The Greater Haverhill Foundation has accomplished what no one said could be done with the creation and publishing of a new nautical chart by NOAA , which provides safe travel on the Merrimack from the Atlantic to Harbor Place in downtown Haverhill.
The Greater Haverhill Foundation commissioned a privately funded eight mile sonar bathymetric study of the Merrimack River from downtown Haverhill to Merrimac which has determined:
- There is a navigable channel from Newburyport to Downtown Haverhill
- The river has a tidal change of 4-5 feet at Haverhill
- Based on the study’s confirmed channel location, river buoys have been repositioned and correctly located by NOAA and the USCG
- GPS charts have been upgraded by NOAA on both ENC and RNC formats for navigating the Merrimack River to down town Haverhill.
This initiative spear headed by the Greater Haverhill Foundation to once again link the cities from Haverhill to Newburyport together by using the navigable portion of the Merrimack River. Key participants in this undertaking have been; Senator Kathleen O’Connor-Ives, US Congresswomen Nicki Tsongas, Representative Andy Vargas and former Representative Brian S. Dempsey. The River Access working committee has a dozen members that include representation from the City of Haverhill, Andrew Herlihy and Nate Robertson, and from Federal entities…NOAA, USCG and ACOE.
Former Representative Brian S. Dempsey commented “The communities of the lower Merrimack River, “The River Cities”, all have hidden gems and a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Current businesses will benefit and new economic tourism businesses will launch.”
According to Mayor James Fiorentini, “providing safe and secure navigation up and down the Merrimack River will have a major positive economic impact on Haverhill, Amesbury, Merrimac, Groveland, West Newbury and Newburyport.”
The Greater Haverhill Foundation anticipates producing an updated “River Cities” brochure to highlight the recreational and tourist venues along the Merrimack River which will be sent out to all of the marinas along the river to encourage safe travel to downtown Haverhill. A boat parade is being discussed with the Crescent Yacht Club to be held during the 2018 boating season.
The river currently is being used by crew teams from Haverhill High School and St. John’s Prep and the annual Lou Marcel Canoe Race will take place June 2, 2018 at 7:00 AM. Along with the Annual River Ruckas hosted by Team Haverhill which will take place September 22, 2018.
