Originally Published March 28th 2024
At the foot of the towering peaks of the White Mountains lies Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in the Granite State.
There, a large group of islands connected by this large body of water that serves as the gateway to the Merrimack River’s remarkable journey. This year, on St. Patrick’s Day, the lake witnessed its earliest recorded ice-out, marking the unofficial commencement of spring in the region.
The melting ice, having clung to the lake since the chill of late December, finally yielded to the warmth, allowing the M/S Mount Washington cruise ship to meander between its ports, from Alton Bay to Wolfeboro, heralding a season of renewal and connection.
Observed for over a century and a half, presently from the vantage of small planes skimming the water’s surface. As the ice from the lake retreats, the waters flow into the Winnipesaukee River, then merge with the Pemigewasset River to create the mighty Merrimack.
Swollen with the snowmelt of the White Mountains, the river embarks on a 117-mile odyssey through the heart of New England. This journey, rich in history and beauty, carves through the Merrimack Valley, shaping the land and the communities that dwell along its banks.
Yet, the Merrimack’s beauty belies the challenges lurking beneath its surface. Record rainfall has taxed the aging infrastructure of cities along its course, leading to the unchecked release of untreated water. An estimated record 1.5 billion gallons of raw sewage last year, a stark reminder of the delicate balance between development and environmental stewardship, have sullied its waters, threatening the health and safety of the half million residents who rely on the river for drinking water.
Combined sewer outflow (CSO) is when rainwater, sewage, and industrial wastewater are processed through the local sewer treatment plant, however during heavy rainfall, and snow melting those systems are overwhelmed, in order not to allow backup into homes, the sewage and stormwater discharges directly into local streams and rivers. Last year had a record amount of rainfall, therefore a record amount of CSOs.
Capri Seaside Italian Kitchen has a bar that’s as varied and enticing as a selection of chocolates. Unlike the saying “You never know what you’re going to get,” Capri is home to its own familiar faces, such as Rosalie Catalano, and Joe and Carole O’Malley. Betsy, the bar’s veteran bartender, commands a loyal following for her skill in managing the bustling space.
During a visit on a particularly busy evening, my wife and I were swiftly served drinks by Betsy, who then secured us seats next to an individual who could be mistaken for Kojak, thanks to his clean shaved bald head, and confident demeanor, he was only missing his lollypop. This man was none other than Rocky Morrison, a local legend associated with the Clean River Project.
Rocky grew up on the Merrimack, which shaped his childhood. Alarmed by the increasing pollution and debris, Morrison felt compelled to act. In 2005, what started out as a scavenger hunt game at a time when the river was particularly beleaguered, he initiated the Clean River Project with a group of volunteers, determined to clean the banks of the river.
It would be a challenge to find someone as knowledgeable, and passionate about the river. Contracted by Lawrence and Methuen, Rocky’s responsibilities include removing garbage from the banks and extracting trash from the river – encompassing cars, tires, appliances, old bicycles, and virtually any kind of waste one can imagine.
Additionally, he employs containment booms. These are elongated tubes that float on the river’s surface, equipped with a 12-inch skirt submerged underwater to capture litter such as needles, plastic bottles, prophylactics, tampons, and some microplastics. Rocky and his team stand at the forefront of the river’s cleanup efforts, representing one of the few viable options for purifying the Merrimack River.
During our dinner, I conducted my usual Q&A session. Every politician in the district, including present and past mayors, selectmen, state representatives, state senators, as well as U.S. congressmen and senators, invariably pledge solutions during the election period. Yet, to date, none have truly addressed the issue of cleansing this vital natural asset.
The remedy seems straightforward: either construct a stormwater system with separate piping from the sewage systems or establish a large containment facility to temporarily hold CSO’s, thereby giving the water treatment systems adequate time to process them. Rocky is exasperated with the local officials in the lower Merrimack Valley, as federal, state, and local leaders persist in a perpetual bureaucratic struggle to allocate sufficient funds – amid competing financial needs – to modernize our outdated sewer systems.
I recently attended the legislative dinner hosted by the Salisbury, Amesbury and Newburyport chambers of commerce, an event that saw attendance from numerous local officials, as well as representatives of U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton and Sen. Ed Markey.
Amid discussions on topics such as sidewalk improvements, the introduction of new waterfront dining options, ferry services, and school funding, there was a notably subdued focus on what could be considered the most pressing issue for our communities: river pollution and the contamination of drinking water. While several organizations are championing the cause of a clean river, the actual financial investment towards cleansing the river remains a question. The river acts as a conveyor belt of pollution flowing into the Atlantic Ocean every hour of the day.
I asked Rocky about solutions. He proposed a straightforward concept: In the calmer sections of the river near Haverhill and Groveland, installing a maintained containment boom that could trap a significant amount of pollution before it flows into the faster-moving waters near Amesbury, Salisbury, and Newburyport.
Historically, the Merrimack served as a vital artery for the Pentucket tribe of the Pennacook Indians, a highway that allowed travel from central New Hampshire to the bountiful fishing grounds of what is now Salisbury. It nourished the early European settlers in the mid-17th century, was a ship building center and anchored a bustling port during the colonial and early American periods.
The river’s energy and navigability were instrumental in propelling the valley to a significant position during the Industrial Revolution. Before the enactment of the Clean Water Act in 1972, the river went through some challenging times. The Merrimack stands as one of the most endangered watersheds in the nation, underscoring the urgent need to safeguard this vital resource.
Now the river is a mecca for recreational boaters. If you navigate upstream under the Whittier bridge, past Lowell’s Boat Shop, and just beyond Hatter’s Point across from Maudslay State Park, one encounters a summertime haven for recreational boaters at low tide.
This area offers a panoramic view that illustrates the Lower Merrimack River Valley’s connection to the broader New England region. Stepping out onto the Amesbury sandbar, one is quickly reminded of the fortune of residing in such a picturesque part of the world. If you stand on that sand bar just after the release of CSO’s you stand in a sandbar of pollution. I have seen pantyhose, water bottles, and needles, all things we can mitigate if not eliminate. I think it is time to stop talking, and start doing. Let’s love the Merrimack back.
Salisbury resident C.J. Fitzwater is a curious traveler, perpetually on the lookout for fresh frontiers. With each journey, he blends historical threads into his stories. Email him at: cfitzwater@ymail.com.
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