Study Sites
IRWA offers study guides to help budding naturalists learn about one site in the upper watershed and one site in the lower watershed.
The first study site in North Reading includes information, identification guides, and student worksheets on bird watching (including an identification sheet), tree identification (including an identification sheet), and macroinvertebrate sampling activities.
- Upper Basin (North Reading) Study Site (pdf format)
The second study site in Ipswich and Topsfield (focusing on Willowdale State Forest and Bradley Palmer State Park) includes information, student worksheets, data sheets, and equipment ordering information for water quality sampling, vernal pool identification, edible plant identification, macroinvertebrate sampling, and flow monitoring activities in these two parks. Appendix A provides an edible plant guide.
- Lower Basin (Ipswich/Topsfield) Study Site (pdf format)
- Appendix A: Edible Plant Guide (pdf format – 6 MB)
- Appendix B: Directions for DO kit (pdf format)









