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OUR MISSION AND PROGRAMS


CRWA's mission is to use science, advocacy and the law to protect, preserve and enhance the Charles River and its watershed.

One of the country's oldest watershed organizations, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) was formed in 1965 in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles. Since its earliest days of advocacy, CRWA has figured prominently in major clean-up and watershed protection efforts, working with government officials and citizen groups from 35 Massachusetts watershed towns from Hopkinton to Boston. Initiatives over the last four decades have dramatically improved the quality of water in the watershed and fundamentally changed approaches to water resource management.

While CRWA’s mission focuses on the Charles River, the implications and applicability of our science-based work go far beyond the watershed’s boundaries.  Much of CRWA’s work is cutting edge and therein lies our unique strength and effectiveness: we use our scientific knowledge of the Charles to develop innovative, workable solutions to watershed problems.  This knowledge allows CRWA not only to advocate persuasively for outcomes, but also to partner with government agencies and other environmental groups to protect the natural environment and to promote sustainable ecosystem policies and practices.

Charles River Watershed Association...
  • Develops a sound, science-based understanding of interactions in the watershed.
  • Defines long-term, cutting-edge solutions to watershed problems.
  • Promotes sustainable watershed management practices with government agencies and private entities.
  • Advocates protection, revitalization, and expansion of public parklands along the Charles.

Click on a CRWA program below to learn about the many ways that CRWA pursues its mission.

Urban Water Environment
Science-based Management
Water Law/Regulation/Policy
Parklands and Recreation
Fisheries and Habitat
Advocacy

Urban Water Environment

CRWA is creating the blueprint for fundamental change in how urban development approaches stormwater and wastewater infrastructure. After years of research, CRWA scientists and the Conservation Law Foundation are working together on "Restoring the Urban Water Environment," to fundamentally change water management in Massachusetts. Our work will ensure that city infrastructure will work in harmony with natural hydrology instead of ignoring topography, streambeds and other natural rainwater to land connections. If we can truly begin to follow the simple principles of reduce, reuse and recycle - reduce non-essential water use, reuse water when we can, and recycle our treated wastewater and stormwater - we will be able to meet our needs while restoring water quality and river instream flow. This approach also helps address climate change issues surrounding energy demand and water use, as well as introduce plant life to urban landscapes that help sequester atmospheric carbon, and reduce heat-island effect in the summer months.

Environmentally Sensitive Urban Development
Peabody Square Green Streets Project

Water Law/Regulation/Policy

CRWA is pursuing a multi-faceted strategy to address the failings of governmental water use and infrastructure permitting and weaknesses in state law. The centerpiece to this strategy is a lawsuit CRWA filed on behalf of the Ipswich River Watershed Association and ten citizens against MA DEP for its systemic violations of the Water Management Act in the Ipswich basin. After more than three years of legal battles, this year the Superior Court issued a landmark decision affirming the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) broad authority to impose conditions to protect streamflow in water withdrawal permits. The case sets the stage for improved water management and permitting in the Charles and across the state.

Click here to learn more about the Ipswich lawsuit.

Science-Based Management

Since 1995, CRWA and volunteers have been monitoring the health of the river at 37 sites along the entire 80-mile length of the river, creating one of the most complete data sets related to the river. This data, as well as additional data collection and the use of that data to create computer models to help us understand and predict how the Charles will react to management decisions, are key elements in two innovative research projects in the Upper Charles. CRWA, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Geological Survey, is wrapping up a lengthy data collection and computer modeling project that will result in recommendations for reducing harmful nitrogen and phosphorous loads, increasing river flows, and improving regional water management in the upper Charles watershed. CRWA is the first nonprofit in the nation to undertake this kind of work.

Click on a link below to learn more about these programs:
Upper Charles River TMDLs
Upper Charles Groundwater Management
Volunteer Monthly Water Quality Monitoring

Parklands and Recreation

CRWA advocates protection, revitalization and expansion of river parklands. CRWA's Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup, which began in 2000, mobilizes more than 2,000 volunteers who work to improve the river's banks by picking up rubbish. Highlighting improvement in the Charles River and promoting recreational uses, CRWA's annual Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race draws over 1,800 participants and volunteers for a day of springtime fun on the river.

Click on a link below to learn more about CRWA's parklands projects:
Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup
Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race

Fisheries and Habitat

CRWA assisted MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (DFW) with its assessment of current fish communities in the Charles River, and helped develop an assessment of the river fish no longer found in the river. Water quality and flow targets based on this assessment will lead to the restoration and protection of river fish. CRWA is also working to improve the passage of river herring, anadromous fish species that live in the sea yet spawn in freshwater, in the Charles River. For two years we have been working to build populations of these fish through releasing and monitoring American Shad fry in the river.

Click on a link below to learn more about our current work in fisheries and habitat:
American Shad Restoration
Bleachery Dam Fish Passage Improvement Project
Charles River Watershed Fish Assessment Project
Upper Charles River Watershed Habitat Assessment Study

Advocacy

Aided by its year-round water quality monitoring program at 37 sites along the river, CRWA identifies illegal polluting discharges to the river and makes sure they are addressed. CRWA also promotes reduction of sewer overflows and stormwater runoff, and regulatory support for watershed protection. We comment on proposed developments, analyzing the potential impacts on the river, tributaries, and wetlands caused by building projects. This year, with other advocacy groups, CRWA led a successful outreach campaign to convince DEP and the Patrick administration that the longstanding right of local residents to appeal wetlands decisions for an administrative hearing should not be eliminated.

CRWA Comment Letters
Wetland appeals action alert



© 2001 Eric Endlich