The Merrimack: River at Risk

The Merrimack River is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America. Mills in cities such as Lowell, MA harnessed the power of the river—and left polluted waters in their wake. Thanks to the protection of the White Mountains and the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Merrimack's waters are cleaner today. Remarkably, more than 80 percent of the Merrimack watershed is still undeveloped and largely forested. Yet, in 2016, it was named one of the most endangered rivers in the U.S.