Why protect the Merrimack River?

The Merrimack River has been a staple resource for local communities for centuries. Despite its
cultural significance, it has been subjected to pollution for the last decade or so and its
restoration offers an important lesson in why preserving the river should be a communal effort.
Particularly important for the community, is the rivers influence on outside recreation. Local
communities have a variety of different recreational uses for the river, the most important being
that it serves as a suitable location for water-based sports. There are multiple benefits for
recreation use of the river, which are economic, social and health related. All of these benefits
can only become available to the community if the rivers water is preserved.

Social Benefits:
The better quality of the water means more
demand there is for water-based recreation.
Recreation aids in bringing the
community together
Most local communities have good
access to the river since it's in close
proximity
Most common recreational activity in
most rivers is swimming2.
Other recreational activities that can be
done on and along the river are:
Wildlife observation, rowing, sailing, Merrimack Canal, Lowell, MA. Photographed by NPS7.
fishing, etc.

Financial Benefits:
Revenues made from outdoor recreation
highly depend on whether the river is
clean5.
Other bodies of water in New England
see large amounts of revenue from
their recreational activities5.
Water-based recreation is pivotal to the
community because it helps to generate
a better income, as well as it helps
create many jobs5.

Pawtucket Dam, Lowell, MA. Photographed by Jim

Higgins, NPS7.
Clean Water Quality Impacts on Society:
Social Economic Health

Local events can be planned around
rivers recreational spaces3
Increase in public awareness means
more activities will ensue6
Having ability to participate in
activities in one location is more
convenient than travelling
elsewhere2
Those who partake in activities
want to explore the river and enjoy
the feel of nature2
Determines how much money
the community can make from
recreation
Freshwater fishing in New
England results in about $960
million per year5
Jobs aid in growing the local
economy immensely and helps
provide funds for important
aspects of communal life5
Water-based recreation
relies on whether the
river is safe
Weather could play a big
factor into how clean the
rivers water could be1

Health Concerns:
Precipitation is an important element
that affects recreation. Accumulation
of precipitation causes high bacteria
levels to arise in the Merrimack4.
Most common bacteria found is E.
coli and it is used as indication of the
possibility of more harmful bacteria
being found4. Over the last four
years, certain regions (i.e., Lowell)
along the Merrimack have shown
improvement in the average counts
of E. coli. Despite this, other areas
are still continue to be affected by
E. coli4.

1. Burke, Debra D. and Carroll A. Brown, Transitioning a River Outfitter to the Next Generation, Journal of Legal Studies
Education 31 (2014): 121.
2. Galloway, Shayne, Recreation Specialization Among New Zealand River Recreation Users: A Multiactivity Study of
Motivation and Site Preference, Leisure Sciences 34 (2012): 256-271.
3. Golet, Gregory H., et al., Assessing Societal Impacts When Planning Restoration of Large Alluvial Rivers: A Case Study of
the Sacramento River Project, California, Environmental Management 37 (2006): 862-879.
4. How safe is the Merrimack for Swimming?, Merrimack River Watershed Council,
http://www.merrimack.org/web/how-safe-is-the-merrimack-for-swimming/, accessed 27 Sept. 2016.
5. Loo, Clement, et al., How Much is a Healthy River Worth?, Ethics, Policy & Environment 18 (2015): 44-59.
6. Smith, Jordan W. and Roger L. Moore, Perceptions of Community Benefits from Two Wild and Scenic Rivers,
Environmental Management 47 (2011): 814-827.
7. Views of Lowell, National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=9AEEF144-155D-451F-
67250C17A06C9D5B, accessed 27 sept. 2016.