WATERSHED RESOURCES AND LINKS

The Charles River Cutler Park to Commonwealth
Avenue Protection Group Action Plan

Adopt-A-Stream Program

ACTION PLAN

The Charles River Cutler Park to
Commonwealth Avenue Protection Group

(Needham, Newton, Wellesley, and Weston)
Adopted April 26, 1998

The Cutler Park to Commonwealth Avenue Protection Group (CPCA) has adopted the Charles River between Cutler Park in Dedham, Massachusetts and Commonwealth Avenue in Newton, Massachusetts. We have prepared this Action Plan to define the mission of our group, the conditions of our segment, and actions required to address conditions that are not consistent with our mission.

1.  CPCA and the Segment We Protect

The CPCA is a committee comprised of local citizens who value the assets of the Charles River and who are concerned about maintaining or improving various conditions in our segment. The CPCA independently determines its concerns and actions. Our committee is a Stream Team sanctioned by the Riverways Program under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) and the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA). The CPCA was organized in May of 1997.

Our segment is a six-mile stretch in Needham, Wellesley, and Newton, approximately half way along the 80-mile stretch between Hopkinton and Boston.  Most of the six miles of our segment is undeveloped along one or both banks.  Most of the development along the banks consists of office and industrial parks, with residences in some areas.  Interstate Route 95/Route 128 is adjacent to the river for approximately one mile.  The undeveloped areas along the banks of our segment are primarily undisturbed woods and marshes, most of which are under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC).  The MDC lands abutting our segment of the Charles River are Cutler Park, Hemlock Gorge Reservation, the Leo J. Martin Golf Course, Quinobequin Road Reservation, and Riverside Park.

According to Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards, the Charles River is Class B, designated for both primary (i.e. swimming) and secondary (i.e. boating) recreational contact. Water quality of the Charles River is monitored by CRWA staff, volunteers, researchers and interns. Water quality samples are collected monthly and during wet weather at 5 locations in this sector. See Addendum A for detailed information on standards and acceptable concentrations.

The existence of, or potential for, good habitat and recreation areas are consistent throughout the segment. Public use of the segment is primarily canoeing and kayaking, while fishing is also a common activity from boats, bridges, and the riverbanks. Less frequent activities in our segment include rowing (the Lasell College rowing team's boathouse is in our segment), and power boating.

2.  Mission

To protect, enhance, promote, and enable public access to the natural beauty, ecological diversity, and biological health existing in the Cutler Park to Commonwealth Avenue segment of the Charles River.

3.  Concerns and Actions

We conducted a survey in the late spring of 1997 to assess the conditions in our segment and identify those, which need to be changed. The general assessment of our 1997 survey was that the Cutler Park to Commonwealth Avenue segment is in good condition. However, we have identified several items that are, or could potentially be, working against the natural beauty and health of our segment. Additionally, actions were identified which will improve community appreciation of the river and ensure the continued good health of our segment. These items of concern relate primarily to:

• public access;
• water quality and related water quality issues;
• plants and wildlife;
• developmental impacts;
• aesthetics;
• outreach.

The general goals of CPCA for each category are described in this section, and specific items of concern, actions, and outcomes are included in the appendix.

a.  Public Access to the River

The CPCA believes that the public is entitled to enjoy the Charles River responsibly, with access governed in order to maintain a balance between recreational activities and river health. Access to the river should be encouraged if it can increase local awareness and appreciation for the segment. The balance between access for recreational use and the health of our segment will always require close monitoring. Ideally, access to the segment will be in concert with our fundamental goals.

Currently, some of the available foot and boat access points to the river are not ideal and adversely affect the segment, and there are several areas of concern regarding both limited river access and excessive river access.

Pedestrian Access

There are many informal walking trails along this stretch of the river, as well as trails maintained by the MDC.

Boat Access

Since the water is shallow throughout many stretches of this part of the river, boat launch sites need only accommodate canoes and other small boats carried by hand. Motorboats should not be encouraged, and trailer ramps into the water are not needed. Existing parking areas should be used as locations for new or improved boat launch sites.

CPCA has not identified any need to construct parking lots or improved access roads for boat access to the river in our segment.

b.  Water Quality and Related Watershed Issues

The water quality and flow volume of the river should be monitored, maintained, and where possible, enhanced. Factors affecting water quality in the Cutler Park to Commonwealth Ave. segment are most likely to originate from upstream, and from runoff, tributary, and recharge waters from many sources along the river and its banks, and within the watershed as a whole. The river and its sediments should be free of pollution and contaminants. The Charles should be a healthy environment for aquatic plants and animals, and safe for fishing, swimming, and boating.

c.  Plants and Wildlife

The Cutler Park to Commonwealth Ave. segment of the Charles River is bordered by large tracts of open space, much of it park and conservation land. This provides habitat for a broad variety of plant and animal species, most of which seek sustenance from the waters of the Charles. These include many varieties of mammals, reptiles, and birds, as well as the fish, amphibian, and other marine life that actually inhabit the river, many of which are unknown or under-appreciated by the public.

Issues concerning plant and animal species include invasion by non-native species, overpopulation or out-of-balance population of native species, and water quality effects on biota. Human activities that put stress on plant and animal activities include pollution, low flow, development, and recreational use.

After identifying the predominant and sensitive plant and animal species in the river, which are indicators of the general health of the river, continued monitoring will enable the CPCA to detect changes in the health of the river. The CPCA's objective is to maintain or improve plant and wildlife health and natural diversity.

d.  Developmental Impacts

Property development can negatively impact the river if protection of the river is not incorporated into the development plan. Water quality problems arising from pavement runoff and storm drainage, lack of recharge to ground water, traffic, noise and lack of green space can all result from unsupervised development. CPCA can get involved in the planning stages and work with town planners, conservation commissions, building inspectors, and builders, to develop a plan which satisfies the builder's requirements and is protective of the river's health.

e.  River Aesthetics

The physical appearance of the river and its environs is critical to its appeal, and to the promotion of its use and enjoyment by the public. Litter, scattered debris, pollutants, and neglected building and bridge structures along the river all detract from the aesthetic qualities we seek to preserve. Maintenance and aesthetic improvement activities include visual monitoring and periodic clean-up events.

f.  Outreach

The CPCA will increase public awareness of the importance of the river through contact with the business, residential and municipal communities. The CPCA will promote education in the use of existing trails, and protection of the river from inappropriate and excessive use for the benefit of wildlife.

4.  Organization

Stream Team members.

• Andrew Adinolfi, West Roxbury
• Damon Carter, President, Needham
• Frederick Cabot, Newton
• Bobbi Demers, Needham
• Emily Hoeffel
• Milton Landowne, Newton
• Hank Lysaght, Wellesley
• Norm Sieman, Treasurer, Newton
• William Tedoldi, Needham

5.  Meetings

Meetings of the Stream Team are held monthly. They are normally held on the second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 PM, at CRWA headquarters in Auburndale.

Agenda:

• Minutes of Previous Meeting.
• Progress of issues in order of listing in this Action Plan.
• New issues.

Periodic letters will be sent to interested members.  Please contact Damon Carter at dc@ltx.com if you'd like to receive a letter or more information.