by Mark Hayward, New Hampshire Union Leader
Massachusetts politicians, environmentalists and business leaders visited Manchester by kayak Thursday, part of a four-day trip to raise awareness of the Merrimack River, which flows through the two states.
Two Massachusetts state reps and a state senator were among the 10 people who are kayaking the historic 117-mile-long river.
While the Merrimack has grown cleaner over the years, trip organizers faulted the city of Manchester for not announcing releases of raw sewage when they occur, usually after a flash rain storm.
“It all flows down the river, and we’re at the end of it,” said Rep. James Kelcourse, who represents Newburyport, Salisbury and Amesbury. Four other cities with waste water treatment systems along the river post or email notices when overflows take place.