Protecting Public Access to the Charles River

The Boston Globe reported on our advocacy in support of public access requirements at Harvard's Weld & Newell boathouses. Chapter 91, the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act, protects public access to the Commonwealth's tidelands and waterways, including along the Charles River.

“CRWA’s request is very straightforward, we ask that MassDEP require access to the riverfront on each site, to the maximum extent possible, and fully mitigate any loss of this public resource, recognizing that there are safety issues that would need to be considered, as there are for any structure on a waterfront,” says Deputy Director of Advocacy Jen Ryan.

For a deeper dive into Chapter 91, check out Conservation Law Foundation’s People’s Guide to the Public Waterfront Act.