RIVER CURRENT
Your source for the latest news, updates, & events.
Drought Crisis– Streams Run Dry
Drought conditions continue to worsen, now affecting the entire state, with no relief in sight. What does that look like? In some cases, empty streambeds.
$2M for Invasive Species Removal in the Charles River
Thanks to leadership from Rep. Kay Khan (Newton), the economic development bill, An Act relating to economic growth and relief for the Commonwealth (H.5007), currently moving through the legislature would provide $2 Million for invasive species management in the Charles River.
CRWA, CLF Notify EPA of Intent to Sue
CRWA and Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) notified EPA of our intent to file a lawsuit in federal court over the agency’s failure to regulate properties with large impervious areas that are disproportionately contributing to stormwater pollution in the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset Rivers.
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.
2021 Charles River Report Card
The 2021 Report Card Grades are in! From A’s in the middle reaches (Sherborn to Waltham) to a C- in Boston’s Muddy River, the takeaway is that some stretches of the river are relatively healthy while others, particularly in more urbanized sections of the watershed, are not.
Tabling for Trees
Interested in using your advocacy and outreach skills to support our work? Become a River Ambassador! Contact Program Associate, Dira Johanif to join!
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."
On the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, Boston River Report Cards Reveal Grades Ranging from A to F
BOSTON, MA – Today, three Boston-area watershed organizations, along with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the 2021 Water Quality Report Cards Grades for the three rivers that flow into Boston Harbor: the Neponset, the Charles, and the Mystic.
Polluted Runoff Threatening Boston-Area Rivers
July 14, 2022 (BOSTON, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) and Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) have notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of their intent to sue to protect three Boston-area rivers from polluted runoff.
Building Resilience in the Watershed Initiative
It’s been two successful years of our Building Resilience in the Watershed Initiative and we have a lot to show for it! With the help of Weston & Sampson, we used the Charles River Flood Model to identify priority actions and recommendations to help our watershed adapt to the changing climate.
BREAKING NEWS: Cyanobacteria Advisory for the Lower Basin
MA Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends a Cyanobacteria Advisory for the Charles River between the Mass Ave. Bridge and Broad Canal.
More than 100 environmental and community groups urge U.S. Supreme Court to uphold federal clean water protections
On its 50th Anniversary, the Clean Water Act is under threat. CRWA joined over 100 environmental and community organizations across the country in submitting an amicus brief in Sackett v. EPA, urging the Court to reject attempts to weaken the Clean Water Act’s vital protections.
The Flagging Program is Back!
The Flagging Program is back! The go-to resource for safe recreation on the Charles River, the Flagging Program provides live water quality updates through a system of color-coded flags to indicate boating safety between Watertown and Boston.
Celebrating Black History Month
February is Black History Month, and we want to celebrate and honor the rich history, contributions, and triumphs of past & present Black environmentalists.
Local governments staff up, team up to confront climate change (GBH)
Storms along the Charles River will flood dozens of critical facilities such as fire stations, hospitals and schools in towns down the riverbed, from Newton to Dedham to Franklin. The only grocery store in Wellesley is at risk for flooding, too. And as the decades pass and the climate crisis worsens, the effects will be more significant.
At least, that’s what a recent flooding model from the Charles River Watershed Association projects.