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Monthly e-news made for advocates.
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Watertown Dam: A Case for Removal |
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We are building momentum in our efforts to remove the Watertown Dam. Earlier this month, we hosted a guided walk with over fifty community members, legislators, and stakeholders to share why we strongly support the removal of this aging, inactive dam to restore fish passage and a clean, free-flowing, climate-resilient Charles River.
First built on the Charles River in the 1600s, today's Watertown Dam holds no functional use for energy or flood control. Instead, Watertown Dam is a significant barrier to migratory fish passage, degrades the river ecosystem, and is susceptible to failure in extreme weather events. Removing Watertown Dam is feasible and would improve the area for both people and nature.
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Friends, allies, and partners gathered October 14 from near and far to celebrate our work and honor U.S. Senator Ed Markey as our 2021 Champion of the Charles.
Our first in-person Gala in two years raised over $300,000 to support our vital work. We are grateful to each and every one of you who make Charles River Watershed Association a philanthropic priority. The work of restoring the Charles River is far from over, and your support makes it possible for us to fight for a clean, resilient Charles River for all.
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We also showed our new video A Resilient Charles River, which we invite you to watch— featuring our valued partners U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, State Senator Majority Leader Cynthia Creem, Emerald Necklace Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek, and more. We created it to help capture what we do and inspire you to get more involved with us!
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Executive Director Emily Norton testified to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture in support of a bill proposed by Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Rep. Carolyn Dykema that would allow the state to mandate water conservation in times of drought. This is crucial legislation as Massachusetts is already experiencing the effects of the climate crisis with prolonged droughts in 2016, 2020, and 2021.
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We continue to call for lane reduction and restoring the Charles River with the Allston Multimodal Project. The current At-Grade proposal would entail twelve lanes of roadway next to the Charles River in Allston. As Executive Director Emily Norton said in an article in the Harvard Crimson, “It’s just frustrating in 2021 when we are really trying not to be so car-centric, that we are planning on investing over a billion dollars on a very car-centric approach.”
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CRWA is asking for transparency about flood mitigation, stormwater management, tree canopy, and heat impacts with the Harvard Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) Project Impact Report and Environmental Impact Report. The Harvard ERC is a fourteen-acre development in Lower Allston along the Charles River, and it presents an opportunity to transform an abandoned rail yard and improve climate resilience in an already highly developed and flood-vulnerable neighborhood.
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Students from Woodside Montessori School conduct Benthic Macroinvertebrate (BMI) Sampling and Habitat Assessments with Rita Barron Fellow Iris Seto at Bogastow Brook, a Charles River tributary in Millis. |
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Action Alert: Urge Legislators to Put Climate First |
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The Charles River needs your help. We are asking you to step up and ask the legislature to prioritize clean water and climate resilience today!
Gov. Baker proposed using $800M of ARPA funds for water & sewer upgrades, state parks, and climate resilience.
Instead, the M.A. House is proposing $225M. The need for funding for climate resilience and clean water is urgent and large, and we’ve put these investments off for far too long.
We have the opportunity to invest in a better future right NOW!
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24 Ways to Give Back and Volunteer around Boston This Year
Charles River Watershed Association is included in 24 Ways to Give Back and Volunteer from Boston Magazine!
Read more
www.bostonmagazine.com
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Flooding could shut down Logan airport, hospitals, and...
A recent Boston Globe article confirms the sobering truth that nearly half of Boston’s critical infrastructure, including Logan Airport, hospitals, and police and fire stations, are at risk of being underwater.
Read more
www.bostonglobe.com
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These images show what Boston landmarks will look like...
New flood visualizations from non-profit Climate Central show what iconic landmarks in Boston & beyond will look like with sea-level rise at 1.5 and 3 degrees Celcius of warming.
Read more
www.bostonglobe.com
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The weather might be cooling down, but preparing for extreme heat can't wait! Join us THIS SUNDAY for Heat Resilient Boston to learn how essential green spaces are for cooling down our urban spaces during heatwaves. Program Associate for Community Resilience Dira Johanif will lead a guided tour of Herter Park in Allston while sharing tips for staying cool during heatwaves and creating resilience in Boston & beyond. Register here.
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