through Massachusetts. The Squannacook, Nissitissit, Stillwater, Quinapoxet, North Nashua, and South Nashua rivers feed it. The watershed encompasses all or part of 31 communities, 7 in southern New Hampshire and 24 in central Massachusetts. The watershed's largest water body is the Wachusett Reservoir, which provides drinking water to two-thirds of the Commonwealth's population.{{cite web| url=http://www.mass.gov/envir/water/nashua/nashua.htm| title=Nashua River Watershed| access-date=2007-01-03}}

• Wachusett Reservoir is the largest water body.
• The Stillwater River feeds Wachusett Reservoir from the northwest.
• The Quinapoxet River feeds Wachusett Reservoir from the west.
• Wachusett Reservoir Dam impounds the South Nashua River.
• The North Nashua River joins the South Nashua River at Lancaster from the northwest.
• The Squannacook River joins the Nashua River from the northwest at the junction of the town boundaries of Shirley, Groton, and Ayer.
• The Nissitissit River joins the Nashua River from the northwest at Pepperell.

{{portal|New Hampshire}}

• List of rivers of Massachusetts
• List of rivers of New Hampshire
• Nashua River Rail Trail
• Nashaway people

{{Reflist}}

• "The Promise of Restoration", National Geographic Magazine, November, 1993, Special Edition: Water.
• Parfit, Michael, "New Ideas, New Understanding, New Hope", National Geographic Magazine, November, 1993, Special Edition: Water.

• [http://www.nashuariverwatershed.org/ Nashua River Watershed Association]

{{Merrimack River}}

{{Massachusetts rivers}}

{{Rivers of New Hampshire}}

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Category:Tributaries of the Merrimack River

Category:Rivers of Worcester County, Massachusetts

Category:Rivers of Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Category:Rivers of New Hampshire

Category:Nashua, New Hampshire

Category:Rivers of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

Category:Rivers of Massachusetts

Category:Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States

Category:Massachusetts placenames of Native American origin

Category:New Hampshire placenames of Native American origin