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Science: Plant Life
There are many benefits to having a river lined with plants. As producers, they make food for consumers. Plants also help to hold sand and soil in place, protecting the river banks from excess erosion. And they help to filter contaminated water runoff, which helps keep the Concord health and clean for people and wildlife alike. .
When we refer to plants, we are referring to all trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, vines, mosses, ferns, algae and “seaweed”. Anything commonly associated with a river, stream, or wetland is a riparian zone. These zones often provide habitat for various plants and animals. Notable riparian plant species found along the Concord River include swamp rose mallow, silver maple, and river birch. Notable riparian plant species found along the Concord River include silver maple, river birch, and swamp rose mallow.
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A walk along the Concord River Greenway provides a particular view of Lowell. The term “greenway” perfectly describes this urban natural resource because the path, meandering as it does beside the river, is lined with many different plants, including grasses, wildflowers, vines, shrubs, and trees. 
A plant is a living organism, which produces its own food through the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants gather energy from the sun and nutrients through their leaves and roots. They put it all together to make sugars used to help themselves grow. During this process, and through the process of plant reproduction, plants produce food for wildlife. As a byproduct of growth processes, plants release oxygen gas and water vapor into the air. Plants are a key component of the oxygen, water, and carbon cycles. 
