RIVER CURRENT
Your source for the latest news, updates, & events.
![Natick Select Board Votes for Dam Removal & River Restoration!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62f29bd77847013a6cd07cce/ea84a020-0d68-4bef-8d4f-d20a372c4a10/Natick_Dam_Rendering_2.png)
Natick Select Board Votes for Dam Removal & River Restoration!
We are so pleased to report that Natick Select Board voted 4-1 in favor of dam removal and restoration of a free-flowing Charles River for future generations.
CPA on the Ballot in Natick
The Community Preservation Act is a smart growth tool that helps communities preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreation facilities.
![One Step Closer to a Free-Flowing Charles in Natick](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62f29bd77847013a6cd07cce/767b67da-f76c-4c6d-9d6d-cabc6c3af4db/FRs8q5DXoAIZQVy.jpeg)
One Step Closer to a Free-Flowing Charles in Natick
Another win in Natick! The Charles River Dam Advisory Committee voted 16-2 in favor of spillway removal and restoration of the river.
![Natick Dam Removal Update](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62f29bd77847013a6cd07cce/6c9bf00d-cff5-451a-8477-c9648ba0be9c/FRs8q00WYAATvyT.jpeg)
Natick Dam Removal Update
Natick's Charles River Dam Advisory Committee is deciding on the future of the Charles River Dam in South Natick. At a July 19 meeting, Committee members expressed strong support in favor of dam removal and river restoration.
![These fish are critical to New England, and they're disappearing](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62f29bd77847013a6cd07cce/1661278664877-SG6RO5IGCQSS7PKZ4IO3/JULIA+PERSONAL+PROJ+BUZZARDS+BAY+WATERSHED+RIDE+%281%29.png)
These fish are critical to New England, and they're disappearing
"A dam in a river is like a blocked artery; it's like a heart attack," said Robert Kearns, a climate resiliency specialist at the Charles River Watershed Association. "It degrades the water quality behind it; reduces the dissolved oxygen which fish rely on to breathe and to live ... and creates a habitat that's better for invasive species."