Charles River Watershed Association

Forty years after the cleanup of the Charles River began, we still cannot safely swim in its waters. Thank you, Natick Report, for including our letter to make the Charles River swimmable in today’s publication. “The only swimming that takes place in the Charles’ “Lower Basin”—i.e., the area between Watertown and Boston Harbor—is via special permit, and those events are frequently canceled due to poor water quality. But now we have an opportunity to change that.” Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eHWVgxza

The bad news: the Charles River Watershed is STILL in a drought. The good news: YOU can help by conserving water! ?? Check out this video by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to better understand the drought and how you can do your part:

In 2024, the Charles River Climate Compact (CRCC) worked with a Climate Equity Action Team (CEAT) of local climate justice practitioners, community-based organizations, and Dú?can Nunez Consulting to develop the Charles River Climate Compact: Equity Action Plan 2024-2028. This action plan will help the CRCC integrate CRWA's value statement of “Equity, Environmental Justice and Climate Justice; Investing in resilience provides an opportunity to build a more equitable society, including?opportunities?to address historic wrongs” into our work.

?? It's National Invasive Species Awareness Week! Thanks to our partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, we're making strides in controlling invasive species like Eurasian watermilfoil and fanwort in the Lakes District and Lower Basin of the Charles River. We're in year four of a five-year treatment plan, and annual surveys show that only 4% of sites contain Eurasian watermilfoil (down from 6.1% last year). And fanwort saw a 51% reduction from 2023 post-treatment levels! ?? Learn more about invasive plant removal and how you can help: https://lnkd.in/eYa7N8iX

?? Extremely proud of our team for their hard work!

Our 59th Annual Meeting is coming up fast! Join us on Thursday, March 27th, to celebrate our collective impact on the Charles River. ?? Every year, we look forward to this evening as a chance to connect with fellow river lovers, hear from expert scientists and advocates, and award those who go above and beyond for the river we love. Food and refreshments will be provided; we hope to see you there! Learn more and get tickets at https://lnkd.in/eSeMEAnr ?? Location: MIT Welcome Center ??? Date: Thursday, March 27th, 2025 ? Time: 6 - 8 PM

It was an honor to join the City of Newton, Massachusetts officials at today's groundbreaking ceremony for the underground storage project near Cheesecake Brook by Albemarle Field. ?? This project will capture and store untreated stormwater runoff from the six-acre neighborhood, significantly reducing flooding. The next phase, set to begin this summer, will create nearly an acre of native river bank plantings and correct drainage issues on Albemarle Road. As CRWA Senior Stormwater Manager Max Rome, who played a pivotal role in this initiative, said, “This project is a terrific example of how nature-based design can bolster flood prevention and improve aquatic health.” Way to go, team! Read more in our press release: https://lnkd.in/ef4zh9pe

CRWA is excited to be partnering with the City of Boston Office of Green Infrastructure on this important project. Boston friends, please snap a photo the next time you see flooding in your travels and submit it to this crowd-sourced database that will help the City develop plans to address flooding impacts ?? ??? ? ??

Each year, tens of millions of gallons of sewage are discharged into the Charles River following heavy rainstorms. ?? We know intense storms will only increase due to climate change, so this problem will worsen unless we modernize our infrastructure. Join the movement for a cleaner, healthier river and visit CutTheCrapCharles.org

Happy #BlackHistoryMonth! The Environmental Justice movement is rooted in Black history. Black leaders, often overlooked, have shaped today’s environmental movement—from pioneers like Dr. Robert Bullard and Wangari Maathai to contemporary voices like Colette Pichon Battle and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. Racial justice and climate justice are inseparable. To create a just, resilient future, we must center the voices of communities most affected by environmental racism, ensuring everyone has equal access to clean air, water, land, and opportunity. If you’re in the Greater Boston area and looking for ways to celebrate, we have some ideas to get you started: https://lnkd.in/g5WMAQzU