New Road Signs Highlight the Ipswich River and its Headwaters in Wilmington

As part of an ongoing public education awareness initiative, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, in partnership with the Town of Wilmington’s Director of Public Works Department, Mr. Michael Woods, has installed 7 stream crossing signs along the main stem of the Ipswich River as well as three of its tributary streams, Lubber’s Brook, Martin’s Brook and Maple Meadow Brook. The Ipswich River Watershed Association supplied the signs and Mr. Woods generously offered to supply the poles, hardware and the all-important manpower for the installations.

The objective of this important and welcome collaboration between the Town and the Association is to educate and trigger people’s interest. Hopefully they will want to learn more about and protect this valuable drinking water and recreational resource. Often people do not realize as they travel around town how many times the Ipswich River and its tributaries cross under roads. An increase in awareness of residents and visitors alike of the river and its tributaries will likely make people more cognizant of the potential negative impacts of litter and/or pollutants along the roadway.

The Ipswich River starts it journey in Wilmington, the Headwaters, so we began our signage efforts here. The Ipswich River gathers water from dozens of tributary streams over a 155 square mile watershed area before emptying into Plum Island Sound and the Great Marsh in Ipswich. This effort will move forward with the help of local communities. Our goal is to place signs at road crossings in all 14 towns along the river in the watershed. Thanks to Mr. Woods Wilmington is the model community that hopefully the others will follow.

It is our belief that the more that people are aware of the river and our water resources the more they will want to take care of it. The River provides drinking water for about 330,000 people for 21 communities. Unfortunately it was deemed one of the most endangered rivers in the country by American Rivers in 2003 due to pressures from water withdrawals. It is a regional recreational and economic treasure and the life blood of wildlife and humans alike, from source to sea. Keep your eye out for these signs in Wilmington and more in the future.
Caption: Pat White from Wilmington DPW installs road-stream crossing signs at Martin’s Brook on Route 62 as part of an ongoing public education awareness initiative in the Ipswich River Watershed.

As part of an ongoing public education awareness initiative, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, in partnership with the Town of Wilmington’s Director of Public Works Department, Mr. Michael Woods, has installed 7 stream crossing signs along the main stem of the Ipswich River as well as three of its tributary streams, Lubber’s Brook, Martin’s Brook and Maple Meadow Brook. The Ipswich River Watershed Association supplied the signs and Mr. Woods generously offered to supply the poles, hardware and the all-important manpower for the installations.

The objective of this important and welcome collaboration between the Town and the Association is to educate and trigger people’s interest. Hopefully they will want to learn more about and protect this valuable drinking water and recreational resource. Often people do not realize as they travel around town how many times the Ipswich River and its tributaries cross under roads. An increase in awareness of residents and visitors alike of the river and its tributaries will likely make people more cognizant of the potential negative impacts of litter and/or pollutants along the roadway.

The Ipswich River starts it journey in Wilmington, the Headwaters, so we began our signage efforts here. The Ipswich River gathers water from dozens of tributary streams over a 155 square mile watershed area before emptying into Plum Island Sound and the Great Marsh in Ipswich. This effort will move forward with the help of local communities. Our goal is to place signs at road crossings in all 14 towns along the river in the watershed. Thanks to Mr. Woods Wilmington is the model community that hopefully the others will follow.

It is our belief that the more that people are aware of the river and our water resources the more they will want to take care of it. The River provides drinking water for about 330,000 people for 21 communities. Unfortunately it was deemed one of the most endangered rivers in the country by American Rivers in 2003 due to pressures from water withdrawals. It is a regional recreational and economic treasure and the life blood of wildlife and humans alike, from source to sea. Keep your eye out for these signs in Wilmington and more in the future.

Caption: Pat White from Wilmington DPW installs road-stream crossing signs at Martin’s Brook on Route 62 as part of an ongoing public education awareness initiative in the Ipswich River Watershed.