OUR IMPACT

Governor Healey signed “An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity, and protecting ratepayers”, which among other things required the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to review existing flood risk maps and support additional mapping resources as necessary within six months of passage.

After years of advocacy by CRWA, EPA released a draft permit that could drastically reduce stormwater pollution in the Charles River. The draft permit targets large private properties with an acre or more of impervious surfaces and requires measures such as rain gardens of underground infiltration systems to curb runoff.

More than 500 volunteers at thirty sites from Newton to Norfolk celebrated Earth Day by participating in the 25th Annual Charles River Earth Day Cleanup, one of the most extensive Earth Day cleanups in the country.

CRWA’s StoryMap, “A River Interrupted,” an interactive multimedia narrative on why removing defunct dams is critical for restoring the Charles River, was awarded the 2023 ArcGIS StoryMap of the Year. 

The Charles River Flood Model, a watershed-scale simulation developed with twenty cities and towns to show how increased precipitation and inland flooding will affect our communities, and also model test out mitigation strategies, was awarded the New England Stormwater Collaborative “Stormy Award” for inspiring regional collaboration.

After years of collaboration, CRWA joined the Town of Milford to unveil two rain gardens and an infiltration chamber in the heart of Milford. This project, located in an especially climate-vulnerable, environmental justice neighborhood, will serve to protect the Milford community from flooding, extreme heat, and drought, as well as serving as a permanent place for residents to learn ways they can protect our shared environment.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.