ABOUT CRWA

From Dirty Water to a Clean Charles.

OUR STORY

SINCE 1965, CHARLES RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN THE VOICE OF THE RIVER.

Formed in 1965 by a group of concerned citizens who raised alarm about the declining health of the Charles River, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) is one of the oldest watershed organizations in the country.

In the fifty years since our founding, CRWA has guided the transformation of our river from the “Dirty Water” of the past–––rife with industrial pollution, sewage, trash, and even cars––to the Charles River we know and love today, one of the cleanest, most celebrated urban rivers in the country.

SCIENCE · ADVOCACY · LAW

Our Mission

We protect, restore, and enhance the Charles River and its watershed through science, advocacy, and the law. We develop science-based strategies to increase resilience, protect public health, and promote environmental equity as we confront a changing climate.

From Dirty Water to a Clean Charles.

OUR COMMITMENT

CLEAN IS NOT AN END-POINT, IT’S A VERB–AND IT’S STILL OUR UNWAVERING MISSION.

Today, the Charles River is once again a living river–––but the work is far from over. New challenges have emerged that threaten to undermine our progress; climate change, stormwater pollution, and addressing environmental injustice.

But we are rising to meet the moment–––taking a regional approach to climate solutions, working with nature rather than against it with nature-based solutions, and centering environmental justice–––to ensure the collective flourishing of our watershed and all who call it home.

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

Working With Nature

We are reimagining our approach to water management by restoring natural hydrology back into our built environment, creating healthy, resilient communities, and forging a better future for all.

WATERSHED-SCALE APPROACH

Regional Climate Solutions

The impacts of climate change do not follow political boundaries, and we all live downstream of somewhere. To rise to this monumental challenge, we take a watershed-wide approach to climate adaptation for lasting solutions.

EQUITY & JUSTICE FOR ALL

Centering Environmental Justice

We are committed to fighting systemic racism by putting communities at the frontlines of climate impacts first, reducing barriers to entry for green careers, and expanding public access to our river.

THE RIVER THAT CONNECTS US

Our Watershed

The Charles River, also known as the Quinobequin, springs from its source in Hopkinton and flows through twenty-three cities and towns along its meandering, unhurried, eighty-mile journey to meet the sea at Boston Harbor.

With over eighty brooks and streams, several major aquifers, and thirty-three lakes and ponds, the Charles River watershed encompasses 308 square miles of Massachusetts, thirty-five cities and towns, and it is home to just under a million people.

We humbly recognize the Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Nipmuc Nations, as our work is carried out across their traditional territory, and we acknowledge Indigenous people as past, present, and future caretakers of this land.

DO YOU LIVE IN OUR WATERSHED?

Our watershed includes parts or all of Arlington, Ashland, Bellingham, Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Lexington, Lincoln, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norfolk, Sherborn, Somerville, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, and Wrentham​.

STEPS TOWARD A CLEAN, RESILIENT RIVER

Our Achievements

See what we have accomplished together over our nearly six decades of advocacy for the Charles River.

  • 2022 · CURBING STORMWATER POLLUTION

    After years of advocacy by CRWA and Conservation Law Foundation—and a threat of litigation—the EPA announced a new stormwater permit program for previously unregulated large commercial, industrial, and institutional property owners, which will reduce the volume of stormwater runoff entering the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset Rivers

  • 2019 · STRENGTHENED STORMWATER PROTECTIONS WITH THE MS4 PERMIT

    Reached a settlement with the U.S. EPA to strengthen stormwater protections in the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) general permit.

  • 2019 · ESTABLISHED THE CHARLES RIVER CLIMATE COMPACT

    The Charles River Climate Compact is a coalition of Charles River watershed cities and towns working together to share information and to design and build projects to mitigate flooding and build climate resilience.

  • 2016 · REMOVAL OF OLD MILL DAM IN BELLINGHAM

    CRWA partnered with the Town of Bellingham to successfully remove the aging defunct “significant hazard potential” Old Mill Dam, also known as Caryville Dam, in Bellingham, MA. The dam removal opened up the Charles River to three tributaries, including Mine Brook.

  • 2016 · RECOGNIZED BY AMERICAN RIVERS

    National recognition of the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup from American Rivers for the last four consecutive years: Most Pounds of Trash Collected and Most Volunteers Mobilized.

  • 2014 · IMPROVED PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY CONSERVATION

    New requirements in the issuance of public water supply permits taking conservation into account.

  • 2013 · GREEN STREETS GUIDANCE FOR BOSTON

    Helped draft Boston’s Complete Streets Guidelines re-greening city streets and achieving stormwater pollution reduction targets.

  • 2011 · THIESS INTERNATIONAL RIVER PRIZE

    CRWA was awarded the prestigious Thiess International Riverprize for visionary and sustainable excellence in river management.

  • 2006 · RESTORING AMERICAN SHAD

    Introduction of the American Shad Restoration Program and the return of the American Shad to the Charles River.

  • 2005 · BREACHING OF BLEACHERY DAM

    CRWA partnered with the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to partially breach Bleachery Dam to allow for greater fish passage. Ultimately we hope to work with partners to fully remove the dam and restore the flow of the river.

  • 2005 · DEVELOPED CHARLES RIVER NUTRIENT TMDL

    CRWA introduces the “total maximum daily load” (TMDL) for phosphorus and nitrogen, which laid the groundwork for MassDEP’s limits on stormwater discharges to the Charles, determined that industrial, commercial, high-density residential, and institutional properties are the most significant sources of phosphate to the river (and is the basis for EPA New England’s 2022 residual designation rule to control phosphate runoff from those properties).

  • 1995 · LAUNCHED IM3 STUDY

    CRWA conducts Integrated Monitoring, Modeling, and Management (IM3) study with support from EPA, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), and others. IM3 examined sources of pollution, modeled water quality impacts, and led to an integrated long-term management plan for the watershed.

  • 1994 · REDUCED SEWAGE RELEASES

    Advocated for the establishment of the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority Long-Term Combined Sewer Overflow Plan to reduce sewage releases into the river during storms. Thanks to suggestions from CRWA, the innovative engineering solution MWRA ultimately chose reduced sewage releases by over 95% and saved ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

  • 1994 · ESTABLISHED VOLUNTEER MONTHLY MONITOR PROGRAM

    Since the beginning, CRWA’s Volunteer Monthly Monitoring (VMM) Program has been the backbone of our work. With over 80 volunteers taking monthly water samples at 35 locations on the Charles River for 25 years, CRWA has the most extensive water quality dataset for the Charles River.

  • 1974 · CREATION OF THE NATURAL VALLEY STORAGE AREA

    Creation of the Natural Valley Storage Area; 8,000 acres of protected wetlands prevent downstream flooding, provide extensive natural habitat, replenish water supplies, and filter out pollutants from entering the Charles.

  • 1974 · RESTORED FISH PASSAGE AT FORMER BEMIS DAM SITE

    After the Bemis (a.k.a. Nonantum) dam breached in 1954, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) (precursor to DCR) decided to purchase and rebuild the dam. After deliberations in 1974, CRWA in partnership with the Newton Conservation Commission convinced the MDC that the dam should not be rebuilt to promote fish and wildlife passage.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

CRWA is committed to the ongoing work of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our organization and in our external relationships.

Internally, CRWA seeks to embed these principles in staff hiring, professional development, and retention practices as well as in Board recruitment, onboarding, and governance. CRWA strives to attract and retain staff and Board members from a wide range of backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives and to foster a culture of belonging in which all feel valued and respected.

Externally, we are engaged in outreach and relationship development to connect with a broader set of constituents in the watershed, including people and communities that have historically been marginalized. CRWA acknowledges the historic disinvestment and past harm in some watershed communities and is committed to advocating for equitable investments in climate resilience and river health. 

CRWA condemns racism, sexism, bigotry, and discrimination in any form.

OUR COMMITMENT

Recognizing Indigenous Stewardship

CRWA humbly recognizes the Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Nipmuc Nations, as our work is carried out across their traditional territory, and acknowledge them as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land.

We are committed to creating respectful engagements and relationships with Indigenous communities in our watershed to learn, uplift, and support their relationship and wants with the river.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Our History

DECADES OF RELENTLESS, LOVING VIGILANCE

In nearly six decades of advocacy, we are proud to have delivered the “cleanest urban river in America,” but the work is far from over. Take a deep dive into the history of our river, and see what we have achieved, together.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR RIVER WITH A GIFT TODAY!

Together, we’re Keepin’ It Clean.