RIVER CURRENT
Your source for the latest news, updates, & events.
Federal Budget Cuts Impact on Massachusetts' Climate Efforts—Read More in the Boston Globe
On April 1, 2025, CRWA Executive Director Emily Norton spoke before fellow environmental leaders and state Senator Cynthia Creem at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming. Read more in the Boston Globe
Charles River Watershed Association Elects Paul Levy As New Board President
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) elected Paul Levy as the president of the nonprofit’s board of directors at its 59th annual meeting on Wednesday, March 27, 2025.
Charles River Watershed Enters Month Six of Drought
In October 2024, the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) declared a drought across the state. As of March 2025, drought conditions remain dire. Here’s what this means for residents.
ACTION ALERT: Speak Directly With Officials About Their Plans to Eliminate CSOs!
On April 3, officials will listen to public comments on their plan to eliminate Combined Sewer Overflows in the Charles River. This is your chance to speak up for CSO elimination!
Make your voice heard - Shape a more resilient Charles River watershed!
CRWA and the Charles River Climate Compact have two ongoing initiatives to address flooding and heat impacts using nature-based solutions and green infrastructure, and we want to hear from watershed residents about what features you’d like to see in your community.
A swimmable Charles River? Yes we can! — Letter to the Editor
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 issue.
Advancing Climate Resilience Through Equity: Introducing the Charles River Climate Compact Equity Action Plan
National Invasive Species Awareness Week
Yesterday marked the beginning of National Invasive Species Awareness Week!
Newton Officials Break Ground on Project to Address Flooding (Press Release)
City officials broke ground today on an underground storage project along Cheesecake Brook by Albemarle field, which will store all of the untreated stormwater runoff from the six-acre neighborhood and help mitigate flooding.
Celebrating Black History Month
An Important Message On DEI From Our Executive Director
MWRA Introduces Proposal to Eliminate CSOs in the Charles River— Read More in the Beacon Hill Times
Check it out! CRWA was featured in the Beacon Hill Times after MWRA introduced several alternative project concepts to eliminate combined sewer overflows in the Charles River.
Thank you for joining us! Stormwater Solutions Coming to Cheesecake Brook
On January 21, we toured Cheesecake Brook with the Native Fish Coalition (NFC) to discuss opportunities to improve fish habitat. That evening, we hosted a public meeting to give project updates and get feedback on upcoming outreach and project opportunities.
Progress Toward A Swimmable Charles River: CRWA Applauds MWRA, Cambridge And Somerville For Presenting Options To Eliminate Sewage Overflows (Press Release)
Progress Toward A Swimmable Charles River: CRWA Applauds MWRA, Cambridge And Somerville For Presenting Options To Eliminate Sewage Overflows
Stormwater Terminology Cheat Sheet
Stormwater runoff is a leading cause of water quality degradation in Boston’s rivers. On October 31, 2024, the EPA released a long-awaited draft permit to significantly reduce stormwater pollution. Here are key terms to understand as you review the draft permit.
2024 in Review
It’s remarkable how much you can accomplish in just one year! Thanks to your support, we’ve made some big waves in 2024.
Looking forward to big changes for Cheesecake Brook!
Last week, CRWA Senior Stormwater Program Manager Max Rome met with staff from the City of Newton, Weston & Sampson, and R.A.D. Sports for a pre-construction meeting on improvements to Albemarle field and along Cheesecake Brook. He has exciting news about what to expect in the coming year:
CRWA and the City of Boston Seek Resident Help to Address Stormwater Flooding in Boston
The City of Boston Office of Green Infrastructure has launched a resident survey to capture on-the-ground reports of flooding after rain storms.
Oil Spill In The Muddy River — Read more from WCVB Channel 5 Boston, WGBH, and more
CRWA Senior Restoration Program Manager Lisa Kumpf spoke with WCVB Channel 5 Boston and WGBH about the Muddy River oil spill and what it means for the water quality of the Charles River tributary.
Oil Spill In The Muddy River
This Sunday, an oil spill in the Muddy River prompted an emergency response from MassDEP, Brookline, and Boston officials, as the spill dumped heating oil into the Charles River tributary and left birds and animals in the area covered in a layer of oil.